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Simple, Compound, Complex Sentences | Learning English

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INDEPENDENT VS DEPENDENT CLAUSE | What's the difference? | Learn with examples

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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses - English Grammar Lesson

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Master IELTS Grammar for Writing with Alex!

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Exercises

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You are here: / IELTS Sample Letters for Writing Task 1

Here is a collection of sample letters to help you prepare for IELTS writing task 1 for the General Training Paper (students taking the Academic Paper will not get letters for writing task 1). The IELTS sample letters below are a range of personal, semi-formal and formal which are all common in task 1.
Letter of Instruction Asking for a Letter of Reference

You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference.

Write a letter to a former teacher. In your letter:

Letter of Advice Letter of Complaint Letter of Application Letter of Request Letter of Resignation Letter of Arrangement Letter of Complaint Letter of Acceptance

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You are here: / IELTS Sample Letters for Writing Task 1 Here is a collection of sample letters to help you prepare for IELTS writing task 1 for the General Training Paper (students taking the Academic Paper will not get letters for writing task 1).

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips, Model Answers & More

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Useful IELTS writing task 1 tips, answers, lessons & videos for success achieving a high score. This page contains all the information and help you need to do well. Learn about the IELTS marking criteria, paragraphing, vocabulary and much more. This page has tips for Academic writing task 1 and GT w…

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WRITING TASK 1: Band Descriptors (public version)

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WRITING TASK 1: Band Descriptors (public version)

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WRITING TASK 1: Band Descriptors (public version)

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WRITING TASK 1: Band Descriptors (public version)

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Basics - What to write and how to organize it

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Basics - What to write and how to organize it

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Basics  - What to write and how to organize it

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IELTS General Writing Task 1 OVERVIEW with Alex!

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - How to Analyze Charts, Maps, and Process Diagrams

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - How to Analyze Charts, Maps, and Process Diagrams

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - How to Analyze Charts, Maps, and Process Diagrams

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E2 IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 | Top Tips for 8+ with Jay!

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E2 IELTS General Writing Task 1 | Informal Letters | TOP TIPS with Jay!

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IELTS vocabulary lessons with word lists, practice exercises and pronunciation. Learn word lists for common topics and how to pronounce words correctly in English. Vocabulary is 25% of your marks for IELTS writing and speaking and also plays a key role in listening and reading. You need to develop your English language vocabulary if you wish to crack IELTS.

Below are IELTS topics for improving your English language vocabulary.

Improve your IELTS vocabulary score by learn useful tips for paraphrasing in IELTS. You need to learn to paraphrase correctly and avoid errors to get a good score in all skills, particularly IELTS writing. Knowing which words to repeat and which words to paraphrase is essential.
Paraphrasing Video: How to paraphrase and avoid errors
Get a list of over 100 common uncountable nouns with practice exercises. This is an essential page to view before your IELTS test. The most common vocabulary mistake in IELTS is with uncountable nouns.
Common Uncountable Nouns List
Spelling: US vs UK English Words

Learn about the differences in spelling between UK English and US English. For the IELTS writing test, you ought to choose one type of spelling and not mix them. Click below:
UK & US Spelling Differences
Idioms count for your score of vocabulary. They are informal and should not be used in writing. But you can use some of them in IELTS speaking.

Improve your vocabulary by learning the exact meaning of words and how to use them correctly. These lessons are either words lists or lessons which focus on how to use a particular word correctly. For students aiming to reduce the number of errors in their writing and speaking, these lessons are essential.

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Vocabulary for IELTS: Word Lists, Exercises & Pronunciation

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IELTS vocabulary lessons with word lists, practice exercises and pronunciation. Learn word lists for common topics and how to pronounce words correctly in English. Vocabulary is 25% of your marks for IELTS writing and speaking and also plays a key role in listening and reading.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons and Models

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons and Models

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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:

1. Test Information for Writing Task 2

2. Practice essay questions

3. Essential tips for IELTS writing task 2

4. Free video lessons

5. Model essays

6. 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.

