Academic Writing Task 1 · Lesson 3 of 5
Developing grammatical range and vocabulary
Accurate English is not enough for a high band. You also need to show variety. Learn how to change the form of a sentence without changing its meaning.
In this lesson you will
- analyse what makes a good answer for Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Lexical Resource
- identify the strengths and weaknesses of a sample answer
- practise using different structures to improve your answers
Step 1
Analyse a sample answer
Look at the graph and read an extract from one test taker's answer.
Average temperature recorded at a weather station, 2006–2020
Find the verbs and adverbs
Click a word once to mark it as a verb, twice to mark it as an adverb, and a third time to clear it. Find the six main verbs, and the four adverbs that describe how something changed.
underlined = verbcircled = adverb
The weather station recorded temperatures of about 18 degrees in 2006. From 2006 to 2008 the temperature increased rapidly to 27 degrees. However, from 2008, the temperature declined gradually to around 22 degrees in 2011. From 2011 to 2017 it fluctuated slightly, and then rose dramatically again. The temperature peaked at just under 35 degrees in 2020.
Strengths and weaknesses
Think about the grammar and vocabulary in the extract. Is each statement a strength or a weakness of this answer?
- It uses a variety of vocabulary to describe change.
- The spelling, grammar and word formation are accurate.
- The past simple is used in every sentence.
- The description of the graph is accurate.
- Every change is described with verb + adverb (e.g. increased rapidly).
- Data is given to support the description (e.g. to 27 degrees).
The extract is accurate and uses a good variety of vocabulary. Its main weakness is a limited range of grammatical structures: the past simple is repeated throughout, and every change uses the same verb + adverb pattern. This stops the writer from reaching the higher bands for Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
Step 2
Sentence transformation
In Task 1, you need to show that you can use a range of grammatical structures and a variety of vocabulary. Two easy ways to do this are to mix:
| Switch between… | Example |
|---|---|
| verb + adverb | The temperature fluctuated slightly. |
| adjective + noun | There was a slight fluctuation in the temperature. |
| active | The weather station recorded temperatures of 18 degrees. |
| passive | Temperatures of 18 degrees were recorded. |
Remember: when you change verb + adverb into adjective + noun, you need a preposition after the noun (a slight rise in). The passive is formed with be in the correct tense (is/are, was/were) + past participle. Use by if you mention who or what does the action.
Rewrite the sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first.
- From 2011 to 2017 the temperature fluctuated slightly. (verb + adverb) From 2011 to 2017 there was a the temperature. (adjective + noun)
- The weather station recorded temperatures of 18 degrees in 2006. (active) Temperatures of 18 degrees in 2006. (passive)
- There was an enormous fall in the value of the dollar in the last year. The value of the dollar in the last year.
- The number of people using public transport rose slightly. There was the number of people using public transport.
- It is predicted there will be a dramatic increase in price by 2030. The price is predicted to by 2030.
- Barometers measure atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure barometers.
- The supervisor checks all components of the computer personally. All components of the computer the supervisor personally.
- The pump passes the water through a number of valves. The water through a number of valves in the pump.
Step 3
60-second challenge
In the exam you need to make these changes quickly. Press the timer next to each sentence and try to complete it in 60 seconds. Write one word in each gap. Then check your answers.
Example: There were dramatic fluctuations in the number of people who took holidays from 2010 to 2015. → The number of people who took holidays fluctuated dramatically from 2010 to 2015.
Beat the clock
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Some boxes need more than one word.
- The price of theatre tickets reached a peak in 2014. There a peak in 2014.
- A slight drop in temperatures in 2016 led to an overall average of 24 degrees. in 2016 an overall average of 24 degrees.
- In general, Germany will spend much more on technology than the UK over the next 20 years. In general, spent on technology in Germany over the next 20 years.
- The ageing population in Japan has grown steadily. There the ageing population in Japan.
- Finally, a conveyor belt moves the parcels to the distribution point. Finally, parcels a conveyor belt.
- Spending patterns in Asia have differed significantly since 2018. There spending patterns in Asia since 2018.
- The price of oil is expected to rise dramatically. There expected a the price of oil.
- The town council has made a number of noticeable changes to the layout of the roads. The layout of the roads .
Next step: open the Writing Band Descriptors and compare Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Lexical Resource at Bands 6, 7 and 8. What changes from one band to the next?
Activities adapted from British Council IELTS teaching materials (takeielts.britishcouncil.org).