Mistakes in Paraphrasing for IELTS Writing to Avoid

Paraphrasing is a key skill in IELTS Writing, especially in introductions and topic sentences. However, many test-takers lose marks due to subtle paraphrasing mistakes. This guide explains the most common errors and shows you how to avoid them for higher IELTS Writing scores.

I. Why Is Paraphrasing So Important in the IELTS Exam?

Paraphrasing — the ability to express the same idea using different words and sentence structures — is a core skill in the IELTS Writing test, especially in Task 1 and Task 2. When you paraphrase correctly, it shows the examiner that you can understand the input (the question or data) and express it in your own words, rather than simply copying or rephrasing mechanically.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, the introduction paragraph always includes a paraphrased version of the question. Candidates who simply repeat the question without meaningful changes are often penalized because it suggests a lack of vocabulary range or sentence flexibility.

For example:

• Original question: “Many people believe that online education is the future of learning.”
• Weak paraphrase: “A lot of people think that learning online is the future of education.”
• Strong paraphrase: “It is widely believed that virtual learning platforms are set to redefine the future of education.”

The second version shows more lexical variation and greater control of academic tone — align with IELTS writing band scores descriptors.

Correct paraphrasing directly affects several major band score criteria in IELTS writing:

• Lexical Resource: Using a variety of accurate and appropriate vocabulary demonstrates lexical flexibility. Simply repeating phrases or using incorrect synonyms will hurt your score.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Paraphrasing allows you to introduce ideas more naturally and avoid awkward repetition, which helps with logical organization and flow.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Changing sentence structure requires grammatical skill. Solid paraphrasing often involves shifts in word forms, passive and active voice, and complex clauses.

II. 7 Common Mistakes in Paraphrasing for IELTS Writing

Paraphrasing is a skill that can make or break your IELTS Writing score. Many students fall into the trap of over-simplifying, misusing vocabulary, or distorting the original meaning unintentionally. Below are 7 common paraphrasing mistakes that test-takers frequently make — and how to avoid them.

1. Using Incorrect Synonyms

A common paraphrasing mistake many IELTS test-takers make is using synonyms inappropriately. While replacing words with alternatives is an essential part of paraphrasing, not all synonyms carry the same meaning in every context. In fact, using a word that looks similar but doesn't fit the tone or collocation of the sentence can make your writing unclear, awkward, or even incorrect.

Example of incorrect synonym use

• Original sentence: "Obesity is a huge problem in modern society."
• Wrong paraphrase: "Obesity is a fat issue in modern society."

Although "fat" and "huge" may seem similar, "fat" does not collocate with "issue" in this context. The result is a phrase that sounds unnatural and may confuse the reader.

How to avoid this mistake

• Don’t rely only on thesauruses. Always refer to reliable learner dictionaries (like Cambridge or Oxford) to understand how a word is used in context.
• Learn common collocations. Many words work together in fixed or preferred combinations that native speakers use naturally.
• Read extensively from IELTS model essays, academic sources, and newspapers to build a stronger sense of which words go together.

Using synonyms correctly isn’t about picking the fanciest word — it’s about choosing words that improve clarity and fit naturally in academic language.

2. Changing Word Classes Incorrectly

Another frequent mistake in IELTS Writing is changing the word class of a keyword without adjusting the sentence structure accordingly. Paraphrasing often involves shifting between nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to avoid repetition, but doing this carelessly can create ungrammatical or awkward sentences.

Example of incorrect word class change

• Original sentence: "The development of urban areas has led to more traffic congestion."
• Incorrect paraphrase: "Urban areas develop has led to more traffic congestion."

In this case, the candidate turned the noun "development" into the verb "develop" without adjusting the grammar, resulting in a broken structure. The verb form does not match the rest of the sentence, and the meaning becomes unclear.

How to avoid this mistake

• When changing a word from one class to another, make sure you adjust articles, prepositions, and verb tenses to match the sentence's new grammar.
• Keep a personalized vocabulary list that includes various forms of words (e.g., “produce – product – productive – production”) and practice using them correctly in context.
• Review sentence patterns and grammar rules to make structural adjustments confidently during paraphrasing.

In IELTS Writing, it's not only about using new words; it's about using them correctly and naturally within well-formed sentences. Accuracy is just as important as variety.

3. Losing the Original Meaning

Effective paraphrasing is not just about changing the words; it is about retaining the exact meaning of the original sentence while expressing it in a different way. One of the most serious paraphrasing mistakes IELTS candidates make is unintentionally changing or distorting the original idea. This not only confuses the examiner but may also lead to a low Task Response score, especially if the entire essay is built around a misunderstood prompt.

Example of meaning distortion

• Original prompt: "Discuss solutions to the increasing problem of traffic congestion in cities."
• Inaccurate paraphrase: "State your opinion about increasing pollution in urban areas."

In this example, the candidate shifts the focus from "solutions to traffic congestion" to "opinion about pollution." While the topics may be loosely related, the paraphrased version alters the task completely, leading to an off-topic response that can result in a significantly reduced score.