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test.

1. IELTS recommend you spend no more than 40 mins on writing task 2. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.

2. You should write over 250 words. In the lessons below you will learn about word count and essay length.

3. IELTS writing task 2 is worth only about 66% of your total writing marks.
Learn how your total writing score is calculated: Total Writing Score Calculations

4. You will be marked on:

1. Task Response (25%)

2. Coherence & Cohesion (25%)

3. Vocabulary (25%)

4. Grammar (25%)

5. For band score tips and details, see this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. All words will be counted, even small or repeated words. See this page: How Words are Counted

9. COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS: See the following link to read Pros and Cons of Computer Based IELTS:

10. For more information about IELTS test rules and info, see this page: IELTS Test FAQ

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.

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 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 All Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Videos Lessons : Main Essay Types in Writing Task 2
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.

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.

1. New Essay Topics in 2023 (these are new topics only. You also need to prepare all common topics as well)

2. IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022

3. Grammar Test: Using "the" with countries and nationalities

4. Paraphrasing Practice 1

5. Paraphrasing Practice 2

6. Paraphrasing Practice 3

7. Essay Questions for 2017 - questions reported in the test this year.

8. Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions

9. Essay Ideas: Employment Competition

10. Writing Skills: Paraphrasing Practice

11. Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (2)

12. Essay Ideas: The Importance of History

13. Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees

14. Essay Ideas: International Aid

15. Essay Ideas: City Transport

16. Essay Ideas: Salaries

17. Essay Ideas: Function of Schools

18. Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions

19. Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice

20. Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice

21. Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities

22. Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters

23. Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic

24. Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic

25. Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones

26. Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success

27. Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities

28. Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution

29. Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement

30. Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)

31. Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills

32. Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice

33. Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children

34. Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders

35. Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback

36. Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback

37. Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs

38. Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction

39. Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points

40. Writing Skills: Thesis Statement

41. Essay Ideas: Public Services.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

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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.

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There are 5 types of IELTS essays which can appear in IELTS writing task 2. These types of essays are for both GT and Academic writing task 2. Below you will find sample essay questions for each type of essay and links to model answers. Please note that IELTS teachers sometimes divide essays into different categories based on how they teach.

1) IELTS Opinion Essay

This type of essay is where you are presented with someone else's opinion and you are asked if you agree or disagree with it. The opinion is often flawed or extreme in its views. Some teachers call this the Argumentative Essay. The instructions can be written in a number of ways. Below are a few examples:

To what extent do you agree?

Do you agree?

Do you agree or disagree?

What is your opinion?

No matter how the instructions are written, you can take any position you want: agree, disagree or partial agreement (balanced view). Below is an example essay question:

Opinion Essay Question: Some people think that only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. Do you agree?

2) IELTS Discussion Essay

This type of essay presents you with a statement and you must present the two sides. This might be two sides of the same issue:

Some people think there should be free health care for all people, but others disagree. Discuss both sides.

Or it might be two separate issues which you need to discuss:

Some people think that urban spaces should be used for parks rather than for housing. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

3) IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essays

There are two types of questions in this category.

i) Advantage and Disadvantage Essay

This is similar to a discussion essay where you are given a statement must present the positive and negative side of the issue:

Some people think it is good for students to take a gap year before going to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so?

ii) Outweigh Essay

This is by far the most difficult of the two essay types in this category. It requires you to present an opinion and explain your opinion.

Some people think the world will eventually have only one language. Do you think the advantages of having one global language outweigh the disadvantages?

4) IELTS Solution Essays

There are a number of types of possible questions in this category:

i) Solution Only

Some children have serious weight problems. What are the possible solutions?

ii) Cause Solution

Children in rural areas are being left behind in their academic development. Why is this is the case? What solutions can you suggest?

iii) Problem Solution

More and more people are moving to cities to look for work. What problems does this cause? What are the possible solutions?

