Welcome to your comprehensive self-learning guide on Paraphrasing for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. This lesson is designed to take you from the basics of vocabulary swapping to the advanced grammatical transformations required to score a Band 7.0 and above.
Why is Paraphrasing Important?
The very first sentence of your essay—the Introduction—is the examiner's first impression. In IELTS Task 1, you are asked to "summarize the information." If you simply copy the words from the question prompt, the examiner will not count those words towards your total word count.
Module 1: The Foundations of Paraphrasing
To achieve a high band score, you must not rely on just one method. We will explore three core techniques:
- Synonyms: Swapping words for others with the same meaning.
- Word Class Transformation: Changing nouns to verbs.
- Grammatical Restructuring: Changing the sentence structure.
Technique 1: Using Synonyms
One of the most common techniques is using synonyms. Below are the essential lists you must memorize.
1. Verbs to replace "Show"
Illustrates
Depicts
Demonstrates
Highlights
Presents data on
Compares
Provides details on
Outlines
2. Nouns to replace "Graph/Chart"
The line graph
The bar chart
The pie chart
The diagram
The flow chart
The table data
Technique 2: Countable vs. Uncountable
You must change how you refer to the data itself. This is where "Paraphrasing Words" come into play.
Grammar Rule:
- Countable Nouns: Things you can count (e.g., visitors, cars).
Use: "The number of", "How many" - Uncountable Nouns: Things you cannot count (e.g., water, coffee, money).
Use: "The amount of", "The quantity of", "The volume of"
Examples:
Case Study 1: Countable (People)
Original: "The chart shows information about visitors..."
Paraphrase: "...details regarding the number of individuals who visited..."
Case Study 2: Uncountable (Commodities)
Original: "Coffee production in Korea..."
Paraphrase: "The graph illustrates the amount of coffee produced..."
Technique 3: Time Expressions
Never simply copy "2000-2006". Use these variations:
- "Over a period of 6 years..." (Focuses on duration)
- "Between 2000 and 2006..." (Focuses on range)
- "From 2000 to 2006..." (Standard)
- "Over a six-year timeframe..." (Advanced)
Module 2: Practice Case Studies
Question: Coffee production in Korea, 1990-1995.
Option 1: The graph illustrates the amount of coffee produced in Korea between 1990 and 1995.
Option 2: This chart presents information about the volume of coffee that was produced in Korea from 1990 to 1995.
Option 3: Over a period of six years, from 1990 to 1995, the chart displays data on the production of coffee in Korea.
Question: Unemployment rates, India and Brazil 1995-2000.
Option 1: The graph depicts the number of unemployed individuals in India and Brazil from 1995 to 2000.
Option 2: This chart displays data on the unemployment rates of India and Brazil during the period from 1995 to 2000.
Option 3: Over a five-year span, between 1995 and 2000, the graph provides information on the level of unemployment in India and Brazil.
Module 3: Advanced Process Diagrams
Process diagrams do not show trends over time; they show steps. Your vocabulary must shift from "dates" to "steps".
Key Vocabulary for Processes
- "Illustrates the process by which..."
- "Highlights the steps involved in..."
- "Demonstrates the stages of..."
- "Depicts the life cycle of..."
Real Example:
Original: "The pictures show how tea is produced."
Paraphrase A: "The pictures illustrate how tea is produced."
Paraphrase B: "The diagram highlights the process by which tea is produced."
Module 4: Interactive Practice
Test your knowledge. Read the question, try to answer, then check the solution.
Exercise 1: "The bar chart shows the number of men and women studying engineering."
Suggested Answer:
"The bar graph illustrates the quantity of male and female students enrolled in engineering courses."
Exercise 2: "The diagram below shows how to recycle paper."
Suggested Answer:
"The diagram highlights the various stages involved in the process of paper recycling."