ielts paraphrasing Archives - Preparation for the IELTS Exam

Writing an introduction without paraphrasing

October 9, 2023May 26, 2020 by Ray IELTS Focus

Do you have to paraphrase the task question when writing an IELTS essay?

This is a question I was recently asked. The answer is ….well no you don’t have to paraphrase but I would advise it if you want a higher score (Band 7 or 8).

If you are really concerned about your paraphrasing abilities and you just can’t get it right, or if you are aiming for a Band 6 or 6.5, then just write a short 2 or 3 sentence introduction with a thesis statement only.

Paraphrasing in IELTS speaking

October 9, 2023December 6, 2019 by Ray IELTS Focus

The key to a higher score in IELTS speaking is paraphrasing.

Updated: September 2023

You are probably aware that paraphrasing is a key skill in IELTS writing and is important for a good Band score if it’s done skillfully, but what about in the speaking section of the exam?

In the IELTS speaking Band descriptors for Band 7 lexical resource, it says: ‘uses paraphrase effectively’ and for Band 4 lexical resource it mentions: ‘rarely attempts to paraphrase’. So clearly this is important to consider when you are in the IELTS speaking exam.

Paraphrasing and synonyms in IELTS reading

October 9, 2023June 7, 2019 by Ray IELTS Focus

Synonyms and paraphrasing exercise for IELTS reading.

Updated: September 2023

A key skill for a high score is your ability to understand paraphrasing in IELTS reading. Paraphrasing is also a crucial skill for the writing section as you need to change the wording of the task question. It is also very useful in speaking and it shows up in the reading and listening sections.

Paraphrasing is when the wording changes but the same meaning is retained. It can be done with synonyms, changing the grammatical structure and the use of set phrases.

Word count for IELTS writing tasks

October 9, 2023March 11, 2019 by Ray IELTS Focus

What is the ideal word count for IELTS writing?

Updated July 2022.

This is a common question many IELTS candidates have but there seems to be misinformation out on the internet about word count in the IELTS writing section.

Although the word count penalty has been abolished I would advise writing more than 250 words in an essay and over 150 words in writing task 1 to fully develop your answer. Here are some examples of what I have heard about the word count in IELTS essays and writing task 1.

IELTS writing task 1: Paraphrasing statistics

April 20, 2024October 18, 2018 by Ray IELTS Focus

Paraphrasing percentages and statistics in IELTS academic writing task 1.

Updated: April 2024

One thing that can be challenging in IELTS writing task 1 academic is how to report on all the data in a chart or graph. Something that can help your vocabulary band score is using specific language, such as the language of approximation, proportion and fractions to paraphrase percentages.

Writing Task 1: Fast Food Restaurants Bar Chart

October 9, 2023July 23, 2018 by Ray IELTS Focus

Model Answer: Bar chart about fast food restaurants

Bar charts are quite common in IELTS writing task 1 academic. Many people panic when they see them but they get easier the more you practice. The most important thing here is that the report should be concise, so you must be selective. This means that you should never write about every single detail in the chart. Aim for around 170 to 190 words.

Paraphrasing by changing sentence structure

October 9, 2023January 9, 2018 by Ray IELTS Focus

Useful paraphrasing technique in IELTS writing task 2.

One of the most important skills in IELTS writing is being able to paraphrase. This means to change the wording or the sentence structure but retain the same meaning.

It’s a challenge for many students doing IELTS to get used to this skill as you need to have a wide vocabulary and know how to use synonyms correctly.

There are 2 main ways to paraphrase. This can be done either with synonyms or by changing the structure of the sentence while adjusting the word-formation. In the writing section, you need to use this skill when starting the introduction of your essay. Let’s take a look at an example below.

IELTS paraphrasing practice

October 9, 2023September 20, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Exercises on Paraphrasing the task question.

Updated: Oct 20th 2021

In the last paraphrasing exercise here we looked at paraphrasing a part of a body paragraph. Here is a useful blog post on How to paraphrase in IELTS writing.

Paraphrasing is an important skill to practice in IELTS and is necessary for the writing tasks. If you can paraphrase well it shows that you have a wide range of vocabulary and this goes toward getting a high band score in Lexical resource.

How to write an effective IELTS conclusion

April 21, 2024July 12, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

A guide to writing a good conclusion for an IELTS essay.

Updated: April 2024

The conclusion is very important in an IELTS essay because if you do not write one you could lose a whole band score in task response.

Conclusions are pretty easy to write. You just need to rephrase your main points and restate your opinion. One way to do this is to paraphrase the thesis statement again. No new information should be added to the conclusion and it must be concise and to the point. Do not copy your thesis statement word for word either, do not repeat whole sentences or it will lower your score. Work on paraphrasing your thesis statement from the introduction.

IELTS paraphrasing practice

October 9, 2023May 25, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

IELTS Paraphrasing lesson and practice exercise.

Updated: April 29th 2021

One of the most important skills in IELTS writing is the ability to paraphrase. In IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 you are marked on your ability to use vocabulary effectively. Therefore, if paraphrasing is done accurately it can demonstrate to the examiner that you have a good grasp of vocabulary. Paraphrasing means changing the words so they have the same meaning.

This can be done by using synonyms or changing the grammatical structure. However, this takes a lot of practice because inaccurate paraphrasing will lead to a lower score. For more information on how to paraphrase the introduction in essays check out the links below.