The first thing you should do in the introduction of your IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 answer, is paraphrase the task rubric. The task rubric describes what the chart shows, and you should describe it too, but using different words (synonyms), voice, and parts of speech wherever possible. In this article we’ll look at different types of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 tasks, their rubrics and I’ll show you how to paraphrase them effectively.
We’ll begin with a table task.
Paraphrasing a Table Task
The table below shows the percentage changes in consumer spending in four European countries over a 3 year period.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
The first step of paraphrasing is to look for simple synonyms. Certain words appear in Academic Task 1 frequently, so make sure you prepare synonyms for these. For example, this task includes the words show, percentage and spending. These are all words that appear regularly, especially show and percentage.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
table > chart
shows > illustrates
percentage > proportion
spending > expenditure
Here are the synonyms we could use for this task. Instead of table, we could write chart, instead of shows, we can use illustrates, percentage can be replaced with proportion, and instead of spending, we can use expenditure.
ii. Different parts of speech
European (adjective) > Europe (noun)
change (noun) > change (verb)
Next we should think about different parts of speech. In this task we could easily replace the adjective European with the noun Europe. We might also be able to use the verb form of change instead of the noun.
iii. Different voice (passive/ active)
shows > are shown
It’s sometimes possible to change the voice from active to passive or vice-versa. In this example, it is possible to make show passive. In this case we would put is shown at the end of the sentence,
iv. Different time period
over a 3 year period > from 2018 to 2020 > between 2018 and 2020
Finally, you will always be able to change the expression used to describe the time period. In this case the time period is described as over a 3 year period, so we could write from 2018 to 2020, or between 2018 and 2020 instead.
Examples:
The chart illustrates the proportional changes in consumer expenditure in four countries in Europe from 2018 to 2020.
The chart illustrates how the proportions of consumer spending changed in four European countries between 2018 and 2020
In this chart, the percentage changes in consumer expenditure in four European countries from 2018 to 2020 is shown.
So, here are three examples of effective paraphrasing. Each one is slightly different. In the first example we change show, percentage, spending, and European. In the second example we change show, percentage, and change. Finally, in the third example, we change spending, and we switch from the active to passive form of show. We also describe the table as a chart in each case, as well as use different expressions for the time period.
Paraphrasing a Line Graph Task
The line graph below shows the usage of different internet browsers between 2007 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Next let’s look at an example of a line graph, beginning again with synonyms.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
shows > displays
different > various
usage > use
Here we have the word shows again. We could replace it with illustrates, as before, or we could use another synonym such as displays data. Rather than different we could use various. And we can simply change usage to use, which is another noun with the same meaning.
ii. Different parts of speech
usage (noun) > use (verb)
Looking at different parts of speech, we could replace the noun usage with the verb use.
iii. Different voice (passive/ active)
use > were used
For voice, again we have the option to change the noun usage to the verb use, but also in the passive form, were used.
iv. Different time period
Between 2007 and 2019 > from 2007 to 2019
Of course, we should always change the time period expression, so here we can use from 2007 to 2019.
Examples:
The line graph displays data on the use of various internet browsers from 2007 to 2019.
The chart displays which types of internet browsers people used from 2007 to 2009.
Looking at our examples, we can see changes to show, usage, different, the voice and the time period. There isn’t a good alternative to internet browsers so this remains in both examples, but otherwise the sentences are significantly different to the original rubric while keeping the same meaning.
Paraphrasing a Bar Chart Task
The graph below illustrates the average number of tickets sold in a theme park from Monday to Sunday during three periods of the day.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
illustrates > shows > provides information
average > mean
number > quantity
sold > purchased
tickets > entry tickets
In the rubric for this next task, a bar chart, the word illustrates is used. We could change this to shows, or we could use another expression such as provides information. We can use the word mean instead of average. Mean is a more scientific word, but has the same meaning. Instead of number we can use quantity. Quick test here - could we use amount instead of quantity? Well, no, because amount is used with uncountable nouns, and here we are using it with a countable noun, tickets.
Instead of sold we could use purchased, a more formal word but with the same meaning, and we could write entry tickets rather than just tickets.
ii. Different voices (passive/ active)
tickets sold > tickets that people buy
In this case, we could potentially use the passive by changing tickets sold to tickets that people buy.
iii. Different parts of speech
tickets in a theme park > theme park tickets
In terms of parts of speech, it’s possible to change from tickets in a theme park to theme park tickets. In the phrase theme park tickets, 'theme park' acts as an adjective, whereas in the original it serves as a modifier which describes the location related to the tickets.
iv. Different time period
Monday to Sunday > the week
three periods of the day > three times of day > three parts of the day
In this task rubric, we can paraphrase two parts of the time period. Monday to Sunday can be changed to the week, and three periods of the day can become three times of day or three parts of the day.
Examples:
The bar chart provides information about the mean number of tickets purchased each day of the week in a theme park over three parts of the day.
The bar chart illustrates the average quantity of theme park tickets that people buy during three times of day, each day of the week.
Looking at these examples you can see the changes, with average, number, sold, theme park and other words and phrases changed.
