ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARAPHRASING IN IELTS

Paraphrasing is a necessary skill you need to have for the IELTS test. Mostly, paraphrasing you used in every part of the IELTS test, and is key to scoring high on vocabulary and lexical resource in IELTS Writing and Speaking. You also need it to figure out your answers in the Listening and Reading tests. Paraphrasing means changing a statement or sentence into a different format without changing the original meaning of the statement of sentence. Simply, paraphrasing is using different words to re-write a text without distorting the meaning of that text.

Below are some techniques for paraphrasing in IELTS;

1. Using Synonyms

Synonyms are words that are similar or identical in meaning. These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context of the text, statement or sentence. You can paraphrase by simply changing the words used in a sentence or text with similar words.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: There is an ongoing trend that has become popular among fathers.

Re-phrased: There is a continuous pattern that is now a norm among dads.

ongoing – continuous, trend – pattern, has become – is now, popular – norm, fathers – dads,

2. Changing the Word Formation

This requires you to change the form of a word without actually changing the original meaning of the sentence. You simply need to change nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, adjectives into adverbs, etc. This helps to showcase your vocabulary range.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: Research has found out that public speaking has positive impacts on students.

Re-phrased: From various researches, speaking publicly provides lots of positivity to students.

research – researches, public – publicly, positive – positivity

3. Changing the Word Order

In this style of paraphrasing, you rearrange words in a sentence such that they mean the same thing though they are written in a different way.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: There was a farmer among the visitors.

Re-phrased: Among the visitors, there was a farmer.

4. Changing the Clause Order

A clause is a group of words containing a verb and subject that have a relationship. In this style of paraphrasing, you have to first identify the clause in sentence before paraphrasing. When changing the clause order, you have to change the position of the clause and frame the sentence in a meaningful way.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: I have a lot of reserved energy left for swimming, though I went running few hours ago.

Re-phrased: Though I went running few hours ago, I have a lot of reserved energy left for swimming.

5. Sentence Re-Structuring

      This style of paraphrasing requires you to swap the order of words and to change some words with synonyms. At the same time, you must make sure that the meaning of the sentence remains unchanged.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: I will not go to the art gallery today due to the events I have slated for today.

Re-phrased: Considering the numerous events that are scheduled for today, I will not be going to the art gallery today.

6. Changing Active Voice to Passive Voice

It is important to know how to switch between an active and a passive voice and vice versa while expressing your thoughts or expressions through writing. All you have to do is to place the object at the beginning of the sentence and change the verb in line with the existing verb.

Let’s look at a sentence;

Original: Taiwo and I went to the cinema yesterday to see a movie.

Re-phrased: The movie that was shown at the cinema yesterday was watched by Taiwo and me.

You can apply any of this techniques in your IELTS test.

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