IELTS Task 2: How to Paraphrase the Prompt for Band 8

Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma writes English learning guides for ESL students. Pune-based language enthusiast.

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Quick answer: Change the sentence structure first, then swap only the words that have an accurate synonym, and never change the scope of the question. A Band 8 paraphrase is one or two sentences, 25 to 40 words, written in about 3 minutes.↗ Share on X

To paraphrase an IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt well enough for Band 8, you rewrite the question in your introduction using your own sentence structure and a few accurate synonyms, while keeping the exact meaning. Change the grammar first (active to passive, noun to verb, clause order), then swap only the words that have a true synonym, and never change the scope of the question. A good paraphrase is one or two sentences, about 25 to 40 words, and it takes you no more than 3 minutes.

Below you will find the five techniques that work, a table of safe and unsafe word swaps, three full worked examples, and the mistakes that pull a paraphrase down to Band 6.

Why does paraphrasing the prompt matter so much?

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Your introduction is the first thing the examiner reads. If it copies the question, three things happen:

1. Copied words are not counted toward your word total. If your essay is close to 250 words, you can drop below the minimum without noticing.

2. It shows limited vocabulary, which affects the Lexical Resource score (one of the four criteria, worth 25% of the task mark).

3. It gives a weak first impression. The examiner still marks the full essay fairly, but a clumsy opening makes the rest harder to read.

The official Band 8 description for vocabulary talks about using a wide range "fluently and flexibly" with only rare errors. Paraphrasing is the first place you show that flexibility.

The 5 techniques, in the order you should use them

Most students start by hunting for synonyms. That is the weakest method. Start with grammar, then vocabulary.

1. Change the word form

Turn a verb into a noun, or a noun into a verb.

• Prompt: "Many people believe that..."
• Paraphrase: "There is a widespread belief that..."

2. Change the sentence structure

Move clauses around, or switch between active and passive.

• Prompt: "Governments should spend more money on public transport."
• Paraphrase: "More public funding ought to be allocated to buses and trains."

3. Use a general-to-specific switch

Replace a general word with specific examples, or the opposite.

• Prompt: "public transport"
• Paraphrase: "buses, trains and metro systems"

4. Replace words with accurate synonyms

Only swap a word when the new word means the same thing in that context.

• "children" → "young people" (only if the prompt is not about toddlers)
• "important" → "essential" / "vital"

5. Change the number or time expression

• "Nowadays" → "In recent years" / "In the modern era"
• "Many people" → "A large number of individuals"

Use two or three of these techniques per sentence. Using all five usually makes the sentence unnatural.

Which word swaps are safe, and which are dangerous?

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This is where most Band 6 and 7 essays lose marks. A synonym that is "almost right" changes the question.

Rule of thumb: if you are not sure a synonym is accurate, keep the original word and change the grammar around it instead. Repeating one key noun is far better than using a wrong one.

Worked example 1: an opinion question

Prompt: Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid work in their community. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Weak paraphrase (Band 6):

"Some people think young people should be required to do unpaid work in the community. I agree."

Problems: it copies almost every word and the opinion is too short.

Band 8 paraphrase:

"It is sometimes argued that teenagers ought to be obliged to volunteer in their local area. While I accept that this has some value, I believe that making it compulsory would be counterproductive."

What changed:

1. "Some people think" → "It is sometimes argued" (structure change).

2. "young people" → "teenagers" (accurate in this context).

3. "should be required" → "ought to be obliged" (synonym plus modal change).

4. "do unpaid work" → "volunteer" (one word replaces a phrase).

5. "community" → "local area" (safe swap).

6. A clear position is added, as the question asks for one.

Worked example 2: a discussion question

Prompt: Some people believe that universities should focus on providing academic skills. Others think they should prepare students for employment. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 8 paraphrase:

"There is disagreement about whether higher education should prioritise theoretical knowledge or practical preparation for the job market. This essay will examine both perspectives before arguing that the two aims are not mutually exclusive."

Notice what did not change: there are still two views, and the essay still gives an opinion. The scope is the same.

Worked example 3: a two-part question

Prompt: In many countries, the number of people living alone is increasing. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?

Band 8 paraphrase:

"A growing proportion of the population in numerous nations now lives in single-person households. This essay will explain why this trend has emerged and argue that its effects are largely negative."

Changes: "the number... is increasing" becomes "a growing proportion"; "living alone" becomes "single-person households"; "many countries" becomes "numerous nations". Both questions are addressed in the thesis.

What mistakes pull a paraphrase down?

1. Changing the meaning. Writing "all young people" when the prompt says "young people" changes the claim. The examiner may mark it as not fully addressing the task.

2. Forcing rare words. "Juveniles" for "young people" sounds like a police report. Band 8 is about precision, not about rare vocabulary.

3. Writing a long introduction. Your paraphrase plus thesis should be 40 to 60 words. Anything longer steals time from your body paragraphs.

4. Using memorised openers. Phrases like "In this contemporary era of globalisation" are easy to spot and add nothing. Examiners see them constantly.

5. Dropping part of the question. In two-part prompts, students often paraphrase only the first question.

6. Grammar errors in the paraphrase. A complex sentence with an error scores lower than a simpler correct one.

How long should this take in the exam?

You have 40 minutes for Task 2. A practical split:

If the paraphrase takes more than 3 minutes, write a simpler version and move on. You can improve it during the checking stage if time allows.

A 7-day practice routine

1. Day 1: Take 5 old Task 2 prompts. Rewrite each using only technique 1 (word form).

2. Day 2: Same 5 prompts, using only technique 2 (structure).

3. Day 3: Build your own synonym list for 10 common topics (education, health, crime, environment, technology, work, family, cities, media, government). Check each word in a learner's dictionary.

4. Day 4: Paraphrase 5 new prompts, combining two techniques each.

5. Day 5: Time yourself. Aim for under 3 minutes per paraphrase.

6. Day 6: Compare your paraphrases with model answers from official Cambridge IELTS books. Note what they changed and what they kept.

7. Day 7: Write 2 complete introductions (paraphrase + thesis) under exam timing.

Keep all your paraphrases in one notebook. After a week you will see the same patterns repeat, because IELTS topics repeat.

Your next step

Open one Task 2 prompt from an official practice book right now. Underline the three key ideas, then write one paraphrase using a structure change and one accurate synonym, and check it against the table above. If every idea is still there and no word changed the meaning, you have the core skill. Repeat with five prompts a day until it feels automatic.

FAQ

Do copied words from the prompt count toward 250 words?

No. Words copied directly from the question are not counted, so an introduction that repeats the prompt can push a short essay under the minimum.

Is it OK to repeat a key word from the prompt?

Yes. If no accurate synonym exists, keep the key word and change the grammar around it. A wrong synonym costs more than a repeated word.

How long should my Task 2 introduction be?

About 40 to 60 words in total: one paraphrase sentence plus a clear thesis that answers every part of the question.