paraphrasing for ielts writing task 2

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

• Test Information FAQ
• Band Scores
• IELTS Candidate Success Tips
• Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
• How to Prepare
• Useful Links & Resources
• Recommended Books
• Writing Task 1
• Writing Task 2
• Speaking Part 1 Topics
• Speaking Part 2 Topics
• Speaking Part 3 Topics
• 100 Essay Questions
• On The Day Tips
• Top Results
• Advanced IELTS

IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

Success in IELTS writing task 2 is based on using the right techniques. These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score.

All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2.

On this page, you will find for free:

• Test Information for Writing Task 2
• Practice essay questions
• Essential tips for IELTS writing task 2
• Free video lessons
• Model essays
• Practice lessons to improve your IELTS essay writing (paraphrasing, skills, ideas, spelling etc

Although some lessons are dated from years ago, all lessons and tips are 100% relevant to IELTS writing task 2 today. 

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Test Information

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test.

• IELTS recommend you spend no more than 40 mins on writing task 2. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.
• You should write  over 250 words. In the lessons below you will learn about word count and essay length.
• Learn how your total writing score is calculated: Total Writing Score Calculations
• Task Response (25%)
• Coherence & Cohesion (25%)
• Vocabulary (25%)
• Grammar (25%)
• For band score tips and details, see this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores 
• Academic writing task 2 is a formal essay. The common types of essays are: Opinion, Discussion, Advantage/Disadvantage, Direct Questions, Solutions. These categorisations will differ from teacher to teacher depending on how they like to teach. See below for 100 IELTS Essay Questions to practise at home.
• GT writing task 2 is the same as Academic IELTS. The essay is written in the same way and the scoring is the same. The only difference is that GT essay questions are often easier and topics are simpler.
• All words will be counted, even small or repeated words. See this page: How Words are Counted
• COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS: See the following link to read Pros and Cons of Computer Based IELTS : 
• For more information about IELTS test rules and info, see this page: IELTS  Test FAQ

2. IELTS Practice Essay Questions

Practice essay questions to help you prepare ideas for topics in IELTS writing task 2. These questions have been written based on questions reported by IELTS students. They are not IELTS tests.

Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions

3. Essential IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

The most important writing tips for a strong IELTS essay in writing task 2. Learn about the recommended essay length, how to plan your essay, when to give your opinion and how to write an introduction etc.

How many paragraphs for an IELTS essay? : Essay structure

Key Linking Words List : Academic Vocabulary

Types of IELTS Essays : Main Essay Types in Writing Task 2

Video:  How to write an introduction paragraph : Complete lesson

Essay Planning Tips : How to plan your IELTS essay

Common Essay Topics : 20 Most Common Essay Topics

Video:  Essay Length Advice : How long should your essay be?

Video:  Official Writing Answer Sheet Tips : Using the answer sheet

When to give your opinion : Opinion Essay Tips

Video  Using the last 5 minutes : Exam technique tips

Video: Paraphrasing Tips

Finding Ideas : Developing ideas for essay topics

4. More Video & Tips for Writing Task 2

• Deleting Words in your Essay
• Should I indent the first word of my paragraphs?
• 10 sentences to avoid in your IELTS essay
• Video:  How to add examples to your essay
• Tips: Under Words Penalty
• Do advantages outweigh disadvantages tips?
• Video:   How to give your opinion
• Can you use quotes, idioms or proverbs in your essay?
• Handwriting: Using cursive writing or not
• Essay Questions from 2016
• Writing a Long Introduction: Good or Bad?
• Video : Single-sex & Mixed Schools 
• Video : Grammar – How to Add a Clause
• Video : Grammar – Connecting Sentences
• Video : Conclusion Linkers
• Video : Discussion Essay Useful Language
• Video : Using the Last 5 Minutes Tips
• Video : Should Ideas be Interesting?
• New Essay Topics for 2023

All Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Videos Lessons

5. Model Essays

Sample essays for IELTS writing task 2. These high score model essays will help you understand how to answer the essay questions and how to structure your writing.

• Agree Disagree Opinion Essay: Health
• Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Language
• Cause  Solution Essay: Crime & Punishment
• Direct Questions Essay: Happiness
• Opinion Essay: Social Media
• Discussion Essay: Work
• Direct Questions Essay: Family
• Direct Questions Essay: Art
• Positive or Negative Development: Social Media
• 2 Model Essays about Economy & Money /Buildings
• Model Essay & Question for Topic of Education
• Two Question Essay: Technology

6. Practice Lessons for Writing Task 2

Develop your IELTS writing skills and get useful ideas for many essay questions. Lessons are in order of date and new lessons will be added over time.

