compare and contrast essay ielts

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 : Compare and Contrast

Updated On Aug 25, 2023

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Like it has already been discussed in all the other TASK 1 lessons, to get a high band score in your Writing Section, you need to use appropriate vocabulary.

In IELTS Writing Task 1 , you are commonly provided with graphs, pie charts, etc. which have data that should be compared and contrasted.

In this lesson, you will learn the type of vocabulary that you’ve got to use to compare and contrast information in the graph.

Comparative and Superlatives

To compare any graphs or charts, you need to use comparatives or superlatives.

Comparatives are used when comparing two things.

Jill runs faster than Ted.

Superlatives are used one thing against a group of elements.

Jill runs faster than any other girl in her class.

There are a few basic ways in which these words are formed. They are:

Other Vocabulary

Though Comparatives and Superlatives are essential, they aren’t sufficient for an IELTS Task 1 essay. Therefore, we should use other kinds of vocabulary.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Although the sale prices of the CDS decreased, it remained the same for the year 2002 and 2003.

The sale prices of the CDs decreased in 2001, whereas/while it remained the same in the year 2002 and 2003.

Transitions

• In 1970, the most popular fast food was pizza, over 300 grams were consumed each week. By 1990, however , this had fallen to just over 200 grams.
• There was a vast increase in the consumption of Fish and Chips. In contrast, there was a drop in the consumption of pizza over the years.
• On the one hand, the consumption of hamburgers increased. On the other hand, the consumption of pizza decreased.

Other Structures

• Like Canada, Japan also has a 99% adult literacy rate.
• Canada has more annual income than all the other four countries.
• The adult literacy rate of Zaire is far less than all the other four countries.
• As observed from the given data, daily calorie supply in Canada and Japan was 3326 and 2846 per person, while this ratio in Peru and Zaire was almost half, with 1927 and 1749 per person.
• Initially, the annual incomes of Canadian and Japanese people were much higher than in Peru and Zaire.
• Zaire’s life expectancy is not as high as Canada’s or Japan’s.
• The economic and social living standards of Canadian and Japanese citizens were far better than those of the people of Peru and Zaire.

Using Approximate Data

When you are comparing and contrasting, you don’t usually have the exact numbers, like in the chart below. Thus you use appropriate phrases for comparative data.

• In 1990, the fertility rate in Kuwait was just over 3.
• In 1990, the fertility rate in Kuwait was approximately 3.

Here you can see that if your value is above the value mentioned and there is no precise number given, you can use ‘just over’ or ‘approximately.’

• In 2000, the fertility rate in the UAE was nearly 3.
• In 2000, the fertility rate in the UAE was almost 3.

Here you can see that if your value is below the value mentioned and there is no precise number given, you can use ‘nearly’ or ‘almost.’

Also check : 

• IELTS Writing task 1 tips
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• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
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• Academic Task 1

IELTS Academic Task 1 Compare & Contrast Guide

• Task 1 Guide
• Table & Bar
• Bar & Pie
• Table & Pie
• Compare Contrast
• Identifying Trends

The ability to compare and contrast is important in both the speaking and writing sections of the IELTS exam and can help you to improve your score in Grammatical range and accuracy and Lexical Resource . In this guide, we will look at different grammatical structures and language to help you compare and contrast effectively in the IELTS Academic test.

Table of Contents

1.1 comparatives and superlatives, 1.2 qualifying comparisons, 1.3 comparing similar/opposite figures, 1.4 subordinate clauses, 1.5 transition words, 2.1 adverbs, 2.2 comparing things that are the same/similar, 2.3 unusual vocabulary, 2.4 cohesive devices, 1 comp are and contrast in ielts writing.

One of the aims of IELTS writing task 1 is to compare and contrast information given in a graph , chart or diagram . If you want to achieve a higher IELTS band score, you need to use a range of language and grammatical structures accurately.

One way to compare and contrast is to use comparatives and superlatives .

Let’s quickly look at the rules for how to form comparatives and superlatives:

Here are some examples for the bar chart below:

• Cappuccinos are more popular in Club coffee than Espresso Express.
• Americanos are less popular in Espresso Espresso than Club coffee.
• Cafe lattes are the most popular hot drinks overall.
• Caramel lattes are the least popular beverage in Club Coffee.

Comparatives and superlatives can also be used in any IELTS Writing Task 2 essay , for example:

• In recent years, it has become much more common for students to complete their degree overseas instead of their home country.
• It is argued that regional and community action is more effective than global efforts.
• Having more money and less free time is better than earning less money and having more free time.

You can also modify your comparative phrases even further. See our examples in bold below:

Americanos were a lot more popular than espressos.

The country’s GDP was much higher in 1992 than 2000.

France produced much less energy than Germany in 2009.

There were slightly less visitors to the UK in 1979 than 1980.

The Children’s charity received far more money in 2016 than 2017.

Encouraging cycling is a far more effective way of reducing pollution than punishing drivers.

NEgative news stories are much more common than positive reporting.

Even if you are given numbers that are almost the same in writing task 1, you can still use comparative language such as:

• almost as … as
• not quite as … as
• nearly as … as
• Just as many cars as vans were hired in 2000.
• The number of people that emigrated to the USA in 2009 was almost as high as the number to the UK.
• The number of vehicle thefts in 2000 was not quite as high as it was in 2001.
• Travelling by bike was nearly as popular as travelling by car in the UK in 2018.

And if you are given figures that are drastically different , you can use the following phrases to create a contrast:

• Not nearly as …. as
• Nowhere near as … as
• half as … as
• The proportion of monthly income spent on entertainment was not nearly as high as housing.
• The percentage of women in poverty of women aged 45-54 was nowhere near as high as women aged 18-24.
• Half as many history books as fiction books were borrowed from the library in 2014 than 2018.

Subordinate clauses are another way to compare and contrast information, as well as increase your grammatical range and coherence in IELTS Writing Tasks 1 and 2

Subordinate clauses joined to the main clause using a subordinating conjunction .

Here are some suitable subordinating conjunctions you could use:

• Even though
• Although going to the gym is good for your health, it is not effective without a balanced diet.
• While English was the most popular subject in 2020, Economics was even more popular in 2021.
• Even though most students pass their exams, many still choose to travel abroad and take a gap year.

Transition words, also known as cohesive devices , are another way to compare and contrast.

Here’s a list of useful cohesive devices to compare and contrast:

• In contrast
• In the same way
• Nevertheless
• On one hand
• On the other hand
• Many actors are often followed by the press. Likewise, reality TV stars often report being hounded by paparazzi.
• One one hand , renting your home instead of buying it can be more beneficial as the landlord is responsible for repairs. On the other hand , you will not be able to pass on the house to your children in the future.
• It is argued that people should eat a plant-based diet rather than eating meat as it is healthier.

2. Compare and Contrast in IELTS Speaking

Comparing and contrasting is not only important in writing but also the IELTS speaking section of the test, especially parts 2 and 3 where you have more time to develop your answers.

You can comparing people, places and things in any part of the speaking exam using the following structures:

• A is similar/different to B because …
• A is similar/different to B in that …
• Modern art is different to traditional art forms because you often need to interpret modern artwork in your own way.
• My hometown is similar to where I live now in that both are busy cities with a great nightlife.

You could also use a range of adverbs such as:

• totally/strikingly/ distinctly different
• slightly/rather/subtly different
• My highschool experience was distinctly different from my time at university.
• My daily routine today is only subtly different from a few years ago.
• It is quite common for people to choose tea over coffee in my country.

Even if you have two things that are similar, you can still use language to highlight the similarities. Here are just some ways you can do this:

• A is as reliable as B
• A is identical to B
• A is the same as B
• Electric vehicles are as reliable as petrol cars.
• The replica of the Eiffel tower in my city is identical to the original in Paris.
• The level of pollution in London is the same as in other large cities.

To increase your range of IELTS vocabulary and your score in Lexical resources, you should try to include more unusual words and phrases in your answers. Here are some examples linked to comparing and contrasting:

• A is a far cry away from B
• A is worlds apart from B
• A and B are poles apart
• A is in a different league to B
• Alaska is a far cry away from Florida, it’s so much colder and far less populated.
• Australia is worlds apart from Berlin, there are so many cultural differences especially when it comes to the food.
• My mother and I are poles apart in personality, she is far more outgoing than I am.
• My brother is in a different league to me when it comes to musical ability, he has been composing songs since a very early age.

As with writing, you can also use cohesive devices or IELTS transition words in the speaking section to compare and contrast, for instance:

• On the contrary
• Children should study art at school because it encourages their creativity. Likewise , they should also be encouraged to take up a musical instrument.
• Governments should take responsibility for the food children eat at school. On the other hand , it could also be argued that students should have the freedom to make their own decisions.

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How to write ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay in ielts writing task 2.

In ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two. Therefore, it is important that you find out relevant points of similarities and differences of the two mentioned things after reading the question for IELTS Writing .

So these type of questions are seen commonly in the IELTS writing task 2 and it can be a great exercise for future exams if you read this article. Let’s look at an example:

Some people want to live in a house while others prefer living in an apartment.

Does living in a house bring more advantages than living in an apartment.

With this type of essay for  IELTS Writing , you have two points to be discussed as follows:

• Benefits of living in a house/apartment
• Issues of living in an house/apartment

You must discuss both of them by giving reasons and support them with examples. And at the end, mention which of the two is better and why. If you do not discuss any of the above two points in the essay, you will lose marks. So, in this type of essay, you must explain both the points.

How to structure IELTS Writing asnwer?

The essay can be structured mainly in 4 paragraphs as follows: Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: Benefits of living in a house/apartment

Paragraph 3: issues of living in a house/apartment, paragraph 4: conclusion.

Further structuring of the paragraphs can be done as follows:

a. Paragraph 1- Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase the Question Sentence 2-Outline the sentence

b. Paragraph 2- Body Paragraph 1 (Apartment)

Sentence 1- State the benefit Sentence 2- Explain how it brings this benefit Sentence 4- Write an example

c. Paragraph 3 – Body Paragraph 2 (House)

Sentence 1- State the issue Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue Sentence 3- Write an example

d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion

Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure is approved by the IELTS examiners to help the students write in an effective and cohesive manner.

