24. IELTS Task 1 : "Using nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs"

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Today let’s do a quick podcast and learn a great technique that not many people know about. It’s a simple language variation technique that is especially useful when describing IELTS task 1 charts.

One thing that IELTS examiners HATE is language repetition. And one thing they LOVE is language variation. One common way to vary language is to use synonyms. Here is an example.

Title: Sales of cars in EU countries 1999-2009

Synonymous language: The chart shows how many automobiles were sold in nations in Europe between 1999 and 2009.

The synonymous terms used were (cars = automobiles) and (countries = nations). This is a nice technique, but it is a little common and not special in any way. Today let’s learn a better technique to impress the IELTS examiner.

Instead of using synonymous words, lets try to impress the examiner by using different forms of the same word. One easy way to do this is to exchange nouns for verbs, and adjectives for adverbs.

Here is an example:

Increase (noun) ... Increased (verb)

Slight (adjective) ... Slightly (adverb)

Let’s look at this technique in action.

1. Car sales showed a SLIGHT INCREASE (adjective + noun) between 2004 and 2006.

2. Sales of coffee INCREASED SLIGHTLY (verb + adverb) between 2004 and 2006.

Both of these sentences are saying exactly the same thing, but using different words to do it. If you can put BOTH these structures (adj. + N / V + adv.) in one task 1, you will really impress the examiner.

Let’s look at the grammar, especially SVO, in more detail. In the first sentence S = car sales, V = showed, and O = a slight increase. In the second sentence, S = sales of coffee, V = increased, and O = NONE.

Let’s look at four more example of this technique below.

The domestic car market showed an IMPRESSIVE GROWTH of 50% for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.

The domestic car market GREW IMPRESSIVELY by 50% for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.

The world population GREW DRAMATICALLY between 1950 and 2005.

The world population experienced a DRAMATIC GROWTH between 1950 and 2005.

The number of British households using their own shopping bags when shopping FELL STEADILY between 1965 and 2005.

There was a STEADY FALL in the number of British households using their own shopping bags when shopping between 1965 and 2005.

House prices CLIMBED STEEPLY during the first half of the year before FALLING SHARPLY in August.

There was a SHARP CLIMB in house prices during the first half of the year before a STEEP FALL in August.

Guys this a great technique to pull out in your IELTS task 1 description, and it’s also not too hard if you practice the grammar a little bit. Make sure you use BOTH structures in the same essay for maximum score increase.

If you need to know more about writing awesome IELTS tasks, please visit my website at www.goldcoastielts.com. I have podcasts, a blog, and all the Cambridge exams for you to practice online along with MP3s. See you next time!