• New Essay Topics in 2023 (these are new topics only. You also need to prepare all common topics as well)
• IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022
• Grammar Test : Using “the” with countries and nationalities
• Paraphrasing Practice 1
• Paraphrasing Practice 2
• Paraphrasing Practice 3
• Essay Questions for 2017 – questions reported in the test this year.
• Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions
• Essay Ideas: Employment Competition
• Writing Skills: Paraphrasing Practice
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (2)
• Essay Ideas: The Importance of History
• Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees 
• Essay Ideas: International Aid
• Essay Ideas: City Transport
• Essay Ideas: Salaries
• Essay Ideas: Function of Schools
• Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
• Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice
• Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice
• Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
• Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters
• Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic
• Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
• Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success
• Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities
• Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution
• Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)
• Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills
• Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children
• Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders
• Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points
• Writing Skills: Thesis Statement
• Essay Ideas: Public Services .

………………

Free Subscribe to Receive New Posts by Email

Type your email…

Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books

Click Below to Learn:

• IELTS Test Information

Copyright Notice

Copyright © Elizabeth Ferguson, 2014 – 2024

All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

• Click here:  Privacy Policy 
• Click here: Disclaimer

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2024 · Prose on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

IELTS Advantage

IELTS Preparation Courses

IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

• Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

• How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

• How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

• How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

• How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

• How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

• How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

• How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

• Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

• How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

• Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

• Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

• The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

• IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

• IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

• Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

• Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

• Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

• Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

• Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

• Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

• Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

• From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

• Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
• Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
• Latest Real Task 2 Questions
• Official Sample Test Questions
• Cambridge Sample Questions
• Free Practice Test
• How To Use Task 2 Samples
• Recent Confusing Questions
• IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

• You must write an essay in response to a question.
• You must write 250 words or more.
• Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
• You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
• General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
• There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

• Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

IELTS paraphrasing practice

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.

Key points about paraphrasing

In the introduction of your essay the first thing you should do is paraphrase the topic question by using synonyms or changing the word-formation. I f you just copy the original question you will lose points .

A good technique is to change the form of the words by using: a verb, gerund, adjective or noun . Look at the examples below.

People increasingly access the news online these days rather than buying newspapers and magazines to find out what is going on in the world. There is an increase in people accessing the news online these days rather than buying newspapers and magazines to find out what is going on in the world.

I have changed two words above from Adverb+ verb in sentence 1, to noun phrase + gerund and re-ordered the sentence slightly. Using this technique you need to be confident with your grammar if you decide to change the word-formation.

You have to be careful when using synonyms though, click here to see a lesson about learning new words and the dangers of synonyms.

Let’s Practice Paraphrasing

This task is a problem-solution essay. Choose words from the list and try paraphrasing it. You do not need to paraphrase the instruction words. Check my answer when you have finished.

Practice it first before checking my answer.

My answer. (two variations)

a) People residing in large urban areas have to deal with a lot of issues in their day to day lives.

B) there are a number of issues that people living in cities have to cope with in their everyday lives..

I did not use the word ‘citizens ‘as it doesn’t fit well, the word ‘people’ is hard to paraphrase so I kept it.

Some words cannot be used here such as ‘ suburbs’  or  ‘towns’  there is a difference in meaning to ‘cities’. Also the word ‘huge’ doesn’t feel right here so I didn’t use it.

Remember that not every word has to be paraphrased , there is no black and white answer to paraphrasing, it depends on your vocabulary and how you can use synonyms correctly. Make sure the meaning stays the same or you will lose marks.

Let’s try another one

Try it yourself before checking my answer.

a) The Internet, which is a huge source of knowledge, has created opportunities for people worldwide to study.

B) the worldwide web is a massive source of information and has given people all over the world the ability to study..

Some words do not go well here such as ‘ folks’ which is too informal and ‘humankind’ which does not sound right in this situation.

The words ‘data’ and ‘know-how’ just do not match well here and could change the meaning slightly.

Again, I have kept the word ‘people’ as this is hard to paraphrase.

Any questions? , comment below.

Do you need help with your writing? Take a look at the Writing Correction Service here.

Leave a comment cancel reply.

• E-mail: [email protected]

• IELTS Practice Tests
• Recent Actual Tests
• Speaking Part 1
• Speaking Part 2
• Speaking Part 3
• General Training Writing Task 1
• Process Diagram
• Mixed Charts
• Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
• Agree or Disagree Essays
• Discuss Both Views Essays
• Direct Questions Essays
• Problems/Causes & Solutions Essays
• Speaking Vocabulary
• Writing Vocabulary
• Collocations for IELTS

Common Paraphrase for IELTS Writing Task 2

2. Importance

3. minimize, 4. describe people, 5. describe the action “lead to …”., male and female internet users aged 15-24 in canada, ielts writing vocabulary: technology, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR POSTS

Ielts listening practice test 204, 200 ielts speaking sample answers [pdf + audio], ielts recent actual tests [full pdf + audio], ielts books collection: 200+ books, audio & videos [frequently updated], ielts writing recent actual tests 2023 [frequently updated], the key to ielts writing task 2 by pauline cullen [pdf + audio], the vocabulary files c1 + c2 ielts advanced, ielts reading practice test 320, 120 listening reading practice tests [audio + pdf], ielts writing task 1 by simon [pdf] free.

9IELTS is dedicated to providing free materials and resources for IELTS conquerors. Stay constantly updated with a wide range of ultimate tips, strategies, and practice tests to crack the high-stakes IELTS exam!