Vocabulary: 

Useful vocabulary for comparison points.

• to be the same as
• both… and…
• neither… nor…
• not only… but also…
• to be alike
• just like (+ noun)
• to be similar (to)
• similar to (+ noun)
• to compare (to/with)

Useful vocabulary for Contrasting points

• in contrast
• by comparison
• in comparison
• on the other hand
• to differ from
• to be dissimilar to
• to be different (from)
• to be unlike

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

There are many people who believe that living in a house is the best. However, some people disagree with this opinion and instead prefer to live in an apartment. This essay makes comparison of the two and chooses the most preferred option. To begin with, living in a flat definitely brings several advantages to a resident. One of the most important reasons behind this is the huge convenience it offers. An apartment is a part of large building giving a feel of living in a small societal association which takes responsibility of any fix or repair or maintenance required.   For example, if one needs to repair the roof, the maintenance charges are borne by the landlord. Moreover, various facilities as well as amenities are available nearby including shopping mall, tuition centre, medical store, bus station and so on. On the other hand, living in an owned house does not offer the facilities that one can avail while living in an apartment. One reason for this is that it is quite lonely to stay in a house which occupies a large land area bringing boredom and snatching the joy of living with so many people around. For example, it would be such a dull experience of sitting alone in the garden with no one around to share life experiences. In addition to this, maintenance and cleanliness of the house are borne by the owner and thus it is costly to live in a house. Conclusively, living in an apartment is comparatively better than staying lonely in a house. Though a house provides a large spacious area to move around but living in an apartment enhances more social interaction and adds more excitement to life. (283 words)

Write an essay with minimum 250 words. Use the above mentioned vocabulary. 1. Some people think that learning online is more efficient. However, according to some other people, studying from books is still the preferred method. Which is the better method of learning out of the two? 2. Distance education is gaining popularity day by day and more students are enrolling through distance mode than full-time course in colleges. Make comparison of distance education and full-time course to find which is better and why. 3. A growing number of people own personal vehicle as they find it a convenient mode of transport in comparison to public transport. Compare the public and private mode of transportation and state which is better out of the two.

Well we have learnt quite a few things today about the IELTS writing task 2 and frankly speaking you will surely find it easier when writing, compare and contrast essay in the future.

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Thank you for providing this article, it was very helpful and valuable for the writing task, can you also provide some more tips?

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Language for IELTS compare essays

You can guarantee that some point during your IELTS exam, you will need to demonstrate that you can make good comparisons. Interestingly, although the language of comparison is introduced at an Elementary level in most English course books, this is something that many high-level students still struggle with. Today, Nick and describe 4 ways that you can make comparisons in IELTS compare essays, and then show how the same techniques can be used to good effect in the speaking test (which Nick giving a masterful demonstration of how to answer some Part 3 questions)!

Below, you can find a summary of the episode, which includes all of the links to useful materials and the times of each part of the discussion (so you can go directly to the part you want to listen to)   🚀

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When you may need to use or understand compare language in the IELTS exam

The ability to make accurate comparisons is a fundamental English skill, so it is no wonder that it is tested throughout the IELTS test. For example, True, False, Not Given questions in the reading often focus on checking if a given comparison is correct. Part 3 of the speaking exam almost always contains at least one question that will ask you to compare ideas or statements ( as we will see at the end of the episodes when we put Nick to the test)  and any student sitting the Academic version of the test knows that they have a 50% chance of getting a chart that shows either change or comparison.

In today’s episode, however, we are going to focus primarily on how you can make comparisons in IELTS essays. Unlike other tests, although no essay prompt ever asks you directly to “compare and contrast”, this does not mean that there are no IELTS compare essays. On the contrary, there are three common types of essay that will require you to make accurate comparisons:

1 Agree / Disagree essays that are actually IELTS compare essays

These are perhaps the most obvious “IELTS compare essays” because despite asking you to “agree” or “disagree” they directly present you with two opposing options, which must be compared. Take this question for example:

Governments should spend more money on railways than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Obviously, to answer this well, you will have to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of both types of investment and compare them directly to decide which is best (and, thus, if you agree or disagree.

2. Discuss Both sides essays  that are actually IELTS compare essays

In a similar way, many Discuss Both Sides essays give you absolute opposite views on the same topic. Again, in order to decide which approach is the best, it will be necessary in your discussion to compare them in some way:

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

3. Essays that ask you to discuss a recent social change  are actually IELTS compare essays

I have become quite obsessed recently with social change essays. That is because they are becoming more and more common but are overlooked by most IELTS teachers. Nick and I spent a whole hour in August explaining what social change essays are and how you can approach them best. If you have’t listened to that episode yet, I strongly recommend that you do so now as it could really save your score for Task Response if you get a similar essay in your test. Just click here .

Today more people are travelling today than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the benefits for the traveller?

Very simply though, a social change essay is one that asks you to look at an emerging trend in society. Most of the time you will be asked why that change is happening and then to comment on whether you think it is a positive or negative one. The key to answering these questions well is to focus on the CHANGE i.e. to consider why this trend is happening more today than in the past.

In other words, you will need to compare people’s behaviour in the past to their behaviour today. For the above question, that will mean not focussing on why people travel a lot today, but why they are travelling more today than in the past. It is considering the change that will lead to a high score.

Click here to watch the first three lessons in our IELTS Writing Course to see the difference that genuine expertise can make to your preparation. 

4 Ways to show comparisons in  IELTS compare essays 

Ways to compare 1 – use the “contrast” comparison.

Our first way to compare is a good one for lower level learners as it does not require any specialist comparison language. All we are going to do is write one sentence describing X and a contrasting sentence describing Y, and join the two sentences using “In contrast”. Let’s look at an example sentence for the the railways / road question:

Railways are an environmentally friendly form of transport, with relatively little carbon emissions per passenger. In contrast , many cars often carry just one passenger and emit not only carbon but other poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

As you can see, this a very straightforward strategy as we are using the present simple in each sentence, but it is still a very effective way of making an argument. Note that in this sentence, we do not use “ on the other hand ’ as that signpost is usually only used to transition between paragraphs.

If you want to make a shorter comparison, or to make a complex sentence, you can replace “in contrast” with “while” or “whereas”.

Railways are an environmentally friendly form of transport as they can carry hundreds of passengers whereas   many cars often carry just one passenger, especially during rush hour.

Now, although the function of “in contrast” and “while” or “whereas”  is the same, you cannot just make a one-to-one swap as these are different types of words grammatically. “In contrast” is a transition signal and “while” and “whereas” are subordinators. That means you need to use “while” and “whereas” between TWO clauses not two sentences.

If you are not sure of the difference, please stop reading and go and watch my free video lessons “Three types of Contrast” by clicking here .

Ways to compare 2 – Use the “unlike” comparison

Making simple comparisons using “in contrast” or “while” or “whereas” is a fantastic strategy in the exam, but sometimes these sentences can result in sentences with a problem. Have a look at these three sentences (based on the questions in the introduction) to see if you can spot what the problem with the underlined clause is:

• It can be comfortable travelling long distances by rail whereas in a car it can be tiring for the driver.
• Children who take part in group activities can learn the value of working as a team and how to communicate with other members of the group whereas those who spend time on their own do not have this chance.
• In the past it was expensive to fly to another city, but now it is relatively cheap .

Can you see the issue? All of these sentences make nice comparisons, but there is too much repetition in the second clause. I mean, do we really need to give a long explanation of the “other option” every time?

For example, if you say that travel abroad is expensive, do you really need to say that travel at home is cheap? Surely that is obvious!

In the same way, if you say that children who take part in a group activity learn communication skills, is it really necessary to point out that those who spend time on their own do not? Again, this seems repetitive.

One way to avoid this is to use an “Unlike” phrase to replace the repetitive second clause .

Let me show you how that will work:

• Unlike going by car , it can be comfortable travelling long distances by rail
• Unlike children who spend time on their own , those who take part in group activities can learn the value of working as a team and how to communicate with other members of the group.
• Unlike twenty years ago, now it is relatively cheap to fly to another city.

It is quite simple, isn’t it? We keep the clause that contains the important information (i.e the information that we want to focus on) and replace the repetitive clause with a short one that starts with “like and summarises what we are comparing to. Simple, but VERY effective. This type of comparison earns my gold star recommendation of the day!

Ways to compare 3 – Use comparative adjectives

Now we come to the classic way of comparing – using a comparative adjective. This is the comparison language that we learn from a low level at school, so I don’t want to spend too much time looking at it today (we also have a 35 minute lesson in our IELTS Grammar course that covers this in great detail), but let’s go through the basics here:

• If your adjective has one syllable , you will add -er to the end to make the comparative: bigger / taller / shorter. Note that if your adjective ends in a vowel followed directly by a consonant, you will need to “double” the final consonant: ho tt er / bi gg er
• If your adjective has two syllables and ends in “y”,  you will move the “y” and add -ier to the end to make the comparative: funnier / luckier / happier. If your adjective has two syllables but does NOT end in “y”,  then you will just need to add “more”: more modern / more boring / more tired
• If your adjective has three syllables,  you will again just need to add “more”: more expensive / more challenging / more fashionable

We can also add adverbs into these sentences to make our comparisons more precise and (importantly for IELTS) slightly more complex.

If there is a small difference between the two items, we can add “slightly” or “a little”

• Buying a yearly travel pass is only  slightly cheaper than buying and running a car.
• Taking a holiday in your own country can often be only a little less expensive than travelling abroad.

If there is a big difference between the two items, we can add “far”, “way”,  “a lot”, or “much”:

• Living in the countryside is far healthier than in the city.
• Working at home makes it  way easier to have a good work-life balance.
• Travelling by train is far more comfortable than by bus.
• It is much easier to tell a person bad news by text message than face to face.

