What is it?
The passive voice describes an action where the subject receives the action rather than performing it. In IELTS Writing Task 1 (graphs, charts, processes), passive voice is essential for describing what was measured or what happens in a process.
Why it matters for IELTS
IELTS examiners reward grammatical range — using a variety of structures including passive constructions. Incorrect or absent passive voice is one of the most common reasons test-takers lose points in Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
Common mistakes — corrected
The government increased taxes.
Taxes were increased by the government.
Use passive when the action (increase) is more important than the agent (government).
People speak English in 67 countries.
English is spoken in 67 countries.
Use passive when the agent is obvious, unimportant, or unknown.
The chart shows that sales increased.
It can be seen from the chart that sales increased.
Impersonal passive constructions are preferred in academic writing.
IELTS tips
- →
In Task 1 process diagrams, use passive throughout: "The mixture is heated to 100°C."
- →
Vary between active and passive — using passive for every sentence reduces your score.
- →
In Speaking, passive voice sounds more sophisticated: "It has been suggested that..." rather than "People say..."
- →
Common mistake: forgetting the auxiliary verb "be". Wrong: "The report written by researchers." Right: "The report was written by researchers."
Frequently asked questions
Does passive voice improve my IELTS Writing band score?
Yes, if used correctly and appropriately. Using passive voice shows grammatical range, which is one of the four Writing criteria. However, overusing it or using it incorrectly will lower your score.
When should I use passive voice in IELTS Task 1?
Use passive voice when describing processes ("The material is extracted"), when reporting trends impersonally ("A significant rise was observed"), and when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
Is passive voice used in IELTS Speaking?
Yes. Using passive voice in speaking shows grammatical range. Phrases like "It is widely believed that..." or "This has been proven to..." demonstrate a higher level of English than simple active sentences.
Practice this grammar pattern now
Wordly identifies your grammar errors and builds targeted exercises to fix them.
Start Free