Paraphrasing Skills for IELTS Writing: How to Rewrite Without Copying

Your IELTS essay introduction should paraphrase the question, not copy it. But paraphrasing is also essential throughout your essay—avoiding repetition and demonstrating vocabulary range.

Poor paraphrasing hurts your Lexical Resource score. Good paraphrasing shows you can express ideas flexibly and precisely.

This guide teaches you the specific techniques for effective paraphrasing in IELTS Writing.

Why Paraphrasing Matters

In Your Introduction

Copying the question word-for-word signals limited vocabulary. Examiners explicitly look for paraphrasing as evidence of lexical range.

Copied (weak):

Question: "Some people think that governments should spend money on public services rather than arts and culture."
Introduction: "Some people think that governments should spend money on public services rather than arts and culture."

Paraphrased (strong):

Question: "Some people think that governments should spend money on public services rather than arts and culture."
Introduction: "It is argued that state funding should prioritize essential services over artistic and cultural programs."

Throughout Your Essay

Repeating the same words and phrases throughout your essay limits your Lexical Resource score. Paraphrasing shows you can express ideas in multiple ways.

The Three Paraphrasing Techniques

Technique 1: Synonym Substitution

Replace words with synonyms while keeping the same meaning.

Original: "Some people think..."
Paraphrased: "It is believed by some..." / "Certain individuals argue..." / "Some argue..."

Common Substitutions:

Warning: Only use synonyms you understand fully. Wrong synonyms are worse than repetition.

Technique 2: Change Word Forms

Convert words to different grammatical forms (noun → verb, adjective → noun, etc.)

Noun → Verb:

• "the development of technology" → "technology has developed"
• "an increase in crime" → "crime has increased"
• "the government's decision" → "the government decided"

Adjective → Noun:

• "people are increasingly obese" → "obesity is increasing"
• "students feel stressed" → "student stress is rising"

Verb → Noun:

• "people consume more energy" → "energy consumption has risen"
• "the environment has deteriorated" → "environmental deterioration continues"

Active → Passive:

• "Companies produce pollution" → "Pollution is produced by companies"
• "Technology has changed society" → "Society has been transformed by technology"

Technique 3: Restructure Sentences

Change the order or structure of the sentence while keeping the meaning.

Change clause order:

• Original: "Although technology has benefits, it also has drawbacks."
• Restructured: "Technology has drawbacks despite its benefits."

Change emphasis:

• Original: "Governments should invest more in education."
• Restructured: "Greater investment in education is needed from governments."

Combine techniques:

• Original: "Some people think that zoos should be closed."
• Paraphrased: "Certain individuals argue that zoological parks should be shut down."
• (synonyms + sentence structure change)

Paraphrasing the Question: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Key Content Words

Look at the question and identify words you need to change:

Question: "Some people think that governments should spend more money on public services rather than on arts and culture."

Content words to paraphrase: governments, spend, money, public services, arts and culture

Step 2: Find Alternatives

governments → authorities, the state, public sector
spend money → allocate funds, invest resources, direct funding
public services → essential services, public amenities, government services
arts and culture → artistic programs, cultural initiatives, the creative sector

Step 3: Restructure If Needed

Original structure: "Some people think that X should do Y rather than Z"
New structures:

• "It is argued that Y is more important than Z"
• "There is a view that X should prioritize Y over Z"
• "Many believe X's resources are better spent on Y than Z"

Step 4: Write Your Paraphrase

Final paraphrase: "There is a view that state funding should prioritize essential services over cultural and artistic programs."

Common IELTS Terms and Their Paraphrases

Opinion Language

Topic Language

Action Language

Paraphrasing Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Forcing Inappropriate Synonyms

Not every word has a perfect synonym. Some substitutions change the meaning.

"The government should spend money" → "The administration should waste money"
("Spend" and "waste" are not synonyms)

"The government should spend money" → "The authorities should allocate funds"

Mistake 2: Changing Only One Word

Changing just one word isn't effective paraphrasing.

Original: "Some people think that technology is harmful."
Weak paraphrase: "Some people believe that technology is harmful."

Better: "Technology is considered harmful by certain individuals."

Mistake 3: Making It Too Different

Paraphrasing should keep the same meaning. Don't add or remove ideas.

Original: "Governments should invest in renewable energy."
Wrong: "All countries must immediately switch to solar power."
(This adds ideas not in the original)

Correct: "Investment in sustainable energy sources should be a priority for the state."

Mistake 4: Using Words You Don't Understand

Don't use synonyms unless you're sure they fit.

"The proliferation of mobile communication apparatuses has transmuted societal intercourse."

This sounds unnatural and probably contains usage errors. Simple, correct paraphrasing is better than complex, wrong paraphrasing.

"The spread of smartphones has changed how people communicate."

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Paraphrase These Questions

Try paraphrasing these Task 2 questions:

1. "Some people think that children should begin formal education at a very early age."

2. "In many countries, the gap between rich and poor is increasing."

3. "Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed rather than work for a company."

Suggested paraphrases:

1. "It is argued that young children should start their schooling earlier than is currently typical."

2. "Economic inequality is widening in numerous nations around the world."

3. "An increasing number of individuals are choosing self-employment over traditional corporate positions."

Exercise 2: Avoid Repetition

Rewrite this paragraph to avoid repeating underlined words:

"Technology has changed society significantly. Technology allows people to communicate instantly. Technology helps students learn more effectively. However, technology also has negative effects."

Improved version:

"Technology has changed society significantly. Digital tools allow people to communicate instantly. Modern innovations help students learn more effectively. However, these technological developments also have negative effects."

Quick Reference: Paraphrasing Checklist

When paraphrasing, ask yourself:

• Have I changed key vocabulary (not just one word)?
• Does my paraphrase keep the same meaning?
• Have I changed the sentence structure where possible?
• Am I confident all my synonyms are correct?
• Does it sound natural, not forced?
• Is it roughly the same length as the original?

Key Takeaways

1. Never copy the question—always paraphrase in your introduction
2. Use all three techniques—synonyms, word forms, restructuring
3. Only use words you understand—wrong synonyms hurt more than repetition
4. Keep the same meaning—paraphrasing changes words, not ideas
5. Practice regularly—paraphrasing improves with practice
6. Paraphrase throughout—not just in introductions, but to avoid repetition everywhere

Strong paraphrasing skills demonstrate the vocabulary flexibility examiners look for at Band 7+.

Struggling with paraphrasing? BandWriteCoach identifies repetition in your essays and suggests alternatives to improve your Lexical Resource score.