Advanced Structures for Parts 1 & 3 | Duration: 30 Minutes
To achieve a high band score, you must demonstrate "Range and Accuracy." Simply saying "it is better" is a Band 5 approach. A Band 8 student says it is "significantly more beneficial" or "a great deal more convenient."
When you compare two things, you must indicate the scale of the difference. Use these modifiers before your comparative adjective or adverb.
| Difference | Modifiers to Use | Example for IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Big | A great deal, Significantly, Far, Way (informal), Much | "Living in a city is far more stressful than living in a quiet village." |
| Small | Slightly, A bit, A little bit, Marginally | "Traveling by bus is slightly slower than taking a taxi, but it's cheaper." |
| Zero | Exactly the same, More or less the same, Just as... as | "Working in an office is just as productive as working from home for me." |
This structure focuses on how an action is performed compared to another time or person.
Formula: Verb + Much More + Adverb + Than
Example: "People nowadays travel much more frequently than in the past because of low-cost airlines."
Example: "Students can research a great deal more efficiently today thanks to the internet."
Use these to talk about countable and uncountable things (traffic, shops, opportunities).
This is a high-level structure that shows how one thing depends on another. It is a "score booster."
Formula: The [Comparative], the [Comparative]
Example: "The more you practice your speaking skills, the more fluently you will be able to express your ideas during the exam."
Example: "The harder you work at the beginning of your career, the more comfortably you can live later in life."
Try to answer these using the structures learned above. Focus on being detailed and natural.
Q1 (Part 1 Style): Do you prefer to study alone or in a group?
Tip: Use "Much more focused" or "Just as effective."
Q2 (Part 3 Style): How has the way people travel changed compared to 50 years ago?
Tip: Use "Far more frequently" and "A great deal more convenient."
Q3 (Part 3 Style): Are modern homes better than the homes of the past?
Tip: Use "The more technology we have, the more comfortably we live."
When comparing, do not just say "homes are different." Say they are "completely different" or "more or less the same." Adding these small "modifying expressions" makes your English sound much more natural and sophisticated to the examiner.