Introduction

If you’re aiming for Band 7+ in IELTS Writing, understanding passive voice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Many students avoid passive voice because they’ve been taught to ‘write actively,’ but in academic writing, passive voice serves a crucial purpose. It shifts focus from who performed an action to the action itself—exactly what academic and formal writing demands.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn when to use passive voice, how to form it correctly, and why it matters for your IELTS score. We’ll cover everything from basic structure to advanced applications, complete with examples from IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2.

Quick Answer

Passive voice is used when the focus should be on the action or object, not the person performing it. In IELTS, it’s particularly valuable in Writing Task 1 when describing data (e.g., ‘The graph shows that employment rates were increased by 15%’) and in Task 2 for academic style (e.g., ‘It is argued that…’). Use it when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or you want to emphasise the result over the doer.

Why Passive Voice Matters in IELTS

Academic Register

IELTS examiners expect academic writing to sound objective and formal. Passive voice helps achieve this tone by distancing the writer from personal opinion and creating a more neutral stance. When you write ‘Researchers discovered that…’ versus ‘It was discovered that…’, the latter feels more detached and academic.

Task Achievement in Writing Task 1

In Writing Task 1, you frequently describe processes, charts, and diagrams. Passive voice is invaluable here because the focus should remain on the data or process stages, not the people involved. For example, when describing a manufacturing process, you might write: ‘Raw materials are collected and processed.’ This keeps attention on the process flow rather than who’s doing the work.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Demonstrating passive voice shows you have a sophisticated command of grammar. It’s one of the advanced structures that can push your score from Band 6 to Band 7 or higher. Examiners look for variety in sentence structures, and passive voice adds that diversity.

How to Form Passive Voice

Basic Structure

Passive voice follows this pattern: Subject + be verb + past participle (+ by agent)

Let’s break down an example:

Active: Scientists conducted the research.
Passive: The research was conducted by scientists.

Here, ‘The research’ becomes the subject, ‘was’ is the be verb (matching the past tense), and ‘conducted’ is the past participle of ‘conduct’.

Tense Variations

Passive voice exists in all tenses. Here are common patterns:

Present Simple

• Active: The university publishes these findings.
  Passive: These findings are published by the university.

Present Continuous

• Active: They are analysing the data.
  Passive: The data is being analysed.

Present Perfect

• Active: Researchers have published numerous studies.
  Passive: Numerous studies have been published by researchers.

Past Simple

• Active: The government implemented the policy.
  Passive: The policy was implemented by the government.

Past Continuous

• Active: They were developing the technology when funding was cut.
  Passive: The technology was being developed when funding was cut.

Past Perfect

• Active: By 2020, the committee had approved the proposal.
  Passive: By 2020, the proposal had been approved by the committee.

Future Forms

• Active: They will release the report next month.
  Passive: The report will be released next month.

Modal Verbs

• Active: Governments must address climate change.
  Passive: Climate change must be addressed by governments.

The ‘By’ Phrase

The ‘by’ phrase indicates who performed the action (the agent). It’s optional and should only be included when this information adds important context:

• With ‘by’: The study was conducted by Cambridge University. (Important information)
• Without ‘by’: The data was collected anonymously. (Actor unknown or irrelevant)

When to Use Passive Voice in IELTS

Writing Task 1 Applications

Describing Data Trends

When you describe changes in data, passive voice helps emphasise the trend:

• Employment rates increased by 10%. (Active—okay, but personal)
• Employment rates were increased by 10%. (Passive—more academic)

Describing Processes

In process diagrams, passive voice is almost essential:

• First, raw materials are collected and sorted.
• Then, the mixture is heated to 150°C.
• Finally, the product is packaged and distributed.

Map Descriptions

When describing changes to maps or urban development:

• Several new roads were constructed between 2000 and 2020.
• The old factory was demolished and replaced by housing.

Writing Task 2 Applications

General Statements

• It is often argued that technology has transformed education.
• It has been suggested that stricter regulations are needed.

Reporting Research

• Studies have shown that regular exercise improves mental health.
• Recent research has demonstrated that language learning enhances cognitive abilities.

Describing Problems

• Pollution is caused by industrial activities and vehicle emissions.
• Many species are threatened by habitat destruction.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Incorrect Past Participle Forms

Many students confuse regular and irregular past participles:

• Incorrect: The policy was wrote by the government.
• Correct: The policy was written by the government.

• Incorrect: The results was shown in the graph.
• Correct: The results were shown in the graph.

