examples of paraphrasing in ielts

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How to Paraphrase Successfully in IELTS

Paraphrasing in IELTS is essential for a high score in IELTS. This page contains tips on paraphrasing to maximise your score. For IELTS Writing Task 2, paraphrasing is critical to your score for essay writing. Vocabulary counts for 25% of your writing marks. This page mainly focuses in paraphrasing for essays, but it can also help you understand more about paraphrasing in IELTS Reading and IELTS Listening. Certainly, it plays a role in the speaking, but to a lesser degree because repeated words are much more acceptable in the informal IELTS speaking test. So, lets review all about paraphrasing.

This page will review:

• using synonyms
• not changing all words
• avoiding mistakes
• changing word forms
• changing sentence structure
• paraphrasing and band scores

1. Using Synonyms

In IELTS one way to paraphrase is to use synonyms. This shows the examiner your range of vocabulary for any given topic. The wider your range of vocabulary, the higher your band score. BUT, only if you don’t make mistakes. 

Here is an example of how a sentence can be re-written by using synonyms:

The reasons for increasing levels of pollution are the development of industry and air travel.

The sentence above can be paraphrased as:

The causes of rising levels of pollution are the growth and expansion of industry as well as the number of people travelling by air.

Here is a list of how the sentence was altered using synonyms.

• causes = reasons
• increasing = rising
• the development of = the growth and expansion of
• and = as well as
• air travel = travelling by air

Notice: you can see that the words “levels of pollution” and “industry” have not be changed. This is fine. Not all words need to be changed. In fact, the word “pollution” is best not changed. See tip number 2, below:

Problems with Synonyms

Synonyms are NOT words with 100% the same meaning and same usage. This is why so many people make mistakes with them.

Synonyms are words with a very similar meaning and might be perfect in some contexts but then not at all suitable in other contexts. So, using synonyms well is all about how deep your knowledge is of the word meaning and how the word is used – both in grammar and context.

The more mistakes you make with words, the lower your band score will be. See Tip 6 below.

2. Not All Words Need Changing

Not all words need to be changed for a high score in IELTS. You can see from the example above that some words have remained the same l evels of pollution ,   industry ,  air ). This means you need to decide which words to paraphrase and which words to keep the same.

High band score successful candidates (band 7 and over) know when to paraphrase and when to keep words the same.

People stuck at band 6 and below, often over-paraphrase. They try to change too many words too often which results in 1) poor word choices   2) changing the meaning and going off topic. Both problems will lower your score below band 7.

3. Avoiding Mistakes

The more mistakes you make with vocabulary in IELTS writing and speaking, the lower your score will be. Paraphrasing is a skill. Synonyms do not have exactly the same meaning and cannot always be used at the same time .

Watch this video below to get useful tips on paraphrasing for writing task 1 and writing task 2.

Mistakes with paraphrases cause people to get a low score and can also take people off topic in an IELTS essay.

4. Changing the Word Form

Another way to paraphrase sentences is to change the form of the word. This means we use the same words as IELTS but change their form. This type of paraphrasing is really focused at your writing skills because it means you don’t need to look for a synonym for a word, instead you can alter the word form.

Here is an example:

Many people are unhealthy because they fail to eat well and exercise.

This can be paraphrased by changing the word form of “unhealthy”, “fail” and “exercise”.

Many people have poor health as they are failing to eat well and are not exercising enough.

Lets look at the word changes for this paraphrase:

• unhealthy = poor health
• fail = are failing
• exercise = are exercising
• because = as

This is not low level paraphrasing, in IELTS this is considered skilful paraphrasing and it is actually a skill that you want to demonstrate. You need to show the examiner that you can alter word forms as a sign of flexibility with language.

So, don’t get stuck on always trying to find synonyms, you can just change the word form and still get a high score. It’s also a good way to avoid errors but taking risks with synonyms that are not perfect.

5. Changing Sentence Structure

Another way to paraphrase successfully is to change the order to words in a sentence. This means changing the structure of the sentence. Taking the example from above again:

You can see above there are two clauses:

• Many people are unhealthy
• because they fail to eat well and exercise

We can change the order of the clauses:

Many people fail to eat well and exercise and for that reason they are unhealthy.

The clauses are now in a different order:

• people fail to eat well and exercise
• they are unhealthy

Let’s change this even more:

Failing to eat well and not exercising are the reasons that many people have poor health.

This is the best way to tackle paraphrasing in IELTS essays. The examiner will look for sentences that start with a gerund – a verb converted to a noun using +ing which makes the noun always singular. 

If we use this approach and also add synonyms – it will look like this:

Failing to have a balanced diet and not getting enough physical exercise are the reasons behind the large number of people facing a range of health problems in society today.

Now we are approaching band 9 paraphrasing skills for IELTS writing task 2. Even a band 9 can keep some words the same – exercise = exercise.

If you enjoyed the example sentences above, you’ll love my Grammar E-book for Writing Task 2 . It shows lots of ways to develop language and change sentence structures. See the link at the bottom of this page.

6. Paraphrasing & IELTS Band Scores

Of course paraphrasing will help your band score for the criterion of vocabulary. Below you see how your range of vocabulary affects your band score and also how the number of errors affects your score. Even if you have a wide range of vocabulary, your score will go down if you have too many errors. And if those errors impact your meaning, it will be below band 6.

Vocabulary Range

• Band 5 = minimum range
• Band 6 = adequate range
• Band 7 = sufficient range
• Band 8 – wide range

Number of Errors

• Band 5 = frequent errors & problems with meaning
• Band 6 = some errors, no problems with meaning
• Band 7 = few errors
• Band 8 = most sentences are error free

You can see that you need to show a range of words which means you need to paraphrase. But you also need to reduce your errors which means don’t try to paraphrase too much and don’t make mistakes.

