The expression ‘so as to’ is a formal way to express purpose in English, commonly appearing in IELTS Writing and Speaking tasks. Understanding its proper usage can significantly enhance your language sophistication and help achieve higher band scores.
Sentences with “so as to” demonstrates how this structure appears frequently in academic contexts, making it valuable for IELTS candidates aiming for band 7 and above.
Structure and Usage
The basic formula for using ‘so as to’ is:
Subject + verb + so as to + base verb + complement
Examples:
- “I wake up early so as to catch the first train.”
- “Companies invest in research so as to maintain their competitive edge.”
- “Students should take practice tests so as to familiarize themselves with the exam format.”
Basic structure and usage of so as to in IELTS writing
Application in IELTS Writing
Use of ‘so as to’ for purpose is particularly effective in Task 2 essays. Consider these high-scoring examples:
-
Academic Writing Task 2:
“Governments should allocate more resources so as to address environmental concerns effectively.” -
Problem-Solution Essay:
“Urban planners must redesign city layouts so as to accommodate growing populations.”
IELTS Writing Task example using so as to
Negative Form
To form the negative, use ‘so as not to’:
- “He spoke quietly so as not to disturb others.”
- “Students should review their answers carefully so as not to make careless mistakes.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sort out these common errors to improve your accuracy:
- Using ‘to’ after ‘so as to’:
- Incorrect: ❌ “They planned ahead so as to to avoid delays.”
- Correct: ✓ “They planned ahead so as to avoid delays.”
- Using -ing form:
- Incorrect: ❌ “She studied hard so as to getting good grades.”
- Correct: ✓ “She studied hard so as to get good grades.”
Alternative Expressions
While ‘so as to’ is formal, consider these alternatives for variety:
- In order to
- With the aim of
- For the purpose of
Alternative expressions for showing purpose in IELTS
Band Score Impact
Using ‘so as to’ appropriately can contribute to:
- Band 7: Occasional use with some minor errors
- Band 8: Consistent and accurate use
- Band 9: Natural integration with other complex structures
Practice Task:
Rewrite these sentences using ‘so as to’:
- She exercises regularly (to stay healthy)
- We left early (to avoid traffic)
- They hired more staff (to improve customer service)
Remember that while ‘so as to’ demonstrates sophisticated grammar knowledge, it should be used naturally and not overused within the same text.
Use of ‘so as to’ for purpose provides additional examples and exercises to help you master this important grammatical structure for IELTS success.
