Paraphrase Writing Task 2 is a crucial skill to master for IELTS Writing, where rewording the question and ideas clearly and naturally is key to scoring high. In this guide, IELTS Test Pro will explore effective paraphrasing methods, commonly used paraphrase words, and share tips for achieving a band 8+ in your IELTS Writing.

I. Effective Ways to Paraphrase Writing Task 2

Paraphrase Writing Task 2 involves restating the prompt or your ideas using different words and structures. It’s essential for task achievement and lexical resource criteria. Here, we will cover four effective methods to paraphrase Writing Task 2 efficiently.

1. Method 1: Use Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms & Antonyms are one of the easiest ways to paraphrase Writing Task 2. You replace a word with another word that has the same meaning, but remember to check the context, as some synonyms can have slightly different nuances.

Example:

  • Original sentence: Many people believe that the government should increase the tax on tobacco.
  • Paraphrased sentence: A large number of individuals argue that the authorities should raise the tax on cigarettes.

Notice that “increase” is paraphrased as “raise”, and “tobacco” is replaced with “cigarettes”. Although both words are synonyms, they may differ in context, so always choose wisely.

See also: IELTS Writing Task 2 Phrases: 100+ Essential Sentence Starters for Band 7+

2. Method 2: Change Word Forms/Parts of Speech

Changing the word form or part of speech of a word is another effective paraphrase Writing Task 2 method. You can convert a noun into a verb, an adjective into a noun, or vice versa.

Example:

  • Original sentence: The government should focus on improving education.
  • Paraphrased sentence: The government should concentrate on the improvement of education.

Here, “improving” (verb) is changed to “improvement” (noun), demonstrating how altering word forms can help you paraphrase naturally.

3. Method 3: Change Sentence Structure

Changing the sentence structure is a powerful paraphrase Writing Task 2 technique. You can convert active sentences to passive ones, split a complex sentence into simpler ones, or combine two sentences into one.

Example:

  • Original sentence: The company’s new policy will be announced next week.
  • Paraphrased sentence: Next week, the announcement of the company’s new policy will be made.

By changing the active voice (will be announced) to passive (will be made), you create a different sentence structure while keeping the meaning intact.

4. Method 4: Combine Multiple Methods

Often, the best paraphrase Writing Task 2 combine several methods. Using a combination of synonyms, word form changes, and sentence restructuring will help make your paraphrase more diverse and natural.

Example:

  • Original sentence: It is necessary for governments to invest in renewable energy sources to combat climate change.
  • Paraphrased sentence: Investing in renewable energy is essential for governments to fight against climate change.
     In this paraphrase, we used:
  • Synonyms: “necessary” is replaced with “essential”, “invest” with “investing”.
  • Word form change: “sources” (noun) changed to “energy” (noun).
  • Sentence structure change: The original sentence was restructured by removing passive voice.
Effective Ways to Paraphrase Writing Task 2
Effective Ways to Paraphrase Writing Task 2

II. Common Paraphrasing Expressions in IELTS Writing Task 2

Now, let’s dive into common paraphrasing Writing Task 2 expressions used in different types of essays. Mastering these will help you sound natural and varied in your writing, crucial for scoring well in the IELTS Writing section.

1. Opinion Essays (Agree/Disagree)

1.1. General Opinion

  • It is widely believed that… → “There is a general consensus that…” / “It is commonly acknowledged that…”
  • Many people think that… → “A large portion of the population holds the view that…” / “It is a widely accepted belief that…”
  • Some argue that… → “It is often argued that…” / “There are those who contend that…”
  • It is thought that… → “It is considered that…” / “It is perceived that…”

1.2. Personal Opinion

  • In my opinion,… → “From my perspective,…” / “Personally, I believe that…” / “In my view,…”
  • I think that… → “I hold the opinion that…” / “I am of the opinion that…”
  • I believe that… → “I maintain that…” / “It is my belief that…”
  • It seems to me that… → “It appears to me that…” / “I am inclined to believe that…”

1.3. Opposing Viewpoint

  • On the other hand,… → “Conversely,…” / “In contrast,…” / “However,…”
  • Although some people argue that… → “Despite the fact that some hold the view that…” / “While it is argued by some that…”
  • There are those who believe that… → “Some contend that…” / “Certain individuals are of the opinion that…”
  • Opponents argue that… → “Critics maintain that…” / “Detractors assert that…”

2. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

2.1. Benefits

  • One benefit of… → “One advantage of…” / “A positive aspect of…”
  • A major benefit of… → “A significant advantage of…” / “An important benefit of…”
  • A positive aspect of… → “An upside to…” / “A favorable point of…”
  • The advantages of… → “The benefits of…” / “The positive sides of…”

2.2. Drawbacks

  • A drawback of… → “A disadvantage of…” / “A negative aspect of…”
  • A limitation of… → “A shortcoming of…” / “A negative point about…”
    A downside to… → “A disadvantage of…” / “The downside of…”
  • One major disadvantage of… → “One major drawback of…” / “One significant disadvantage of…”

3. Problem–Cause–Solution Essays

3.1. Problem

  • The issue of… → “The problem of…” / “The challenge of…”
  • The problem with… → “The difficulty with…” / “The concern about…”
  • There is a problem with… → “There exists a challenge with…” / “The difficulty in…”
  • The main issue is… → “The primary problem is…” / “The central concern is…”

3.2. Causes

  • The reason for… → “The cause of…” / “The factor behind…”
  • Because of… → “Owing to…” / “Due to…”
  • Due to… → “Owing to…” / “As a result of…”
  • The cause of… → “The underlying cause of…” / “The contributing factor to…”

3.3. Solutions

  • To solve this problem… → “To address this issue…” / “One solution to this is…”
  • A possible solution is… → “A potential answer is…” / “An effective solution is…”
  • One way to tackle this problem is… → “One way to address this challenge is…” / “A possible approach is…”
  • The best way to solve this problem is… → “The most effective solution is…” / “The optimal solution to this issue is…”
Common Paraphrase Writing Task 2
Common Paraphrase Writing Task 2

4. Other Common Paraphrasing Expressions

  • Increase → “Raise” / “Boost” / “Expand”
  • Important → “Crucial” / “Significant” / “Essential”
  • Improve → “Enhance” / “Develop” / “Boost”
  • Problem → “Issue” / “Dilemma” / “Challenge”
  • Solution → “Answer” / “Remedy” / “Approach”
  • Rich → “Wealthy” / “Affluent” / “Prosperous”
  • Poor → “Impoverished” / “Deprived” / “Underprivileged”
  • Help → “Assist” / “Aid” / “Support”
  • Environment → “Surroundings” / “Ecosystem” / “Habitat”
  • Teach → “Educate” / “Instruct” / “Train”

Read more: 7 Powerful Ways to Paraphrase IELTS Writing Task 1

Mastering paraphrasing techniques is crucial for IELTS Writing Task 2. Whether you paraphrase Writing Task 2 prompt or your own ideas, the ability to rephrase ideas fluently and naturally will help boost your score, especially in Lexical Resource and Task Achievement. By using synonyms, changing word forms, altering sentence structure, and combining methods, you will significantly improve your writing.