Mistake 2: Wrong Be Verb Agreement

The be verb must agree with the subject (singular/plural) in passive voice:

• Incorrect: The studies were shown that…
• Correct: The studies have shown that… (Active is better here)

• Incorrect: The data is collected by the team.
• Correct: The data are collected by the team. (Note: ‘data’ can be plural in academic writing)

Mistake 3: Unnecessary Passive Voice

Don’t overuse passive voice. It can make your writing vague and wordy:

• Overuse: It was decided by me that the test would be taken by me.
• Better: I decided to take the test. (Active is clearer here)

Mistake 4: Missing the Agent When Important

Sometimes, omitting the ‘by’ phrase removes crucial information:

• Unclear: The theory was developed.
• Better: The theory was developed by Einstein.

Mistake 5: Confusing Passive Voice with Stative Passive

Some verbs can be both passive or adjectival (stative). Context matters:

• Passive: The door was closed by the security guard. (Action)
• Stative: The door is closed. (State/description)

Pro Tips for Band 7+

Tip 1: Mix Active and Passive

Varied sentence structure demonstrates grammatical range. Aim for a natural balance:

• ‘The graph shows that urbanisation increased significantly. However, pollution levels were also observed to rise during this period.’

Tip 2: Use Passive with Nominalisation

Combining passive voice with noun forms creates sophisticated academic style:

• ‘The implementation of the policy was delayed by bureaucratic obstacles.’

Tip 3: Passive + Reported Speech

This combination is perfect for Task 2 introductions:

• ‘It has been argued that globalisation has both positive and negative effects on developing countries.’

Tip 4: Passive in Cause-Effect Structures

When explaining complex relationships:

• ‘Rising temperatures are exacerbated by deforestation and industrial emissions.’

Tip 5: Avoid String Passives

A ‘string passive’ is a sentence where multiple clauses are passive. It sounds awkward:

• Awkward: The results were analysed and were shown to be significant.
• Better: The results were analysed and shown to be significant.

Passive Voice in Different IELTS Task Types

Advantage/Disadvantage Essays

• ‘Online education is often praised for its flexibility, though concerns have been raised about its effectiveness compared to traditional methods.’

Problem/Solution Essays

• ‘Environmental degradation is primarily caused by human activities, but it can be mitigated through sustainable practices.’

Discussion Essays

• ‘While some argue that competition is beneficial for children, it has been suggested that excessive competition may harm their development.’

Two-Question Essays

• ‘Tourism brings economic benefits to local communities, but cultural impacts are also frequently observed.’

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will using passive voice improve my IELTS score?

A: It can, if used correctly. Passive voice demonstrates grammatical range and helps create an academic tone. However, overusing it or using it incorrectly will lower your score. Aim for natural variation.

Q: Should I avoid active voice completely?

A: Absolutely not. Active voice is often clearer and more direct. Use it when appropriate—particularly when you want to emphasise who performed an action. The key is balance.

Q: How often should I use passive voice in IELTS?

A: There’s no exact percentage, but 20-30% of your sentences in passive voice is reasonable for academic writing. More than that can sound unnatural and vague.

Q: Is passive voice more formal than active?

A: Yes, passive voice is generally more formal and objective, which is why it’s common in academic writing. However, formality also depends on vocabulary choice and sentence structure.

Q: Can I use ‘get’ passive in IELTS?

A: ‘Get’ passive (e.g., ‘He got fired’) is informal. Avoid it in IELTS Writing. Stick to ‘be’ passive forms for academic style.

Q: Do I need to mention the ‘by’ phrase?

A: Only when the person/thing performing the action is relevant. In many IELTS tasks, the focus is on the action or result, not the actor, so the ‘by’ phrase can be omitted.

Q: How do I practice passive voice for IELTS?

A: Read academic articles and journals to see passive voice in context. Practise converting active sentences to passive, and vice versa. Write practice Task 1 and Task 2 essays using a mix of both voices.

Conclusion

Passive voice is a powerful tool in academic writing, especially for IELTS. It adds variety to your sentence structures, helps create an objective tone, and is essential for certain Task 1 descriptions. The key is using it purposefully—when it serves a clear function in your writing.

Remember: quality over quantity. A few well-placed passive constructions can boost your score, but overuse or misuse will have the opposite effect. Practice integrating passive voice naturally into your writing, and you’ll see the difference in your IELTS performance.

Ready to put passive voice into practice? Try writing an IELTS essay focusing on mixing active and passive structures, then compare it with your previous work. The improvement in sophistication and academic tone will be clear.