MAKE YOUR IELTS

ESSAY SOUND MORE

ACADEMIC IN 5
MINUTES

When you analyse Band 9 essays,

youll notice something that can
change your writing.
Practically all of them will use

HEDGING.

Advantages of using HEDGING:

1. Increases your score because you
use a wider selection of grammar
constructions.

Advantages of using HEDGING:

2. You increase the amount of words
in your essay, (helpful for those who
struggle reaching 250).

Advantages of using HEDGING:

3. The essay has a more academic
style.

What does HEDGING

mean?
In essay writing, it basically means to

limit or qualify your opinion to

avoid an over generalisation.

How to spot a non-hedged sentence:

A non-hedged sentence will most
likely present a belief as a fact.
Look for sweeping statements,
usually using the words WILL, ALL,
EVERYWHERE, ALWAYS, OR NEVER.

WILL ALL
EVERYWHERE

ALWAYS

NEVER

FOR EXAMPLE:
ALL German people are ALWAYS
punctual.
English people WILL act politely
when around others.

STUDENT'S EXAMPLE:
Over the last half of the century, young
members of society acquire extremely high
positions and power. This phenomenon will
cause enormously serious issues in the
future.
WHERE ARE THE PROBLEMS IN THOSE SENTENCES?

STUDENT'S EXAMPLE:
Over the last half of the century, young
members of society acquire extremely high
positions and power. This phenomenon will
cause enormously serious issues in the
future.
PROBLEMS

Over the last half of the century, young

members of society acquire extremely
high positions and power. This
phenomenon will cause enormously
serious issues in the future.
Does every young person really acquire
extremely high positions and power?

Over the last half of the century, young

members of society acquire extremely
high positions and power. This
phenomenon will cause enormously
serious issues in the future.
Will this phenomenon 100% definitely cause problems?
Probably not.
So we have to insert an element of probability.

HEDGED VERSION
Over the last half of the century, it is widely
believed that many young people have
acquired extremely high positions and
power. This phenomenon could cause
enormously serious issues in the future.

By using generalisations the

sentence avoids making strong
statements and presenting
statements as facts.
It wraps sentences in probabilities,
and opinions.

The first sentence was

transformed by using a 'that
clause'.
It could be suggested that...
It might be the case that...
It may be argued that..

It could be suggested that...

It might be the case that...
It may be argued that..
The second sentence was transformed by
changing WILL for a less certain modal verb
'could'. Other possible modal verbs are may,
might, could, must, would.

The second sentence could also be modified by placing

an adverb of frequency after 'WILL'.

This phenomenon will cause enormously serious

issues in the future.
This phenomenon will OFTEN cause enormously
serious issues in the future.
This phenomenon will USUALLY cause enormously
serious issues in the future.

WHAT NEEDS
'HEDGING' IN THIS
ESSAY?

A student's essay sent to me for correction.

People will always value luxurious things and

high status more than honest friendship and
family life. This can be seen everywhere, for
example parents always choose friends from
families with the same status. Therefore,
people are becoming more egoistic, and they
will separate from poorer people.

A student's essay sent to me for correction.

People will always value luxurious things and

high status more than honest friendship and
family life. This can be seen everywhere, for
example parents always choose friends from
families with the same status. Therefore,
people are becoming more egoistic, and they
will separate from poorer people.

A student's essay sent to me for correction.

The factors mentioned above cause serious issues in our
society. The most significant is that people will separate
from others, especially from people with a low level of
income. This causes some tensions in the local community.
For example, there will be more fights between neighbours.
Another problem is our children's behaviour. They will learn
how to behave from their ignorant parents who value money
more than anything else. Thus, they might have problems at
school and between their peers.

A student's essay sent to me for correction.

The factors mentioned above cause serious issues in our
society. The most significant is that people will separate
from others, especially from people with a low level of
income. This causes some tensions in the local community.
For example, there will be more fights between neighbours.
Another problem is our children's behaviour. They will learn
how to behave from their ignorant parents who value money
more than anything else. Thus, they might have problems at
school and between their peers.

These paragraphs contain just one

possibility, in the last sentence, the
rest of the text is stated as fact in
the present simple or future simple.

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Hi Ben
I am writing to thank you for your kind assistance.
Your method works.
I took and exam twice since I had purchased your ebook.
I got an incredible result in Writing immediately (7.5 in
January and 8 in March), although previous results was 6
and 6.5
Could you tell me if you have similar methods or materials
related to Speaking part?
It is highly important to me because my last result was
Speaking 6.5.
I failed again and I am so frustrated.
I was wondering if you could give me some advice related
to my problem?
Thank you in advance.