“As A Result Of” is a pivotal phrase for IELTS test-takers aiming to showcase their mastery of complex grammatical structures and articulate cause-and-effect relationships effectively. Frequent use of this phrase in academic writing demonstrates your ability to express consequences and connect ideas coherently, potentially boosting your score in both writing and speaking sections.
Let’s examine some examples of how “as a result of” can be applied across different sections of the IELTS:
Writing Task 1:
- “As a result of increased investment in renewable energy, carbon emissions saw a significant decrease.”
- This sentence effectively highlights the cause (increased investment) and its direct effect (decreased emissions) in a concise manner.
Writing Task 2:
- “Some argue that globalization has led to cultural homogenization. As a result of this trend, many traditional practices are disappearing.”
- Here, the phrase links the argument about globalization to the consequence of disappearing traditions, showcasing a clear understanding of cause and effect.
Speaking Part 3:
- “Well, many young people are choosing to live in cities. As a result of this migration, rural areas are facing depopulation and economic decline.”
- In this example, the phrase clarifies the connection between youth migration and its impact on rural areas during a spoken discourse.
Understanding “As a Result of” in IELTS
“As a result of” is a prepositional phrase indicating a causal relationship between two clauses or sentences. It signifies that something happened because of a specific action or event. This structure is particularly common in academic writing and is a valuable tool for IELTS candidates to demonstrate a strong grasp of English grammar and vocabulary.
While “as a result of” is a formal phrase, it can be used in both the IELTS Academic and General Training tests. Understanding its correct usage and synonyms can significantly enhance your writing and speaking scores.
Structure and Usage
“As a result of” + noun phrase + clause
Let’s break down the grammatical structure:
- “As a result of”: This is the fixed prepositional phrase indicating the cause-and-effect relationship.
- Noun phrase: This refers to the event or action that caused the result. This could be a single noun, a noun phrase, or a gerund phrase.
- Clause: This explains the consequence or outcome resulting from the cause.
Examples:
- As a result of the heavy rain, the football match was cancelled.
- There has been a decline in air quality as a result of increased industrial activity.
- As a result of studying diligently, she achieved a band 8 on her IELTS exam.
Synonyms and Alternatives for “As a Result of”
While “as a result of” is an excellent phrase to use, varying your language is key to achieving a higher score. Here are some synonyms that convey similar meanings:
- Consequently
- Therefore
- Thus
- Hence
- For this reason
- Due to this
- Because of this
You can find more information on using “consequently” effectively in this helpful article: Use of Consequently for Results.
Achieving a Higher Band Score
Using “as a result of” and its synonyms strategically can help you achieve a higher band score in several ways:
- Improved Coherence and Cohesion: By clearly linking causes and effects, you create a logical flow in your writing and speaking, making your arguments easier to follow.
- Enhanced Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Using a variety of complex grammatical structures, including prepositional phrases like “as a result of,” demonstrates your command over the language.
- Increased Lexical Resource: Incorporating synonyms like “consequently” and “therefore” showcases a wider vocabulary range, which is a key assessment criterion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect Preposition Use: Ensure you use “of” after “as a result” and not other prepositions like “in” or “from.”
- Comma Splice: When connecting two independent clauses with “as a result of,” use a semicolon or a period, not just a comma.
- Redundancy: Avoid using phrases like “as a result of this situation,” which is redundant. Instead, be concise and use “consequently” or “therefore.”
Conclusion
Mastering the use of “as a result of” and its synonyms is a significant step towards achieving your desired IELTS score. By understanding its structure, applications, and nuances, you can articulate cause-and-effect relationships more effectively and showcase your advanced English language proficiency. Remember to practice using these phrases in various contexts related to potential IELTS topics to gain confidence for your exam. For additional insights on achieving your desired results, you can explore resources like How long does it take to get IELTS results? to be well-prepared for every aspect of the test.
