IELTS Writing Task 1: comparisons

You can use "compared to", "compared with" and "in comparison with" in the same way. For example:

• Prices in the UK are high compared to / with / in comparison with (prices in) Canada and Australia.
• Compared to / with / in comparison with (prices in) Canada and Australia, prices in the UK are high.

When writing about numbers or changes, I find it easier to use "while" or "whereas":

• There are 5 million smokers in the UK, while / whereas only 2 million Canadians and 1 million Australians smoke.
• Between 1990 and 2000, the number of smokers in the UK decreased dramatically, while / whereas the figures for Canada and Australia remained the same.

Please note:
We don't say "comparing to".
We say "2 million" not "2 millions".

Comments

[shahla]

hi simon
Is it right to start the comparison in this way,
In comparison,women`s representation is inversely proportional to the men. or In comparison with men, women`s representation is almost half than figure for men.
thankyou

[Tom]

Hi Simon,
I'd love the way you use these words and "the figure for...". It helps me to write essay easier. By the way, can you help me to know, in Speaking test, how does it score in each part, equal or not? (I mean 3 for each or not). Thanks a lot, sir!

[Muzaffer]

Simon,

is it wrong to write "prices are higher in UK when compared to Canada and USA"?

Thanks

[deepika]

The commodity prices in Sri Lanka is low compared to the UK

The cost of living in Sri Lanka is much lower in comparison with UK

Childhood obesity recorded lowest in Sri Lanka compared with UK

Compared to the Sri Lanka,the wild life conservation strategies shows much powerful in UK

In comparison with UK,child mortality rates in Sri Lanka is high

Compared with social problems in UK,Sri lanka has got lowest figures

[Simon]

Hi Shahla,

The first one is wrong, but the second one is fine (In comparison with men,...)

...

Hi Tom,

They don't give scores for each part - they give you an overall score depending on fluency, vocabulary, accuracy and pronunciation.

...

Hi Muzaffer,

Yes, that's fine. Just remember "the" UK.

...

Good work Deepika.

Just remember to write "the" UK.

[deepika]

Thanks simon

[Ram]

Hi Simon
yesterday i appered in IELTS EXAM
MY LISTENING WAS OK
READING OK TOO
IN WRITING TASK THEY ACTUALL GAVE LINE CHART JUST ONE WHICH HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS WHO VISITED CINEMA BETWEEN 1978 AND 2008.

TAKS 2 WAS
THIS DAY LOCAL FOOD WAS REPLACED BY INTERNATIONAL FSAT FOOD.IT IS EFFECT SOCIETY AND FAMILY NEGATIVELY. WHAT EXTEND DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

i wrote four paragraph
1st introduction
people have differt views about effect of oversease food on society, while there are some good arguement to favour of positive side of international fast food.Although i accept that some oversease food may harm full for society. However i disagree with the idea that it effect negatively on society. advocates in this view argue that international food bring their tradition, culture and religious belife to share with.

second paragraph
social benifits about people become aware each other and they respect other religious and society become egalitarian.

third pare
some overseas fat food companies not adopt satety measures and therefore many people become ill or seeking medical help for this reason therefore it bed effect on society or even on family.

forth para

conclusion, negative effect of international fast food is certain but if they adopt safety measures than it provide enormous advantage to society and family.

Siomn i want 6 band in writing section pelase comment on my essay
thanks

[Tom]

Hi Ram,
Can you share speaking test with us? Thanks a lot!

[shahla]

thankyou simon really appreciated for your help

[deepika]

Although fast food makes our lives easier i completely agree with above statement because of variety of reasons.

Firstly ,it is true that local food industry has superceded by the foreign instant food culture.Fresh fruits and vegetables grown in local areas is highly dependable for the individuals for boosting their health status.They provide nutritionally valued foods that need to daily energy use and power to fight diseases.Daily energy requirment is replaced by large portion of Pizza or junk foods such as hamburger ,and cheeseburgers.Natural dairy products are now neglected by people in the face of consumption of popular brand such as Coca Cola which contains much sugar attributing to the obesity.Nevertheless diseases arise from overweight and obesity accounts for billions of health care spending each year.It is obvious that most of the members of family are now victims of this this epidemic.It lessen the quality standards of family which can have detrimental effect of family status,economy and emotional wellbeing due to higher rates of hospitalization.A good illustration of this ingestion of large portions of junk foods it has created ranges of non-communicable diseases such as Myocardial Infarction,Diabetes mellitus and Hypercholesterolemia.

Secondly,giving priority for the foreign foods that strengh the international trade practice,coorporation for the local food industry has decreased.The public awarness for national foods has been overtaken by the overseas fast food and beverage culture.Traditional economical situation is deteriorated by international instant food products.A good example of this local dairy products are seems to be diminished in production due to the instant beverages popularity.From an economic perspective it is a negative trend towards the health of local economy.Many people have lost their way of living because of this matter.

To sum up it is undeniable that overseas foods have emerged drastic effects for the society and family

[Sruthi]

Hi Simon,

I am going to sit for ielts exam on 9th of july. That will be my 5th attempt because i need band 7 in all sections of ielts. In my previous exam, I got 8.5 in listening, 8 in reading, 7.5 in speaking but 6.5 in writing. I've gone through all the writing tips in your website. They are extremely useful. Thank you so much on behalf of all students for ur tips and help.

[Simon]

Hi Ram,

Thanks for sharing your questions. I'm afraid I can't comment on essays, but you seem to have some good ideas.

...

No problem Sruthi. Good luck on the 9th!

[adverb]

Hi, Simon.
Does this following sentence reads ambiguous to you?
"It is clear that families composed of single adults and those with children were more likely to be living in poverty compared with couples and those without children."
Thank you!

[Simon]

Hi Adverb,

No, that looks fine to me.

[neo]

hi simon,

At 0 hrs, near about 35000 units of electricity is used in winter, compared to summer with 18000 units.

Is this sentence correct ?

[Simon]

Hi Neo,

Don't write "near about" - write 'nearly' or 'about'.

[neo]

Thanks

[sohaib]

hi simon

more budget is spent in developed countries,compared to that in developed countries.

is this correct

[Simon]

Hi Sohaib,

That looks fine, but you've written 'developed' twice.

[sohaib]

o sorry it was developing countries.
I wanted to know that comma before compared is fine?
also,instead of compared to THAT IN developing countries,could it be compared to developed countries
thanku

[Simon]

Hi Sohaib,

Yes, the comma and "compared to developing countries" are correct.

[sohaib]

hi simon,
when i use "in comparison with"in a middle of a sentence,should there be a comma before "in comparison with"
for example"the figure for america were 4%,in comparison with 2% for the uk"

secondly,cani use "unlike " like this:
unlike america,uk had only 2% unemployment rate"

[Simon]

Hi Sohaib,

Yes, your use of commas and 'unlike' is correct.

[sohaib]

Thanks a lot Simon.
Tomorrow is my exam and I found your website really helpful.
Thanks again.

[Simon]

Good luck Sohaib!

[Elyas]

Hi Simon
what mistakes I made in writing this sentence?

people in my homeland have suffered a lot from death toll during the last decades, while inhabitants in advanced country have experienced much lower rate.

Thanks in advanced.