“The more… the more” is a powerful comparative structure that frequently appears in IELTS exams, allowing test-takers to express relationships between two increasing or decreasing quantities. Mastering this structure can significantly enhance your performance across all sections of the IELTS test. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this construction and explore how to use it effectively in your IELTS preparation and exam.
Understanding “The More… The More” Structure
The “the more… the more” structure is used to show that two things increase or decrease in parallel. It emphasizes a direct relationship between two elements, indicating that as one thing changes, another changes correspondingly.
Formula: The + comparative adjective/adverb + subject + verb, the + comparative adjective/adverb + subject + verb
Examples:
- The more you practice English, the better your speaking skills become.
- The harder you study, the higher your IELTS score will be.
- The less time you spend on social media, the more productive you become.
- The more diverse your vocabulary, the more impressive your writing will be.
- The earlier you start preparing, the less stressed you’ll feel before the exam.
Applying “The More… The More” in IELTS Writing
Task 2 Essays
Incorporating “the more… the more” sentences in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essays can demonstrate sophisticated language use and help you achieve a higher band score. Here’s how you can use it effectively:
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In introduction paragraphs:
The more globalized our world becomes, the more essential it is to master multiple languages. -
In body paragraphs to explain cause-and-effect relationships:
The more governments invest in public transportation, the less congested city centers become. -
In conclusion paragraphs to emphasize key points:
The more aware we are of environmental issues, the better equipped we are to address them.
Task 1 Reports
While less common in Task 1, you can still use this structure to describe trends in graphs or charts:
The more years of experience employees had, the higher their average salaries were.
Enhancing IELTS Speaking with “The More… The More”
Using this structure in your IELTS Speaking test can showcase your ability to express complex ideas fluently:
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Part 1 (Introduction and Interview):
Examiner: “Do you think it’s important to learn new skills?”
You: “Absolutely. I believe the more skills we acquire, the more versatile and valuable we become in our careers.” -
Part 2 (Individual Long Turn):
When describing a challenging experience: “The more I practiced my presentation, the more confident I felt about delivering it.” -
Part 3 (Two-way Discussion):
Discussing education: “The more diverse the learning experiences offered to students, the better prepared they are for real-world challenges.”
Improving IELTS Listening Skills
Recognizing “the more… the more” structure in listening passages can help you anticipate information and improve your comprehension:
Possible listening excerpt: “Research shows that the more languages a person speaks, the easier it becomes for them to learn additional languages.”
Reading Comprehension Strategy
In IELTS Reading, identifying this structure can help you understand relationships between ideas:
Sample text: “Studies indicate that the more time children spend reading, the stronger their vocabulary and comprehension skills become.”
Achieving Higher Band Scores
To achieve higher band scores (7+), use the structure with more sophisticated vocabulary and complex ideas:
Band 6 example: The more people use public transport, the less pollution there is.
Band 7-8 example: The more governments incentivize the use of sustainable transportation methods, the more significant the reduction in urban air pollution becomes.
Band 9 example: The more comprehensive our understanding of the intricate relationship between urban planning and environmental sustainability becomes, the more effectively we can implement policies that simultaneously enhance city livability and reduce our ecological footprint.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Forgetting “the” before comparatives:
Incorrect: More I study, more I learn.
Correct: The more I study, the more I learn. -
Using wrong word order:
Incorrect: The more becomes difficult the exam, the more I need to prepare.
Correct: The more difficult the exam becomes, the more I need to prepare. -
Mixing up comparative and superlative forms:
Incorrect: The more best you perform, the more highest score you’ll get.
Correct: The better you perform, the higher score you’ll get. -
Overusing the structure:
While it’s a powerful tool, overusing it can make your speech or writing sound repetitive. Use it strategically for maximum impact.
Conclusion
Mastering “the more… the more” structure is a valuable asset for IELTS success. By incorporating this versatile construction into your language repertoire, you can express complex relationships more effectively across all sections of the IELTS test. Remember to practice using this structure in various contexts, and always aim to pair it with sophisticated vocabulary and ideas to showcase your language proficiency. The more you practice, the more confident and proficient you’ll become in using this structure, ultimately contributing to a higher IELTS score.