How to avoid this mistake

• Focus on understanding the key message and purpose of the question before paraphrasing it.
• Identify keywords and instructions in the task prompt — such as "discuss," "solutions," "causes," "advantages," "disadvantages" — and ensure they are correctly reflected in your paraphrase.
• After paraphrasing, double-check: Does my version ask the same question with different words?

The safest way to paraphrase is to keep both the original topic and task type intact. Changing either one — knowingly or not — can greatly impact the effectiveness of your writing response.

4. Replacing Key Terms with General Words

Another common paraphrasing error is replacing precise, topic-specific vocabulary with overly broad or vague terms. While it may seem like a safer choice, using general words often weakens clarity, reduces precision, and makes your writing sound less academic — which can lower your score in Lexical Resource and Task Response.

Example of over-generalizing

• Original sentence: "The government should invest more in renewable energy to combat climate change."
• Poor paraphrase: "The authorities should put more effort into things that help with big global issues."

This version avoids technical terms like "renewable energy" and "climate change," instead using very broad phrases such as "things" and "big global issues." The result is a vague and unclear statement that lacks the specificity and formal tone expected in IELTS Writing.

How to avoid this mistake

• Identify the key terms in your sentence — usually nouns representing main concepts — and either keep them or replace them with accurate equivalents.
• Maintain subject specificity whenever possible. For example, “renewable energy” could be paraphrased as “clean energy” or “sustainable power sources,” but not as “helpful things.”
• Avoid filler words like "stuff," "things," or "issues" unless you're able to specify what they refer to clearly in context.

A strong IELTS essay uses clear, topic-appropriate vocabulary that demonstrates both understanding and control of the subject matter — not vague generalizations.

5. Grammatical Errors in Rewriting

In the process of paraphrasing, many IELTS candidates unintentionally introduce grammatical errors when modifying sentence structures or word forms. Errors in verb tense, sentence agreement, preposition usage, or clause structure often result from rewriting without careful attention to grammar — and they can seriously affect your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.

Example of poor paraphrasing with grammar mistakes

• Original sentence: "Globalisation has transformed the way businesses operate across borders."
• Incorrect paraphrase: "The globalization change how the companies working through borders."

This version contains several grammatical issues:

• "change" should be in the present perfect or past participle form
• "the companies" is unnecessarily generalized
• "working" is used incorrectly as a participial phrase without a clear subject
• "through borders" is an unnatural expression

How to avoid this mistake

• After rewriting a sentence, review it carefully for grammatical accuracy, not just vocabulary variety.
• Practice paraphrasing with focus on sentence patterns — including conditional forms, relative clauses, and passive constructions.
• When changing word forms (e.g., from noun to verb), adjust the entire sentence to match the new part of speech appropriately.

Remember: paraphrasing is as much about structural precision as it is about vocabulary substitution. A grammatically accurate yet simple sentence is always better than an ambitious but flawed one.

6. Overusing Complex Vocabulary Unnaturally

In an effort to sound more academic or impressive, many IELTS candidates fall into the trap of overusing complex vocabulary. While lexical variety is a key criterion in the Writing Band Descriptors, using advanced words that are inappropriate for the context or unnatural in tone can do more harm than good.

Examiners are trained to recognize writing that appears forced or artificial. Using words you don't fully understand, or misplacing uncommon terms just to impress, can weaken your coherence and even distort the message you’re trying to convey.

Example of overuse

• Original sentence: "Young people often use social media to connect with others."
• Unnatural paraphrase: "The youthful demographic customarily exploits digital networking platforms to establish interpersonal affiliations."

Although many of the words in the second sentence are formal or advanced, the overall tone sounds unnatural and overly complicated for a basic message. It sacrifices clarity for sophistication, which is not rewarded in the IELTS scoring system.

How to avoid this mistake

• Focus on using appropriate vocabulary, not just advanced vocabulary.
• Learn collocations and register (formal, neutral, informal) rather than isolated difficult words.
• Read IELTS model essays and notice how experienced writers use sophisticated language in a balanced, purposeful way.

In IELTS Writing, clarity comes first. Vocabulary should enhance your message — not obscure it. Natural, accurate, and varied word use is far more effective than unnecessarily complex phrasing.

7. Copying Entire Sentence Structure

One of the most overlooked mistakes in paraphrasing is copying the original sentence structure while changing only a few vocabulary items. This approach may seem safer and faster for many learners, but in the IELTS Writing test, it shows limited flexibility in language use — especially in terms of grammar and coherence.

Effective paraphrasing involves not just word substitution, but also restructuring the sentence to demonstrate a broader command of English syntax.

Example of copied structure

• Original sentence: "Technology has significantly changed the way people communicate in modern society."
• Poor paraphrase (structure unchanged): "Technology has drastically altered the way individuals interact in today's world."

While a few vocabulary items have been replaced (e.g., “changed” → “altered”, “communicate” → “interact”), the sentence structure — subject + present perfect verb + “the way people...”— remains the same. This type of paraphrasing appears mechanical and does not demonstrate true grammatical range.

