In Part 1, we looked at common paraphrasing techniques such as changing word forms, using synonyms, or switching between active and passive voice. In real reading tests, exam writers often combine these techniques, making questions trickier.
To help you practice, I’ve included:
➔ a tip,
➔ a reading passage,
➔ and two types of exercises.
Focus on meaning rather than exact words — that’s the key to spotting paraphrasing in the test.
COMBINED Paraphrases
- Active + Synonym Change
Text: Scientists conducted a detailed investigation into the effects of pollution.
Question: A thorough study was carried out on the impact of the pollution.
Tip: Watch for “conduct” → “carry out” and changes from active to passive. They sound different but mean the same thing.
- Word Form Change + Nominalization
Text: People argue that technology isolates individuals.
Question: There is an argument that technology causes social isolation.
Tip: Look for when a verb (“argue”) becomes a noun (“argument”), and when ideas are expressed as concepts rather than actions.
- Time Expression + Synonym + Restructuring
Text: The population of the city has doubled in the last decade.
Question: In the past ten years, the number of city residents has become twice as high.
Tip: IELTS often rephrases time expressions (“last decade” → “past ten years”) and numbers (“doubled” → “twice as high”). Focus on meaning, not wording.
- Positive/Negative Change + Lexical Substitution
Text: The results were not satisfactory.
Question: The results were disappointing.
Tip: When you see “not + adjective”, ask yourself if there’s a single negative word that means the same. This appears often in Reading True/False/Not Given questions.
- Change of Subject + Passive Voice + Synonym
Text: Tourists visit the island mainly in summer.
Question: The island is mostly visited by travelers during the summer months.
Tip: IELTS loves to switch who does the action (subject ↔ object) and to use synonyms (“tourists” → “travelers”). Don’t get distracted by word order.
- Generalization + Nominalization
Text: Many schoolchildren suffer from eye problems because of computer use.
Question: There is an increasing number of young people experiencing vision issues due to screen time.
Tip: Look for more general words (“schoolchildren” → “young people”) and noun phrases that describe actions (“screen time” instead of “use computers”).
- Cause and Effect + Reordering
Text: Because of the drought, crop yields dropped dramatically.
Question: Crop production declined sharply as a result of the drought.
Tip: IELTS can move the cause or effect to the start or end of a sentence. Words like because of, due to, as a result of mean the same thing.
- Synonym + Metaphorical/Idiomatic Expression
Text: The company’s profits have increased steadily this year.
Question: The firm’s earnings have been on the rise throughout the year.
Tip: Be ready for phrasal or idiomatic verbs like “on the rise,” “go up,” “pick up,” etc. They all describe upward movement or improvement.
- Number Expression + Passive Voice + Lexical Change
Text: Over 70% of the city’s waste is recycled each year.
Question: More than two-thirds of urban rubbish undergoes recycling annually.
Tip: IELTS often changes fractions ↔ percentages, nouns ↔ verbs, and formal/informal vocabulary (“waste” → “rubbish”). Focus on the idea, not the format.
- Rewording + Word Class Change + Perspective Shift
Text: Some students find it difficult to adapt to university life.
Question: Adjusting to academic life can be challenging for certain learners.
Tip: Pay attention when adjectives become nouns or verbs become gerunds. IELTS writers use this to disguise the same meaning in a different grammatical form.
Reading Tip: Spot the Idea, Not the Words
In IELTS and CELPIP reading sections, the question rarely uses the exact words from the passage. Instead:
● Focus on the main idea or meaning.
● Watch for synonyms or word form changes (regions → areas, strengthens → improves).
● Look at the logical structure of the sentence — often the same, even if the words are different.
● Combine ideas carefully — sometimes the test mixes two pieces of information from the passage into one question.
Quick mantra:
“Same idea, different words.”
Use this tip as you go through the exercises below. It will help you recognize combined paraphrasing techniques more easily. Remember, the actual exams will be longer in length.
Mini EXERCISE: Reading Passage
The Decline of Handwriting
In recent decades, the art of handwriting has steadily declined, largely due to the widespread use of digital devices. While typing on keyboards and touchscreens enables greater speed and convenience, many educators argue that handwriting strengthens memory and learning in ways that typing cannot. Research suggests that forming letters by hand activates brain regions associated with comprehension and creativity. Nevertheless, modern workplaces seldom require handwritten communication, and as a result, cursive writing — once considered an essential skill — is disappearing from school curricula. Despite occasional campaigns to revive penmanship, digital literacy remains the dominant priority in education systems worldwide.
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
1. Handwriting has become less common mainly because of the spread of ___________.
2. Writing by hand improves a person’s ___________ and learning ability.
3. Offices today rarely demand ___________ between colleagues.
4. Cursive writing has been dropped from many ___________.
5. Even though some people try to bring handwriting back, ___________ is still the main focus in schools.
Exercise 2: Multiple-Choice Questions
Question 1
Why do some educators argue that handwriting is important?
- It allows faster writing than typing.
- It improves memory and learning.
- It is more convenient than digital devices.
- It helps students communicate with colleagues.
Question 2
What is happening to cursive writing in schools?
- It is now considered optional in most curricula.
- It is being replaced by digital literacy as the priority.
- It is being used only for creative writing.
- It remains an essential skill in many schools.
Question 3
Why might handwriting still be relevant, according to research?
- It helps improve typing speed.
- It activates brain areas linked to comprehension and creativity.
- It is required in modern workplaces.
- It replaces the need for digital literacy.
Question 4
What is the main reason handwriting is declining?
- Lack of interest from educators.
- Pressure from workplaces to type.
- Widespread use of digital devices.
- Campaigns to revive penmanship have failed.
Answer Key and Explanation
Exercise 1: Fill-in-the-blank
- digital devices – The question uses “spread of,” while the text says “widespread use of digital devices.”
- memory – The text says “strengthens memory and learning”; students may be distracted by words like “brain activity” or “creativity.”
- handwritten communication – Paraphrased from “modern workplaces seldom require handwritten communication.” The passage uses “workplaces” instead of “offices.”
- school curricula – “Dropped from many” corresponds to “disappearing from school curricula.” Subtle rewording.
- digital literacy – “Main focus” = “dominant priority.” This is a strong paraphrase using abstract academic phrasing.
Exercise 2: Multiple-Choice
- B. It improves memory and learning – The passage says “handwriting strengthens memory and learning in ways that typing cannot.” Vocabulary and structure are different, but the idea is the same.
- B. It is being replaced by digital literacy as the priority – The passage says “cursive writing…is disappearing…digital literacy remains the dominant priority.” Students must combine two paraphrasing techniques: decline of cursive + priority of digital literacy.
- B. It activates brain areas linked to comprehension and creativity – “Forming letters by hand activates brain regions associated with comprehension and creativity” is paraphrased as “activates brain areas linked to…” Synonyms: regions → areas, associated with → linked to.
- C. Widespread use of digital devices – The passage says “declined, largely due to the widespread use of digital devices.” Distractors include plausible but minor details; students must identify the main cause.
Ready to Boost Your Reading Score?
Struggling with tricky paraphrasing? Don’t worry — expert guidance can make all the difference. Get in touch today for personalized strategies, practice exercises, and feedback that help you spot ideas faster, avoid common traps, and build confidence for IELTS or CELPIP reading.
Contact David now at [email protected] and start improving your reading skills!
By: Larry Fedorowick
Paraphrasing for IELTS/CELPIP Reading – Part 2