5) Direct Questions Essays

Some teachers call these the Two Question Essay. However, these types of essay questions might contain one, two or three questions for you to answer. Below are some examples.

Pollution around the world is becoming a serious problem. Do you think this is a problem that should be solved internationally or on a local level?

In the question above, you are asked one specific question. Your whole essay must tackle this question only.

Some people spend a lot of money on weddings. Why do they do this? Do you think it is good to spend a lot of money on weddings?

The question above asks you to present reasons and then to give your opinion by evaluating if it is good or not.

News editors decide what to print in newspapers and what to broadcast on TV. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more news was reported?

As you can see there are three questions to answer in this essay question. It is not common to get three questions. If you get three, just tackle them one at a time in a logical order.

Practice Essay Questions for IELTS

You can find over 100 essay questions to practice on this page: 100 IELTS Essay Questions. The questions are divided first into topics and then into essay types. This way you can get lots of practice before your actual test day.

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There are 5 types of IELTS essays which can appear in IELTS writing task 2. These types of essays are for both GT and Academic writing task 2. Below you will find sample essay questions for each type of essay and links to model answers.

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Relative clauses – defining and non-defining

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Relative clauses – defining and non-defining

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Defining vs non-defining

There are two types of relative clauses, defining and non-defining. In the grammar chart below, you can see the main differences between them.

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns are the words that introduce relative clauses. They can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause.

Note that that can be used in informal English instead of who/whom/which but it is never used after commas, i.e. in non-defining relative clauses, or after prepositions.

We use which/that as relative pronouns. They refer back to a noun or sentence.

We don't use what as a relative pronoun. It cannot be used to refer back to a sentence or noun.

We use what independently to mean 'the thing/s that'.

Prepositions in relative clauses

When the relative pronoun is the complement of a preposition, we can use the preposition before the relative pronoun or at the end of the relative clause.

Preposition + relative pronoun

It's not very common to use prepositions before relative pronouns, we just do it in formal language.

Note that after a preposition we can only use the pronouns whom or which. We cannot use who or that after a preposition.

We can also use whose after a preposition.

Preposition at the end of the relative clause

The most common position of the preposition is at the end of the relative clause.

Relative adverbs

Relative adverbs introduce relative clauses, just like relative pronouns, but in this case, they are used to introduce information about time ( when), place ( where), or reason ( why).

Note that we can use a preposition + which instead of a relative adverb, although this structure is more formal and not as common.

Quantifier + of which/whom

In non-defining relative clauses (=between commas), we can use of which/whom after a quantifier such as some, any, none, all, both, several, enough, many and few.

Their daughters, both of whom are in university, don't visit them very often.

Their house was full of cats, most of which had been found in the street.

We can also use a quantifier + of whose.

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Relative clauses - defining and non-defining - Test-English

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Relative clauses. Defining and non-defining relative clauses. Relative pronouns with preposition, relative adverbs. Advanced English grammar exercises.

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Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone's exact words and putting them in quotation marks). In academic writing, it's usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.

Every time you paraphrase, it's important to cite the source. Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism.

How to paraphrase in five easy steps

If you're struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.

How to paraphrase correctly

Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let's say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.

Example: Source text
"Like other marine animals living near heavily populated coasts, horse conchs have lost considerable habitat to development and pollution, including favorite breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf habitat is also warming due to climate change, which scientists think further pressures the animals, based on the negative effects extra heat has on other big mollusks" (Barnett, 2022).

Incorrect paraphrasing

You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for synonyms.

Example: Incorrect paraphrasing

Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination, including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming, which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures, predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).

This attempt at paraphrasing doesn't change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:

"Advancement and contamination" doesn't really convey the same meaning as "development and pollution."

Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: "home" for "habitat" and "sea creatures" for "marine animals."

Adding phrases like "inhabiting the vicinity of" and "puts pressure on" makes the text needlessly long-winded.

Global warming is related to climate change, but they don't mean exactly the same thing.

Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism.

