💬 “Once is powerful, twice is okay, three times is a score-killer.”
🔍 Why This Matters
In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, your goal is to inform, not to repeat. Examiners want to see how well you can:
- Select key features
- Summarize them clearly
- Cover a variety of points
Repeating the same trend or number just to fill space lowers your Task Achievement and shows weak planning.
❌ Common Repetition Mistakes
| Mistake 🛑 | Example 👎 | Fix ✅ |
|---|---|---|
| Repeating the same idea | “Sales increased a lot. Sales went up.” | Say it once, move to next point |
| Overusing same data value | “In 2010, it was 70. In 2010, it rose to 70.” | State it once with clear trend |
| Repeating structure | “X rose. Y rose. Z rose.” | Vary with connectors & vocabulary |
🔁 Spot the Repetition – And Fix It!
Original (Repetitive):
“The number of students increased in 2010. In 2010, the figure rose. The number of pupils went up in that year.”
😬 That’s just saying the same thing 3 times!
Improved (Concise & Clear):
“In 2010, the number of students increased significantly, marking a noticeable upward trend.”
🎯 One strong sentence. Done. Move on. ✅
🧠 Tip to Avoid Repetition
✅ Plan your points before writing – pick 2-3 key features for each body paragraph
✅ Use synonyms, but don’t use them to repeat the same idea
✅ Use connectors to link fresh points (e.g., “In contrast,” “On the other hand,” “Another notable trend is…”)
💡 Transition Phrases to Introduce New Ideas
- “In addition to this…”
- “A different pattern can be observed…”
- “Another key feature is…”
- “Apart from this trend…”
✍️ Micro Practice
Task: Spot the repetition below.
“The population rose in 2005. In 2005, there was an increase. That year, the number of people went up.”
✅ Fixed Version:
“The population rose in 2005, indicating a steady upward trend for that year.”
✅ Final Reminder
✨ “Say it well. Say it once. Then move on.”
Repetition doesn’t show depth—it shows hesitation. Avoid it to keep your writing sharp, clear, and Band 8+ ready! 💯