3 Potential Problems with using comparative adjectives ☠️

1. Be careful when you use “much” that you do not automatically use “more”

Students seem to automatically write “more” when they write “much”. This can cause problems when you are using a “short” comparative adjective that ends in -er. Why? Well, because the “-er” is already making the comparison, so adding an extra “more” means that you are saying “more more”!

• eating in a restaurant is much more expensive than cooking food at home
• going to the theatre is something to enjoy but smartphones have made our movie experience much more better

2. Be careful when you have a list of comparatives that all are in the comparative form.

Another problem can be that students remember the comparative rules for the first item in a list, but then forget them for the second:

• First, houses are often more spacious and roomy  / roomier than apartments.
• Cleaning, repairing and refurbishing apartments is usually easier as they are much smaller and compact   / more  compact   than a house.

3. Although you need “than” in the sentence, it is  NOT what “compares” on its own!

Take a look back at all of the comparative sentences that I have written in this section. You will notice that they all contain the word “than”. This is a vital component of compare sentences but it DOES NOT make the comparison – it is the adding “-er” or “more” that does this.

• We are getting busy day by day than before
• We are getting busier day by day than before.

In fact, in many sentences, you can omit the “than X” because it is clear from context, but the comparative adjective must remain! For example if we have the phrase ‘day by day” in this sentence, we really don’t need to add “than before” as it is obvious what we are comparing!

• We are getting busier day by day than before

Looking for help with IELTS grammar? We have a dedicated 10-hour course that is specifically designed to show you the structures needed for a 7.0+ Click  here to watch the first three lessons for free.

Ways to compare 4 – Use “as + adjective + as” to compare

This is the other classic way to compare. Rather than having to change the adjective to the comparative form, you can simply use it between two “as”:

• Women are as intelligent as men

This form of comparison is designed to show that the two items are EQUAL i.e. there is no difference between the intelligence of men and women. However, I don’t think that many things in life are truly equal, so we often add adverbs to show that there is a difference.

If there is a small difference between the two items, we can add “almost” or “nearly”.

• Eating sugar every day is almost as dangerous as smoking.
• Most teachers are nearly as worried as parents about the problem.

If there is a big difference between the two items, we can add “nowhere near”

• Traditional games are nowhere near as interactive as electronic games.

One common problems in IELTS compare essays  ☠️

One mistake that I often see repeated is that students seem to think that all they have to do to compare is add the phrase “ compared to ” or “ as compared to ” at the end of a sentence. This is not true! In fact, it is very hard to make a comparison using only the phrase “compared to”, and if this is a phrase that you use often, I would recommend that you forget it and start using one of the four techniques above.

Look at the four sentences  below for example. None of them are correct as the students have tried to compare using only “compared to”. Can you change the sentences to be correct? We will give you the answers in the podcast:

• The houses are big  compared to the past.
• I would like to bring to your attention the reason as to why children are not visiting the park frequently these days compared to the past .
• People can interact with each other easily as compared to the past .
• Living in the countryside is much fresh compared to living in the city

Bonus! Listen to Nick answer these Speaking Part 3 Compare questions

We all know that there is nothing I like more than making Nick work in a podcast. Today, I thought that we could put his vast experience of IELTS speaking tests to good use by making him answer these questions. How did he get on? You will need to listen to find out!

Is it more enjoyable to do free time activities inside or outside?

Do you think young people and old people have the same attitude to change?

Is it better for a person to show their emotions or to hide them?

Do you think life was better before the invention of the computer?

Do you think living in a nice place is more important than having a good job?

What are the differences between the cause of stress today and in the past?

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• Compare & Contrast Language

Compare and Contrast Language for Graphs

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to  compare and contrast  language which is needed to write about graphs.

To begin, take a look at the graph below.

• Which country has the highest level of pollution? 
• Which country has the lowest?

The country with the higest level of pollution is USA and the country with the lowest is New Zealand.

The Key Language

Comparative and superlative adjectives.

Being able to compare and contrast data is an essential skill for IELTS writing, especially in Task 1.  Comparatives and superlatives are one common way to do this.

Comparatives are used to compare two things :

Leopards are faster than tigers.

Superlatives are used to compare one thing against a group of others :

The leopard is the largest of the four big cats.

Here are the basics of how they are formed:

Other Important Language

Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be enough.

Here are some other useful words and structures:

Transitions

• The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however , Japan produces none.
• The USA produces large amounts of natural gas.  In contrast , South Korea produces none.
• European countries make great use of solar power.  On the other hand , most Asian countries us this method of power generation very little.

Subordinating Conjunctions

• The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
• Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
• Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.

Other Structures

• Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than developed countries.
• Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal does.
• Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
• Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
• The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.
• Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.
• Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
• The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.

Using Approximate Data

When you compare and contrast, you also need to learn phrases so you can refer to data that is not exact.

For example:

Compare and Contrast Language Practice

Look at the table below.  What is being compared?

Natural Gas Consumption and Production, 2001

*in millions of tonnes

Compare and Contrast Language Quiz

Look at the compare and contrast language in the drop down box and choose the correct word to complete the sentences. 

More Task 1 Academic Lessons:

IELTS Process Diagram Strategies and Tips

IELTS Process Diagram: In task 1 of IELTS writing you usually have to describe some kind of graph or chart. But sometimes you get a process. It is therefore crucial that you know how to do this. This easy to follow lesson explains how.

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Prepositions in Graphs: Practice using prepositions in the IELTS test. View a model answer and practice using a gap fill.

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Writing Tips for a Graph in the Future in IELTS Academic

Graph in the future: Sometimes graphs in IELTS refer to a future time. You must know the language to write about these. In this lesson, learn how to write about an IELTS graph in the future. Getting the tenses right is an important part of the IELTS writing task 1.

Describing an IELTS task 1 graph over time

This lesson shows you how to write an IELTS task 1 graph or chart that is over time.

IELTS Bar and Line Graph: How to describe two graphs together

This Bar and Line Graph example shows you how you can write about two charts together in the IELTS test for task 1, with strategies and techniques.

Describing Graph Trends Using the Language of Change

Describing graph trends: In IELTS you must know how to describe the trends that you see in the graph you are given. This lesson provides practice with some common language used to describe trends.

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IELTS Quizzes to test and train you on the writing task and task 2 of the IELTS test. Gap fills and multiple choice.

IELTS Table: Tips and techniques for a high score.

IELTS Table advice for a high score. Learn how to describe an IELTS table, which is just another way to present data.

Tips for Organising an IELTS Line Graph

Organising an IELTS Line Graph - This lesson shows you have to improve the coherency of your graph in order to achieve a high band score.

Describing IELTS Graphs: Tips to avoid a common mistake

IELTS Graphs: A common mistake In IELTS graphs is to get the subject of the graph wrong. This lesson explains how this mistake is made and show you what you need to do to avoid it. There is a also a practice exercise.

How to Describe an IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Graph

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: This lesson describes in a simple way how you should describe a graph for the academic part of the test for task 1. You need an introduction, overview and body paragraphs. These simple steps will show you how, and how to get a high score.

IELTS Task 1 Line Graph Structure Using Groups

For an IELTS Task 1 Line Graph there are different ways to organise your answer. Grouping information is a good way to get a logically structured response.

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Using comparisons to develop your essays

Home  »  IELTS academic task 2 » Using comparisons to develop your essays

There are usually only two main ways to compare items.

The first one is to point out their similarities and the second is to point out their differences.

Let’s go a little deeper into the discussion of how each one can be used.

I. Comparing similar items

Pointing out the similarities between two or more items can be done in two ways.

A. Expressing similarities but with different degrees or levels

- This means that the items compared share the same characteristics and qualities but one’s intensity is less or greater than the other.

- Here the words more, less, better, worse and words added with the suffix “er” are used.

1. Discrimination against women in economic, social and political aspects of society, appears to be more severe in developing countries than it is in wealthi er ones.

2. The integration of technology into our everyday lives has been beneficial to many but its accessibility is less apparent in the members of the low er class than in those who are members of the high and middle class societies.

3. The development of chemical weapons in some countries are among the growing concerns in the world but the intensifying effects of global warming is a more pressing issue that the world needs to address urgently.

B. Expressing similarities in a different way with two sentences

- Here the words/phrases similarly, in like manner, in a similar pattern, in a similar way, etc. are used.

1. Books are a wealth of knowledge. Similarly , the internet is a learner’s paradise, it just needs to be used purposefully and moderately.

2. Men are said to be the strength and protector of mankind. In much the same way , women are deemed as the heart and soul of humanity.

3. In the very early stages of our lives, as infants, we are very dependent on others for our every need. In a similar way , when we reach the latter years of adulthood we lose or weaken our faculties and resume dependency on others.

II. Comparing different or contrasting items

Pointing out the differences between two or among three or more items can be expressed in two ways.

A. Contrasting with one sentence

- This means pointing out the difference/s in items with the use of just one (1) sentence. - Here you make use of the words/phrases like while, whereas, however, but, in contrast to, compared with, and more.

1. Adults deem play only as a fun leisurely activity, whereas , children deem it as a serious business.

2. Compared with cameras in Android phones and iPhones which are lighter and produce relatively good images, SLR/DSLR are heavier and more complex to use but they are still more preferred by professional photographers.

3. In contrast to the methods used by conventional doctors, non-conventional doctors promote the use of healthy diet and lifestyle and other less painful and less costly ways to fight cancer.

III. Contrasting with two sentences

- This means pointing out the difference/s in items with the use of two (2) sentences. - Here you still make use of similar phrases like in contrast to, compared with, on the contrary, opposite that, from a different perspective, from a different viewpoint, on the other hand, and more.

1. (On the one hand) Financial advisors recommend investments in bonds, mutual funds and FX swaps. On the other hand , businessmen believe that the best investment would often be in private companies.

2. Dehydration can cause blurred vision, brain fog and even high blood pressure. In contrast , being over hydrated causes an imbalance in one’s electrolyte levels.

3. Some analysts believe that formal qualifications prepare workers better. On the contrary , others believe that there is no substitute for real world experience.

*On the contrary is usually used for giving opinions.

Final Thoughts

A great way to develop your essay is through the use of comparisons and there are four different ways described here which you can choose from.

