Writing

Active Or Passive Voice In IELTS Writing And Academic Writing?

November 1, 2025

In academic writing, especially in the Writing section of the IELTS exam, choosing between the active voice and the passive voice can have a big impact on the quality of your writing. Recently, an article on academic writing has received many different opinions from readers, especially from diverse fields of study. Today, we will explore in more detail how to use these two voices, focusing on academic writing in general and IELTS Writing in particular. From the perspective of someone working in the medical field with quantitative research, we see that the language should prioritize clarity and transparency, making the writing easier for readers to understand.

Changing trends in academic writing

In the past, many academic writing guides encouraged the use of passive voice to create a sense of objectivity. For example, instead of “We conducted the survey,” people wrote “The survey was conducted.” This sounds formal, but can sometimes make writing dry and difficult to follow, as the reader has to guess who is performing the action.

Today, trends have changed. Modern guides, such as the AMA Manual of Style (11th edition), recommend using the active voice in most cases, unless the subject is unimportant. In IELTS Writing Task 1 (graph report) or Task 2 (essay), the active voice helps to keep your writing concise, clear and to express your personal opinion more strongly. This can help you score higher in the Coherence and Cohesion criteria, as your sentences are coherent and easy to understand.

Reasons for choosing active or passive voice

The active voice makes writing lively, concise and shows responsibility. An active sentence is usually shorter than a passive one, making it easier for the reader to grasp the information. For example, in IELTS Task 2: “Governments should invest more in education” sounds more direct and convincing than “More investment in education should be made by governments”.

However, the passive voice is still useful when focusing on the result or action, without emphasizing the subject. In academic writing, such as describing a process: “The data was analyzed using statistical software” – here the focus is on the method, not who did it.

Real life examples in IELTS and academic writing

Active voice: “Researchers discovered a new vaccine.” – Clearly who did what, suitable for the Introduction or Discussion section of an IELTS essay.
Passive voice: “A new vaccine was discovered.” – Focuses on the result, useful in the Methods section or when the subject is unknown.

In IELTS Task 1, the passive voice is often used to describe a graph: “The population was increased by 20%.” But combining it with the active voice will make the writing more balanced: “Experts predict that the population will increase by 20%.”

Major journals like the BMJ encourage: “Write in the active voice where possible.” This makes academic writing more transparent and engaging, especially in IELTS where examiners assess your ability to express ideas clearly.

Practical advice for you

Here are some simple tips to apply:

In IELTS Task 2 (essay): Use the active voice to make a strong argument, for example: “I believe that technology improves our lives.”
In Task 1 (report): Be flexible, use passive for process: “The graph shows that sales were risen sharply.” But add active for analysis: “Companies will face challenges in the future.”
In general academic writing: In the introduction and conclusion, the active voice is preferred to express the point of view. In the method, the passive voice helps to maintain objectivity.

Remember, flexibility is key – combine both for balanced and convincing writing.

Conclude

Choosing the active or passive voice is not just a matter of grammar, but also helps to communicate ideas more effectively in IELTS Writing and academic writing. In the modern academic age, the active voice brings clarity, confidence and transparency, helping your writing stand out. The ultimate goal is to make the content understandable and convincing, whether it is an IELTS essay or an academic report.

Question for you:

Which voice do you use more in English writing? Share your experience!
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