“As soon as” is a crucial time conjunction that frequently appears in the IELTS exam, often testing your ability to express the immediate sequence of events. Mastering its usage can significantly enhance your grammar score and overall performance.
Let’s consider these examples:
- Speaking (Part 2): “As soon as I graduated high school, I embarked on a life-changing backpacking trip across Southeast Asia.”
- Writing (Task 1): “The graph illustrates that as soon as the new marketing campaign launched, sales figures experienced a dramatic increase.”
- Listening (Section 3): “The professor emphasized that students should submit their essays as soon as they complete them to avoid late penalties.”
In each example, “as soon as” effectively links two events, highlighting the immediacy of the second action following the first.
Understanding ‘As Soon As’ in IELTS
“As soon as” is used to signal that something will happen immediately after another event. It signifies a direct and immediate connection between two actions. This conjunction is particularly useful in both the Speaking and Writing sections of the IELTS exam, where you’ll be expected to demonstrate a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary to convey the sequence and connection of ideas.
Grammatical Structure and Application
The structure for using “as soon as” is straightforward:
Main Clause + As Soon As + Subordinate Clause
OR
As Soon As + Subordinate Clause + , + Main Clause
Let’s break it down:
- Main Clause: This clause expresses the main action or event.
- Subordinate Clause: This clause, starting with “as soon as,” describes the action that happens immediately before the main clause.
Example:
- As soon as the sun rose, the hikers began their ascent.
- The hikers began their ascent as soon as the sun rose.
Both sentences convey the same meaning. The hikers started climbing the mountain immediately after sunrise.
Example of 'As Soon As' in a Sentence
Applying ‘As Soon As’ in Different IELTS Sections
1. IELTS Writing (Task 1):
- “As soon as the government implemented stricter environmental regulations, the levels of air pollution began to decrease.”
- “The graph shows a sharp decline in unemployment rates as soon as the new economic policies were introduced.”
2. IELTS Speaking (Part 2 & 3):
- “As soon as I finished university, I moved to Japan to teach English.”
- “In my opinion, children should be encouraged to read books as soon as they develop basic literacy skills.”
3. IELTS Listening and Reading:
You will encounter “as soon as” in these sections as well. Be prepared to identify its use and understand how it connects ideas and events in passages and dialogues.
Advanced Usage for Higher Band Scores
To achieve band scores of 7 and above, consider these strategies:
Combine with other tenses:
- “As soon as I have finished this report, I will join the meeting” (Present Perfect + Future Simple).
- “As soon as I arrived, I realized I had forgotten my passport” (Past Simple + Past Perfect).
Use with participle clauses:
- “Having finished his homework, he went straight to bed.” (This emphasizes the completion of the homework before going to bed).
Utilize synonyms: While “as soon as” is common, vary your language with synonyms like:
- Immediately
- The moment/instant
- Directly
- No sooner than (for more emphatic expressions) – You can find more information about “no sooner than” in this helpful article: https://www.ielts.net/use-of-no-sooner-than-2/
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Incorrect Tense Usage: Using tenses that don’t logically follow the sequence of events is a common error. For instance:
- Incorrect: “As soon as I will arrive, I call you.”
- Correct: “As soon as I arrive, I will call you.”
Redundancy: Avoid using unnecessary words that repeat the meaning of “as soon as”:
- Incorrect: “As soon as I get home, I will immediately take a nap.”
- Correct: “As soon as I get home, I will take a nap.”
Conclusion
Mastering the use of “as soon as” is a valuable asset for achieving a high score on the IELTS. Remember to use it to link events clearly, practice using it in various contexts, and explore its more nuanced applications. By understanding its grammatical structure and practicing its application, you can confidently incorporate this conjunction into your speaking and writing, demonstrating a sophisticated command of the English language. To further expand your understanding of time clauses and conjunctions, you can refer to this comprehensive guide: https://www.ielts.net/use-of-time-clauses-as-soon-as-while-before-after/ Best of luck with your IELTS preparation!