How to avoid this mistake

• Practice rewriting sentences using different grammatical constructions, such as passive voice, conditionals, or noun clauses.
• When analyzing a sentence, identify the core idea and ask yourself: “How else can I express this concept?”
• Avoid matching the original sentence word-for-word, even if the synonyms are accurate — aim for variety in both vocabulary and form.

A strong IELTS response showcases linguistic versatility. That means varying not only your choice of words but also your sentence patterns — an essential skill for achieving Band 7 or higher.

III. Examples of Bad vs. Good Paraphrasing in IELTS Writing

Understanding paraphrasing techniques in theory is useful, but nothing compares to seeing actual examples in practice. Many IELTS candidates struggle with paraphrasing because they either play it too safe or overcomplicate sentences in an effort to sound academic. In this section, we’ll look at examples of weak vs. strong paraphrasing in both Writing Task 1 and Task 2 — so you can clearly see what works and what doesn’t.

Task 2 Example: Essay Introduction

Task prompt: Many people believe that online learning is more effective than traditional classroom learning. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Bad paraphrase: A lot of individuals think that studying on the internet is better than studying in a classroom in the normal way.

Problems:

• Repetitive structure and vocabulary ("studying" repeated)
• Phrasing is informal ("a lot of," "normal way")
• No improvement in clarity or tone

Good paraphrase: It is widely believed that online education is a more efficient alternative to conventional classroom instruction.

Why this is effective:

• Demonstrates accurate use of formal vocabulary (“efficient alternative,” “conventional instruction”)
• Meaning is preserved while showing lexical variety and a consistent academic tone

Task 1 Example: Graph Description

Given sentence: The percentage of people using public transportation increased sharply between 2000 and 2010.

Bad paraphrase: The number of people who used buses and trains went up fast from 2000 to 2010.

Problems:

• "Number of people" is inaccurate (original is percentage)
• "Went up fast" is too informal
• Key details (mode of measurement) are lost or changed

Good paraphrase: There was a significant rise in the proportion of individuals using public transport during the period from 2000 to 2010.

Why this is effective:

• Preserves the quantitative detail ("proportion")
• Uses formal vocabulary ("significant rise," "during the period")
• Closely mirrors the original meaning but in a more academic tone

What These Examples Teach You?

• Paraphrasing is not just about changing words — it’s about maintaining meaning, adapting tone, and refining structure.
• Effective paraphrasing reflects not only vocabulary range but also your ability to deliver complex ideas clearly and accurately — essential skills for Band 7+ writing.
• Avoid informal or vague words, and be cautious not to change the core message of the original sentence.

Regularly practicing with real IELTS prompts and comparing your attempts to model versions is an excellent way to build your paraphrasing skill over time.

IV. How to Avoid Mistakes in Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing correctly is an essential skill in IELTS Writing, especially in Task 1 (data description) and Task 2 (essay introductions and explanations). While many learners focus on changing individual words, avoiding the most common mistakes requires a deeper understanding of sentence structure, grammar, and word use in context.

Here are three key strategies to help you paraphrase more accurately and avoid the typical pitfalls that can reduce your score.

Build Your Synonym Bank (with Context Awareness)

Expanding your vocabulary is crucial, but collecting long word lists without understanding usage often backfires. Many paraphrasing errors come from selecting synonyms that technically match in meaning, but don’t fit the tone, grammar, or collocation patterns of the sentence.

What to do:

• Build a topic-specific synonym list, such as for education, environment, or technology — common IELTS themes.
• Use dictionaries that offer example sentences (e.g., Cambridge, Longman) to understand the context in which each word is correctly used.
• Keep notes on collocations (e.g., "make a decision," not "do a decision") to reinforce natural phrasing.

Practice Sentence Transformation Techniques

Paraphrasing is not just about vocabulary — it also involves changing the grammatical structure of a sentence. Developing flexibility in sentence construction allows you to express the same idea in multiple ways.

What to do:

• Practice transforming active into passive sentences, or using relative clauses, conditional forms, and noun phrases.
• Rewrite sample IELTS questions and introductions using different structures while preserving the original meaning.
• Use varied sentence lengths and patterns to demonstrate grammatical range, a critical criterion for higher band scores.

Get Feedback or Use Tools Wisely (Not Blindly)

Although self-practice is essential, it can be hard to spot your own paraphrasing errors. Working with a tutor, study group, or using correction services can give you concrete feedback on how your word or structure choices affect your clarity.

What to do:

• Ask for targeted feedback specifically on paraphrasing: are your substitutions accurate, and are your sentences still natural?
• If using paraphrasing tools or AI assistants, treat them as supplemental, not replacements. Many automated tools don’t respect academic tone or grammar, and their output often needs editing.
• Review corrected versions alongside your original to learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them.

PREP emphasizes that using the right word in the right context is the key to avoiding paraphrasing mistakes in IELTS Writing. Two words may seem similar, but they can carry different meanings depending on how they’re used. Once you understand this, you’re already on the path to Band 7+. High scores require real effort — learning not just vocabulary, but how and when to use it correctly. With the right approach, guided by PREP, your writing will improve, and your target score will be within reach.