All you need to do now is to practice using each one as many times as possible and find out later which one will best fit the answers you come up with during your IELTS test.

For more help with your IELTS exam , take a look at some more IELTS Writing task 2 questions .

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• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

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Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

• Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
• Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

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See an example

As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

• Point of comparison A
• Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

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How to compare and contrast in IELTS Task 1

By ielts-jonathan.com on 31 March 2021 2

Comparing and Contrasting Language for Task 1 IELTS

If you want to achieve a higher band score in IELTS Task 1 writing, effective use of comparison and contrasting language is one of the vital language skills you need to master.

It’s is not enough to simply report what you see in a chart, table or graph.

Being able to accurately report differences in key details helps the examiner award a mark in both Task Achievement, Grammar and Vocabulary.

Comparing and contrasting can help in this respect.

If you want to increase your IELTS band score further and impress the examiner, try to vary your language and provide a number of structures when reporting the information you see .

This can be demonstrated by using a number of comparing and contrasting language structures and variations.

You need to do this accurately so it’s important to understand how some words collocate and others do not.  

For example, saying ‘ The USA consumed the highest of electricity in 2011′ is not correct because something is missing and this can affect your score.

In contrast, writing ‘ The USA consumed the highest volume of electricity in 2011′ demonstrates to the examiner that you have a good range of vocabulary and an awareness of using language correctly .

For example, the examiner can see you understand that in this example, ‘ the highest + amount/volume + of electricity’ is needed to make an accurate collocation .

So, to score well you not only need to notice and report comparisons and contrast , but do this accurately too.

So I have summarised the most commonly used ways of comparing and contrasting which are suitable for IELTS TASK 1 writing.

These can be incorporated into your writing as needed as long as you have practised how to use these phrases accurately. 

Using comparative and superlative adjectives

The simplest way to compare is to adjectives. 

These are quite easy to form although there are some irregular patterns that are worth knowing.

Remember, some adjectives requires a particular grammar construction to be accurate. 

You can use these adjectives in a number of effective ways, for example as

As a statement

The figure was high . In the 2020, the number of people who worked from home was very high .

As a comparison

The figure was higher than (another figure). In 2021, the figures were lower than in the previous decade.

As a contrast

The figure was the highest . By the end of the period, this figure was the highest .

Other simple examples of comparative and superlative language you can look at are:

Sales were lower in 1996 than 1997.  Sales were low in the period 1998 to 2001.

The lowest amount of energy was consumed in June.

The cost of imports was more expensive in the winter.

The most expensive imports for the period were in winter.

Using Transition words

Transitioning or s ignalling words are another good way of highlight a key feature in a report. 

T hese words link an idea to another, show a connection , or a comparison or an opposite :

However , in contrast , in comparison , on the other hand and similarly are some of the common examples seen in IELTS.

The USA consumed the highest volume of electricity in 2011.

Australia, however , used the least amount (of electricity).

In contrast , Australia used the least (amount of electricity).

More Examples:

British people spent just above £1,000,000 on imported brands. 

In comparison , this figure was much lower for Italy at £500,000.

It is clear that the majority of Australians spent their holiday abroad.

On the other hand , Italians opted for staying in their country.

It is obvious that the majority of Spanish people prefer to holiday at home.

Similarly , the Italians prefer to holiday at home too.

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

A further method is to use subordinating conjunctions .

This might sound difficult or something you’re unfamiliar with, but you’re probably using basic subordinating connections already.

These types of word connect two different ideas , or independent clauses and ‘ because ‘ is a common example of one. 🙂 

In this example, ‘ because ‘ provides the reason for something.

The most frequent examples for comparing and contrasting are:

Although Australia came first for the crime rate in 1980, this rate then dropped dramatically.

Look at how two independent clauses (ideas) can be compared.

It is clear that in 1963 food was the main expense, while 30 years later it was consumer items that came top. Europeans and Americans each comprise 25 % of the total, whereas the figure for Africa is lower, at 10%.

The same as / similar to..

Using other ways of comparison: more/less/ as…as/ similar(to) / the same …as:

More females than males attended gym and fitness classes in the last decade.

Less electricity was consumed in 2014 due to the increased use of solar technology.

Further ways of comparing examples:

The BMW brand was not as popular as Mercedes in 2015.

Consumption rates in China were very similar to Russia.

Ireland produced the same amount of electricity as Scotland in 2014.

Scotland caught similar amounts of fish as Greenland.

In Conclusion

If you want to increase your IELTS band score and impress the examiner, vary your language when describing a chart, table or graph .

One way this can be simply done is by comparing and contrasting language and variation .

Remember that some words collocate well and others do not and there are irregular grammar constructions too.

Not all IELTS Task 1 questions will give you the opportunity to compare or contrast so it’s important that you read and fully understand the question.

Do this and then decide on your Task Reponse .

I hope you found this article useful and please f eel free to comment and share.

Everything helps! 🙂

I’m Jonathan

I’ve taught IELTS and University English in more than a dozen universities and schools around the world.

I’m a parent, traveller and passionate about language teaching and helping students achieve their dreams.

Whilst living in Austria or working in Asia, I run IELTS courses to help students get to where they want to be.

If you are serious about IELTS, connect with me to see how I can help you.

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Reader Interactions

7 May 2021 at 3:45 pm

Nice examples of comparative language, how many times are best to use those phrases?

7 May 2021 at 8:41 pm

With practice you’ll get a feel for using the different structures. Try not to repeat the same structures too much though. It’s quite nice, for variation and to display what you are capable of, to try and use a variety, if possible. Of course, it depends on the information you are reporting in the Task. 🙂

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The IELTS Writing Task 1 is a formal test that requires students to write a report based on a visual stimulus, such as a graph, chart, or table. One of the most common types of task 1 essays is the comparison essay, in which students are asked to compare and contrast two or more things.

Mastering IELTS Writing Task 1

Let us learn to write a comparison essay for IELTS Writing Task 1 . We will provide tips on reading the question carefully, identifying the similarities and differences between the two things you are comparing, using specific examples to support your points, and writing in a clear and concise style.

1. Read the question carefully

The first step to writing a good comparison essay is to read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is asking you to do. The question will usually specify what you should compare and contrast. For example, you might be asked to compare and contrast two graphs, two maps, or two sets of data.

2. Compare and contrast the two items, noting their similarities and differences

When writing an essay, it is important to compare and contrast two subjects while organizing your thoughts effectively.

3. Please provide specific examples to support your arguments

When writing about the similarities and differences between two things, using specific examples to support your points is essential. This will make your essay more convincing and engaging. For example, if you compare two graphs, you could use specific data points from the graphs to support your points.

4. Use a logical structure

Your essay should have a clear and logical structure. This means that your paragraphs should flow smoothly and your points should be well-organized. It would help if you also used transition words and phrases to connect your ideas.

5. Write in a formal style

The IELTS Writing Task 1 is a formal test, so you should write in a traditional style. This means that you should avoid using slang, contractions, or informal language.

6. Proofread your essay carefully

Be sure to carefully proofread your essay for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors before submitting it.

By following these tips, you can write a great comparison essay for your IELTS Writing Task 1.

Additional tips:

• Start by brainstorming a list of similarities and differences between the two things you are comparing.
• Organize your thoughts by grouping the similarities and differences together.
• Write clear and concise topic sentences for each paragraph.
• Use evidence from the graphs, maps, or data sets to support your points.
• For smooth flow of ideas, use transition words and phrases to connect your thoughts.
• Write in a clear and concise style.
• Proofread your essay carefully before submitting it.

We hope these tips help you to write a great comparison essay for your IELTS Writing Task 1 .

Here are some examples of comparison essay questions that you might be asked in the IELTS Writing Task 1:

• Compare and contrast the two graphs below.
• Compare and contrast the two maps below.
• Compare and contrast the two sets of data below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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IELTS Compare and Contrast Essay Model Answer – Topic: Living in One Place

Some people live in one community for their entire lives. Others move around to different parts of the country. Compare and contrast living in one place your entire life to moving around to different places.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question

Sample answer.

Some people choose to live in one community all their lives, while others choose a nomadic   ( moving to different places rather than staying in one place) lifestyle. In this essay, staying and moving will be compared in terms of (in relation to) family and cultural stability and in terms of worldviews (the way that someone sees and understands world events, especially in relation to their religious or political beliefs and ideas). (38 words)

First of all, living in one place ensures a well-established (having a recognized position)  and stable family structure. For instance, the family circle (close members of your family) provides a source of self-identity (believing that you are a particular kind of person) and becomes a safe haven (a safe or peaceful place) in times of trouble. In addition, households consisting of (include) three or even four generations living together are known to produce emotionally stable citizens, and they also look after (to take care of or be in charge of something) traditional customs and skills.

In contrast, nomads leave friends and family behind and have to establish (build up) new relationships at every new place. Unfamiliar neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, churches, customs, cultures, climates, and so on (and everything else) may be stressful, especially in the lives of children and teenagers.

Second, people with limited exposure to other communities may become stagnated (to stay the same and not grow or develop) and narrow-minded (not willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own) and find it difficult to understand the cultural, racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds found in other communities.

On the other hand, moving to a new environment enables you and your family to come into contact with   (to be in a place where you experience something or  meet someone ) and appreciate new ideas, customs, and traditions. This develops a variety (wide range) of worldviews from which to choose the one most preferred. As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life.” (182 words)

In conclusion, it has to be said that both lifestyles have advantages and disadvantages in terms of family structures and worldviews. People differ, and therefore there will always be those who choose one or the other. (36 words)

Total: 256 words

IELTS Opinion Essay Model Answer 02 – Topic: Tobacco

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Compare and Contrast Essay: Full Writing Guide and 150+ Topics

Compare and contrast essays are academic papers in which a student analyses two or more subjects with each other. To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences. For example, it can be two movies, two universities, two cars etc.

Good compare and contrast papers from college essay writer focus on a central point, explaining the importance and implications of this analysis. A compare and contrast essay thesis must make a meaningful comparison. Find the central theme of your essay and do some brainstorming for your thesis.