Correct paraphrasing

Let's look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.

Example: Correct paraphrasingScientists believe that temperature rises resulting from climate change are negatively impacting horse conchs living in the Gulf of Mexico. Development and pollution have also deprived them of important breeding grounds (Barnett, 2022).

Here, we've:

Only included the information that's relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original)

Introduced the information with the signal phrase "Scientists believe that ..."

Retained key terms like "development and pollution," since changing them could alter the meaning

Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original

Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order

Because of this, we're able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.

Examples of paraphrasing

Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.

Source text

Paraphrase

"The current research extends the previous work by revealing that listening to moral dilemmas could elicit a FLE [foreign-language effect] in highly proficient bilinguals. ... Here, it has been demonstrated that hearing a foreign language can even influence moral decision making, and namely promote more utilitarian-type decisions" ( Brouwer, 2019, p. 874).

The research of Brouwer (2019, p. 874) suggests that the foreign-language effect can occur even among highly proficient bilinguals, influencing their moral decision making, when auditory (rather than written) prompting is given.

Source text

Paraphrase

"The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed to ban chrysotile asbestos, the most common form of the toxic mineral still used in the United States. ... Chlorine manufacturers and companies that make vehicle braking systems and sheet gaskets still import chrysotile asbestos and use it to manufacture new products.

"The proposed rule would ban all manufacturing, processing, importation and commercial distribution of six categories of products containing chrysotile asbestos, which agency officials said would cover all of its current uses in the United States" ( Phillips, 2022).

Chrysotile asbestos, which is used to manufacture chlorine, sheet gaskets, and braking systems, may soon be banned by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed ban would prevent it from being imported into, manufactured in, or processed in the United States (Phillips, 2022).

Source text

Paraphrase

"The concept of secrecy might evoke an image of two people in conversation, with one person actively concealing from the other. Yet, such concealment is actually uncommon. It is far more common to ruminate on our secrets. It is our tendency to mind-wander to our secrets that seems most harmful to well-being. Simply thinking about a secret can make us feel inauthentic. Having a secret return to mind, time and time again, can be tiring. When we think of a secret, it can make us feel isolated and alone" ( Slepian, 2019).

Research suggests that, while keeping secrets from others is indeed stressful, this may have little to do with the act of hiding information itself. Rather, the act of ruminating on one's secrets is what leads to feelings of fatigue, inauthenticity, and isolation (Slepian, 2019).

How to cite a paraphrase

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You'll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you'll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.

APA in-text citation

(Brouwer, 2019, p. 874)

MLA in-text citation

(Brouwer 874)

Chicago footnote

1. Susanne Brouwer, "The Auditory Foreign-Language Effect of Moral Decision Making in Highly Proficient Bilinguals," Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 40, no. 10 (2019): 874. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2019.1585863.

Generate accurate citations with Scribbr

Paraphrasing vs. quoting

It's a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:

Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text

Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper

Quotes reduce the readability of your text

But that doesn't mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:

Giving a precise definition

Saying something about the author's language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper)

Providing evidence in support of an argument

Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim

Paraphrasing vs. summarizing

A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It's typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.

When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing.

Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.

Example: Summarizing

Martin (2016) argues it is important to consider the impact of human architecture on the evolution of other species. Stating that the indoor biome-the realm of species that live and reproduce largely inside human-built structures-represents an understudied area for ecologists, Martin makes the case for studying this biome as an essential way of understanding the world of the Anthropocene.

Avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase

When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism.

This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.

Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.

To make sure you've properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.

Check out our research on the best plagiarism checkers in 2022, or check out Scribbr's free plagiarism checker that came best out of the test.

Frequently asked questions about paraphrasing

How do I paraphrase effectively?

To paraphrase effectively, don't just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:

Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive, or start from a different point)

Combining information from multiple sentences into one

Leaving out information from the original that isn't relevant to your point

Using synonyms where they don't distort the meaning

The main point is to ensure you don't just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.

