Listening · Unit 3: Core strategies
L30: Paraphrase spotting: 50 common swaps
Target band 6.5 to 7
In Lesson L17, you learned that the question and the recording use different words for the same idea. This lesson gives you 50 of the most common swaps, grouped by topic. Don't try to memorise them all in one day. Read them, notice them in your practice tests, and add your own.
Why this matters
Paraphrasing is the core skill behind IELTS Listening and Reading. When you recognise a paraphrase instantly, you find the answer instantly. When you don't, you wait for words that never come.
Time and frequency
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| every day | daily |
| once a week | weekly |
| at the moment | currently, right now, these days |
| in the past | previously, used to, back then |
| begin | start, kick off, open |
| finish | end, complete, wrap up |
| recently | lately, not long ago |
Numbers and amounts
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| more than half | the majority |
| a few | a small number, a handful |
| increase | rise, go up, grow |
| decrease | fall, drop, go down, decline |
| about | roughly, around, approximately |
| less than | under, below, fewer than |
| twice as many | double |
Money
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| cheap | affordable, good value, doesn't cost much |
| expensive | costly, pricey, a lot of money |
| free | no charge, included, complimentary |
| cost | price, fee, charge |
People
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| children | kids, young people, under-12s |
| older people | the elderly, senior citizens, over-sixties |
| staff | employees, workers, the team |
| students | learners, undergraduates |
| visitors | tourists, guests |
Opinions and feelings
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| like | enjoy, be keen on, be a fan of |
| dislike | can't stand, not a big fan of |
| important | essential, vital, key |
| difficult | challenging, tricky, hard work |
| easy | straightforward, simple, no trouble |
| useful | helpful, valuable, worthwhile |
| problem | issue, difficulty, drawback, downside |
| advantage | benefit, plus, upside |
| agree | exactly, fair point, I think so too |
Actions
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| buy | purchase, pick up, get |
| choose | pick, select, go for |
| help | assist, support, give a hand |
| check | look over, review, go through |
| arrive | get there, turn up, reach |
| leave | set off, depart, head off |
| build | construct, put up |
| improve | make better, enhance, upgrade |
Places and rules
| In the question | You might hear |
|---|---|
| near | close to, a short walk from, just by |
| outside | outdoors, in the open air |
| abroad | overseas, in another country |
| not allowed | banned, prohibited, you can't |
| must | have to, required, compulsory |
| optional | you don't have to, it's up to you |
How to use this list
- Read one table a day. Say each pair out loud.
- Hunt for them. When you check a practice test, look at the transcript. Find the swaps the test used.
- Build your own list. Every new paraphrase you find goes in your notebook. After a month, your list will be longer than mine.
Try it yourself
Match the question words to what you hear.
- compulsory → ?
- a drawback → ?
- the majority → ?
Options: a downside, more than half, you have to.
Show the answers
1) you have to. 2) a downside. 3) more than half.
Honest note
No list covers everything. The test can paraphrase any idea in many ways. The goal of this list isn't to memorise. It's to train your brain to expect different words for the same meaning.
Your task today
Pick one table. Use each word in a spoken English sentence about your own life.