Pie Chart
The pie charts below show the percentages of shipments made by various transportation modes in 1990, 2020, and forecasted for 2050.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
percentage > proportion
made > carried out
transportation > transport
modes > means > methods
forecasted > predicted
Next, we have pie charts. Pie charts will normally show percentages or proportions. These words are interchangeable so whichever one you see in the rubric, use the other one. In this task, we can change from percentage to proportion. We can also change the word made to carried out, which is a more formal synonym in this context. The noun transportation can be changed to transport, which has the same meaning, and is only slightly less formal. Modes of transport can also be called means or methods of transport. All of these essentially have the same meaning. Finally, we can change forecasted to predicted.
ii. Different voices (passive/ active)
shows > are shown
Here as with previous tasks, we could change shows to the passive voice, are shown.
iii. Different parts of speech
various (adverb) > variety (noun)
forecasted (verb) > forecast (noun)
In terms of different parts of speech, we could use the noun variety instead of the adverb various if we say, ‘shipments made by a variety of’. We could also use the noun forecast instead of the verb forecasted.
iv. Different time period
in 1990, 2020, and forecasted for 2050 > in 1990 and 2020, and a forecast for 2050
When changing the time period expression we could use the noun forecast instead of the verb forecast.
Examples:
The pie charts provide information on the proportions of shipments carried out using a variety of means of transport in 1990, 2020 as well as a forecast for 2050.
The pie charts illustrate the proportions of various shipment transportation methods used in 1990, 2020 and predicted for 2050.
Here are two examples using different combinations of these synonyms, and other changes. Instead of show we’ve used provide information and illustrate. Percentages has been changed to proportions, and you can see other changes such as variety, methods, means and predicted.
Map Diagram
The diagrams below show the changes that occurred around a school between 1990 and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Next up is a map task.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
shows > depicts > illustrates
occur > take place > happen
around > the area surrounding > the territory around
change > develop
Another alternative to shows is depicts. This word works well for this task because we have drawings. But, the reality is you only need to know one synonym of show for the test, which will work for all tasks, so I’d recommend simply memorising the verbs show and illustrate.
In this task, the rubric uses the word occur. This can be replaced with take place or happen. You can also replace around with the area surrounding or the territory surrounding. Territory is a more formal synonym of area. We can also use the word develop instead of change. Develop is a synonym of change in this case, as we are talking about changing buildings and land. Develop captures this meaning.
ii. Different voices (passive/ active)
show > are shown
iii. Different parts of speech
change (noun) > change (verb)
iv. Different time
between 1990 and 2010 > from 1990 to 2020 > over a 20 year period
Examples:
The diagrams illustrate how the area surrounding a school was developed over a 20 year period.
The diagram depicts the changes that took place in the territory surrounding a school from 1990 to 2020.
I’ll skip straight to the examples as we’ve seen the other changes already in previous tasks. We can see that in these examples, show has been changed to illustrate and depict. Around has been changed to the area surrounding. We used develop instead of change and used the passive voice, developed. The original rubric used the active form of change. It is very common to do this and in fact, it’s quite unusual to use the passive form of the verb change. But, this is an exception, and when we use another verb such as develop, the passive form is more logical.
Other changes to the original rubric include using the word territory to describe the area around the school, and of course, we changed the expression for the time period.
Process Diagram
The diagram below shows the stages and equipment involved in producing electricity from wind.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features.
Our final task type is a process diagram.
i. Synonyms (Different words with the same meaning):
involved > used
producing > the production of > generating
electricity > power > electrical energy
In this task rubric we have a few words which have synonyms. We can change involved to used. Producing, which is a gerund, can be replaced with the noun production, or we could use another gerund, generating. A good synonym of electricity is power or we could also say electrical energy.
ii. Different parts of speech
producing > produce
iii. Different voices (passive/ active)
show > are shown
iv. Different time
N/A
Examples:
The diagram illustrates the process for generating electrical power from wind, including the stages and the equipment used.
The diagram depicts the system used to produce electrical energy from wind energy.
Jumping again to the examples, we can see how the rubric has been effectively paraphrased with various changes. Shows has been replaced with illustrates again. We could also use depicts here because we have a drawing of the process. We’ve replaced producing with generating in one example, and changed the part of speech to a verb with produce in the second example. Also, instead of using stages and equipment at the beginning of the sentence, as in the rubric, we’ve moved it to the end of the sentence in the first example, and removed it in the second example, and simply used system.
As you can see, certain words appear very often in these tasks, and have direct synonyms. We saw several of these keywords today, such as,
show/ illustrate
different/ various
number/ quantity
percentage/ proportion
spending/ expenditure
buy/ purchase
forecast/ predict
average/ mean
Other times, the synonym you choose must depend on the task. This is more tricky. We saw this in our examples with,
change > develop [in the context of building]
produce > generate [in the context of electricity]
make > carry out [in the context of a process]
Paraphrasing is such an important part of IELTS Writing that you should practice it very regularly. You can find over 30 examples of Academic Writing Tasks on fastforwardielts.com here, but, there are many other websites with examples to practice with too. If you can effectively paraphrase these task rubrics, you’ll be well on your way to a good score in IELTS Writing.
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