Following the above tips (using synonyms, not paraphrasing all words, avoiding errors, changing the word form and changing the sentence structure) will help you achieve the highest score.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

• PARAPHRASING PRACTICE LESSONS
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How to Paraphrase in the IELTS Test

Paraphrasing is an essential IELTS skill. This post will show you how to paraphrase effectively.

Paraphrasing is simply re-writing a phrase or sentence so that it has the same meaning but with different words. Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills to learn before doing your IELTS test. It is most important for writing and speaking, but will also help you in the reading and listening tests. In other words, if you know how to paraphrase, you are more likely to get the score you need.

The mental processes required to paraphrase will also help you to fully understand the question, and this is one of the reasons I tell my students to begin all of their answers in the writing test by paraphrasing the question.

Let’s look at an example.

Example: Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills to learn before doing your IELTS test.

Paraphrased: Before taking the IELTS test, mastering paraphrasing is one of the most crucial things to do.

As you can see, the second sentence (paraphrased sentence) uses synonyms to change some vocabulary (e.g., ‘important’ for ‘crucial’ and ‘’prior’’ to ‘before’ and changes the grammar (e.g., Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills” for “mastering paraphrasing”). You can also change the word order.

You should use these three main methods in the IELTS test to paraphrase sentences. Ideally, you should try to use all three, but sometimes two will only be possible.

We will now look at each method in detail and also have a look at the passive.

Method Number 1: Using Synonyms

Synonyms are different words that have the same meaning. For example, ‘humans’ is a synonym for ‘people’ and ‘attractive’ is a synonym for ‘beautiful’. This method replaces words with the same meaning to produce a new sentence.

For example:

My car needs petrol .

My vehicle requires fuel.

As you can see, I have replaced 3 out of four words with synonyms to produce a new sentence with the same meaning as the first one. You will notice that I didn’t replace all of the words, but you should try to replace most of them.

This is the most common method that students use, and it can be used effectively, but you should be careful.

Violent crime is on the rise among teenagers .

Violent offences are rising among young people .

This student has changed the word ‘teenagers’ to ‘young people’. They are similar words, and teenagers are, of course, young people; however, children and young adults, aged between 18-30, could also be described as young people. A more term would be ‘adolescents’ or ‘young people between the ages of 13-19.’ A better way to paraphrase this sentence would therefore be:

Violent offences are rising among adolescents.

You should, therefore, only use words you are 100% sure about. Don’t change a word unless you are 100% sure that it is a direct synonym. Otherwise, you are likely to make mistakes, which will lower your score.

Let’s look at another good example:

Global warming is mostly caused by emissions from internal combustion engines.

Climate change is mainly caused by the release of fumes from motor vehicles.

M ethod Number 2: Change the Word Order

Changing the word order also allows us to effectively paraphrase a sentence, but again, we have to be careful. Don’t change the word order without thinking about how this affects the grammar of the sentence. By changing the word order, you may have to add a word, subtract a word or change the form of the word.

The 100% rule applies again; don’t change it if you are not 100% sure it is grammatically correct. Remember that you are judged on your ability to produce error-free sentences in the IELTS test and use a range of grammar structures.

Fortunately, there are two straightforward ways to change the word order in most IELTS questions.

• You can easily change the order of the clauses if the original sentence has more than one clause.

Question: As languages such as Spanish, Chinese and English become more widely used, there is a fear that many minority languages may die out.

Paraphrased by changing word order: There is a fear that many minority languages may die out, as languages such as Spanish, Chinese and English become more widely used.

We could also add some synonyms to paraphrase it even more:

Paraphrased with changing word order AND synonyms: There is dismay that many lesser-used languages may pass away as languages such as Chinese, English and Spanish become more broadly spoken.

• You can also change the word order if there is an adjective or noun in the question. You do this by simply changing the adjective into a relative clause.

Question: Learning to manage money is one of the key aspects of adult life.

Paraphrased: Learning to manage money is a key aspect of adult life.

M ethod Number 3: Change the Form of the Word

There are many different forms of words, including nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Changing the form of a word allows us to paraphrase effectively. Again, don’t just change the form of the word; you also need to check that your changes make grammatical sense. You might need to change the words around it to make the sentence error-free.

Question: Longer life spans and improvements in the health of older people suggest that people over the age of sixty-five can continue to live full and active lives.

Paraphrased by changing word form: Longer life spans and improvements in the health of older people are suggesting that people over the age of sixty-five can continue living full and active lives.

M ethod Number 4: Change from Active to Passive

The passive voice is often used in academic writing and can therefore be used in the IELTS academic writing test. Only verbs with an object can be turned into passive.

Example active sentence: The property developers invested $20 million in the development of the shopping centre.

Example passive sentence: $20 million was invested in the development of shopping centres.

We often use the passive voice in academic writing when we don’t want to say it is our opinion.

Example active: People say that global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

Example passive: Global warming is said to be caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

How many of these methods should I use?

The four methods can be used independently or together. I advise my students to try and change the grammar (word order and/or word form) and use synonyms. Remember only use the methods you feel 100% comfortable using and ensure your work is error-free.

These paraphrasing methods will only help you in the IELTS exam if you practice using them. Find some example writing questions and try paraphrasing them using these methods. You can use the methods individually and then combine them. Try all of them to see what works for you. If you practice enough, you will begin to see patterns in the questions, and common words and phrases will become easy for you to change.

If you want to see examples of paraphrasing, use Google. Many articles will appear on the same topic if you Google certain keywords. By comparing these, you will be able to see how different writers have expressed the same ideas.

Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service .

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The ways of paraphrasing in ielts writing to achieve a band score of 6.5+.

One highly important skill in the IELTS Writing test that helps you achieve a high band score is paraphrasing. So, how can we paraphrase in a correct and precise manner to satisfy the examiners? Let PREP quickly decode the top 5 advanced paraphrasing in IELTS Writing!

I. What is paraphrasing in IELTS Writing?

Ii. the importance of paraphrasing in ielts writing, 1. techniques of paraphrasing in ielts writing: using synonyms.

• 2. Techniques of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing: Using different part of speech 

3. Techniques of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing: Changing sentence structure

4. techniques of paraphrasing in ielts writing: changing sentence order or word order, 5. techniques of paraphrasing in ielts writing: using dummy subjects "it" and "there", 1. paraphrasing in ielts writing task 1 exercises, 2. paraphrasing in ielts writing task 2 exercises, 3. answer keys (multiple correct paraphrases).

Paraphrasing in IELTS Writing involves expressing the original sentence using different vocabulary or sentence structures without changing the meaning. Paraphrasing is a necessary technique that students need to master in IELTS Writing to achieve a band score of 6.5+.

In IELTS Writing, including both Task 1 and Task 2, students need to restate the perspectives of the given topic in their own writing, usually in the Introduction and Conclusion (for Task 2). To avoid plagiarism or repeating the same words, students need to paraphrase.

If this technique is applied accurately and flexibly, the Lexical Resource criterion of the writing will often be at a band score of 7 or higher (according to the Lexical resource - Band 7 in the Writing band descriptor (Public version): "uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision".

III. Some techniques of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing Task 1 & Task 2

Students can use synonyms that have similar or close meanings to replace the original words. This is a common paraphrasing technique in English. The use of synonyms is one aspect that examiners evaluate to assess the range of vocabulary in the writing.

However, when students use synonyms as a paraphrasing technique in English, they may make some common mistakes such as using words that do not match the context of the sentence, which changes the intended meaning; or choosing words with incorrect grammar; or attempting to replace all the words in the original sentence, which is a mistake that many students often make.

To use synonyms correctly when paraphrasing, students need to carefully select appropriate words and use synonyms with similar connotations to the original words. Specifically, simply looking up synonyms in a thesaurus (e.g., thesaurus.com) does not guarantee finding the appropriate synonym for the intended context. Please keep this in mind when using this paraphrasing technique in English!

Instead, students should reverse-search the chosen synonyms in reputable dictionaries such as Cambridge Dictionary or Collins Dictionary to check how those words are used, by looking at the definitions and usage examples.

Examples of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing using synonyms:

Original sentence: Studies have suggested that children watch  much more television than they did in the past and  spend less time on active or creative things.

➪ Paraphrased sentence: It is now a norm that children watch an excessive amount of television and do not engage much in active or creative activities.

Note: 

• much more television → an excessive amount of television 
• spend less time on → do not engage much in 

Original sentence:  Nowadays ,  more and more people decide to  have children later in their life.

➪ Paraphrased sentence:  In modern society , there has been a growing concern that many   couples have delayed parenthood

Note : 

• nowadays → in modern society
• more and more → many
• have children later → delay parenthood

2. Techniques of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing: Using different part of speech  

Changing the word form is an effective paraphrasing technique in English. Some common parts of speech that can be interchanged include verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

Changing the word form often involves altering the grammatical structure or collocation. Therefore, students need to be careful to avoid errors when applying this paraphrasing technique in English. It is advisable to use the Online OXFORD Collocation Dictionary of English to check the corresponding word combinations for each word form to ensure accuracy.

Examples of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing using part of speech:

Original sentence: Some people think that  environmental protectio n is  the responsibility of politicians.

➪ Paraphrased sentence: Some people believe that politicians should  be responsible for protecting the environment . 

• environmental protection → protect the environment 
• the responsibility of → be responsible for 

Original sentence:  Using a computer every day can  have negative effects on children.

➪ Paraphrased sentence:  The usage of computer every day can  negatively affect children.

• using a computer → the usage of computer
• have negative effects → negatively affect

Changing between active and passive voice is an effective paraphrasing technique in English. Students can paraphrase by converting active sentences into passive ones or vice versa. Additionally, the use of passive voice is common in academic writing as it demonstrates the objectivity of the writer's viewpoint.

Examples of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing:

Original sentence - active voice: Modern technology has made it easier  for individuals to download copyrighted music and books from the internet for no charge.

➪ Paraphrased sentence - passive voice: Copyrights have evolved into a major topic of concern in the era of the Internet and modern technology, as  copyrighted music and books can now be downloaded for free with a few simple mouse-clicks.

Original sentence - active voice:  Stronger measures , however,  should be adopted such as introducing criminology as a school subject and showing students documentaries about the lives of prisoners.

➪ Paraphrased sentence - passive voice:  The government , however,  should adopt stronger measures such as introducing criminology as a school subject and showing students documentaries about the lives of prisoners.

Typically, students can interchange the positions of clauses if the original sentence contains multiple clauses. With this paraphrasing technique, students can combine it with the use of synonyms to achieve the best paraphrasing result.

Original sentence: It is  more important for schoolchildren to learn about local history than world history. 

➪ Paraphrased sentence: There is a common belief that  local history is more important to children than world history.  

Original sentence: Many people  are unhealthy because they might  not eat well

➪ Paraphrased sentence:  Failing to maintain a balanced diet is the reason why many people  have poor health . (combining the use of synonyms and changing sentence structure)

The structure using dummy subjects "There/It + to be + V-past participle" is often used to express opinions or state facts, and it can also be a paraphrasing technique in English.