Recent Posts

Only way to guarantee a good job is to complete university education, modern buildings change the character and appearance of towns and cities, overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems, ielts reading practice test 185, studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career.

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

© 2024 9IELTS . All Rights Reserved.

• Practice Test
• Useful Tips – Tricks
• Full Writing Review
• General Writing Task
• Writing Task 1
• Writing Task 2
• Writing Exercises
• Writing Sample – Topics
• Writing Vocabulary
• Speaking Vocabulary
• Intro Question
• Speaking Part 1
• Speaking Part 2
• Speaking Part 2 – Audio
• Speaking Part 3
• IELTS Books
• Recent Exams
• IELTS Vocabulary
• Essay from Examiners
• IELTS Ideas

IELTS App - For Mobile

Ready for the IELTS exam with our IELTS app. Over 2 million downloads

Popular Last 24h

Describe a person whom you met for the first time and made you happy, describe a film that made you laugh, in many countries，today there are many highly qualified graduates without employment., [pdf + audio] download full set of 4000 essential english words, list of top 100 synonyms in the ielts test, describe an intelligent person, ielts speaking part 1 : study (question-answer).

• IELTS Test/Skills FAQs
• IELTS Scoring in Detail
• Forecast Speaking – 2023
• List IELTS Speaking Part 3
• List IELTS Speaking Part 1
• IELTS Writing 2023 – Actual Test

Our Telegram

Join our community for IELTS preparation and share and download materials.

The information on this site is for informational purposes only. IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, or IDP Education Australia.

Latest Articles

Writing task 2: governments – environmental, writing task 2: topic education, writing task 1: average number of hours students, writing task 1: internet use for different purposes in australia, ielts speaking part 3: topic teamwork, most popular, topic: experience is the best teacher, describe something difficult you would like to succeed in doing.

ieltspracticeonline All Rights Reserved

IELTS Paraphrasing Task 2 | Video Post

To “paraphrase” something (usually a written or spoken passage) means to re-write it using different vocabulary, phrases, and structures than the original, while keeping the same information and meaning . This ability is essential for the IELTS exam! So if you’re planning on taking the IELTS, it’s time to start sharpening up you paraphrasing skills.

Being able to paraphrase is extremely useful for IELTS Speaking — but it’s even more important for the IELTS Writing section. Paraphrasing shows that you really understand a question, and are not just copying it word for word into your answer.

Re-writing something in your own words can be difficult at first, but our IELTS expert is here to help you become a whiz at IELTS paraphrasing.

With this in mind, we’re proud to present our brand new IELTS resource: the free IELTS Paraphrasing Task 2 video! Watch the embedded video below, or scroll down for a full video transcript. (And check out our Paraphrasing Task 1 video if you haven’t already!) 🙂  

What Will I See in the IELTS Paraphrasing Task 2 Video?

In this free 5-minute IELTS Paraphrasing video, our IELTS expert Eliot will walk you through how to make high scoring paraphrases, using information you are likely to see in an IELTS Academic Task 2 prompt.

The video begins with a brief introduction, after which Eliot will walk you through how to use paraphrasing skills to write good introductions for a IELTS Task 2 essay prompt.

The Task 2 essay is worth two thirds of the points for your writing score the IELTS, so it’s a very important piece of the exam. Since you will only be given a total of 40 minutes to complete Task 2, learning how to quickly write a strong task 2 introduction can save you some precious time!

IELTS Vocabulary 1 Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Eliot the IELTS expert from Magoosh, and today we have a little bit of a challenge for you. By the end of this presentation here, we’re going to ask you to write a comment below where you can submit an answer to a question we’re going to pose to you. And we’re gonna offer to evaluate that, to give you some feedback on it, okay? So what we’re thinking about in this assignment that we have for you is task 2 essays and how to write good introductions for a task 2 essay prompt. Okay, so what goes into a good introduction? Well, there are two basic parts you always need to have in a good IELTS task 2 introduction. First, you need to introduce the topic of the essay to your reader, all right? So it has to be very clear what the essay’s going to be about. And then you have to write a thesis statement where you give your perspective on that topic. You sort of give your opinion, if an opinion is required, or at least your perspective. What do you think about the topic that’s been posed to you in your task 2 question? This is difficult to do, and many of my students have trouble doing it, probably for a lot of reasons. One is that there’s a lot of pressure on your task 2 essay, right? It’s worth two thirds of the points for your writing score the IELTS, so that’s a lot of pressure right there, but also time is so limited, right? You only have 40 minutes to write your task 2 essay, so you don’t have much time to brainstorm. It’s very important to get really good at writing these task 2 introductions, to get started on your essay so that you can save time. And that you have enough time to write your body paragraphs then, and hit your word minimum for your task 2 essay. So the skill we’re working on to do this is to do a really good job of paraphrasing the language from the prompt, translating the language into your own introduction. So what we’re going to do in the assignment that we’re gonna give you here on this video, I’m gonna pose a question for you, a sample task 2 question. And what I want you to do is to do your best to use your own words to paraphrase the language from the prompt and write your own task 2 introduction for the question that we’ve posed. Okay, so you can see the question that we’re gonna be thinking about is, if you could change your home town to make it a better place, what changes would you make? How would these changes improve your home town? This is a sample IELTS task 2 question that’s what I call a thematic question, there are a few questions that they ask you in a row and you need to answer all of them in your essay. So this is a challenging type to answer. What you should do as you think about writing your introduction is to make sure you focus on what is the topic. How can I explain what the topic of this essay is going to be? In just a couple of words, we could say the topic is about your hometown, or making improvements on your hometown. Well, put that into your own language as you begin your introduction. And then your thesis statement should come next, okay, so what’s your thesis going to be for this essay type? Well, the specific improvements you plan to make to your hometown to make it better would be the thing to focus on in your thesis. So think about those things, brainstorm, what are you going to propose are the changes you could make to your hometown to make them better? Those specific things should be in your thesis. So I want you to try this out okay? I want you to think about the question, sit down, pretend you’re about to write a task 2 essay, and then go ahead and write that introduction only. And put it in the comments below this video and we will give you feedback, let you know how you did and what could be improved in your task 2 introduction. So do your best and I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this and, we’ll give you some responses about how well you did.