This type of essay is very common among college and university students. Professors challenge their students to use their analytical and comparative skills and pay close attention to the subjects of their comparisons. This type of essay exercises observance and analysis, helps to establish a frame of reference, and makes meaningful arguments about a subject. Let's get deeper on how to write a compare and contrast essay with our research writing services .

How to Start a Compare and Contrast Essay: Brainstorm Similarities and Differences

Now that you know what is compare and contrast essay and are set with your topic, the first thing you should do is grab a piece of paper and make a list with two columns: similarities and differences. Jot down key things first, the most striking ones. Then try to look at the subjects from a different angle, incorporating your imagination.

If you are more of a visual learner, creating a Venn diagram might be a good idea. In order to create it, draw two circles that overlap. In the section where it overlaps, note similarities. Differences should be written in the part of the circle that does not overlap.

Let’s look at a simple example of compare and contrast essay. Let one of the subjects be oranges, and the other one be apples. Oranges have thick peel, originally from India, and are tropical fruit. These characteristics pertain only to oranges and should be in the part of the circle that does not overlap. For the same section on apples, we put thin peel, originated in Turkey or Kazakhstan, and moderate to subtropical. In the section that overlaps, let’s say that they are both fruit, can be juiced, and grow on trees. This simple, yet good example illustrates how the same concept can be applied to many other complicated topics with additional points of comparison and contrast.

This format of visual aid helps to organize similarities and differences and make them easier to perceive. Your diagram will give you a clear idea of the things you can write about.

Another good idea for brainstorming in preparation for your comparison contrast essay is to create a list with 2 columns, one for each subject, and compare the same characteristics for each of them simultaneously. This compare and contrast format will make writing your comparison contrast paper argument a breeze, as you will have your ideas ready and organized.

One mistake you should avoid is simply listing all of the differences or similarities for each subject. Sometimes students get too caught up in looking for similarities and differences that their compare and contrast essays end up sounding like grocery lists. Your essay should be based on analyzing the similarities and differences, analyzing your conclusions about the two subjects, and finding connections between them—while following a specific format.

Compare and Contrast Essay Structure and Outline

So, how do you structure this compare and contrast paper? Well, since compare and contrast essay examples rely heavily on factual analysis, there are two outline methods that can help you organize your facts. You can use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline.

While using the block structure of a compare and contrast essay, all the information is presented for the first subject, and its characteristics and specific details are explained. This concludes one block. The second block takes the same approach as the first for the second subject.

The point-by-point structure lists each similarity and difference simultaneously—making notes of both subjects. For example, you can list a characteristic specific to one subject, followed by its similarity or difference to the other subject.

Both formats have their pros and cons. The block method is clearly easier for a compare and contrast essay writer, as you simply point out all of the information about the two subjects, and basically leave it to the reader to do the comparison. The point-by-point format requires you to analyze the points yourself while making similarities and differences more explicit to the reader for them to be easier to understand. Here is a detailed structure of each type presented below.

Point-by-Point Method

• Introduce the topic;
• Specify your theme;
• Present your thesis - cover all areas of the essay in one sentence.

Example thesis: Cars and motorcycles make for excellent means of transportation, but a good choice depends on the person’s lifestyle, finances, and the city they live in.

Body Paragraph 1 - LIFESTYLE

• Topic Sentence: Motorcycles impact the owner’s lifestyle less than cars.
• Topic 1 - Motorcycles
• ~ Argument: Motorcycles are smaller and more comfortable to store.
• ~ Argument: Motorcycles are easy to learn and use.
• Topic 2 - Cars
• ~ Argument: Cars are a big deal - they are like a second home.
• ~ Argument: It takes time to learn to become a good driver.

Body Paragraph 2 - FINANCES

• Topic sentence: Cars are much more expensive than motorcycles
• ~ Argument: You can buy a good motorcycle for under 300$.
• ~ Argument: Fewer parts that are more accessible to fix.
• ~ Argument: Parts and service are expensive if something breaks.
• ~ Argument: Cars need more gas than motorcycles.

Body Paragraph 3 - CITY

• Topic sentence: Cars are a better option for bigger cities with wider roads.
• ~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than with cars.
• ~ Argument: Motorcycles work great in a city like Rome, where all the streets are narrow.
• ~ Argument: Big cities are easier and more comfortable to navigate by car.
• ~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside of the city is much easier.
• Sum up all you wrote in the article.

Block Method

• Thesis — cover all areas of the essay in one sentence

Body Paragraph 1

• Topic Sentence: Motorcycles are cheaper and easier to take care of than cars.
• Aspect 1 - Lifestyle
• Aspect 2 - Finances
• ~ Argument: Fewer parts, easier to fix.
• Aspect 3 - City
• ~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than cars.

Body Paragraph 2

• Topic sentence: Cars are more expensive but more comfortable for a big city and for travelling.
• ~ Argument: Cars are a big deal—like a second home.
• ~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside the city is much more comfortable.

Body Paragraph 3 ‍

Use the last paragraph to evaluate the comparisons and explain why they’re essential. Giving a lot of facts can be intense. To water it down, try to give the reader any real-life applications of these facts.

Depending on the structure selected, you can begin to create an outline for your essay. The typical comparison essay follows the format of having an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion — though, if you need to focus on each subject in more detailed ways, feel free to include an extra paragraph to cover all of the most important points.

To make your compare and contrast essay flow better, we recommend using special transition words and phrases. They will add variety and improve your paper overall.

For the section where you compare two subjects, you can include any of the following words: similarly, likewise, also, both, just like, similar to, the same as, alike, or to compare to. When contrasting two subjects, use: in contrast, in comparison, by comparison, on the other hand, while, whereas, but, to differ from, dissimilar to, or unlike.

Show Your Evidence

Arguments for any essay, including compare and contrast essays, need to be supported by sufficient evidence. Make good use of your personal experiences, books, scholarly articles, magazine and newspaper articles, movies, or anything that will make your argument sound credible. For example, in your essay, if you were to compare attending college on campus vs. distance-based learning, you could include your personal experiences of being a student, and how often students show up to class on a daily basis. You could also talk about your experience taking online classes, which makes your argument about online classes credible as well.

Helpful Final Tips

The biggest tip dissertation writing services can give you is to have the right attitude when writing a compare contrast essay, and actively engage the reader in the discussion. If you find it interesting, so will your reader! Here are some more compare and contrast essay tips that will help you to polish yours up:

• Compare and contrast essays need powerful transitions. Try learning more about writing transition sentences using the words we provided for you in the 'Compare and Contrast Structure and Outline' section.
• Always clarify the concepts you introduce in your essay. Always explain lesser known information—don’t assume the reader must already know it.
• Do not forget to proofread. Small mistakes, but in high quantities, can result in a low grade. Pay attention to your grammar and punctuation.
• Have a friend or family member take a look at your essay; they may notice things you have missed.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

Now that you know everything there is to know about compare and contrast essays, let’s take a look at some compare and contrast examples to get you started on your paper or get a hand from our essay helper .

Different countries across the world have diverse cultural practices, and this has an effect on work relationships and development. Geert Hofstede came up with a structured way of comparing cultural dimensions of different countries. The theory explains the impacts of a community’s culture on the values of the community members, and the way these values relate to their behaviors. He gives scores as a way to help distinguish people from different nations using the following dimensions: long-term orientation, individualism, power distance, indulgence, necessity avoidance, and masculinity. Let us examine comparisons between two countries: the United Kingdom and China — based on Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture.

Over the last two decades, the demand from consumers for organic foods has increased tremendously. In fact, the popularity of organic foods has exploded significantly with consumers, spending a considerably higher amount of money on them as compared to the amount spent on inorganic foods. The US market noted an increase in sales of more than 10% between 2014 and 2015 (Brown, n.p). The increase is in line with the views of many consumers that organic foods are safer, tastier, and healthier compared to the inorganic foods. Furthermore, considering the environmental effects of foods, organic foods present less risk of environmental pollution — compared to inorganic foods. By definition, organic foods are those that are grown without any artificial chemical treatment, or treatment by use of other substances that have been modified genetically, such as hormones and/or antibiotics (Brown, n.p).

Still feeling confused about the complexities of the compare and contrast essay? Feel free to contact our paper writing service to get a professional writing help.

Finding the Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For You

When choosing a topic for your comparison essay, remember that subjects cannot be drastically different, because there would be little to no points of comparison (similarities). The same goes for too many similarities, which will result in poor contrasts. For example, it is better to write about two composers, rather than a composer and a singer.

It is extremely important to choose a topic you are passionate about. You never want to come across something that seems dull and uninspiring for you. Here are some excellent ways to brainstorm for a topic from essay writer :

• Find categories: Choose a type (like animals, films or economics), and compare subjects within that category – wild animals to farm animals, Star Wars to Star Trek, private companies to public companies, etc.
• Random Surprising Fact: Dig for fun facts which could make great topics. Did you know that chickens can be traced back to dinosaurs?
• Movie vs. Book: Most of the time, the book is better than the movie — unless it’s Blade Runner or Lord of the Rings. If you’re a pop culture lover, compare movies vs. books, video games, comics, etc.

Use our rewrite essay service when you need help from professionals.

How to Choose a Great Compare and Contrast Topic

College students should consider providing themselves with a chance to use all topic examples. With enough revision, an advantage is gained. As it will be possible to compare arguments and contrast their aspects. Also, discuss numerous situations to get closer to the conclusion.

For example:

• Choose a topic from the field of your interests. Otherwise you risk failing your paper.
• It is a good idea to choose a topic based upon the class subject or specialist subject. (Unless the requirements say otherwise.)
• Analyze each argument carefully. Include every detail for each opposing idea. Without doing so, you can definitely lower grades.
• Write a conclusion that summarizes both arguments. It should allow readers to find the answer they’re looking for.
• It is up to you to determine which arguments are right and wrong in the final conclusion.
• Before approaching the final conclusion, it’s important to discuss each argument equally. It is a bad idea to be biased, as it can also lower grades.