Original sentence:  I would recommend that all forms of copyright infringements are prohibited.

➪ Paraphrased sentence:  It is recommended that all forms of copyright infringements are prohibited. 

Original sentence: Some students prefer to take a gap year between high school and university, to work or to travel.

➪ Paraphrased sentence: In today’s world,  there has been an accelerating trend of students taking a break from studying before pursuing tertiary education. 

Note: Students are encouraged to combine multiple paraphrasing techniques in the same sentence to ensure flexibility in vocabulary use and semantic accuracy.

IV. Exercises on practicing paraphrasing in IELTS Writing with answers

Below are some paraphrasing in IELTS Writing exercises with answers. To complete the following sentences, apply the effective paraphrasing techniques mentioned above:

• a. The Pie chart below shows the average household expenditure in Japan and Malaysia in the year 2010.
• b. The chart below shows the percentage of adults of different age groups in the UK who used the Internet every day from 2003-2006.
• c. The chart below shows the percentage of the whole world population in four countries from 1950 to 2000, with projections till 2050.
• d. The graph below shows the sales of children’s books, adult fiction and educational books between 2002 and 2006 in one country.
• e. The line graph below shows the population size, birth rate and death rate of England and Wales from 1700 to 2000.
• f. The line graph and bar chart give the information and forecast about the vehicle numbers and CO2 emission in England and Wales between 2000 and 2020.
• g. The charts below show the proportion of the energy produced from different sources in a country between 1985 and 2003.
• h. The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.
• i. The chart below gives information on the percentage of British people giving money to charity by age range for the years 1990 and 2010.
• j. The graph and table below show the average monthly temperatures and the average number of hours of sunshine per year in three major cities.
• k. The diagrams below show the changes that have taken place at the West Part Secondary School since its construction in 1950.
• l. The chart below gives information about Southland’s main exports in 2000, 2021, and future projections for 2025.
• m. The pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in New Zealand in 2003 and 2013.
• n. The chart below shows the changes that took place in three different areas of crime in Newport city center from 2003-2012.
• o. The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010.

Source: theieltswizard.com

• a. People say that global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
• b. The overuse of natural resources ultimately exhausts them. This causes huge harm to the environment. Therefore, the government should discourage people from overusing such resources
• c. Some students prefer to take a gap year between high school and university, to work or to travel.
• d. The world's natural resources are consumed at an ever-increased rate
• e. Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve. Others believe individuals can also do some things to solve these problems.
• f. Some people think that governments should give financial support to artists, musicians and poets
• g. Whether or not someone achieves their aims is mostly by a question of luck
• h. Some people think that the government should ban dangerous sports
• i. In recent years, waste from multinational companies’ production sites has significantly damaged the environment of the host countries.
• j. In many cities, the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime.
• k. In the modern world, it is no longer necessary to use animals for food, clothing or medicine. 
• l. The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.
• m. In the developed world, average life expectancy has been increasing.
• n. The position of women in society has changed greatly in the past 20 years
• o. The level of crime has increased noticeably in different ways

Task 1: 

• a. The given pie chart provides information about the proportion of money spent on household expenses in Japan and Malaysia in 2010. 
• b. The given bar chart illustrates the percentage of adults of different ages using the Internet between 2003 and 2006 in the UK
• c. A glance at the bar chart reveals information about the proportion of the population in India, China, the USA, and Japan in 1950 and 2000, with projected data for 2050.
• d. The given line graph illustrates the comparison of the sales of three different types of books, namely Children’s books, adult fiction, and educational books from 2002 to 2006.
• e. The line graph provides information about the population size and compares the birth and mortality rate of England and Wales for a period of 300 years starting from 1700.
• f. The two charts provide data about the number of vehicles and the amount of CO2 emission by different means of transport in England and Wales from 2000 to 2020
• g. The given pie charts compare the percentage of energy generated from seven different sources in a particular country from 1985 to 2003.
• h. A glance at the line graph provided reveals the information about the increase in the ageing population in Japan, Sweden, and the USA from 1940 to 2040.
• i. The chart examines the level of donation among people of different ages in Britain
• j. The data provides information on average temperatures and annual hours of sunshine in London, New York and Sydney.
• k. The diagrams show West Part School at three different stages in its development in the years 1950, 1980 and 2010.
• l. The given bar chart illustrates the performance of Southland’s primary exports in 2000 and 2013. It also indicates the future projections for 2025.
• m. The two pie charts compare the percentages of online sales across different retail sectors in New Zealand in the years 2003 and 2013.
• n. The given graph illustrates how crime rates altered in Newport inner city during the period 2003-2012.
• o. The given maps depict the changes that took place in the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010. 

Task 2: 

• a. Global warming is said to be caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
• b. Exploiting natural resources will ultimately deplete them and lead to environmental harm. Therefore, the overuse of these resources should be discouraged by governments.
• c. In today’s world, there has been an accelerating trend of students taking a break from studying before pursuing tertiary education
• d. The overconsumption of natural resources is emerging as a major topic of concern today.
• e. Some vast environmental problems, such as global warming and deforestation, occur on a global scale. In the view of some people, the job of addressing these problems is beyond the capability of individuals
• f. Governmental finance as a form of support for artists has evolved into a major topic of concern in modern society
• g. The debate of whether luck is the primary determinant of success in achieving targets has been heated.
• h. It is believed that a ban on extreme sports should be imposed by the authorities
• i. It is argued that waste from large-scale companies has begun destroying the ecology of the countries they operate in.
• j. The use of surveillance cameras as crime prevention is being increased in many major cities around the world. 
• k. These days, we no longer need to use products from animals, such as food, clothing items or even medicine.
• l. Nowadays, face-to-face communication is being replaced with online conversations using social media apps
• m. Many developed countries have been experiencing substantial increases in life expectancy.
• n. The social status of females has dramatically changed in the last two decades.
• o. The increase in the level of crime has been noticeable in multiple ways.

