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Lesson
Vocabulary: Paraphrase, the key to Reading and Listening
IELTS rarely uses the same words in the question and the text. Learn the most common paraphrase pairs and practise recognising the same meaning in different words.
Why paraphrase matters
Most Reading and Listening answers depend on recognising that different words mean the same thing. If the question says prohibited and the text says not allowed, you need to see the link instantly.
Common pairs
| Formal / question word | Everyday / text word |
|---|---|
| purchase | buy |
| reside | live |
| approximately | about / around |
| commence | start / begin |
| decline | fall / go down |
| sufficient | enough |
| assist | help |
| obtain | get |
| prohibited | not allowed / banned |
| inexpensive | cheap |
| elderly people | older people / senior citizens |
| employment | work / a job |
Paraphrase isn't only synonyms
Grammar changes too:
Text: Visitors are not allowed to take photographs.
Question: Photography is prohibited.
Question: Photography is prohibited.
Practise freely
Questions 1–8
Match each word with its everyday meaning, A–I. There is one meaning you don't need.
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purchase
-
commence
-
sufficient
-
assist
-
obtain
-
reside
-
prohibited
-
decline
Questions 9–12
Do the two sentences have the same meaning?
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A: Membership is free for residents. B: People who live in the area do not pay to join.
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A: The museum is closed on Mondays. B: The museum opens every day except Monday.
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A: Approximately half of the students passed. B: Exactly 50% of the students passed.
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A: Sales declined slightly in 2020. B: Sales fell dramatically in 2020.
More vocabulary practice
Practice test
Cambridge IELTS Reading tests (Books 10–21)
PDF worksheet