Hello! In our previous lessons, we've been fine-tuning the grammatical engine of your writing, focusing on the precise use of tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, and prepositions. These skills are fundamental to building clear and error-free sentences, directly impacting your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.
Today, we shift our focus from grammatical structure to the words you choose. To achieve a Band 7, you need to demonstrate a sophisticated and flexible vocabulary. This lesson will equip you with a powerful tool to do just that. Your learning outcome is to use high-frequency vocabulary from the Academic Word List to paraphrase sentences on common IELTS topics. Paraphrasing is not just a required skill for the test; it is the key to showcasing your lexical resource, allowing you to express ideas with precision and variety.
1. The Power of the Academic Word List (AWL)
First, let's formally introduce the tool we'll be using. The Academic Word List, or AWL, is a collection of words that appear with high frequency across a wide range of academic texts. These are not obscure, "fancy" words; they are the common currency of academic discussion and are essential for success in the IELTS Academic module.
To understand what the AWL is and why it's so critical for your score, please review the following guide.
IELTS Academic Word List (AWL): The Ultimate Guide to ...
This article from IELTS Online Tests provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the AWL and its direct application to each part of the IELTS test.
Please read the introduction and the first two main sections of the article. Focus on: The definition of the AWL and its structure. The section "Why the AWL matters for IELTS," which explains how this vocabulary boosts your score in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
As you can see, mastering the AWL directly addresses the "Lexical Resource" criterion in your Writing and Speaking assessments. It allows you to use "less common lexical items" and to paraphrase effectively—two hallmarks of a Band 7+ performance.
2. Paraphrasing: Beyond Simple Synonyms
Effective paraphrasing is more than just swapping a word for its synonym. It's a technical skill that involves re-engineering a sentence while preserving its core meaning. This often requires changing the grammatical form of words and altering the sentence's structure.
This short video demonstrates two powerful paraphrasing techniques that are crucial for your IELTS writing.
2 simple paraphrasing tricks - how to paraphrase ielts writing task 2
The video "2 simple paraphrasing tricks" by Lilie IELTS clearly explains how to change word forms and sentence structures.
Watch from the beginning to the end of the second example. Pay close attention to how she transforms: Nouns into adjectives (e.g., 'information about culture' → 'cultural information'). Verbs into nouns (e.g., 'punish' → 'punishment'). Sentence structures using "There is..." and active/passive voice.
Now that you have the techniques, you need the right words. While everyday words are fine, using more academic vocabulary will make your writing more formal and sophisticated. The following video provides excellent examples of how to upgrade common words to their more academic counterparts.
Learn 200 IELTS Words in 2 Hours | Advanced English Vocabulary
In "Learn 200 IELTS Words in 2 Hours," JForrest English provides a practical list of academic synonyms for common English words.
Watch the segment from "Show me how." This section offers direct comparisons like show → demonstrate, improve → enhance, and big → significant. As you watch, think about how you could use these more academic words in your own writing and speaking.
3. Practice: Paraphrasing with the AWL
It's time to put theory into practice. We will now work through several sentences on common IELTS topics. Your task is to paraphrase each sentence using the provided AWL word, applying the techniques you've just learned.
For this exercise, you can refer to the most important part of the AWL: Sublist 1. The following resource provides a detailed table of these words, their meanings, and examples. Keep it open as a reference.
IELTS Academic Word List (AWL): The Ultimate Guide to ...
This is the same guide as before. We are now using its excellent reference table for Sublist 1.
Scroll down to the section titled "AWL Sublist 1". Familiarize yourself with the table format. You will use this as a vocabulary bank for the following exercises.
Now, let's begin the practice. For each sentence, try to write your own paraphrased version before revealing the model answer.
Exercise 1: Technology & Work
- Original: The way we work has been changed a lot by new technology.
- Target Word: significant (adjective) / significantly (adverb)
- Your Turn: (Try to rewrite the sentence using 'significant' or 'significantly'.)
Model Answer
New technology has significantly changed the way we work.
OR
New technology has had a significant impact on the way we work.
Explanation: The first version uses the adverb 'significantly' to modify the verb 'changed,' making it more formal than 'a lot.' The second version changes the structure to use the adjective 'significant' with the noun 'impact,' a very common and effective academic phrase.
Exercise 2: Environment
- Original: The government must make a plan to deal with air pollution.
- Target Word: policy (noun)
- Your Turn: (Rewrite the sentence using 'policy'.)
Model Answer
The government must establish a policy to address air pollution.
Explanation: Here, 'make a plan' is upgraded to the more formal collocation 'establish a policy.' 'Deal with' is also replaced with the more academic verb 'address.'
Exercise 3: Education
- Original: It is necessary for students to attend all lectures.
- Target Word: require (verb) / requirement (noun)
- Your Turn: (Rewrite the sentence using 'require' or 'requirement'.)
Model Answer
Students are required to attend all lectures.
OR
Attendance at all lectures is a requirement for students.
Explanation: The first answer uses the passive voice ('are required'), which is common in formal and academic contexts. The second answer restructures the entire sentence to use the noun 'requirement,' demonstrating high-level paraphrasing skill.
Exercise 4: Society & Health
- Original: The numbers show that people in cities are more stressed.
- Target Word: indicate (verb) / data (noun)
- Your Turn: (Rewrite the sentence using 'indicate' and 'data'.)
Model Answer
The data indicate that urban populations experience higher levels of stress.
Explanation: 'The numbers' is replaced by the more formal 'The data.' 'Show' is upgraded to 'indicate.' 'People in cities' is paraphrased as 'urban populations.' This sentence is much more academic in tone.
Exercise 5: The Economy
- Original: Finding the reasons for the economic downturn is the main part of the report.
- Target Word: analyse (verb) / analysis (noun), factors (noun)
- Your Turn: (Rewrite the sentence using 'analysis' or 'analyse' and 'factors'.)
Model Answer
The main function of the report is to analyse the factors contributing to the economic downturn.
OR
An analysis of the factors behind the economic downturn is the report's primary focus.
Explanation: 'Finding the reasons' becomes the more sophisticated 'analyse the factors' or 'analysis of the factors.' This demonstrates a strong command of academic vocabulary and sentence structure.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you've moved beyond basic vocabulary to explore the powerful words of the Academic Word List. You've also learned that true paraphrasing skill comes from combining better words with different grammatical structures. This ability is not just for passing an exam; it's a core skill in any professional environment where clear and sophisticated communication is valued.
Key Takeaways:
- The Academic Word List (AWL) contains high-frequency words that are essential for a Band 7 score in the IELTS Academic module.
- Effective paraphrasing involves more than just swapping synonyms. It requires changing word forms (e.g., noun to verb) and sentence structures (e.g., active to passive).
- Systematically replacing common words (like 'show', 'big', 'get') with more academic alternatives (like 'indicate', 'significant', 'obtain') elevates the formality and precision of your writing.
In our next lesson, we will build directly on this foundation. You will learn how to construct sentences using common academic collocations (e.g., 'conduct research', 'play a role'). Knowing which words naturally go together is the next crucial step toward writing and speaking like a fluent, confident English user.