Every IELTS candidate learns the rule: 'Do not copy the question. Paraphrase it.' But very few are shown how. The result is introductions that either repeat the prompt almost word for word, or swap in awkward synonyms that sound unnatural and sometimes alter the meaning entirely. Neither gets you the Lexical Resource credit you need. Here are three techniques that actually work, and the one habit to drop.
Why paraphrase matters
Paraphrasing sits at the intersection of two marking criteria. Task Response rewards you for showing you understood the question. Lexical Resource rewards you for vocabulary range. A clean paraphrase does both at once. A copied question fails both.
The examiner has the question paper in front of them. They know what the prompt says. Your job is to show them you can say the same thing in your own words, not to hide what the question asked.
Technique 1: Swap key words, keep structure
This is the most common technique and the easiest to get wrong. The rule is: swap only the words you are confident about, and leave the rest.
OriginalMany people believe that the government should spend more money on public services rather than on the arts.
ParaphraseA common view is that state funding should prioritise essential services over cultural activities.
Three swaps: 'many people' → 'a common view', 'government' → 'state', 'spend money on' → 'funding', 'public services' → 'essential services', 'the arts' → 'cultural activities'. The sentence structure stays the same, but the vocabulary is fresh.
OriginalGovernments should spend money on public transport.
Over-paraphrasedAuthorities ought to allocate financial resources on communal conveyance systems.
Every word is swapped for a 'fancier' synonym, resulting in an unnatural, robotic sentence. 'Public transport' is safer and more natural than 'communal conveyance systems.' Swap the words that improve the sentence, not every word.
Technique 2: Restructure the sentence
Instead of swapping individual words, change the grammar. Turn an active sentence passive, or vice versa. Move a clause to the front. Combine two ideas into one. This is often cleaner than a synonym swap, and it naturally produces a different sentence without straining your vocabulary.
OriginalSome people think that children who are taught to cooperate become more useful adults.
ParaphraseTeaching children how to work with others, in the view of some, produces adults who contribute more to society.
The paraphrase changes 'children who are taught to cooperate' (passive, relative clause) into 'teaching children how to work with others' (gerund phrase), and 'become more useful adults' into 'produces adults who contribute more.' The vocabulary is similar but the grammar is entirely different.
Technique 3: Generalise, then specify
This is the most underused technique because it feels risky, but it works beautifully when you are confident about the topic. State the broad issue first, then narrow it to the specific question. This works especially well for Task 2 introductions.
OriginalNowadays many young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities.
ParaphraseUrban migration among young adults is accelerating in many countries, raising questions about the future of rural communities.
The paraphrase elevates the idea from a simple observation ('leaving the countryside') to a broader social trend ('urban migration'), then ties it back to the prompt's concern. The vocabulary is more precise without being forced.
Task 1 paraphrasing is slightly different
In Task 1, you paraphrase the chart description rather than an argument. The key swap is the verb: 'shows' can become 'illustrates', 'compares', 'gives data on', or 'breaks down'. The rest of the paraphrase simply describes what is in the chart using different words. Our Task 1 overview guide shows how to do this in the same sentence as your overview.
Practise paraphrasing by reading a Task 2 prompt, writing your paraphrase in one sentence, then comparing it to the original. If more than three content words are the same, try again using a different technique.
Eleven common prompt words. Practise choosing the paraphrase that keeps the meaning intact.
Try the paraphrase drillThe thesaurus habit to drop
The single worst paraphrase habit is replacing every word with a 'smarter' synonym without checking whether the new word actually fits. 'Children' does not always mean 'youngsters'. 'Money' does not need to become 'financial resources' every time. The examiner rewards precision and naturalness, not the size of your thesaurus.
A good rule: if you would not use the replacement word in a conversation with a colleague, do not use it in your essay. Paraphrase is about showing you can say the same thing differently and naturally, not about finding the most unusual synonym available.
Browse real prompts on our Task 2 questions page and practise paraphrasing the question in one sentence. When you are ready, grade a full essay and check your Lexical Resource score to see whether your paraphrasing is natural and accurate.