More IELTS Practice…

If you want more IELTS paraphrasing practice after watching the video, check out our free blog post on How to Paraphrase on the IELTS , and check out our main IELTS Writing blog post . And don’t forget to comment! 🙂

Happy studying!

Molly is one of Magoosh’s Content Creators. She designs Magoosh’s graphic assets, manages our YouTube channels and podcasts, and contributes to the Magoosh High School Blog.

Since 2014, Molly has tutored high school and college students preparing for the SAT, GRE, and LSAT. She began her tutoring journey while in undergrad, helping her fellow students master math, computer programming, Spanish, English, and Philosophy.

Molly graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a B.A. in Philosophy, and she continues to study ethics to this day. An artist at heart, Molly loves blogging, making art, taking long walks and serving as personal agent to her cat, who is more popular on Instagram than she is.

View all posts

More from Magoosh

3 responses to “IELTS Paraphrasing Task 2 | Video Post”

If I had a chance to modify my city to improve the way of living for the people, I would like to make a few alterations in the traffic rules. I think this would be the most important amendment for every one. Furthermore, I would like to improve the underground sewage system which is essential during the rainy season. This change will certainly help the city roads from getting over flooded during heavy rains.

Every society have their own share of problems and difficulties but like the dawn after dust, opportunities to rectify them is also within our reach. Likewise, if I were given the authority to serve my community, I would propose improvements in many sectors. In particular, issues concerning youth related substance abuse and shortage of drinking water.

Human community, with time, have organically grown by incorporating many developing ideas from within. Even though I wish for subtle modifications in my town, I believe these changes would make my town sustainable and environment friendly.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Effective Strategies and Examples for Paraphrasing in IELTS Writing Task 2:

Paraphrasing is an essential skill in IELTS Writing Task 2 as it demonstrates your ability to restate information in your own words. Here are some of the best strategies and examples to help you paraphrase effectively in your IELTS Writing Test.

• Synonyms: Replace words or phrases with similar ones.

Original sentence: “Many people believe that technology has a negative impact on social interactions.”

Paraphrased sentence: “A considerable number of individuals hold the view that the influence of technology on interpersonal relationships is adverse.”

• Word order changes: Rearrange the word order while maintaining the original meaning.

Original sentence : “Education plays a crucial role in shaping a person’s future.”

Paraphrased sentence : “The future of an individual is significantly shaped by their education.”

• Passive to active voice and vice versa: Change the sentence structure from active to passive voice or vice versa.

Original sentence : “The government should take action to reduce pollution levels.”

Paraphrased sentence : “Action should be taken by the government to decrease pollution levels.”

• Use different grammatical structures: Express the same idea using different sentence structures.

Original sentence: “The importance of physical exercise should not be underestimated.”

Paraphrased sentence: “Physical exercise holds significant significance and should not be undervalued.”

When paraphrasing, it is crucial to maintain the original meaning while using your own words. Also, you should ensure that your paraphrased sentences are grammatically correct and coherent. Practice paraphrasing regularly during your IELTS preparation to enhance your skills.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Paraphrase Question

Share this article:

About the video

Paraphrasing the IELTS Writing Task 2 question is the most important and the correct way to start one’s essay and grab a high band score in the IELTS writing paper. Paraphrasing means replacing all the possible words in a sentence with their synonyms in such a way that the sentence retains the original meaning. Although there are various strategies to paraphrase the IELTS writing Task 2 question following the three main ones will help you to paraphrase the question easily and correctly. 

These are: 

The use of synonyms, Verb transformation and Restructuring of the sentence. Using different words with similar meanings shows the examiner a range of your vocabulary, that helps you to secure the 25% band score which depends on your lexical resource. 

Changing not only the words but also the voices can help you to paraphrase the sentence (but remember not all words can be transformed, because changing all the words might also change the meaning of the sentence). 

