One of the most important skills for scoring Band 8+ in IELTS Writing is paraphrasing — expressing the same idea in different words. Whether you’re writing an introduction in Task 2 or rephrasing information in Task 1, the ability to paraphrase effectively shows examiners that you have a wide lexical range and strong command of English grammar.
In this post, we’ll go beyond the basics and explore 5 advanced paraphrasing techniques used by Band 8+ candidates. Let’s dive in!
1️⃣ Use Collocations & Word Partnerships
🔁 Original: Many people believe that the government should ban cars in city centers.
✅ Paraphrased: A large number of individuals hold the view that vehicle bans should be introduced in urban areas.
Why it works: Native-like word pairings such as hold the view, urban areas, and vehicle bans demonstrate a sophisticated command of English.
2️⃣ Transform Word Forms (Noun ↔ Verb ↔ Adjective)
🔁 Original: Pollution is a serious issue.
✅ Paraphrased: The environment has been seriously polluted in recent years.
Why it works: Changing the word form while keeping the meaning helps you avoid repetition and shows flexibility in grammar.
3️⃣ Use Passive Voice (when appropriate)
🔁 Original: Scientists discovered a new method to treat cancer.
✅ Paraphrased: A new method to treat cancer was discovered by scientists.
Why it works: The passive voice allows you to restructure the sentence, which is useful when the subject is less important.
4️⃣ Apply Synonyms Strategically (Not blindly!)
🔁 Original: Young people today spend too much time on social media.
✅ Paraphrased: The youth nowadays devote excessive time to online networking platforms.
Why it works: Effective synonym use requires context awareness — not all synonyms are interchangeable. “Devote” and “spend” differ slightly in tone, which adds variation without changing the meaning.
5️⃣ Change Sentence Structure or Clause Type
🔁 Original: If the government increases taxes, people may protest.
✅ Paraphrased: An increase in taxes by the government could lead to public demonstrations.
Why it works: You’re turning a conditional sentence into a noun phrase, which adds variety to sentence structure — a key element for Band 8+.
🧠 Quick Paraphrasing Quiz (3 Questions)
Can you spot the better paraphrased version for each?
Q1:
Original: Many parents are concerned about their children’s screen time.
A. A lot of parents are worried about how long their kids use screens.
B. Numerous guardians express anxiety regarding their offspring’s digital engagement.
✅ Best: B (More formal, academic tone)
Q2:
Original: Tourism is beneficial for the local economy.
A. Tourists help small businesses earn more money.
B. Tourism contributes positively to the economic development of local communities.
✅ Best: B (More formal, complex structure)
Q3:
Original: Technology is changing the way we work.
A. Technological advancements are reshaping work environments.
B. Technology is making jobs different.
✅ Best: A (Richer vocabulary and clearer structure)
✅ Final Tips
- Don’t force complex vocabulary — accuracy matters more than complexity.
- Practice paraphrasing newspaper headlines and IELTS questions daily.
- Always check for grammatical correctness and natural tone.
Download our free PDF worksheet with 10 paraphrasing exercises + answers!