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150 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics to Consider

Choosing a topic can be a challenging task, but there are plenty of options to consider. In the following sections, we have compiled a list of 150 compare and contrast essay topics to help you get started. These topics cover a wide range of subjects, from education and technology to history and politics. Whether you are a high school student or a college student, you are sure to find a topic that interests you. So, read on to discover some great compare and contrast essay ideas.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For College Students

When attending a college, at any time your professor can assign you the task of writing this form of an essay. Consider these topics for college students from our team to get the grades you deserve.

• Attending a College Course Vs. Distance-Based Learning.
• Writing a Research Paper Vs. Writing a Creative Writing Paper. What are the differences and similarities?
• The differences between a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree.
• The key aspects of the differences between the US and the UK education systems.
• Completing assignments at a library compared with doing so at home. Which is the most efficient?
• The similarities and differences in the behavior among married and unmarried couples.
• The similarities and differences between the EU (European Union) and ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)?
• The similarities and significant differences between American and Canadian English.
• Writing an Internship Report Vs. Writing a Research Paper
• The differences between US colleges and colleges in the EU?

Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Some topics for the compare and contrast essay format can be boring. To keep up motivation, doing a research , have a look at these topics. Maybe they can serve you as research paper help .

• Public Transport Vs. Driving A Car. Which is more efficient?
• Mandarin Vs. Cantonese: What are the differences between these Chinese languages?
• Sports Cars Vs. Luxurious Family Cars
• Wireless Technology Vs. Wired Devices
• Thai Food Vs. Filipino Cuisine
• What is the difference and similarities between a register office marriage and a traditional marriage?
• The 2000s Vs. The 2010s. What are the differences and what makes them similar?
• Abu Dhabi Vs. Dubai. What are the main factors involved in the differences?
• What are the differences between American and British culture?
• What does the New York Metro do differently to the London Underground?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students

When writing essays for high school, it is good to keep them informative. Have a look at these compare and contrast sample topics.

• Highschool Life Vs. College Life
• Paying College Fees Vs. Being Awarded a Scholarship
• All Night Study Sessions Vs. Late Night Parties
• Teenager Vs. Young Adult Relationships
• Being in a Relationship Vs. Being Single
• Male Vs. Female Behavior
• The similarities and differences between a high school diploma and a college degree
• The similarities and differences between Economics and Business Studies
• The benefits of having a part-time job, instead of a freelance job, in college
• High School Extra Curricular Activities Vs. Voluntarily Community Services

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Science

At some point, every science student will be assigned this type of essay. To keep things at flow, have a look at best compare and contrast essay example topics on science:

• Undiscovered Species on Earth Vs. Potential Life on Mars: What will we discover in the future?
• The benefits of Gasoline Powered Cars Vs. Electric Powered Cars
• The differences of the Milky Way Vs. Centaurus (Galaxies).
• Earthquakes Vs. Hurricanes: What should be prepared for the most?
• The differences between our moon and Mars’ moons.
• SpaceX Vs. NASA. What is done differently within these organizations?
• The differences and similarities between Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox’s theories on the cosmos. Do they agree or correspond with each other?
• Pregnancy Vs. Motherhood
• Jupiter Vs. Saturn
• Greenhouse Farming Vs. Polytunnel Farming

Sports & Leisure Topics

Studying Physical Education? Or a gym fanatic? Have a look at our compare and contrast essay topics for sports and leisure.

• The English Premier League Compared With The Bundesliga
• Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona
• Football Vs. Basketball
• Walking Vs. Eating Outside with Your Partner
• Jamaica Team Vs. United States Team: Main Factors and Differences
• Formula One Vs. Off-Road Racing
• Germany Team Vs. Brazil Team
• Morning Exercise Vs. Evening Exercise.
• Manning Team Vs. Brazil Team
• Swimming Vs. Cycling

Topics About Culture

Culture can have several meanings. If you’re a Religious Studies or Culture student, take a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics about culture.

• The fundamental similarities and differences between Pope Francis and Tawadros II of Alexandria
• Canadian Vs. Australian Religion
• The differences between Islamic and Christian Holidays
• The cultural similarities and differences between the Native Aboriginals and Caucasian Australians
• Native American Culture Vs. New England Culture
• The cultural differences and similarities between Italians and Sicilians
• In-depth: The origins of Buddhism and Hinduism
• In-depth: The origins of Christianity and Islam
• Greek Gods Vs. Hindu Gods
• The Bible: Old Testament Vs. New Testament

Unique Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

What about writing an essay which is out of the ordinary? Consider following these topics to write a compare and contrast essay on, that are unique.

• The reasons why some wealthy people pay extortionate amounts of money for gold-plated cell phones, rather than buying the normal phone.
• The differences between Lipton Tea and Ahmad Tea
• American Football Vs. British Football: What are their differences?
• The differences and similarities between France and Britain
• Fanta Vs. 7Up
• Traditional Helicopters Vs. Lifesize Drones
• The differences and similarities between Boston Dynamics and the fictional equivalent Skynet (From Terminator Movies).
• Socialism Vs. Capitalism: Which is better?
• Curved Screen TVs’ Vs. Regular Flat Screen TVs’: Are they really worth big bucks?
• Is it better to wear black or white at funerals?

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Sometimes, it may be a requirement to take it back a notch. Especially if you’re new to these style of writing. Consider having a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics that are pretty easy to start off.

• Is it a good idea to work on weekdays or weekends?
• Black of White Coffee
• Becoming a teacher or a doctor? Which career choice has more of an impact on society?
• Air Travel Vs. Sea Travel: Which is better?
• Rail Travel Vs. Road Travel: Which is more convenient?
• What makes Europe far greater than Africa? In terms of financial growth, regulations, public funds, policies etc…
• Eating fruit for breakfast Vs. cereals
• Staying Home to Read Vs. Traveling the World During Holidays. Which is more beneficial for personal growth?
• Japanese Vs. Brazilian Cuisine
• What makes ASEAN Nations more efficient than African Nations?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About TV Shows, Music and Movies

We all enjoy at least one of these things. If not, all of them. Why not have a go at writing a compare and contrast essay about what you have been recently watching or listening to?

• Breaking Bad Vs. Better Call Saul: Which is more commonly binge watched?
• The differences between Dance Music and Heavy Metal
• James Bond Vs. Johnny English
• Iron Man Vs. The Incredible Hulk: Who would win?
• What is done differently in modern movies, compared to old black and white movies?
• Dumber and Dumber 2 Vs. Ted: Which movie is funnier?
• Are Horror movies or Action Movies best suited to you?
• The differences and similarities between Mozart and Beethoven compositions.
• Hip Hop Vs. Traditional Music
• Classical Music Vs. Pop Music. Which genre helps people concentrate?

Topics About Art

Sometimes, art students are required to write this style of essay. Have a look at these compare and contrast essay topics about the arts of the centuries.

• The fundamental differences and similarities between paintings and sculptures
• The different styles of Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci.
• Viewing Original Art Compared With Digital Copies. How are these experiences different?
• 18th Century Paintings Vs. 21st Century Digitally Illustrated Images
• German Art Vs. American Art
• Modern Painting Vs. Modern Photography
• How can we compare modern graphic designers to 18th-century painters?
• Ancient Greek Art Vs. Ancient Egyptian Art
• Ancient Japanese Art Vs. Ancient Persian Art
• What 16th Century Painting Materials were used compared with the modern day?

Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Almost every student at any stage of academics is assigned this style of writing. If you’re lacking inspiration, consider looking at some of the best compare and contrast essay topics to get you on track with your writing.

• The United States and North Korea Governmental Conflict: What is the reason behind this phenomenon?
• In the Early Hours, Drinking Water is far healthier than consuming soda.
• The United States Vs. The People’s Republic of China: Which economy is the most efficient?
• Studying in Foreign Countries Vs. Studying In Your Hometown: Which is more of an advantage?
• Toast Vs. Cereal: Which is the most consumed in the morning?
• Sleeping Vs. Daydreaming: Which is the most commonly prefered? And amongst who?
• Learning French Vs. Chinese: Which is the most straightforward?
• Android Phones Vs. iPhones
• The Liberation of Slaves Vs. The Liberation of Women: Which is more remembered?
• The differences between the US Dollar and British Pound. What are their advantages? And How do they correspond with each other?

Easy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

In all types of academics, these essays occur. If you’re new to this style of writing, check our easy compare and contrast essay topics.

• The Third Reich Vs. North Korea
• Tea Vs. Coffee
• iPhone Vs. Samsung
• KFC Vs. Wendy’s
• Laurel or Yanny?
• Healthy Lifestyle Vs. Obese Lifestyle
• Forkes Vs. Sporks
• Rice Vs. Porridge
• Roast Dinner Vs. Chicken & Mushroom Pie
• What’s the difference between apples and oranges?

Psychology Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Deciding upon good compare and contrast essay topics for psychology assignments can be difficult. Consider referring to our list of 10 psychology compare and contrast essay topics to help get the deserved grades.

• What is a more severe eating order? Bulimia or Anorexia
• Modern Medicine Vs. Traditional Medicine for Treating Depression?
• Soft Drugs Vs. Hard Drugs. Which is more dangerous for people’s psychological well-being?
• How do the differences between Lust and Love have an effect on people’s mindsets?
• Ego Vs. Superego
• Parents Advice Vs. Peers Advice amongst children and teens.
• Strict Parenting Vs. Relaxed Parenting
• Mental Institutions Vs. Stress Clinics
• Bipolar Disorder Vs. Epilepsy
• How does child abuse affect victims in later life?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Sixth Graders

From time to time, your teacher will assign the task of writing a compare and contrast essay. It can be hard to choose a topic, especially for beginners. Check out our easy compare and contrast essay topics for sixth graders.