Another important thing to remember is that you should be very careful while using synonyms because synonyms at times might not have exactly the same meaning and it might bot be possible to always replace the words with their synonyms. 

After replacing the possible words in the sentence, the sentence can be restructured successfully either by changing it from active to passive voice or vice versa. 

Another strategy of changing the sentence structure is to change s simple sentence into either a compound sentence or a complex sentence. Following all these strategies one can successfully paraphrase the writing task 3 question and also secure a high band score by giving ones essay the correct start.

Share this video:

The official IELTS by IDP app is here! Download it today.

• IELTS tests IELTS Academic IELTS General Training IELTS UKVI IELTS One Skill Retake LEARN ABOUT THIS TEST What is IELTS Academic? Reschedule or cancel an IELTS test Find a test centre WAYS TO TAKE IELTS ACADEMIC IELTS on paper IELTS on computer IELTS Online LEARN ABOUT THIS TEST What is IELTS General Training? Reschedule or cancel an IELTS test Find a test centre WAYS TO TAKE IELTS GENERAL TRAINING IELTS on paper IELTS on computer LEARN ABOUT THIS TEST What is IELTS UKVI? Reschedule or cancel an IELTS test Find a test centre WAYS TO TAKE IELTS UKVI IELTS on paper IELTS on computer LEARN ABOUT THIS TEST What is IELTS One Skill Retake? Reschedule or cancel an IELTS test READ MORE ABOUT IELTS ONE SKILL RETAKE Where is IELTS One Skill Retake available? FIND THE RIGHT TEST IELTS for study IELTS for work IELTS for migration

Get your results

Check your provisional IELTS results online and do more.

Task 1 & 2: Paraphrasing

Learn how to paraphrase for IELTS and improve your writing score with simple techniques like synonyms and sentence combining. Start practising now!

Content Tags

Paraphrasing is essential in the IELTS test. It's a great skill to have for speaking and it's especially important for the writing section. This skill shows that you not only understand the question but that you can discuss it fully. If you write the original statement in your tasks, it may not be counted and it could hurt your word count.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is writing the same information using different vocabulary, phrases, and structures.

How do I paraphrase?

Paraphrasing can be a daunting task. Here are some simple techniques that can help you paraphrase well in your writing:

Use synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. Using synonyms is an easy way to create a new sentence that has the same meaning.

Some people think that parents should teach their children how to be good members of society.

Some individuals believe that parents should teach their children how to be a positive part of their community.

Make sure that the synonyms you are using have the same meaning, and not similar, as this could change the meaning of the sentence.

Some people believe that car emissions have a massive impact on the environment.

Incorrect: Some people believe that car emissions have a large impact on the environment.

Correct: Some people believe that car emissions have an enormous impact on the environment.

Be careful because some synonyms can be used in some situations but not in others.

The amount of fish consumed in the world has increased dramatically.

Incorrect: The amount of fish used in the world has increased dramatically.

The amount of fuel consumed when driving largely depends on the vehicle.

Correct: The amount of fuel used when driving largely depends on the vehicle. 

Also, grammar is important when using synonyms.

Wealth does not necessarily guarantee happiness.

Having money does not necessarily ensure satisfaction.

2. Change word order

Putting words and phrases in different places within the sentence is another simple way to paraphrase.

The percentage of stressed children in western society has increased by 15% in the last ten years.

In the last ten years, the percentage of stressed children in western society has increased by 15%.

Again, the meaning of the sentence may change when changing the word order.

Successful sports professionals earn more money than people in other important professions.

Incorrect: People in other important professions earn more money than successful sports professionals.

Correct: People in other important professions earn less money than successful sports professionals.

3. Change word form

Along with word order, you can change word form. This involves changing vocabulary from nouns to verbs, adjectives to adverbs, and so on.

Nowadays, crimes are becoming more violent.

Nowadays, crimes are being committed more violently.

Once again, grammar is important when changing word form.

The level of crime has increased noticeably in different ways.

Incorrect: There was an increase noticeably in the level of crime in different ways.  

Correct: The increase in the level of crime has been noticeable in different ways.

4. Active to Passive

Changing your sentences from active to passive voice can be more difficult than the other techniques; however, it shows a variety in your grammar structures.

Active: Technological advances have replaced people in the workforce.

Passive: People in the workforce have been replaced by technological advances.

Make sure you know how to change the structure of a sentence before trying to use the passive voice.

Children today play very violent video games.

Incorrect: Children today are played by very violent video games.

Correct: Very violent video games are played by children today.

5. Combine sentences

The ability to combine sentences gives you more opportunity to change word order as well as shows off more variety in your writing.

Some people believe that animals should have the same rights as humans. Other people believe that animals should be used for various needs such as food and research.

Some people believe that animals should have the same rights as humans, while others believe they should be used for various needs such as food and research.

When combining sentences, make sure that the transitions you are using are correct.

Some people believe that logging is a serious problem. They believe that it may lead to the extinction of animal life.

Incorrect: Some people believe that logging is a serious problem, while others believe that it may lead to the extinction of animal life.

Correct: Some people believe that logging is a serious problem and it may lead to the extinction of animal life.