What is the difference between plagiarism and paraphrasing?

Plagiarism means using someone else's words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don't properly credit the original author.

Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.

Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you put the author's ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source.

When should I quote instead of paraphrasing?

To present information from other sources in academic writing, it's best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you've understood the ideas you're discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It's appropriate to quote when:

Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text

You want to discuss the author's language choices (e.g., in literary analysis)

You're presenting a precise definition

You're looking in depth at a specific claim

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How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

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Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone's exact words and putting them in quotation marks). In academic writing, it's usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting.

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Clauses of contrast, purpose, reason and result

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Clauses of contrast, purpose, reason and result

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In this page you will find an Explanation section plus three sets of exercises

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Clauses of contrast

Although, even though

We can use although/even though at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence followed by a clause (subject + verb). We NEVER use a comma after although or event though.

However

We use however to connect two different sentences. We normally use however at the beginning of the second sentence after a full stop (.) or a semi-colon (;). However is ALWAYS followed by a comma.

We can also use however at the end of the sentence.

Despite/in spite of

Despite and in spite of are normally followed by a noun or a - ing verb. They can go at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

We can use a clause (subject + verb) after despite/in spite of + the fact that.

Clauses of purpose

To + infinitive

The most common way to express purpose in English is to + infinitive.

In order to/so as to + infinitive

In order to or so as to + infinitive are more common in formal English, mainly in writing. The negative forms are in order not to and so as not to + infinitive.

We can also use the structure in order for someone/something to do something.

So that + clause

We can also use so that + subject + verb to express purpose. We normally use a modal verb with this connector, e.g. could, can, would, etc.

For + noun

We can also use for + noun to express purpose.

We can use for + - ing verb (instead of to + infinitive) to talk about the purpose of an object or action when we use the verb used or when we imply it.

In case + clause

To express purpose, we can also use in case+ subject + verb. We use this form to talk about precautions, when we do something because something not wanted might happen.

Clauses of reason

When we want to explain the reason why something happened or why someone did something, we use a clause of reason introduced by a conjunction ( as, since, because) or a noun phrase introduced by because of, due to, owing to, or on account of.

Because

We use because before a clause (subject + verb). It can be used at the beginning or at the end of a sentence (at the end is more common). A comma is used when the clause of reason is at the beginning of the sentence.

As/since

We use as and since in a very similar way to because. They are followed by subject + verb and can be used at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. However, as and since are more formal expressions, and more common in written than in spoken English.

Because of

We use because of before a noun.

Due to/owing to/on account of

We can also use before a noun. They mean 'because of' but are more formal.

Clauses of result

We use clauses of result to talk about the result of an action or situation.

So

We can use so + subject + verb at the end of a sentence to mean 'this is why'.

For this reason

We normally use for this reason at the beginning of a sentence. We use a comma after it.

As a result/consequently/therefore

As a result, c onsequently and therefore are more formal and more common in written language. They are normally used at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma.

We can also use consequently and therefore in mid position (before the verb, after be as the main verb, or after the first auxiliary verb).

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Clauses of contrast, purpose, reason and result - Test-English

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however, although, because, so, and time connectors

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however, although, because, so, and time connectors

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Exercises with explanation

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Contrast

However

However means 'but'.

However is normally used at the beginning of a sentence, before a comma (,) and after a full stop (.) or a semicolon (;).

Although

Although means 'despite the fact that', or 'but'.

Although can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. We do NOT use a comma after although; we use although + subject + verb.

Reason

Because

We use because + subject + verb.

Because of

We use because of + noun.

Result

So

So is the most common connector to express result. It is normally used in the middle of a sentence after (,).

Time

Before

We can use before + noun / -ing verb, or we can use before + subject + verb.

After

We use can use after + noun / -ing verb, or we can use after + subject + verb.

When we are talking about consecutive actions, we can use then of after that, but we cannot use *after.

I got up and had a shower. Then/After that, I made breakfast. (NOT After, I made breakfast).