Those are all the techniques of paraphrasing in IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 that will help you easily conquer the IELTS Writing test. PREP wishes you effective IELTS exam preparation and success in achieving a high IELTS band score!

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7 best ways to paraphrase effectively in the IELTS essay

Are you ready to take your ielts writing skills to the next level look no further the ielts essay is a crucial part of the ielts exam, and mastering the art of paraphrasing can make a world of difference in your scores. so, let’s dive into some exciting tips and strategies that will turbocharge your paraphrasing abilities and set you on the path to success, table of contents, what is paraphrasing and why is it needed in an ielts essay, use of synonyms, change the word forms, change the word order, changing active to passive voice, sentence restructuring, change the order of clauses, practice paraphrasing via sample tests, key takeaways.

The IELTS essay serves as a means to assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers . It presents a variety of value-based, opinion-based, and argument analysis questions, requiring candidates to demonstrate their comprehension and communication abilities effectively. To excel in such tasks and achieve the best scores, one must employ good paraphrasing techniques.

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing a sentence while preserving its original meaning. This can be achieved by altering words, restructuring sentences, and applying other paraphrasing methods. Such a skill is not only valuable for IELTS essay writing but also a fundamental aspect of communication in everyday life. Whether summarizing books, movies, or sharing information with others, we naturally resort to paraphrasing.

Strategic ways to paraphrase in an IELTS essay

Knowing how to rephrase is the first step towards effectively paraphrasing information for the IELTS essay. There are multiple ways to paraphrase information for your IELTS essay topics; some of the best ones are discussed below.

Synonyms are words that have identical or similar meanings, making them interchangeable in a given context. In IELTS essay questions, you can effectively substitute a sequence of words with their synonyms without altering the intended meaning of the sentence.

To apply the synonym paraphrase technique, simply replace the original words in the sentence with others that possess comparable meanings. Let’s illustrate this with an example to help you grasp the concept more easily:

• Original- Climate change is a pressing global issue that requires immediate action.
• Rephrased- Addressing climate change is an urgent worldwide concern that necessitates prompt measures.

It is another paraphrasing technique that makes your IELTS essay unique. This requires you to change the form of the word without actually altering the core meaning of the sentence. All you have to do is change nouns into verbs and verbs into adjectives or vice versa. This allows you to showcase your versatility in the English language and helps you score well in an IELTS essay with answers that are paraphrased effectively. Here is an example of this type of paraphrasing-

• Original – The study found that exercise can positively impact your health.
• Rephrased – According to the study, engaging in physical activity offers a multitude of health advantages.

Rearranging the word order in a sentence is a simple yet effective method for paraphrasing information in the IELTS essay writing format. This technique involves adding, omitting, or altering words within the sentence structure.

It stands as one of the most straightforward approaches to paraphrasing in IELTS essay questions. However, it is essential to ensure that the sentences remain error-free and coherent. You can even blend synonyms with changes in word order to achieve smart paraphrasing. The example below illustrates this type of paraphrasing more effectively-

• Original – The government implemented new policies to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities in the country.
• Rephrased – In order to foster economic growth and generate employment prospects, the government introduced new policies.

When you assess past IELTS essay examples, you will find that most questions will be asked in an active voice. It is important to understand how and when to switch between active and passive voice while expressing your viewpoints and discussing various topics in an IELTS essay.

Changing active voice into passive voice and vice versa is easy. All you have to do is place the object of the sentence at the beginning and change the form of the verb according to its existing verb. A knowledge and remembrance of active-passive rules would be a plus here. Here is how you can do it-

• Original – The chef cooked a delicious meal.
• Rephrased- A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.

It is another effective way of paraphrasing a sentence without hampering its actual meaning. This form of paraphrasing requires you to swap the order of words, change some words using synonyms, and check to see if it looks natural.

Only the structure of the sentence changes while the meaning stands still. It is common for students to make mistakes while restructuring the sentence , as it also requires maintaining the flow of the sentence. Here is an example of sentence restructure-

• Original – I cannot attend the meeting tomorrow due to a scheduling conflict.
• Rephrased – Due to a scheduling conflict, I will be unable to attend the meeting tomorrow.

Changing the order of clauses also helps you achieve uniqueness in your IELTS essay. Notably, clauses are groups of words containing a subject and verb . Every sentence can have one or more than one clause, which must be identified first while paraphrasing any sentence.

All you have to do is change the order of the clauses and frame a sentence that looks meaningful and natural. They are generally easy to paraphrase, but some students may find it difficult. An easy example is illustrated below to remind you of the basics-

• Original – Although she was tired, she continued working on her project.
• Rephrased – She continued working on her project, although she was tired.

The most effective approach to amalgamate all the previously discussed tips is through consistent practice of paraphrasing with IELTS essay samples. This dedicated practice enables you to refine your paraphrasing skills specifically tailored to the types of questions commonly encountered in the IELTS essay.

By engaging with sample IELTS papers, you not only gain valuable experience in paraphrasing within the time constraints but also get an opportunity to assess and analyze your performance. Focus on crafting distinct and original responses while practicing with these essay samples.

• Paraphrasing is essential for expressing ideas in a clear and concise manner. It is crucial for IELTS as it also demonstrates language proficiency and effective communication skills.
• Any IELTS aspirant can master the art of paraphrasing by using multiple techniques like the use of synonyms, and changing word and clause order or word forms.
• The key to mastering all these paraphrasing techniques is to practice them on IELTS essay samples.