Practice using these techniques in your writing to become more comfortable with paraphrasing. Paraphrasing can lead to better writing, which in turn, can lead to a better writing score.

By Ashlee Hunter

Share this article

You may also like.

The A to Z of IELTS: B is for 'blue' and 'black' idioms

The A to Z of IELTS: C is for 'collocations'

The A to Z of IELTS: E is for Essays

How to write the date correctly

IELTS Speaking: How to perform at your best in part 1

IELTS Speaking: How to perform at your best in the part 3 discussion

IELTS for native English speakers – some tips to get a top score

Homophones, homographs & homonyms

IELTS Speaking test: 10 tips from Experts

IELTS Speaking: How to perform at your best in the part 2 long turn

• Useful links
• Who accepts IELTS?
• News and articles
• IELTS Masterclass
• Your IELTS results
• IELTS General Training
• IELTS Academic
• IELTS Online
• IELTS by IDP app
• Find a test centre
• Middle East
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Legal notices
• Privacy policy
• Cookie policy
• Copyright 2024 IDP IELTS

IELTS Writing Task 2 Course

Introductions 1: paraphrasing the question.

There are many ways to write an introduction paragraph but a simple and tested technique is the following:

Paraphrase the question (use synonyms/ different parts of speech/ different word order etc.)

Give your opinion

Outline your 2/ 3 main ideas (which will be in body paragraphs 1 & 2)

Let’s begin by looking at how to paraphrase the IELTS question in your introduction.

Paraphrase the IELTS Question

A. use the passive:.

One of the best ways to begin is to change the active “some people believe” to the passive, “it is believed by some people” or vice-versa.

b. Use a similar, but different verb:

Verbs such as “argue”, “believe”, or “think” are interchangeable in this context. So, if the question says, “Some people believe ”, you can write “It is argued by some people”, or just, “ It is often argued ”.

c. Use synonyms

In the rest of the sentence, look for synonyms which can replace words in the question. For example, “fixed” becomes “determined” , “develop” becomes “forms” , “personality” becomes “character” , and “because” becomes “due to” .

d. Change parts of speech or word order

You can also change parts of speech, word order or grammatical structure. For example, we develop our personality… becomes the development of our personality…

For more information on writing IELTS Writing Task 2 introductions go here .

Look at the underlined words/ phrases in the following IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. Think of at least one synonym/ parallel phrase for each. (Remember that the synonym needs to fit the context of the question).

i. Due to the fast pace of modern life an increasing number of people regularly eat fast food for their main meals. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

ii. Many people argue that restaurants should be required to disclose the nutritional information of the dishes they serve. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

iii. Nowadays people waste a lot of food that was bought from shops and restaurants. Why do you think people waste food? What can be done to reduce the amount of food they throw away?

Paraphrase the whole IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. Try to use synonyms, change word order, use the passive and use different parts of speech.

Some people prefer to eat at restaurants, whereas others prefer to eat home-made food.

Which do you prefer?

Paraphrase: While some people have a preference for eating out, others would rather prepare food and eat at home.

iv. Fast food restaurants are helpful because they save people time and effort in today’s busy world. Do you agree or disagree?

v. Many people believe that home-cooked meals are better for one’s health. Those who disagree argue that it is healthier to eat restaurant meals. What’s your opinion?

Writing Task 2 Exercise Answer Key:

due to: As a result of/ Owing to/ As a consequence of

fast pace: hectic/ extremely busy/ many responsibilities/ heavy demands

modern life: life nowadays/ modern world/ the way people live these days

increasing number: growing number/ rising number/ increasing quantity

regularly: often/ frequently

eat: consume/ rely on/ buy

Many people argue: It is often claimed/ It is argued by many people/ People frequently say/ A large number of people believe

should be required: it should be necessary/ a requirement should be imposed

disclose: publish/ show/ reveal

nutritional information: information on nutrition/ nutritional data/ nutritional content

dishes they serve: menu items/ food they offer/ dishes on the menu

Nowadays : These days/ In the modern world/ Currently

waste a lot of food: a lot of food is wasted/ throw away a large amount of food

bought: purchased

shops and restaurants: food retailers/ places selling food

In this video, you also get impressive sentence structures for your body paragraphs, such as:

1. There are a great number of reasons to support/oppose this belief. 2. There do exist reasons why this notion is out of favor with some. 3. Let’s examine the flaws in this view.

Your Opinion

You will need a few interesting phrases to express your opinion on IELTS exam day, as you must directly give your opinion not only on IELTS Writing Task 2, but also Speaking Part 3.

Here are some interesting ways to do this:

• My frank and honest opinion is that…
• It is my firm belief that…
• I’m inclined to believe that…

Plus, you should learn some idioms to express your opinion . Even on IELTS Writing Task 2, you should use 1 or 2 idioms to raise your vocabulary score.

Solution/Cause/Effect

• One possible quick fix could be…
• The key to unraveling the issue is…
• The origins of the problem can be found in…
• The genesis of the issue is actually…
• The aftermath has involved…
• There are legitimate repercussions, including…

Finally, it is always a good idea to look at exemplary essays and learn from them. One student, after taking our course, got an 8.5 in writing , and in this episode he tells you how .

