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IELTS complex sentences and how to make your writing more complex

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Why are complex sentences important in IELTS Writing?

Let’s look at the Band Descriptors:

Band 7: ‘uses a variety of complex structures’

Band 6: ‘uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms’

So it’s important to use complex structures, but what are they?

Often when candidates try to make their writing ‘more complex’ to ‘impress the examiner’, it actually has the opposite effect, because their writing becomes difficult to understand.

It is far more important to get your ideas across clearly than to use sentences that are so complex that they are confusing.

Here are 10 ways to

  • extend your sentences and
  • develop your points in a natural way that will still be clear and easy to follow.

Watch my video about complex sentences here:

(YouTube direct link)

IELTS complex sentences

10 simple ways to write complex sentences

‘This is a simple sentence’

Look at the sentence above, and compare it with some of the sentences below. What makes them more complex?  (I’ve done Sentence 1 as an example)

1. This sentence is slightly more complex than the previous one. (comparison)

2. This sentence is complex, whereas the first one was simple. 

3. The previous sentences were more complex because they compared two things. 

4. We need to use complex sentences in order to make our writing sound more academic. 

5. Although these sentences are more complex, they are still easy to understand.

6. If you use complex sentences, you will get a higher score. 

7. Whenever you have two short sentences, you should link them.

8. Starting your sentence with an ‘-ing’ form is another way of making your writing more formal.

9. What you really need to do is ensure that you use a variety of complex sentences.  

10. This is a simple sentence, which means that it won’t get a Band 7 score in the Writing Test.

1. This sentence is slightly more complex than the previous one. 

comparison

2. This sentence is complex, whereas the first one was simple. 

contrast

3. The previous sentences were more complex because they compared two things. 

reason

4. We need to use complex sentences in order to make our writing sound more academic. 

purpose

5. Although these sentences are more complex, they are still easy to understand.

concession

6. If you use complex sentences, you will get a higher score. 

conditionals

7. Whenever you have two short sentences, you should probably link them.

time phrases

8. Starting your sentence with an ‘-ing’ form is another way of making your writing more formal.

‘ing’ nouns

9. What you really need to do is ensure that you use a variety of complex sentences.  

emphasis

10. This is a simple sentence, which means that it won’t get a Band 7 score in the Writing Test.

relative pronouns

How to make simple sentences more complex?

1. Make comparisons

This sentence is slightly more complex than the previous one. 

  • This sentence is far more complex than any of the sentences that I have used before.
  • This sentence is twice as complex as the previous one, because it compares two things.
  • The more variety you use, the higher your score will be.

2. Make contrasts

  • Some people argue that zoos are educational, whereas others are of the opinion that keeping animals in cages is cruel.
  • Sales of e-books have increased dramatically, while sales of paper books have plummeted.
  • Proponents of GM food claim that it will eradicate famine. However, others believe it threatens the food chain.

3. Give reasons

  • The climate is changing because of human activity. [because of + noun]
  • The planet is warming due to the fact that we continue to release carbon into the air by burning fossil fuels for energy. [due to the fact that + sentence]
  • As/Since there are few affordable alternatives, this situation will only get worse.

4. Show purpose

  • The factory was demolished in order to make way for more housing.
  • The factory was knocked down so that more houses could be constructed.
  • Many people argue that keeping old buildings and repairing them is better because by doing this, the character of the town will be preserved.

5. Show concession

  • Although/even though/though we are aware of the problem, we do little to solve it.
  • Despite/In spite of the fact that we are aware of the problem, we do little to prevent it. (S-V-O)
  • Despite/In spite of being aware of the problem, we do little to tackle it. (+ ing)
  • Despite/In spite of our awareness of the problem, we do little to address it. (+ noun)

6. Make conditional sentences

  • You won’t get a higher score unless you use conditionals!
  • Using conditionals could increase your score dramatically.
  • If the government had acted more quickly, the situation could have been avoided.

7. Use time linkers

  • When considering a ban on advertising, we need to bear in mind the benefits.
  • As soon as the government introduces this legislation, the situation will improve.
  • As more local businesses close down, different types of workers (shop floor staff, managers, cleaners) are having to find jobs elsewhere.

