How to paraphrase in IELTS writing test IELTS writing task 1? IELTS Writing task 1 paraphrasing | How to paraphrase in IELTS test
The ability to paraphrase is an important IELTS skill. This article will demonstrate how to effectively paraphrase.
Rewriting a phrase or statement such that it has the same idea but uses new words is known as paraphrasing. One of the most crucial skills to master before taking the IELTS exam is paraphrasing. It is crucial for writing and speaking, but it will also benefit you in reading and listening assessments. In other words, if you know how to paraphrase, you’ll have a better chance of getting the grade you want.
One of the reasons I urge my students to begin all of their writing exam answers with paraphrasing the question is that the mental processes required to paraphrase will also help them completely understand the question.
Consider the following scenario to know How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing:-
Example: Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills to learn before doing your IELTS test.
Paraphrased: Prior to taking the IELTS test, mastering paraphrasing is one of the most crucial things to do.
As you can see, the second sentence (paraphrased sentence) use synonyms to replace certain vocabulary (e.g., ‘important’ for ‘crucial’ and ‘before’ for ‘before’) and grammar (e.g., “mastering paraphrasing” for “mastering paraphrasing”). You can also rearrange the words.
These are the three primary strategies for paraphrasing sentences in the IELTS test. Although you should aim to use all three, you may only be able to do so in particular cases.
We’ll now take a closer look at each approach, as well as the passive.
Let’s begin to know the tips to know “How to paraphrase in the IELTS test“
Tips to Paraphrase like an IELTS expert: How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing
(1). Using Synonyms in Sentences
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning but are spelled differently. ‘People’ is a synonym for ‘humanity,’ while ‘attractive’ is a synonym for ‘beautiful.’ To create a new sentence, this approach simply changes words with the same meaning.
Consider the following scenario:
- My automobile is running out of gas.
- Fuel is required for my car.
As you can see, I’ve substituted substitutes for three of the four words to create a new phrase that has the same meaning as the original. Although I did not replace all of the terms, you should strive to replace the majority of them.
This is the most common strategy employed by students, and it can be useful if done correctly, but it should be used with caution. The most common error students make is attempting to paraphrase a word that has a similar but not identical meaning. Similar meanings are insufficient and will result in a loss of marks. Let’s look at some examples of bad paraphrases due to the usage of similar rather than identical meanings.
- Violent crime is on the rise among teenagers.
- Violent offenses are rising among young people.
This student has substituted the word ‘young people’ for the word ‘teenagers.’ Teenagers are, of course, young people; but, children and young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 could also be defined as young people. Adolescents or “young individuals between the ages of 13 and 19” would be a better term. As a result, a better approach to summarize this line would be:
Adolescents are increasingly committing violent crimes.
As a result, you should only use terms that you are completely confident with. If you replace a term unless you are quite certain that it is a direct synonym, you are more likely to commit mistakes, which will lower your score.
Let’s look at another great 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.
(2). Change the word order: How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing
We can also effectively paraphrase a sentence by changing the word order, but we must be cautious. Don’t rearrange the words without considering the impact on the sentence’s grammar. You may need to add a word, remove a word, or change the form of a word if you change the word order. (How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing)
The 100 percent rule applies once more: don’t change it unless you’re certain it’s grammatically right. Remember that on the IELTS test, you will be judged on your ability to produce error-free sentences as well as your ability to apply a variety of grammar structures.
Fortunately, in most IELTS questions, there are two simple ways to shift the word order.
How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing – Tip to recognize:- 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.
To paraphrase it even more, we may add these synonyms:
Changed the order of the words AND used synonyms: Many lesser-used languages are at risk of extinction as languages like Chinese, English, and Spanish become more widely used.
- If the question contains an adjective or a noun, you can also adjust the word order. Simply change the adjective to a relative clause to do this.
Question: Learning to manage money is one of the key aspects to adult life.
Paraphrased using a relative clause: Learning to manage money is one of the aspects to adult life that is key.
(3). Change the form of the word
Words come in a variety of forms, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. We can successfully paraphrase by changing the shape of a word. Again, don’t just modify the word’s spelling; double-check that your changes are grammatically correct. To make the sentence error-free, you may need to alter the words around it.
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.
(4). Change from active to passive voice
Because academic writing frequently employs the passive voice, it can be employed in the IELTS academic writing test. The passive can only be used with verbs that have an object.
The property developers put $20 million into the creation of the shopping center as an example of an active sentence.
A $20 million investment was made in the construction of shopping centers as an example of a passive sentence.
When we don’t want to express our opinion, we often use the passive voice in academic writing.
People claim that the use of fossil fuels is the cause of global warming.
The use of fossil fuels, for example, is believed to be the cause of global warming.
Q:- How many of these approaches should I employ?
The four strategies can be used separately or in combination. I urge my students to use synonyms and try to adjust the grammar (word order and/or word form). Remember to only utilize procedures with which you are completely familiar and confident that your work is error-free.
Your Next step: How to Paraphrase in IELTS Writing
Only if you practice using these paraphrase techniques will they help you on the IELTS exam. Find some sample writing questions and use these strategies to paraphrase them. You can utilize each approach separately before combining them. Try each one to see which one works best for you. If you practice enough, you’ll start to notice patterns in the questions, and changing popular words and phrases will become second nature.
Simply use Google to look up examples of paraphrases. If you Google particular terms, you’ll find a slew of publications on the same subject. You may see how different writers have conveyed the same concepts by comparing these.
I hope you have understood this educational article about “How to paraphrase in IELTS writing test”. If yes?
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