Master ‘According to’ for IELTS: Boost Your Band Score
Learn how to use the phrase ‘according to’ correctly in your IELTS exam. This video covers its meaning, usage, common errors, and tips to effectively incorporate it in your speaking and writing tasks. Improve your English and aim for a band score of 5.5 or higher.
Are you preparing for the IELTS exam and aiming for a band score of five point five or higher? Today we’re focusing on a crucial phrase that can boost your speaking and writing scores according to as used by native English speakers.
Word type preposition or adverbial phrase. Meaning according to is used to introduce the source of information or an opinion.
It indicates that what follows is based on someone else’s statement report or belief rather than your own.
Word history the phrase according to comes from the Middle English word accord meaning to agree. It evolved from Old French acorder which in turn came from Latin accordare meaning to be in agreement.
Synonyms some similar expressions include as stated by as reported by in the opinion of and based on.
Examples use in sentences. Let’s look at how to use according to in different contexts. According to the weather forecast it will rain tomorrow.
The project will be completed next month according to the manager. According to recent studies regular exercise can improve mental health.
Common errors in use. Be careful not to confuse according to with agree with. For example do not say I according to you.
Instead say I agree with you. Also avoid using according to with first person pronouns. It’s incorrect to say according to me.
Instead use in my opinion or I believe. Remember according to always introduces someone else’s viewpoint not your own.
To use according to effectively in your IELTS exam remember these key points. Use it to introduce information from external sources.
Place it at the beginning or end of a sentence. And never use it to express your own opinion. By mastering the use of according to you’ll be able to discuss and reference information more accurately in both your speaking and writing tasks helping you achieve that band score of five point five or even higher.