While

We use while + subject + verb to talk about actions happening at the same time, simultaneously.

As soon as, when, once

As soon as, when, and once have a similar meaning. As soon as means 'immediately when'.

We use the present simple, and NOT will, to express future after as soon as, when, and once.

We use a comma after the first part of the sentence when we start with before, after, while, as soon as, etc. But we do not use a comma if we use before, after, while, as soon as, etc in the second part of the sentence.

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However, although, because, so, and time connectors - Test-English

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Connectors of contrast, reason, result and time. However, although, because, so, when, while, after, before, etc. Pre-intermediate grammar and exercises.

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Vocabulary for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 (part 1)

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Vocabulary for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 (part 1)

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Vocabulary for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 (part 1)

Details

Last Updated: Thursday, 07 December 2017 14:30

Written by IELTS Mentor

IELTS Writing Task 2 (IELTS Essay Writing) requires a candidate to use a wide range of vocabulary. Connective words and phrases are very important to finish the writing task 2 in a logical and coherent way. You must use the transitional or connective words in your writing task 2 as it is considered as one of the important factors for a high band score. The essay writing for IELTS requires you to present convincing arguments, reasoning, examples, and point of view. To make your essay impressive and to show pieces of evidence or examples in a coherent and logical way, you have to use these connective words. However, do not overuse the linking phrases or connective phrases just to show that you know so many of them. Use those connective phrases/words or linking phrases/words properly.

The general format for writing academic writing task 2/ IELTS Essay is as follows:

Introduction + your opinion/ your thinking/ your point of view/ whether you agree or disagree/ main advantages or disadvantages +

2nd paragraph with an example, explanation, evidence and extra details +

3rd paragraph with an example, explanation, evidence and extra details +

Conclusion + restating the main point of your discussion/ your position on the issue.

Vocabulary for the Introduction Part:
In the introduction part of your IELTS essay, you should write sentences relevant to the topic given and generally accepted ideas about it. Use your best English here as it will attract or bore your reader about the whole writing. You will make or break your impression in this paragraph. Be very cautious about the introduction part. Never just copy the sentence of the question. If you really need to, use synonyms and different sentence structure.

2) Every human being with an ambition of getting higher knowledge requires attending colleges or universities. The main reason for attending universities or colleges may differ man to man. Someone may aspire to achieve greater knowledge, someone may just want to earn a certificate or someone might attribute it as a step towards career development.

3) Compared with people in the past, we concern far less on the preparation of food today, thanks to the development of agriculture and scientific technology. A fair amount of beneficial influence is occurring to us consequently.

Useful vocabulary/phrases to open/start the essay:

Useful vocabulary/phrases to end the Introduction part:

Vocabulary for the opinion part:
According to the essay types (Learn what are the IELTS essay types) use one of the following connective words/ linking phrases to write down your opinion However remember that if the question does not ask you to give your opinion but to compare advantages and disadvantages, then you should not strongly express your opinion. Opinion should only be written for opinion essays.

Personally speaking...From my perspective...

In my view...
I believe...
Apparently...
Personally speaking...
According to me...
From my point of view... (Not 'In my point of view')
I realise...
To my way of thinking...
It seems to me that...
To me...
As far as I am concerned...

2) I believe parents are always teaching us in many ways intentionally and unintentionally; however, the contributions teachers have in our learning process cannot be ignored.

3) I strongly agree with the idea that the gender issue is only a determinant in the battle of the sexes, not the battles among nations and peoples. It is therefore impertinent, if not irrational, to conclude that world conflicts result from the rule of a particular gender and the finer sex would do a better job at prevailing peace if selectively put at the helm of human nations.

Vocabulary for the 2nd paragraph Part:

2) First of all, the maximum number of cars are owned by the rich people and fuel price would not restrain them from using the cars. The price of fuel, in fact, increased significantly over the past 12 years and that has done nothing to reduce the car usage.

