Repetition is one of the sneaky ways your IELTS writing score can suffer. Even if your grammar and structure are perfect, overusing the same words can make your essay seem simple, unimaginative, or poorly structured. This affects both Coherence and Cohesion (CC) and Lexical Resource (LR), which are crucial criteria in the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors.

In this guide, we’ll go beyond just using synonyms. We’ll cover pronouns, omission, sentence restructuring, topic shifts, paraphrasing, and advanced vocabulary techniques. By the end, you’ll have a toolkit for producing fluent, sophisticated writing.

Why Repetition Lowers Your Score

1. Shows limited vocabulary (LR) – If you keep using the same word, it’s a clear signal that your lexical range is narrow. Band 4 essays often feature basic vocabulary that’s repeated unnecessarily.
2. Breaks cohesion (CC) – Repetition can make your writing choppy and harder to read. Band 5 essays may be repetitive because referencing (pronouns, substitution, or omission) is weak.
3. Appears unnatural to native readers – English readers find repetition awkward, which makes your essay less persuasive.

Real-life example: A 2020 study in Indonesia found that candidates discussing age used “children” up to 14 times in a single essay. Even moderate repetition can limit your Band score.

1. Synonyms – Use with Caution

Synonyms are the first line of defense against repetition, but not all are appropriate.

• Good example:
  • “Old people” → “the elderly,” “pensioners,” “retirees.”
• Bad example:
  • “Oldster,” “geriatric,” “old fogey” – these are informal, rude, or contextually wrong.

Tips:

• Always check if the synonym fits in tone and context.
• Avoid overcomplicating your essay with obscure words – clarity is more important than complexity.

Example in IELTS:

Original: Old people face challenges with healthcare. Old people often rely on family support.
Improved: The elderly face challenges with healthcare. They often rely on family support.

2. Pronouns – Smart Referencing

Pronouns (he, she, it, they) are essential for cohesion. They allow you to replace repeated nouns and make sentences flow naturally.

• Replace plural nouns with “they” / “them” / “their.”
• Replace singular nouns with “he” / “she” / “his” / “her.”

Example:

Original: Children are using computers more. Children spend many hours online.
Improved: Children are using computers more. They spend many hours online.

Tips:

• Always ensure the pronoun clearly refers to the right noun.
• Use “they” for gender-neutral language to avoid sexist assumptions.

3. Omission – The Subtle Art

Omission means removing words that are unnecessary because their meaning is already clear.

• Example: Original: The benefits of studying history include understanding history, gaining critical thinking, and learning about history.
  Improved: The benefits of studying history include understanding the past and gaining critical thinking skills.
• Key point: Omission works only if the meaning remains clear. Never remove words that could confuse the reader.

4. Sentence Restructuring – Change the Form

Another way to avoid repetition is to restructure sentences. Instead of repeating nouns or phrases, rephrase your sentence.

• Example: Original: Renewable energy has grown. Renewable energy is cheaper than before.
  Improved: Renewable energy has grown and is now more cost-effective than ever.

Tips:

• Combine sentences using conjunctions like and, while, whereas, although.
• Convert nouns into verbs or adjectives when possible (education → educate, pollution → pollute).

5. Paraphrasing – Advanced Vocabulary

Paraphrasing is more than just finding synonyms – it’s about expressing the same idea differently.

• Example: Original: Children spend too much time on computers.
  Paraphrased: Young people devote excessive hours to using digital devices.
• IELTS tip: Use paraphrasing in introductions and conclusions to avoid repeating your thesis word-for-word.

6. Topic Shifts – Reference Without Repetition

Sometimes, you can avoid repeating words by shifting focus slightly while still staying on topic.

• Example: Original: The population of children increased. The population of children is expected to rise further.
  Improved: The number of children increased and is projected to grow even more.
• Notice how “population of children” becomes “number of children” – subtle changes can prevent repetition.

7. Advanced Connectors and Referencing

Use connectors and substitution to replace repeated phrases.

• Examples:
  • “This trend,” “such a pattern,” “these figures” can replace repeated nouns like “the data.”
  • “This group” or “the cohort” can replace repeated nouns in population or demographic essays.

Example in IELTS essay:

Original: The number of students increased. The number of students achieved high marks.
Improved: The number of students increased, and this cohort achieved high marks.

8. Use Variety in Verbs

Repeating the same verbs can also lower your Lexical Resource score. Mix it up.

• Example: Instead of always saying “increase” or “rise,” try: grow, soar, climb, surge, expand, escalate.
• Instead of “decrease” or “fall,” use: decline, drop, plummet, reduce, shrink, diminish.

Tip: Match the verb intensity to the data. A 1% change shouldn’t be described as “soared.”

9. Practice and Review

Avoiding repetition is a skill, not just a trick. Here’s how to practice:

1. Highlight repeated words in your writing.
2. Try replacing some with synonyms or pronouns.
3. Check if sentences make sense after omission or restructuring.
4. Read your essay aloud – awkward repetition is easier to hear than see.
5. Use vocabulary lists specific to IELTS topics to expand your lexical range.

Conclusion

Repetition can silently drag your IELTS score down. By combining synonyms, pronouns, omission, sentence restructuring, paraphrasing, topic shifts, and connectors, you can create a cohesive, fluent, and sophisticated essay.