You want to get level 7 from level 6 or even 5 at IELTS writing? There is one thing you must use. What is it? Prepositions. That easy? Well, not really. I mean prepositions with more-than-one words.
You will know what they are after reading a few examples:
- two-word prepositions: as to, except for
- three-word prepositions: in comparison with, in addition to
- four-word prepositions: with a view to, for the benefit of
Alright. But you may ask a question. How to use these prepositions to get higher scores at IELTS writing? Let’s check out a real example regarding task 1.
Read the following sentences:
Between 2010 and 2019, government’s spending on all four of the largest areas had dropped.
However, spending on pensions was an exception.
It looks good but you will most probably get level 5, not even 6, with sentences like this. So what are you going to do?
A four-word preposition comes to your rescue.
If you go back to the last two words of the last sentence, you will notice the words “an exception”, right? So, can you change it into a four-word preposition with the same meaning?
Right. Just change “an exception” to ‘with the exception of” and the sentences become:
Between 2010 and 2019, government’s spending on all four of the largest areas had dropped, with the exception of pensions.
In a word, by using a more-than-one-word preposition, your level will be enhanced.
