Writing complex sentences is an essential skill for achieving a high score in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. Using a variety of sentence structures demonstrates your ability to express ideas clearly and concisely.
In this post, we will explore 21 complex sentence structures that will help you to elevate your writing skills and impress the examiner.
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Complex Sentence Structures For IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Enhance your writing skills with these 21 complex sentence structures specifically designed for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1:
1. Comparison structure
- Template: The percentage of + [specific group 1] + in + [location] + is significantly lower/higher than that of + [specific group 2], particularly in + [specific details on difference].
- Example: The percentage of women in the workforce is significantly lower than that of men, particularly in managerial and executive positions.
2. Increase/Decrease structure
- Template: The number of + [variable] + [increased/decreased] + by + [percentage] + between + [year] + and + [year], reaching a total of + [total number].
- Example: The number of international tourists visiting the country increased by 10% between 2018 and 2019, reaching a total of 5 million visitors.
3. Fluctuation structure
- Template: The + [variable] + fluctuated between + [range] + throughout the + [time period], with + [additional details].
- Example: The average temperature in the region fluctuated between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius throughout the year, with the highest temperatures occurring in the summer months.
4. Dominance structure
- Template: The + [sector/industry] + accounted for + [percentage] + of + [variable] + in + [year], highlighting its dominance in + [topic].
- Example: The service sector accounted for over 70% of the country’s GDP in 2020, highlighting its dominance in the economy.
5. Correlation structure
- Template: There is a strong correlation between + [factor 1] + and + [factor 2], as + [additional details].
- Example: There is a strong correlation between higher levels of education and higher incomes, as individuals with advanced degrees tend to have more lucrative career opportunities.
6. Proportion structure
- Template: The proportion of + [specific group] + in + [variable] + increased/decreased from + [percentage] + in + [year] + to + [percentage] + in + [year].
- Example: The proportion of women in managerial positions in the company increased from 35% in 2018 to 45% in 2020.
7. Distribution structure
- Template: The distribution of + [variable] + in + [place] + is + [adjective], with + [specific group] + owning + [percentage] + of the total + [variable].
- Example: The distribution of wealth in the country is highly unequal, with the top 1% owning more than 30% of the total wealth.
8. Variation structure
- Template: There was significant variation in + [variable] + across different + [related entity(s)], with the highest/lowest rates occurring in + [specific location or category].
- Example: There was significant variation in the number of car accidents across different regions, with the highest rates occurring in urban areas.
9. Trend analysis structure
- Template: The + [variable] + has/have been + [doing something] + over + [specific time period], with a projected + [future outcome/prediction] + by + [specific year].
- Example: The sales of electric cars have been steadily increasing over the past five years, with a projected market share of 10% by 2025.
10. Shift structure
- Template: There has been a shift in + [specific factor] + towards + [alternative factor], resulting in + [consequence].
- Example: There has been a shift in consumer preferences towards environmentally-friendly products, resulting in an increase in demand for electric vehicles.
11. Comparison of trends structure
- Template: While the + [trend 1] + has + [changed/stayed the same], the + [trend 2] + has + [changed/stayed the same].
- Example: While the number of marriages has declined over the past decade, the divorce rate has remained relatively stable.
12. Ranking structure
- Template: The + [place] + ranked + [number] + in terms of + [variable], according to + [source/report].
- Example: The country ranked first in terms of healthcare access and quality, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization.
13. Spatial comparison structure
- Template: The + [variable] + in + [location 1] + is significantly higher/lower than in [location 2], due to + [cause].
- Example: The population density in the city center is significantly higher than in the suburbs, due to the concentration of businesses and services.
14. Multiple trends structure
- Template: Despite + [trend 1], [trend 2] + has/have not + [done something], leading to concerns about [related variable(s)].
- Example: Despite a decrease in unemployment rates, the average wage has not kept pace with inflation, leading to concerns about income inequality.
15. Relationship between variables structure
- Template: There is a strong relationship between + [variable 1] + and + [variable 2], with + [high/low] + [variable 1] + levels leading to increased/decreased rates of + [variable 2] + and other + [related variable(s)].
- Example: There is a strong relationship between air pollution levels and respiratory illnesses, with high pollution levels leading to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory problems.
16. Rate of change structure
- Template: The rate of + [variable] + in + [location] + has increased/decreased by + [percentage] + over the past + [time period].
- Example: The rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has increased by 25% over the past decade.
17. Distribution over time structure
- Template: The + [variable] + in + [location] + has been + [increasing/decreasing/stable] + over the past + [time period].
- Example: The number of new businesses established in the city has been steadily increasing over the past five years.
18. Geographical distribution structure
- Template: The majority of the + [specific variable] + in + [location] + is concentrated in + [specific region], with + [percentage/amount] + of the total + [variable] + in + [region].
- Example: The majority of the country’s population is concentrated in urban areas, with over 70% of the total population living in cities.
19. Cumulative data structure
- Template: The + [variable] + accumulated by the + [entity] + from + [start year] + to + [end year] + was + [amount].
- Example: The total amount of carbon emissions accumulated by the industrial sector from 2010 to 2020 was 2.5 billion metric tons.
20. Forecasting structure
- Template: It is projected that + [variable] + in + [location] + will + [increase/decrease/stay the same] + by + [percentage/amount] + by + [year].
- Example: It is projected that the demand for renewable energy in Europe will increase by 50% by the year 2030.
21. Proportional comparison structure
- Template: The + [variable 1] + is proportional to + [variable 2], with higher + [variable 2] + resulting in [higher/better] [variable 1].
- Example: The amount of time spent studying is proportional to the students’ overall performance, with higher study time resulting in better academic outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering complex sentence structures is crucial to showcase your writing skills in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. By incorporating the 21 sentence structures mentioned in this post, you can improve the flow of your writing and impress the examiner with your ability to express your ideas coherently and effectively.
With consistent practice and dedication, you can achieve your desired score and excel in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.