8. Use the ‘ing’ form to start sentences

  • Starting a sentence with a noun/’ing’ form can make your writing more formal.
  • Selling food in bulk could be one way of reducing plastic packaging.
  • Being easily contactable has real advantages for business people and for working parents.

9. Add emphasis

  • One of the main reasons why people disagree with zoos is because of animal welfare.
  • The most powerful argument in favour of mobile phones is that they can be used to call for help in the most inaccessible places, for example when a car breaks down in a remote area.

10. Extend sentences

You could try extending your points with a relative clause, which will certainly make your sentences longer.

  • There are many creative professions where clothes convey a sense of style, which is very desirable in many companies.
  • People prefer to shop online, where they can find everything they need without having to leave the sofa.

This is useful when you’re writing about effects (e.g cause and effect essays), when you can extend your points with phrases like

  • “which means that….”
  • “which leads to….”
  • “which results in….’
  • “which causes…”

You can also extend your points with ‘for example’ and ‘such as’, and ‘like’.

Do you need motivation, high-quality materials, a roadmap, feedback, guidance and an IELTS specialist teacher?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Emphasis on how to eloborate lengthy sentences from simple ones is excellent.what non native speakers are expecting from you is fulfilled in your article.Thank you.

    Reply

  6. Fantastic… Explains what students really need. I have never seen such a beautiful site with amazing explanation.

    Great teacher.

    Reply

  7. Fantastic… Explains what students really need. I have never seen such a beautiful site with amazing explanation.

    Great teacher.

    Reply

  8. As a non-native English teacher, I’ve been preparing a student of mine for Ielts. The other day he asked me a question about the band descriptors for band 7; in particular, he wanted to know what those actually ask for, when they mention “grammatical range” (assuming he knew what accuracy is). My answer was quite simple: they expect you to use (without forcing)a variety of complex sentences. In other words each complex sentence has to be different from another. The example I gave him was the following:
    “Let’s assume an essay consists of 12-13 sentences on average. Try to write 6-7 complex sentences (and two compound sentences) that have to be different one another. For example,.include a couple of different adverb clauses, one adjective clause, a conditional sentence, a relative clause, a cleft sentence and a noun clause to show variety (as long as you are able to master them)”.
    Is this what the band descriptors for band 7 mean by “a variety of complex sentences”?

    Reply

    • Hi Aldo

      I am so sorry that I missed your comment. Thank you so much for explaining in detail something that I had never really thought about i.e. whether we can find a way of quantifying the number of complex sentences you can/should use in an essay of around 270 words. What you said makes sense (6-7 complex sentences without forcing them) and I would agree that this is what the band descriptors mean by ‘a variety of complex sentences’. The only drawback of looking at it in those terms is (as I’m sure you know, but for the benefit of other readers) that examiners don’t ever count the number of complex sentences, and it would be exhausting for a student to try to do this in 40 minutes while also trying to answer the question etc, but I guess for training, it could be a useful guide as long as the clarity and message of the response isn’t lost in an attempt to include a certain ‘type’ of sentence. The clarity of the message/position/response should always come first, even if you have to use less complex sentences. What do you think?

      Best wishes
      Fiona

      Reply

    • I’m so lucky to come across your website.
      Thank you so much for explaining them step by step. I will share it with my students.

      Reply

  9. Hey Fiona! Howdy? I got 7 on writing. I didn’t make use of your website before. From now on, I’ve realized that I must use it in order to get higher than it. Using your site helps me a lot and I believe I’ll get 8 on writing Insha’Allah because of your help.

    Reply

    • Fantastic… Explains what students really need. I have never seen such a beautiful site with amazing explanation.

      Great teacher.

      Reply

      • On your site 🙂 Actually I’ve been browsing through your website and found much useful advice for enhancing my skills in English Thank you

        Reply

        • Ok great – the search bar and categories and tags might help you find specifically what you are looking for thank you Kim.

          Reply

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