We hope our blog helped you better understand the importance of paraphrasing and how to effectively use it in the IELTS examination to score better. If you require further assistance with your test preparation then feel free to reach out to us!

Liked this blog? Read next: How to Prepare for IELTS Exam | 5 expert tips

1Q- Are there any common mistakes to avoid while paraphrasing in the IELTS essay?

Answer: Yes, some common mistakes include changing the original meaning, misusing synonyms, and overcomplicating sentences. Ensure your paraphrased answers remain accurate and easy to understand.

2Q- What is considered unacceptable paraphrasing in an IELTS essay?

Answer: Unacceptable paraphrasing in an IELTS essay occurs when candidates plagiarize answers by directly copying phrases from the questions without altering word placement. Such responses are not permitted in the IELTS writing paper.

3Q- What is the most common method to paraphrase in IELTS?

Answer: Using synonyms is the most common way using which IELTS aspirants paraphrase in their

writing test.

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How to Paraphrase Effectively in IELTS Writing: Expert Strategies for Success

Mastering the art of paraphrasing is crucial for achieving a high score in IELTS Writing. This essential skill allows you to demonstrate your language proficiency and avoid plagiarism. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore expert …

Written by: IELTS Mentor

Published on: October 19, 2024

Mastering the art of paraphrasing is crucial for achieving a high score in IELTS Writing. This essential skill allows you to demonstrate your language proficiency and avoid plagiarism. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore expert strategies to help you paraphrase effectively in IELTS Writing, boosting your confidence and improving your overall performance.

Understanding the Importance of Paraphrasing in IELTS

Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill in IELTS Writing, particularly in Task 2 where you’re required to present ideas and arguments based on given prompts. It involves restating information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Effective paraphrasing showcases your vocabulary range, grammatical flexibility, and ability to engage with the topic at hand.

Dr. Emily Thompson, a seasoned IELTS examiner with over 15 years of experience, emphasizes, “Skilled paraphrasing is often the difference between a good and an excellent IELTS Writing score. It demonstrates a candidate’s true language proficiency and critical thinking abilities.”

Key Techniques for Effective Paraphrasing

1. synonym substitution.

One of the most straightforward ways to paraphrase is by replacing words with their synonyms. However, it’s crucial to ensure that the synonyms you choose fit the context correctly.

Example: Original: The rise in global temperatures is causing significant environmental changes. Paraphrased: The increase in worldwide heat levels is leading to substantial ecological alterations.

2. Changing Word Forms

Transforming words from one part of speech to another can effectively change the sentence structure while retaining the original meaning.

Example: Original: The government implemented new policies to reduce pollution. Paraphrased: New policy implementation by the government aimed at pollution reduction.

Paraphrasing techniques in IELTS Writing

3. Altering Sentence Structure

Rearranging the order of ideas or changing the sentence structure can significantly improve your paraphrasing skills.

Example: Original: Despite the challenges, many countries are making progress in renewable energy adoption. Paraphrased: Renewable energy adoption is progressing in numerous nations, notwithstanding the obstacles they face.

4. Using Different Transition Words

Employing various transition words and phrases can help you connect ideas differently while paraphrasing.

Example: Original: The study showed a correlation between exercise and mental health. Therefore, regular physical activity is recommended. Paraphrased: Regular physical activity is advised, as research indicates a link between exercise and psychological well-being.

5. Combining or Splitting Sentences

Sometimes, combining two short sentences or splitting a long one can be an effective paraphrasing strategy.

Example: Original: The internet has revolutionized communication. It has made the world a global village. Paraphrased: By transforming communication, the internet has reduced the world to a global village.

How to avoid misinterpreting questions is another crucial skill that complements effective paraphrasing in IELTS Writing.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Paraphrasing

• Changing meaning: Ensure your paraphrase retains the original idea.
• Overuse of synonyms: Don’t replace every word; focus on key terms.
• Plagiarism: Avoid copying phrases directly from the source text.
• Lack of coherence: Make sure your paraphrased version flows logically.

Dr. Sarah Chen, an IELTS preparation specialist, notes, “Many test-takers struggle with maintaining the original meaning while paraphrasing. It’s essential to practice regularly and focus on conveying the core message accurately.”

Strategies for Practicing Paraphrasing

• Read extensively: Exposure to various writing styles enhances your paraphrasing abilities.
• Use paraphrasing tools wisely: While online tools can be helpful, use them for learning, not during the actual test.
• Practice with past IELTS questions: Familiarize yourself with the types of topics and language used in the exam.
• Peer review: Exchange paraphrasing exercises with study partners for feedback.
• Timed practice: Set time limits to simulate exam conditions.

IELTS Writing practice strategies

Ways to practice IELTS Writing Task 2 at home can significantly improve your paraphrasing skills and overall writing performance.

Advanced Paraphrasing Techniques for IELTS Writing

1. using analogies and metaphors.

Incorporating analogies or metaphors can add depth to your paraphrasing and showcase advanced language skills.

Example: Original: The increase in global communication has led to a more interconnected world. Paraphrased: The world has become a tapestry of interconnected cultures, woven together by the threads of global communication.

2. Employing Idiomatic Expressions

Carefully chosen idiomatic expressions can enhance your paraphrasing and demonstrate a high level of English proficiency.

Example: Original: The project faced many unexpected challenges. Paraphrased: The team had to navigate uncharted waters as they tackled the project’s unforeseen obstacles.

3. Utilizing Complex Sentence Structures

Transforming simple sentences into complex ones or vice versa can be an effective paraphrasing technique.