Practice the phrases from today by adding them to your vocabulary notebook and using them in your own examples.

What do you think of today’s advice?

Leave us a message in the comments section below!

Get Your Transcripts Today!

Make sure you understand every word you hear on All Ears English.

Bring your English to the advanced level with new vocabulary and natural expressions.

Subscribe and get the transcripts delivered by email.

Learn to speak naturally with the American accent.

Related Posts

• IELTS Vocabulary

IELTS Energy 1375: IELTS Synonyms for Sizes and Amounts

• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

IELTS 1373: The Strongest Vocabulary for Writing Task 1

Ielts energy 1372: the ielts task 1 mistake that gives you a 4.

Privacy Overview

• Skip to main content

IELTS Podcast

Pass IELTS with expert help.

Mastering Clauses for IELTS Writing Task 2

April 28, 2024 By Edward Kader Leave a Comment

Listen to the audio version here

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Ben Worthington, founder and manager of IELTSPodcast.com . Ben is an expert IELTS tutor with over 12 years of experience, helping thousands of students annually achieve Band 7 or higher in their IELTS exams.

What Is a Clause and Why Is It Important in IELTS Writing Task 2?

OK A clause refers to a segment of a sentence containing a main verb or a section of a legal agreement. Understanding different types of clauses is crucial for effective communication in the IELTS Writing Task 2.

How Can You Use Independent and Coordinate Clauses Effectively?

Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while coordinate clauses connect two ideas. Utilising these clauses effectively ensures clear communication.

What Are Subordinate and Concessive Clauses, and How Do They Enhance Writing?

Subordinate clauses add complexity to sentences, while concessive clauses introduce contrasting ideas, providing a nuanced approach to writing.

How Do Relative Clauses Improve Sentence Variety and Precision?

Relative clauses, both defining and non-defining, join ideas and provide additional information, crucial for enhancing clarity and precision in your writing.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Mastering Clauses for IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Podcast

• Language Learning

By Ben Worthington, founder and manager of IELTSPodcast.com. Ben is an expert IELTS tutor with over 12 years of experience, helping thousands of students annually achieve Band 7 or higher in their IELTS exams. What Is a Clause and Why Is It Important in IELTS Writing Task 2? OKA clause refers to a segment of a sentence containing a main verb or a section of a legal agreement. Understanding different types of clauses is crucial for effective communication in the IELTS Writing Task 2. How Can You Use Independent and Coordinate Clauses Effectively? Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while coordinate clauses connect two ideas. Utilising these clauses effectively ensures clear communication. What Are Subordinate and Concessive Clauses, and How Do They Enhance Writing? Subordinate clauses add complexity to sentences, while concessive clauses introduce contrasting ideas, providing a nuanced approach to writing. How Do Relative Clauses Improve Sentence Variety and Precision? Relative clauses, both defining and non-defining, join ideas and provide additional information, crucial for enhancing clarity and precision in your writing. Share this article: Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on LinkedIn Further Reading and Resources * IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips * Grammar Tips for IELTS * IELTS Vocabulary Enhancements For additional learning, explore academic resources at Harvard University.  

• Episode Website
• More Episodes

Study Abroad

Scholarships

IELTS Writing Task 1: Table Chart

Updated on Mar 08, 2024, 10:53

The table chart is the most straightforward visual data presented in IELTS Writing Task 1! However, since there are usually a lot of numbers involved, it can get tricky to interpret the data.   

But don’t worry! That’s what we’re here for. This page will teach us about the IELTS table chart task 1. We’ve attached the best strategies and sample answers to help you understand better. 

On This Page

1. IELTS Writing Table Chart Task 1: How to Answer

Tables are the best way to represent information, especially when many statistics are involved visually.

2. IELTS Writing Table Chart Task 1: Sample Answer

With time and practice, interpreting tables will be a walk in the park for you! 

More for you

Boost your IELTS Writing score

See how to score 8+ in Listening.

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Listening test.

IELTS Writing Table Chart Task 1: How to Answer

Tables are the best way to represent information, especially when many statistics are involved visually. Table task 1 consists of rows (horizontally) and columns (vertically) containing categorised information.   

The header at the top of the table or the start of each row will help you understand what category the numbers belong to. Table charts may contain information about numerical data, time periods, geographical data, averages, sums, and other quantitative data.   

Here’s a step-by-step guide to understanding table chart task 1 questions! 

Analyse the Table

Typically, each question will ask you to summarise, describe or compare the data given in the table. To do this, you must first analyse the table. 

Pay attention to the table's header and understand what each row and column represents. Also, examine the table's structure and note any symbols, annotations, and other references mentioned.   

This task has a minimum word limit of 150 words, so ensure you cover all the information without going overboard.   

Here are some things you can do to interpret and identify the main elements in the table:   

• Understand the header, footer, and titles of each row and column.
• Identify the type of data that is given to you. What sort of numerical data does it represent?
• Pay attention to the timeline, if there is one. See if the numbers are decreasing or increasing with time. 
• Look for patterns and trends. 
• Identify the highest and lowest elements in the table. 

