
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS WRITING TEST
In the IELTS Writing test, using passive voice effectively can help demonstrate your grammatical range and make your writing more varied and formal. The passive voice is commonly used in academic and formal writing, such as reports, essays, and descriptions of processes or trends. This article will guide you through understanding passive voice and show how to use it effectively in the IELTS Writing test.
What is Passive Voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “The researcher conducted the experiment”). In passive voice, the focus shifts to the action itself or the recipient of the action (e.g., “The experiment was conducted by the researcher”).
The structure of passive voice involves the verb “to be” (in various tenses) + the past participle of the main verb. For example:
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
Present Simple: The book is read by students.
Past Simple: The report was written by the committee.
Future Simple: The house will be built by the contractor.
When to Use Passive Voice in IELTS Writing
In the IELTS Writing test, passive voice is often used in situations where:
The action is more important than the subject: In academic writing, the focus is often on the action or process rather than the person performing it. For example, in a description of a process (Task 1), it’s more important to describe the stages of the process than the people involved.
Example: “The mixture is heated to 100°C” (focus on the action, not who heats it).
The subject is unknown or unimportant: Sometimes, you might not know or need to specify who carried out an action. This is common in scientific or technical writing.
Example: “The results were analyzed using statistical software” (the person or team analyzing the results is not specified).
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
Formal or impersonal tone: Passive voice is often used in formal writing to maintain an impersonal or objective tone, which is common in the IELTS Writing test. This helps avoid focusing on the writer’s opinion or involvement.
Example: “It has been argued that global warming is a significant threat” (this is more formal than “People have argued that global warming is a significant threat”).
How to Use Passive Voice in IELTS Writing
Here are some practical examples of how to use passive voice effectively in both Task 1 (describing graphs, charts, or processes) and Task 2 (essays).
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
In Task 1 (Data Interpretation and Process Descriptions)
In Task 1, you often need to describe trends, processes, or changes. Here, passive voice is frequently used, especially when the focus is on the action, not the agent.
For Trends in Graphs or Data: When describing data trends, passive voice can help emphasize the change or result, not who caused it.
Example:
Active voice: “The government implemented new policies.”
Passive voice: “New policies were implemented by the government.”
The passive structure “were implemented” focuses more on the action itself (the implementation) rather than the government.
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
For Describing Processes: When describing a process or how something is made, passive voice is essential because the process is usually more important than the person performing it.
Example:
“The paper is first cut into strips.”
“The ingredients are mixed in a bowl.”
These sentences focus on what happens in the process rather than who is performing the action.
In Task 2 (Essays)
In Task 2, passive voice can be used to create a more formal, academic tone and avoid a subjective or personal approach. This is especially relevant when discussing research, opinions, or general facts.
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
To Discuss General Facts or Research Findings: When writing about studies or research, passive voice helps convey objectivity.
Example:
Active voice: “Researchers have shown that exercise improves mental health.”
Passive voice: “It has been shown that exercise improves mental health.”
The passive voice removes the focus from the researchers, placing it on the findings themselves.
To Present Arguments or Opinions Without Focusing on Who is Arguing: This helps create a more formal and balanced tone.
Example:
Active voice: “People argue that social media is harmful.”
Passive voice: “It is argued that social media is harmful.”
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
Avoid Overusing Passive Voice
While passive voice can be helpful in academic writing, overusing it can make your writing sound awkward or unclear. It’s important to strike a balance between active and passive constructions. Active voice is often more direct and clear, so mix it with passive voice to maintain readability and variety in your writing.
Example of overuse:
“The report was written by the committee, and the findings were presented by the leader. The suggestions were discussed by the team, and the recommendations were sent out.”
This sounds repetitive. A more varied approach would be:
“The committee wrote the report, and the leader presented the findings. The team discussed the suggestions, and the recommendations were sent out.”
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incorrect tense with passive voice: Ensure that the tense of the verb “to be” matches the action you are describing. For example:
Incorrect: “The report is written yesterday.”
Correct: “The report was written yesterday.”
Misplacing the agent: If you include the agent (the doer of the action), it should be placed after the passive verb phrase using “by,” but it can be omitted if it is unnecessary or unknown.
Example: “The book was read by many people” (agent included).
Example: “The book was read” (agent omitted).
Mastering the use of passive voice is an essential skill for the IELTS Writing test. It helps you achieve a formal, academic tone, and is particularly useful in Task 1 (describing processes or trends) and Task 2 (discussing research or presenting arguments). While it’s important to use passive voice correctly and purposefully, remember not to overuse it. A balanced mix of active and passive constructions will show your linguistic range and make your writing more engaging and coherent.
HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS

HOW TO USE PASSIVE VOICE IN IELTS