Example: Original: The city implemented recycling programs. This led to a reduction in landfill waste. Paraphrased: By implementing recycling initiatives, the city successfully diminished the amount of waste destined for landfills.

Improving grammar in reading responses can also enhance your overall language skills, benefiting your paraphrasing abilities in IELTS Writing.

Integrating Paraphrasing into Your IELTS Writing Process

• Analyze the question carefully
• Brainstorm ideas and relevant vocabulary
• Plan your essay structure
• Incorporate paraphrasing when presenting ideas from the prompt
• Use paraphrasing to link ideas and create coherence
• Review your writing to ensure paraphrased content aligns with the original meaning

Professor Michael Lee, a renowned IELTS trainer, advises, “Effective paraphrasing should be seamlessly integrated into your writing. It’s not just about changing words; it’s about presenting ideas in your unique voice while staying true to the original concept.”

IELTS Writing process flowchart

Mastering the art of paraphrasing is essential for excelling in IELTS Writing. By employing the strategies and techniques outlined in this guide, you can effectively demonstrate your language proficiency, avoid plagiarism, and present ideas clearly and coherently. Remember, practice is key to perfecting your paraphrasing skills. Incorporate these techniques into your regular study routine, and you’ll see significant improvements in your IELTS Writing performance.

For more insights on IELTS Writing, particularly for Task 1, explore our guide on strategies for Task 1 graph descriptions .

FAQs About Paraphrasing in IELTS Writing

How can I paraphrase quickly during the IELTS test? Practice regularly and develop a mental bank of synonyms and alternative phrases. Familiarize yourself with common IELTS topics to build relevant vocabulary.

Is it necessary to paraphrase every sentence in IELTS Writing? No, it’s not necessary to paraphrase every sentence. Focus on key ideas and ensure your writing flows naturally.

Can I use direct quotes in IELTS Writing? While not prohibited, it’s better to paraphrase than to use direct quotes. Paraphrasing demonstrates your language skills more effectively.

How do I know if my paraphrasing is correct? Ensure the meaning remains the same as the original and that your paraphrased version sounds natural and coherent.

What should I do if I can’t think of a good paraphrase? If you’re stuck, try simplifying the idea or breaking it down into smaller parts. Sometimes, a straightforward explanation is better than a forced paraphrase.

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Mastering the Art of Handling Unexpected Questions Naturally in IELTS Speaking

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IELTS Skills

Paraphrasing, what is paraphrasing, why is paraphrasing important.

• By changing the words
• By changing the order

The best way to paraphrase

Paraphrasing : “To paraphrase is to include the ideas or information from an original source in your paper by rephrasing those ideas or information in your own words” 1

In other words: Paraphrasing is incorporating the concepts or data from an authentic source in your writing by saying this in another way, while not modifying the original significance.

As you can see above we had an original message, or here a quote from an online source and we changed this quote into our own words. This is paraphrasing, changing the message/words while still keeping the same  meaning.

It’s one of the crucial skills to master for your IELTS. You will need it for

Academic writing task 1

• General Writing task 1
• Writing task 2.
• IELTS speaking
• IELTS reading
• IELTS listening

Have a look at the following parts of the exams and how it’s used.

In your Academic writing task 1 you either get a graph, a process or a map which you need to write about. In your introduction your first sentence should always be a restatement of the task. In other words you need to paraphrase the question . If you just copy exactly what the task says your score will go down.

Additionally, your task will include some key words/ key vocabulary which you will need to use throughout your report. Making sure you do not repeat the key words over and over again will ensure your lexical resources score will go up.

The graphs below show how people in a European city reached their office and got back home in 1959 and 2009. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

This means you have to change:

The graphs below show how people in a European city reached their office and got back home in 1959 and 2009.

By paraphrasing the text, using your own words, but still keeping the original meaning.  

Some of the key words you will have to paraphrase will be:

• European city

General writing task 1

In writing task 1 you have to write a letter based on the task you have been given. This letter always has a purpose (the reason why you are writing the letter) mentioned in the question. This purpose will have to be paraphrased in the letter.

You are a college student in an English speaking country. You share a rented apartment with others but want to move to the college accommodation instead.

Write a letter to the teacher in charge of the hostel and explain your intention to move to the college accommodation. In your letter:

– Introduce yourself

– Give reasons why you not happy with current accommodation

– Explain why you think the college accommodation will be better for you

Write at least 150 words.

This is the purpose of your letter and will have to be included and paraphrased:

You want to move to the college accommodation instead … explain your intention to move to the college accommodation.

You will also need to paraphrase some key vocabulary

• Accommodation

Writing task 2

This is an essay writing where they give you a precise question and you will need to write an essay about it. Here again paraphrasing is used in multiple ways:

• Like in Academic writing 1 you will need to start the introduction of your essay by rephrasing the question . Again this is a crucial skill as people should know what your writing is about, which should always be introduced at the beginning.
• Your task will include some key words/ key vocabulary which you will need to use throughout your essay. Making sure you don’t repeat the key vocabulary will be important to improve your lexical resources score.

One of the consequences of improved medical care is that the people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

What will need to be paraphrased:

Some of the key words you will use throughout your essay:

• Consequences
• Medical care
• People living longer
• Life expectancy
• Disadvantages

IELTS Speaking

In IELTS speaking you will be asked some questions and you will need to answer them. Here paraphrasing is useful in different ways:

• To buy time for thinking , you can always rephrase the question before answering.
• Like in the writing you can try to use synonyms for the key words from the question , to make sure you do not repeat yourself and again increase your lexical resources.
• When you do not know or remember a word you want to use in your speaking you can try describing the word. This is essential as you do want to keep your fluency up and don’t want to have an awkward silence while you try to think of the word you’re looking for.  This will improve your fluency and coherence score.

