Paraphrasing Techniques for Writing Task 1 Introductions in IELTS Academic Exam

Paraphrasing Techniques for Writing Task 1 Introductions in IELTS Academic Exam

Paraphrasing is an essential skill required for achieving a higher band score in IELTS writing task 1. Below are some techniques of paraphrasing a question along with examples from the given context:

  1. Use synonyms: One of the most common techniques of paraphrasing is to use synonyms. For example, in the given context, "visitors" can be replaced with "people who visited," which is a synonym for visitors.

  2. Use paraphrasing words: Paraphrasing words are words that can be used in place of original words to change the sentence structure while keeping the meaning the same. For example, "how many" or "the number of" can be used in place of "visitors," which is a countable noun.

  3. Use time and place expressions: Using time and place expressions can also help to paraphrase a question effectively. In the given context, "Australia" can be replaced with "Australians" or "Australia's population." Similarly, "2000-2006" can be paraphrased as "over a period of 6 years," "between 2000 and 2006," or "from 2000 to 2006."

Original question: "The chart shows information about visitors to Australia, 2000-2006."

Paraphrased introduction: The graph provides details regarding the number of individuals who visited Australia between 2000 and 2006.

By using these techniques, we can effectively paraphrase a question and write a strong introduction that demonstrates our understanding of the graph.


"How many" and "the number of" are used for countable nouns, while "how much" and "the amount of" are used for uncountable nouns. These phrases can be very helpful in paraphrasing a question and avoiding repetition of words.


Examples
  1. Coffee production in Korea,1990-1995.
  • The graph illustrates the amount of coffee produced in Korea between 1990 and 1995.
  • This chart presents information about the volume of coffee that was produced in Korea from 1990 to 1995.
  • Over a period of six years, from 1990 to 1995, the chart displays data on the production of coffee in Korea.
  1. Unemployment rates, India and Brazil 1995-2000
  • The graph depicts the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000.
  • This chart displays data on the unemployment rates of India and Brazil during the period from 1995 to 2000.
  • Over a five-year span, between 1995 and 2000, the graph provides information on the level of unemployment in India and Brazil.
  1. DVD sales, UK and USA 2005-2008
  • The graph shows the sales figures for DVDs in the UK and USA between 2005 and 2008.
  • This chart illustrates data on the number of DVDs sold in the UK and USA during the period from 2005 to 2008.
  • Over a three-year period, from 2005 to 2008, the graph presents information about the level of DVD sales in the UK and USA.
  1. Chocolate Production, Columbia, 2005-2010
  • The graph displays the amount of chocolate that was produced in Columbia between 2005 and 2010.
  • This chart provides data on the volume of chocolate production in Columbia from 2005 to 2010.
  • Over a six-year timeframe, between 2005 and 2010, the graph shows information about the level of chocolate production in Columbia.
  1. Gas production in Russia, 2003-2008
  • The graph presents information about the amount of gas that was produced in Russia between 2003 and 2008.
  • This chart displays data on the volume of gas production in Russia from 2003 to 2008.
  • Over a period of six years, from 2003 to 2008, the graph illustrates the level of gas production in Russia.
  1. Employment Rates in the public sector, UK 2006-2010
  • The graph provides information about the number of individuals employed in the public sector in the UK between 2006 and 2010.
  • This chart displays data on the level of employment in the public sector of the UK from 2006 to 2010.
  • Over a five-year span, between 2006 and 2010, the graph shows the number of people who were employed in the public sector in the UK.

  1. Original Question: "The graph below shows the number of cell phone subscribers in a particular city, by gender." Paraphrased Introduction: The chart provides information on the quantity of mobile phone users in a specific urban area, categorized by sex.

  2. Original Question: "The graph below shows the average daily sales of selected food items at the Vista Cafe, by season." Paraphrased Introduction: The chart illustrates the mean daily revenue of chosen menu items at the Vista Cafe, distributed by time of year.

  3. Original Question: "The graph below shows the number of cars sold in two different cities." Paraphrased Introduction: The graph presents data on the amount of automobiles sold in two distinct urban locations.

  4. Original Question: "The graph shows the number of schools constructed in each region of the country in 2014." Paraphrased Introduction: The chart displays information regarding the quantity of educational institutions built in every region of the nation in the year 2014.

  5. Original Question: "The graph shows the number of people who visited the Palm Island Resort in each of the years from 2010 to 2015." Paraphrased Introduction: The graph indicates the amount of individuals who travelled to the Palm Island Resort in each of the years between 2010 and 2015.

Techniques for Introducing a Process in IELTS Writing Task 1

Introduction:
In IELTS Writing Task 1, test-takers are often required to describe a process. When beginning their response, it is important for students to rewrite the question prompt in their own words to demonstrate their ability to paraphrase and rephrase. There are several techniques that can be used to introduce a process, including using phrases such as "the pictures illustrate," "the pictures show," or "the diagram highlights." By using these techniques, test-takers can demonstrate their language proficiency and effectively introduce the process they are describing.

  1. "The pictures illustrate how tea is produced" - This is a simple and straightforward way of paraphrasing the question. "Illustrate" means to show or demonstrate something clearly. So, this sentence means that the pictures show the process of tea production.

Example: The pictures illustrate how a car engine works.

  1. "The pictures show the steps involved in making tea" - This sentence breaks down the process into steps and emphasizes that the pictures depict each of these steps.

Example: The pictures show the steps involved in creating a new social media account.

  1. "The diagram highlights the process by which tea is produced" - This sentence emphasizes the visual representation of the process as a diagram and highlights that it shows the entire process of tea production.

Example: The diagram highlights the process by which solar panels generate electricity.

Overall, the key is to use different synonyms, expressions and sentence structures to rewrite the question without repeating the same words. This will demonstrate the student's ability to paraphrase and use a range of vocabulary.


More advance ways of paraphrasing introduction

  1. The graph shows traffic growth in the Netherlands between 1960 and 2010.
  • Partly paraphrased: The graph indicates the changes in traffic in the Netherlands from 1960 to 2010.
  • Fully paraphrased: The graph indicates the changes in the number of vehicles on the road in the Netherlands from 1960 to 2010.
  1. The bar chart shows the sporting preferences of 100 adults, boys and girls in Manchester.
  • The bar chart tells us the sporting preferences of 100 adults, boys and girls in Manchester.
  • The bar chart tells us the different sports preferred by boys and girls in Manchester.
  1. The graphs show the number of students that have attended the college since 1980 and their different nationalities.
  • From the graphs, we can see the number of students that have attended the college since 1980 as well as their different nationalities.
  • From the graphs, we can see how many students that have taken courses at the college since 1980 as well as the countries they come from.
  1. The two pie charts show the average household expenditure in the US in 1900 and in 2000.
  • The pie charts reveal the average household expenditure in the US in 1900 and 2000.
  • The pie charts reveal how much people spent in the US in 1900 and 2000.

In the partly paraphrased versions, the original question is partially reworded or replaced with synonyms. For example, "the graph shows" is replaced with "the graph indicates" in the first example, while "sporting preferences" is replaced with "different sports preferred" in the second example.

In the fully paraphrased versions, the original question is completely rewritten with new words and sentence structures. For example, "traffic growth" is changed to "number of vehicles on the road" in the first example, while "number of students that have attended" is changed to "how many students that have taken courses at" in the third example.

Both partially and fully paraphrased versions are valid ways to introduce a Task 1 report, as long as they accurately convey the information presented in the original question.