• Exam Preparation Vs. Homework Assignments
• Homeschooling Vs. Public Education
• High School Vs. Elementary School
• 5th Grade Vs. 6th Grade: What makes them different or the same?
• Are Moms’ or Dads’ more strict among children?
• Is it better to have strict parents or more open parents?
• Sandy Beaches Vs. Pebble Beaches: Which beaches are more popular?
• Is it a good idea to learn guitar or piano?
• Is it better to eat vegetable salads or pieces of fruit for lunch?
• 1st Grade Vs. 6th Grade

Funny Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Sometimes, it is good to have a laugh. As they always say : 'laughter is the best medicine'. Check out these funny compare and contrast essay topics for a little giggle when writing.

• What is the best way to waste your time? Watching Funny Animal Videos or Mr. Bean Clips?
• Are Pug Dogs or Maltese Dogs crazier?
• Pot Noodles Vs. McDonalds Meals.
• What is the difference between Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson?
• Mrs. Doubtfire Vs. Mrs. Brown. How are they similar?
• Which game is more addictive? Flappy Bird or Angry Birds?
• Big Shaq Vs. PSY
• Stewie Griffin Vs. Maggie Simpson
• Quarter Pounders Vs. Big Macs
• Mr. Bean Vs. Alan Harper

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In both IELTS Writing Task 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2, you often have to contrast and make comparisons between different things. For example, in Academic Task 1 you may have to compare the changes in 2 maps at different times. In Task 2 you may have to write about developments or compare 2 views.

Improve your vocabulary with this IELTS practice activity. You need to complete each sentence with the correct word from 3 choices. Type in the correct word – make sure you type them and spell them correctly!

Best of luck!

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Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

How to Write ‘Compare and Contrast’ Type of Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2?

In ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two. Therefore, it is important that you find out relevant points of similarities and differences of the two mentioned things after reading the question for IELTS Writing . Let’s look at an example:

Some people want to live in a house while others prefer living in an apartment.

Does living in a house bring more advantages than living in an apartment.

With this type of essay for  IELTS Writing , you have two points to be discussed as follows:

• Benefits of living in a house/apartment
• Issues of living in an house/apartment

You must discuss both of them by giving reasons and support them with examples. And at the end, mention which of the two is better and why. If you do not discuss any of the above two points in the essay, you will lose marks.

So, in this type of essay, you must explain both the points.

How to structure IELTS Writing asnwer?

The essay can be structured mainly in 4 paragraphs as follows:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: Benefits of living in a house/apartment

Paragraph 3: issues of living in a house/apartment, paragraph 4: conclusion.

Further structuring of the paragraphs can be done as follows:

a. Paragraph 1- Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase the Question

Sentence 2-Outline the sentence

b. Paragraph 2- Body Paragraph 1 (Apartment)

Sentence 1- State the benefit

Sentence 2- Explain how it brings this benefit

Sentence 4- Write an example

c. Paragraph 3 – Body Paragraph 2 (House)

Sentence 1- State the issue

Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue

Sentence 3- Write an example

d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion

Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure is approved by the IELTS examiners to help the students write in an effective and cohesive manner.

Vocabulary: 

Useful vocabulary for comparison points.

• to be the same as
• both… and…
• neither… nor…
• not only… but also…
• to be alike
• just like (+ noun)
• to be similar (to)
• similar to (+ noun)
• to compare (to/with)

Useful vocabulary for Contrasting points

• in contrast
• by comparison
• in comparison
• on the other hand
• to differ from
• to be dissimilar to
• to be different (from)
• to be unlike

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

There are many people who believe that living in a house is the best. However, some people disagree with this opinion and instead prefer to live in an apartment. This essay makes comparison of the two and chooses the most preferred option.

To begin with, living in a flat definitely brings several advantages to a resident. One of the most important reasons behind this is the huge convenience it offers. An apartment is a part of large building giving a feel of living in a small societal association which takes responsibility of any fix or repair or maintenance required.   For example, if one needs to repair the roof, the maintenance charges are borne by the landlord. Moreover, various facilities as well as amenities are available nearby including shopping mall, tuition centre, medical store, bus station and so on.

On the other hand, living in an owned house does not offer the facilities that one can avail while living in an apartment. One reason for this is that it is quite lonely to stay in a house which occupies a large land area bringing boredom and snatching the joy of living with so many people around. For example, it would be such a dull experience of sitting alone in the garden with no one around to share life experiences. In addition to this, maintenance and cleanliness of the house are borne by the owner and thus it is costly to live in a house.

Conclusively, living in an apartment is comparatively better than staying lonely in a house. Though a house provides a large spacious area to move around but living in an apartment enhances more social interaction and adds more excitement to life.

(283 words)

Write an essay with minimum 250 words. Use the above mentioned vocabulary. 1. Some people think that learning online is more efficient. However, according to some other people, studying from books is still the preferred method. Which is the better method of learning out of the two?

2. Distance education is gaining popularity day by day and more students are enrolling through distance mode than full-time course in colleges. Make comparison of distance education and full-time course to find which is better and why.

3. A growing number of people own personal vehicle as they find it a convenient mode of transport in comparison to public transport. Compare the public and private mode of transportation and state which is better out of the two.

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 33 - compare the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city to living in the country side, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some people think that cities are the best places to live. others prefer to live in a rural area. compare the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city to living in the countryside..

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How to Compare and Contrast in IELTS Speaking

In the IELTS speaking test, you may be asked to compare and contrast two things, places, groups or periods of time. This kind of question usually appears in part one and part three, especially the last part.  Generally, it requires you to describe the similarities and differences based on your prior knowledge. Let’s take a look at how to compare and contrast in IELTS speaking for success on this type of question.

Common Questions

Compare and contrast two things

• What are the differences between letters and emails?
• Do you prefer live in a house or an apartment?

Compare and contrast two places

• What are the differences between living in the city and the countryside?
• What are the differences between the south and the north in your country?

Compare and contrast two periods of time

• How are the houses today different from the ones in the past?
• What changes have you seen in the past few years in your town?                                              

Compare and contrast two groups of people

• Do men and women have the same attitudes to shopping?
• Do young people and old people like listening to the same kind of radio programs?

Tips for Comparing and Contrasting

Start with an Introduction Sentence

To begin your answer, you need an introduction sentence. If the question directly asks about the differences between two things (this kind of question usually begins with what and how), you can start the answer with There are quite a few/some/a lot of/a number of differences between …and… .

If the question is a yes or no question, you need to state your opinion first. For example, you may say Yes/No , I believe that they have a lot of similarities/differences . Check out our post on how to give opinions in IELTS speaking to learn more!

Use comparatives

Then you can list two or three details to explain more. The most common way is to use comparatives. You can either use as…as or than to compare and contrast two things.

An apartment building usually has more public amenities than a house such as gyms and conference facilities.

Sending letters is not as convenient as sending emails.  

You can also add adverbs such as much , quite , even , a lot , far , still and considerably before the than structure to strength the comparative.

A house has much more space than an apartment.

Use expressions

Compare and contrast expressions are great tools to structure your answer as well. Here are several useful expressions to contrast two things!

Different from

By/in contrast

Compared to

On the contrary

Different from women, men are more rational when purchasing a product.

If you want to describe the similarities between two things, you can use the following expressions.

Much the same

Just like the elders, young people also like listening to news radios because they want to know more about the current world.

Pay Attention to the Tense

If you are asked to compare and contrast the past and the present, always pay attention to the tense. Though the rules are easy to follow, some students forget to use the correct tense when they feel stressed.

Decades ago, only a small number of people had private cars in my town. However, the increasing number of cars causes a lot of traffic and environmental problems today.

Kuangyan creates IELTS blogs at Magoosh. She is passionate about language education and has a MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from New York University. Kuangyan has experience of teaching English both in China and in US. In her free time, she drinks mocha, does yoga, takes photos and travels to different places to explore the exciting world.

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Hướng dẫn viết dạng compare and contrast essay trong IELTS Writing

Compare and Contrast essay sample IELTS là dạng bài được quan tâm nhiều hơn trong thời gian gần đây. Hãy để DOL trang bị trước cho bạn  từ vựng, cấu trúc, và tư duy tiếp cận bài nhé.

1. Giới thiệu dạng bài Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Trong dạng compare and contrast, các giám khảo IELTS kỳ vọng bạn sẽ so sánh và chỉ ra các điểm đối lập của 2 sự vât/hiện tượng. Vì thế, trước khi đặt bút viết, hãy chắc rằng bạn đã điểm ra được 2 điều trên. Cùng xem ví dụ nhé:

Some people want to live in a house while others prefer living in an apartment.

Does living in a house bring more advantages than living in an apartment?

Với đề này, bạn cần đề cập tới những ý sau:

Lợi ích của việc sống trong nhà/căn hộ

Bất lợi/khó khăn của việc sống trong nhà/căn hộ

Lưu ý rằng bạn phải đề cập cả 2 khía cạnh được nêu và phải đưa ra lý do + ví dụ bổ trợ cho cả 2. Cuối bài, bạn cần chốt cái nào tốt hơn và giải thích tại sao. Nhớ là nếu quên không nói, hoặc không nói tới bất kỳ khía cạnh nào, bạn đều bị trừ điểm nha.

2. Hướng dẫn cách làm Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Sau đây là các bước để tiếp cận 1 đề bài dạng compare and contrast:

2.1. Xác định đúng đề và yếu tố cần compare contrast

Đây là bước tối quan trọng để không lạc đề.

2.2. So sánh 2 đối tượng

Liệt kê các điểm giống và khác của 2 yếu tố. Bạn có thể sử dụng sơ đồ Venn để liệt kê nhé. Hình minh họa như dưới:

2.3 Chọn lọc kỹ lưỡng

Sau khi list ra các điểm giống và khác của 2 yếu tố, bạn cần tiến hành chọn ý để trình bày. Hãy chọn ý bạn có thể phát triển tốt nhất (nhiều từ vựng và ý để giải thích).