“When we were walking on the side of the road where you know the people walk…”  

Here the person didn’t remember the word pavement/sidewalk when speaking. Instead of stopping the conversation the person tried to describe it and just continued talking. This is a far better strategy than just stopping a few second to look for the word.

IELTS Reading

When answering the questions in your IELTS reading, paraphrasing will be necessary, as they will never use the same words from the text into your questions . The questions will always use synonyms or paraphrase parts of the text to say the same thing . If you do not know how to look for similar words or expression in the text you will never find the answer. As a result your reading score will go down as you either waste too much time finding the answer, and/or do not find the answer at all.

IELTS Listening

As with in reading it can happen that you will need to rely on synonyms or similar expressions to find the correct answer . This is particularly true in summary and note completion questions . Where you have some sentences and need to fill in the words from the listening. The words in your completion exercise will have synonyms or different wording, while the word you need to fill in will be the exact one of the listening.

How can we paraphrase

There are essentially 2 ways of paraphrasing. Either you change the word or you change the order of the words. Let’s have a look at how you can change the word first before we look at the order.

Changing the word

The easiest way to change the word is by replacing it with a synonym .

Car: vehicle, automobile, means of transport, jeep, pickup, truck, convertible, race car

The only thing you need to be careful of with synonyms is that you cannot always replace 1 word by another.

Let’s have a look at car again

• There are many cars in our neighborhood.
• There are many vehicles in our neighborhood
• There are many automobiles in our neighborhood
• There are many means of transport in our neighborhood
• There are many jeeps in our neighborhood
• There are many pickups in our neighborhood
• There are many trucks in our neighborhood
• There are many convertibles in our neighborhood
• There are many race cars in our neighborhood

Though car has many synonyms, if you just replace them with any of the synonyms randomly the meaning changes. The only synonym where the meaning stays the same is automobiles. With all the other synonyms the meaning of the sentence changes.

So for example:

The production of cars went up in 2009. The production of pickups went up.

General English writing task 1

My car was damaged in the accident. My race car was damaged in the accident. Unless you really are talking about a race car.

The overproduction of cars is a serious issue. The overproduction of means of transport is an issue .

There are many cars on the roads in my country. There are many jeeps on the roads of my country

If your not good at finding synonyms use a thesaurus . This is the best tool for students to expand their vocabulary. Just type in the word and look at the different synonyms provided. J ust remember to make sure that the meaning stays the same.

Another issue with synonyms are collocations. Certain words go together while others don’t .

Excessive smoking is bad for your health

Heavy smoking is bad for your health

Here the collocations are  heavy or excessive  smoking . In English you cannot say strong smoking or big smoking . For collocations there are no rules. The words go together because that’s how people us the words and always have.

If your not good at collocations then use a collocation dictionary . Again an extremely useful tool to expand and correct your vocabulary use. Just fill in the word and look at the possible collocations.

The final issue with synonyms is that the grammar might change.

Although I mostly agree with the main statement, I personally think there might be some important objections.

Despite mostly agreeing with the main statement, I personally think there might be some important objections

As you can see in the example above changing the linking word changes the grammar.

So, when in doubt , and you are not sure of the correct synonym, collocation or grammar, do not change the word . This means you won’t make mistakes, keeping your score up.

2.Changing the word form

You can also just keep the word but change the word form.

For example

Doing exercise : exercising   noun changes into a verb

Fail: failure   verb into a noun

Riding my bike: cycling  expression into a verb

Unnecessary: not necessary changing the prefix un into not

Underplayed: not paid well again changing the prefix

The same problems as with synonyms apply:

• meaning might change
• grammar definitely changes for example if you change a noun into verb.

Again, if you are not sure about what you are doing don’t do it.

3.Changing the grammar

Active to passive.

One of the other possibilities is changing an active sentence into a passive sentence.

The UK sold 2000 cars in February

2000 cars were sold in the UK

Changing the order

You can also just keep the words but change the order of the words in the sentence, or you could combine 2 separate sentences into 1 more complex sentence.

Changing the order of the causes

When you have multiple clauses in your sentence you can swap the clauses and put the second clause first and the first clause last.

Millions of people every year move to English-speaking countries such as Australia, Britain or America, in order to study at school, college or university.

Why do so many people want to study in English?

Why is English such an important international language?

You should write at least 250 words.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In order to study at school, college or university, millions of people every year move to English-speaking countries such as Australia, Britain or America

Combining 2 sentence in 1

Another common way to paraphrase is to combine to existing sentences and combine them into 1 sentence with multiple clauses

Some people think that it is important to use leisure time for activities that improve the mind, such as reading and doing word puzzles.

Other people feel that it is important to rest the mind during leisure time.

While some people think it is important to use leisure time for activities that improve the mind, others feel it is more important to rest the mind.

Here just the first and the second are combined to form one more complex sentence. This is for example a good way to show that you can make complex sentences. Just remember to also use some synonyms and not just combine the 2 sentences.

Now, I’m sure you are asking, which is the best way to paraphrase? The best way is to use a combination of the different techniques. You could combine, synonyms with word from and changing the order, or any other technique or combination.  

The most important things to remember are:

• You do not need to change all words. The examiner is not going to check or count how many synonyms you have used, or how you changed the order of the words. All that matters is that it sounds natural and most importantly that it is correct.
• Make the changes you feel most comfortable with. Like mentioned above, correctness is important, so if you are not sure about the correct synonym, word form, spelling, grammar structure, then don’t change it. Only use the techniques you are comfortable with.

Now you know all the techniques the next thing you need to do is practice them.

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