3) To begin, houses that are being constructed by those in the lower income groups do look at the most cost-effective option. In this process, they invariably explore cheaper options that include a compromise on material and construction quality.

Vocabulary for the 3rd, 4th ...... paragraph Part:

2) Besides, people would learn more about the outer space as the experiment and scientific research in outer space is going on more steadily than ever.

3) Apart from that, computers would become more powerful and they will have superior artificial intelligence. We will have robots to do the hazardous works like mining and outer space research. Surprisingly, e-commerce would be in more convenient form and most of the people will purchase online rather than going to shops in person.

Vocabulary to show the comparison:

2) At the same time software could be used for many purposes such as learning through computers, accounting in computers, drawing, storage of information, sending information from one person to other persons etc.

3) Also reading books is like peeking into the minds of the greatest people - A book is like a conversation with the writer and reading many books gives us an insight into the thinking process of different writers.

Vocabulary to show contrast:

2) Unlike a TV, a radio cannot display an image or a video, and the communication is limited to voice only. Typically, a radio is used for access information such as news and live traffic updates.........

3) In contrast to this, the consumption of fuels to run the car is contributing to the rise if global warming and affecting the ozone layer. So, using bicycles in cities would be a better alternative.........

1) For instance, there is no guaranty that all unemployed person will use the technology positively........

2) As an example, many governments of the first world countries have initiated other projects like:.........

3) For example, if a public bus gets busted in the middle of a road, the passenger can easily leave it a look for another one.

Always use a comma (,) after 'For example', 'for instance' etc.

1) Research shows that employment opportunity and crime ratio in a city has a deep underlying relationship and that is why...

2) When it comes to deciding who should be responsible to teach children the discipline...

3) With respect to mix-school classrooms, it is quite evident that...

Phrases to introduce more ideas/ examples:

1) On top of that, rich countries emit more CO2 than rest of the world does and this is why they have greater responsibilities.

2) Another point worth noting is the number of TV channels we have these days.

3) What is more, leaders are born not made.

1) Therefore, we should avoid using our budget in an uncertain project........

2) As a result, people are struggling much to lead a healthy and secure life.........

3) Consequently, local residents will be able to find more job opportunities in this factory and have a better socio-economic status.........

As a result...
As a result of...
Due to...
One reason behind this is...
... has led to/ ... has resulted in...
Consequently...
Therefore...

1) The overuse of natural resources has already resulted in the scarcity of such valuable resources that we can not do without...

2) This has led to a moral degradation and we are at a tough time to look back much behind.

3) One reason behind this is the negligence of individuals who are already suffering from minor health-related issues.

To sum up...
In short...
In a word...
To put it simply...
That is to say...
To repeat in short....
To summarise...

1) In a word, I think, the idea can be very useful for the developing countries but for us, it might be sinister...

2) That is to say, we must ensure the safety of our children first.........

3) In short, overall infrastructure of the area will develop.

N.B. The above vocabulary is specifically useful while finishing a paragraph. You can use these words/ phrases to re-state your topic of the paragraph.

1) Although, Parents are important teachers in our lives and none can deny their invaluable role to make us what we are, but they aren't always the best teachers.......

2) Thus air and water pollution caused by this factory will ruin the local environment and wildlife fundamentally.........

3) Although industrialisation is necessary for the growth of a country it must be regulated. The proper measures must be in place to reduce the negative impacts of byproducts on the environment.

To put it simply...
To put in another way...
That is to say...
In other words...

1) To put in another way, nuclear power has a great potential to provide power requirement of the industries all around the world.
2) In other words, fathers have a great role to play when it comes to upbringing children in a proper way.
3) To put it simply, co-education can bring advantages that far outweigh the demerits it has.

1) They take care of the children as much as parents do ..................
2) As soon as we realise the problem ..................
3) Otherwise, the unemployed graduates' number will keep on increasing ..................