How to Structure Your Analysis

Every writing piece will have an introduction, body and conclusion. This pattern works for all topics!   

Here’s how to structure your piece for IELTS Writing Table chart task 1.

• Introduction: Begin by paraphrasing the question. Mention the table's title, the data source (if provided), and any time frames given to you.
• Overview: Highlight the most obvious information you can see in the table. You can highlight the highs, lows, or other significant observations in your overview. Try not to elaborate on this section unnecessarily. Keep it brief. 
• Detailed Analysis:  Break down the data in the table chart by examining each row or column in detail. Describe the data for each category or variable, highlighting any notable differences or similarities. You can use data points or values from the table to support your analysis. If necessary, you can also use this to compare and contrast.
• Conclusion:  Summarise the main features, patterns or trends found in the table chart. Review your answers and check for grammar, punctuation and spelling.

IELTS Writing Table Chart Task 1: Sample Answer

Do too many numbers confuse your mind? With time and practice, interpreting tables will be a walk in the park for you!   

Remember, sometimes table chart tasks may be combined with a pie chart or bar graph chart. But the techniques and answering methods will be the same.   

Here’s a sample you can use to practice! 

• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
• The chart below shows the railway transport systems in four countries in 2007 .
• Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.
• Write at least 150 words .

Sample Answer: 

The table shows the data on rail transport use in four countries: Malaysia, Canada, China, and the United Arab Emirates in the year 2007.   

As the data displays, Chinese people used trains more often than individuals in other countries. But, when it came to carrying goods, Canada transported the most among the countries mentioned.  

Looking at the first category, China has the highest number of people using rail transport, with 27 million, followed by Malaysia with 5.9 million, while the UAE is in the middle, with 5.5 million train users. In contrast, Canada has the fewest train users, with only 0.3 million.  

When considering passenger kilometres per head of population, China again leads the pack with 1980 kilometres per person. The UAE is next in line with 780 kilometres, while Malaysia and Canada report 770 and 80 kilometres per head of population, respectively.

Canada takes the top spot in the cargo-carried category, transporting 28.20 tons of cargo. China comes next with 23.1 tons, followed by Malaysia with 22.2 tons. The UAE ranks last in this category, carrying 21.9 tons of cargo. In a nutshell, Chinese people use the railway more than the people of other countries, whereas Canada stands out for its significant cargo transport among the given countries.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Bar Graph

IELTS Writing Task 1: Diagram

IELTS Writing Task 1: Line Graph

IELTS Writing Task 1: Pie Chart

IELTS Writing Task 1: Map

IELTS Writing Practice Test

IELTS Important Information

IELTS Exam Date

IELTS Exam Fee

IELTS Modules

IELTS Listening Practice Test

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

IELTS Reading Practice Test

IELTS Test Centres

IELTS Results

Types of IELTS

IELTS Pattern

IELTS Exam Eligibilty

IELTS Slot Booking

IELTS Band Score

IELTS Registration

IELTS Books

IELTS Preparation

IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Countries

Study In USA

Study In Canada

Study In UK

Study In Australia

Study In Ireland

IELTS Accepting Universities

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

The University Of British Columbia

Harvard University

University Of Toronto

Conestoga College

University Of East London

Stanford University

University Of Alberta

Coventry University

New York University

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Speaking Cue Card

IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS Writing Task 2

Task 1 Pie Chart

Task 1 Table Chart

Task 1 Bar Graph

Task 1 Line Graph

Task 1 Diagram

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Hyderabad

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Bangalore

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Chennai

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Amritsar

IELTS Centre and Dates in Ludhiana

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Mumbai

IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Ahmedabad

IELTS Centre and Dates in Delhi

IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Chandigarh

IELTS Center and Dates in Pune

Related Articles

Q. What is a table chart for IELTS Writing Task 1?

A.  A table chart displays data arranged in rows and columns. Each row and column represents values for a specific category. In IELTS Writing Task 2, you will receive a table of various categories and their values. You may also receive a combination, table, pie, or bar chart. The task is to analyse the information and write a summary while highlighting the main elements.

Q. How should I interpret the data presented in a table chart for IELTS Writing Task 1?

A.  To analyse a table chart, follow these techniques: 

• Carefully examine each column and row carefully 
• Familiarise yourself with the given categories
• Identify trends or patterns
• Look for the highest and lowest points in the table 

Q. How do I frame my essay in the IELTS Writing Table Chart task?

A.  Divide your essay into 3 parts: Introduction, body and the conclusion. Since you have a word limit of 250, you must ensure each section has information. The highlight of your essay will be the body of your essay, and you must cover all the main points here. You can start your essay by paraphrasing the information in the question and highlighting the main elements. In your conclusion, summarise the highlights and make final suggestions.

• Study Guides
• Homework Questions

LPE2501 WRITING PORTFOLIO TASK 2 (PARAPHRASE SUMMARY FORM - DRAFT)