“Soared” is not a more impressive replacement for every use of “rose.” It describes a strong increase. If the data shows only a small change, the stronger word makes the report less accurate.
The trend-vocabulary and grammar chapters in IELTS Academic Writing Secrets for Band 9 distinguish direction, degree and grammatical form. This exercise focuses on making those choices work together.
Read the scale before choosing an adjective
Check the starting value, final value, unit and period. A chart's visual slope can look dramatic because of how its axis is drawn. Describe the values rather than the emotional impression of the picture.
Original comparison
In a fictional monthly series, registrations move from 400 to 408. “Registrations rose slightly” fits that small relative change more naturally than “registrations skyrocketed.”
A different series rising from 400 to 800 supports “registrations doubled.” The calculation gives a precise description without an exaggerated adjective.
Match the word form to the sentence
Use an adverb to modify a verb: “rose slightly.” Use an adjective to modify a noun: “a slight rise.” Changing the structure means checking the grammar, even when the underlying meaning stays the same.
Repair the word form
Draft: “There was a gradually increase.”
Revision: “There was a gradual increase.”
Alternative: “The figure increased gradually.”
Both revisions are grammatical. Whether “gradual” is accurate depends on the pattern across the period.
Separate size from consistency
A series can rise a great deal but do so unevenly. “Steadily” describes a relatively consistent progression; two endpoints alone may not show that progression. Avoid describing the route between values when intermediate data is absent.
Review a paragraph and circle every intensity word. Keep it only if the data supports it. Clear, precise language is more useful than a list of striking synonyms.
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Source: 6 IELTS writing book.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.