Some correct and incorrect expressions:

Correct Incorrect
In my opinion... From my opinion...
From my point of view... In my point of view...
Second/ Secondly... Second of all
On the other hand... On the other hand
Last but not the least... Last but not least...
In conclusion/ To conclude... In a nutshell.

(Useful Tip: Avoid using ' In a nutshell' as it is not formal. Use ' In conclusion/ to conclude' instead.)

1) In general, even though it is preferable to study English in an English-speaking country, a reasonable level of English can be achieved in one's own country, if a student is gifted and dedicated to studying.

2) To sum up, if the population explosion continues, many more people will die of starvation in poor countries, and life in the cities, even in affluent nations, will become increasingly difficult.

3) To conclude, I recommend that the only sensible way to solve this problem is to educate young people about the dangers of drug use and to take steps to reduce the pressure of competition placed upon them.

4) In conclusion, nuclear technology certainly has positive uses but is nonetheless dangerous. However, it would have been better if it had never been used to create nuclear weapons. If life on Earth is to continue, all the nuclear nations of the world should agree to disarm as soon as possible.

N.B. The conclusion part of the IELTS Essay or IELTS Academic writing task 2 usually begins with a special concluding phrase that links it to the rest of the essay. Notice that a conditional sentence can be very effective in the conclusion. One reason for this is that it can refer to what might occur as a result of your suggestions or recommendations. Of course, you can use conditional sentences elsewhere in your essay as well. If you do use conditionals, be sure that the construction of your sentences is grammatically correct.

Also, in a short essay of approximately 250 words the conclusion can be just one or two sentences long. The conclusion should briefly sum up what you have said in your essay and does not usually contribute a new idea unless it is a minor point. However, it is a good place to make recommendations or suggestions or to give advice and offer solutions, if you are asked to do so.

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vocabulary for academic ielts writing task 2

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IELTS Online Exam Preparation | IELTS Sample Questions

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IELTS Writing Task 2 (IELTS Essay Writing) requires a candidate to use a wide range of vocabulary. Connective words and phrases are very important to finish the writing task 2 in a logical and coherent way.

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In this introductory lesson you will find some guidance on how you should write an IELTS essay.

There are then more lessons on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with lots of tips and strategies for achieving a high score.
You can also watch a video of this lesson:
It is important to learn about IELTS essays because there are different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

These are some of the types of IELTS essays you can get in the test:

Not every essay will fit one of these patterns, but many do.

You may get some of these tasks mixed up. For example, you could be asked to give your opinion on an issue, and then discuss the advantages or disadvantages of it.

The golden rule is to ALWAYS read the question very carefully to see exactly what you are being asked to do.

The second lesson explains more about analysing essay questions.

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, lets first look at a sample question:

Write about the following topic:

Write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction

You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)

Say what you are going to write about

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does). The writer clearly agrees as he/she thinks there will be more negative impacts.

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Lets look at the first paragraph for the essay about IT. The essay is about the benefits and drawbacks of IT, so these will need to be discussed in separate paragraphs.

Here is the first body paragraph:

On the positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the ' benefits of IT', and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)

Give some thoughts about the future

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society.

The full IELTS Essay:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

On the positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.
Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up. In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society. (290 Words) The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion. The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement (Nevertheless, not all the effects...), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements. The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples (lack of regulation, viruses). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future. The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement. Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation (...this has made life...) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (...likely to increase..., might get worse...).
Have you found this page useful?

Then you may be interested in IELTS buddy's Task 2 eBook, full of tips and strategies for quickly achieving a high score in the IELTS test.

Now you know the basics of writing an IELTS Essay, you can go on and look at further sample essays or if you prefer, check out the next lessons for Writing Task 2.
Next IELTS Writing Task 2 Lesson >>> More IELTS Sample Essays >>>
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In this introductory lesson you will find some guidance on how you should write an IELTS essay. There are then more lessons on the following pages for different types of essay and different questions, with lots of tips and strategies for achieving a high score.

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IELTS Academic writing task 1 Ebook Latest Updated (June- September) 2020