2.4 Xác định cấu trúc bài

Với dạng bài compare and contrast, ta có 2 cấu trúc chính được sử dụng là point-by-point organization và block organization. Trong đó hiểu đơn giản thì:

Point-by-point: Phân tích từng luận điểm theo đoạn

Block: Phân tích từng đối tượng theo đoạn

Với Point-by-point, bạn sẽ phân tích

Body 1: Benefits of living in an apartment/a house

Body 2: Issues of living in an apartment/a house

Với Block, bạn sẽ tiếp cận:

Body 1: Benefits and Issues of living in a house

Body 2: Benefits and Issues of living in an apartment

2.5 Lập dàn ý

Tương tự các loại bài khác của writing task 2, cấu trúc của dạng compare and contrast cũng tương tự gồm 3 phần chính, phân cụ thể như sau:

Introduction- Giới thiệu- Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: Paraphrase đề

Sentence 2: Thesis statement

Body 1-  Đối tượng/Luận điểm 1- Paragraph 2

Sentence 1: Lợi ích/vấn đề

Sentence 2: Giải thích

Sentence 3: Ví dụ

Body 1- Đối tượng/Luận điểm 2- Paragraph 3

Conclusion- Kết luận - Paragraph 4

Paraphrase answers

Bốn đoạn văn là đủ để giải thích quan điểm của bạn trong dạng bài luận này. Thí sinh có thể sử dụng bất kỳ cấu trúc nào khác mà họ cảm thấy thoải mái nhưng cấu trúc này đã được các giám khảo IELTS chấp thuận để giúp học viên viết một cách hiệu quả và có tính liên kết. https://ieltsonlinetests.com/writing-tips/how-write-compare-and-contrast-type-essay-ielts-writing-task-2

3. Cấu trúc và từ vựng thường dùng

Chú ý là khi sử dụng compare/contrast words, bạn không được nhầm khi đưa ra ý sau những từ này. Ví dụ:”A is smart and well-behaved. In contrast, B is strong and tall.”

=> 2 câu này không hề contrast, viết vậy là sai nha.

4. Bài mẫu Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Today, a home may be the ideal dwelling for certain individuals, while an apartment may be more suitable for others. Personally, owning a property is preferable to renting one as renting does not ensure stability, but purchasing a home might increase one's equity over time.

On the one hand, the most significant disadvantage of home ownership is its expensive initial expenditures. In most places around the world, the closing costs on a mortgage may amount to as much as fifty percent of the purchase price. These expenditures include fees such as property taxes, mortgage insurance, and house inspection, all of which are prepaid mortgage interest. Buying a home in this manner might leave a family at a financial disadvantage for decades. Comparatively, renting an apartment enables more financial flexibility. One is not required to be concerned over repair and maintenance charges as it is the landlord's obligation. Other expenditures, such as house insurance, fire insurance, and property taxes, are neither the tenant's responsibility. Individuals who choose to rent can save and budget appropriately and may subsequently invest their resources elsewhere.

On the other hand, even though renting a property boosts one's financial independence, it does not guarantee stability; thus, I believe that having total home ownership delivers more substantial advantages. Firstly, renters have no ownership rights. There is always a risk of a 30-day eviction notice issued by the landlord. Moreover, rent prices are likely to increase following each lease review, demonstrating the market's volatility. Consequently, renters are compelled to maintain steady employment or risk being evicted. In contrast, investing in residential assets benefit homeowners rather than property management firms or landlords. Also, while interest rates might fluctuate based on the borrower's credit score, they are often consistent. Ultimately, as individuals make mortgage payments, they accumulate equity, a secure long-term investment. In conclusion, living in a home is preferable to living in an apartment since renting a house does not guarantee stability, whereas acquiring a house may increase one's long-term equity.

Certain individuals nowadays might regard an apartment as their optimal lifestyle, while others may favor a home. Personally, renting an apartment is more practical than owning a house as the latter involves more financial risks, whereas the former provides greater financial freedom.

On the one hand, there are positive aspects to being a homeowner. At the time of purchase, home-buyers can choose between an existing framework or their proposal, in which they may customize each room according to their preferences and desires. Hence, private outdoor amenities like courtyards and swimming pools are standard house features. In contrast, apartment tenants are not legally permitted to modify the building's appearance or surroundings. Outdoor spaces in residential blocks are thus often shared with other neighbors. As demonstrated, losing privacy in such public areas would be a major inconvenience.

On the other hand, I genuinely think these private pools and gardens are excessively luxurious, and renting a residence is still more cost-effective overall. Purchasing a house is, firstly, a substantial investment, and larger purchases involve more risks. If the market collapsed, home values would plunge, and mass foreclosures would inevitably occur. Consequently, many families would be forced to sell their houses at a massive loss, and many more would be unable to fulfill their mortgage payments. In comparison, problems involved with renting are often insignificant since tenants typically only, at most, forfeit the one-month security deposit, which is a risk that the average individual can afford to overcome. Renting might also offer the financial flexibility to invest in several different areas, thereby drastically reducing the likelihood of over-commitment and its potential consequences.

In conclusion, from my perspective, acquiring a house involves more financial risks, while renting a property provides higher liquidity. Thus it is certainly the more advisable approach.

Question: There have been many advances in technology over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised the way we communicate with people who are far away. Compare and contrast methods of communication used today with those which were used in the past

In the last fifty years, there have been several technological developments. These have transformed the method by which we connect with distant individuals. Although oral and written means of communication practiced now and in the past are somewhat similar, both have been vastly enhanced in terms of reliability and speed.

On the one hand, oral and written forms of long-distance verbal information transfer have followed a similar pattern during the last several decades. In the 1970s, the most prevalent communication method was verbal communication through mobile phones. During this period, phone models were already entirely portable. However, they had a colossal appearance and barely fit in a shirt pocket. Furthermore, technology at the time was relatively limited since radio waves often interfered with voice intelligibility. Likewise, written communication, a formal mode of communication, has been equally dominant throughout the years. This method is the slower, more reliable communication since it is preserved as a reference or legal record. Because of this sophisticated nature, various forms of written communication, such as letters, are favored in the business world.

On the other hand, these communication channels have expanded their capacities, mainly their speed and quality. Smartphones have replaced the mobile phones of yesteryear with elegant designs that are readily accessible. Smartphones now provide phone conversations with videos with exceptional visual and audio quality. With the push of a button, anyone around the globe can engage in a phone or video call. Just as spoken communication has evolved, letter writing in the contemporary era has also significantly improved. Email, or electronic mail, may now be transmitted instantaneously to many recipients, with the ability to attach several pages of documents and high-resolution images. As demonstrated, technological advancements in the current era have indeed redefined our communication methods.

In conclusion, although mobile phones and letters used in the past and present are comparable, their effectiveness and efficiency have vastly increased.

DOL hy vọng là bài viết trên về compare and contrast essay sample IELTS đã giúp bạn biết nhiều hơn về dạng bài này để có thể áp dụng tự học hiệu quả. 

Nếu có bất kỳ thắc mắc gì về IELTS Speaking hay các kỹ năng, đừng ngần ngại mà liên hệ DOL qua các kênh sau bạn nhé: website , Facebook .

Chúc bạn thành công.

Câu hỏi thường gặp:

Những chủ đề thường gặp trong dạng bài Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Friends Vs. Family

Childhood friendship Vs. High school friendship

Bikes vs. cars

Study abroad Vs. Studying in your country

Living on your own Vs. At home with my parents

Facebook vs. Twitter

In-house employees Vs. Freelance contractors

Những điều cần lưu ý khi làm bài dạng Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Trước khi viết, cần xác định chính xác 2 đối tượng cần so sánh, đối chiếu

Nên liệt kê những điểm tương đồng và khác biệt của 2 đối tượng ra giấy

Xác định rõ đâu là những ý chính cần được nhấn mạnh trong bài viết

Liệt kê ra 1 số luận điểm chứng minh cho những ý chính

Đảm bảo cấu trúc bài viết đầy đủ các phần mở bài, thân bài, kết bài

Đừng quên chú ý đến dấu câu

Hãy kiểm tra lại bài khi đã làm xong

Một số từ vựng thường dùng trong dạng bài Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

Từ vựng Compare: Similarly; Likewise; also; both... and…; not only... but also…; neither... nor…; just like (+ noun); similar to (+ noun); to be similar (to); to be the same as; to be alike; to compare (to/with).

Từ vựng Contrast: However; In contrast; In comparison; By comparison; On the other hand; while; whereas; but; to differ from; to be different (from); to be dissimilar to; to be unlike.

Gợi ý 1 số đề ôn luyện dạng bài Compare and Contrast IELTS Writing

There have been many advances in technology over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised the way we communicate with people who are far away. Compare and contrast methods of communication used today with those which were used in the past.

It is often cited that “Not everything that is learned is contained in books”. According to many, we learn most of the things from our own experience while others believe that books are our main source of knowledge. Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

Bài viết khác

Lexical resource là gì cách cải thiện lexical resource trong ielts writing.

Lexical Resource là 1 trong 4 tiêu chí quan trọng để đánh giá và chấm điểm bài thi IELTS Writing của bạn. Cụ thể, tiêu chí này tập trung đánh giá vào sự đa dạng (range) và tính chính xác (accuracy) của từ vựng mà bạn sử dụng trong bài thi.  Tiêu chí Lexical Resource chiếm tới 25% tổng điểm IELTS Writing. Tuy nhiên, nhiều bạn vẫn mắc phải những lỗi sai cơ bản như sử dụng quá nhiều từ vựng quen thuộc, dùng từ không đúng ngữ cảnh, dùng sai hình thức hoặc sai từ loại. Những lỗi sai này khiến bài viết của bạn trở nên kém trôi chảy, thiếu mạch lạc và chuyên nghiệp, từ đó ảnh hưởng đến tổng điểm bài thi.  Trong bài viết này, DOL sẽ cung cấp cho bạn những cách cải thiện band điểm ở tiêu chí Lexical Resource, bao gồm.  • Sử dụng từ đồng nghĩa (Synonyms) • Sử dụng cụm từ (Collocation) • Sử dụng đúng hình thức từ (Word Formation) • Sử dụng từ vựng ít phổ biến Bạn có muốn bài IELTS Writing của mình trở nên trôi chảy, mạch lạc và dùng từ vựng hiệu quả hơn cùng? Cùng DOL khám phá những cách đạt được điều đó trong bài viết này nhé! 

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