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雅思写作低分原因分析

时间：2023-11-15 08:01:34 其他范文收藏本文下载本文

雅思写作低分原因分析（共7篇）由网友“深止”投稿提供，以下是小编为大家汇总后的雅思写作低分原因分析，希望对大家有所帮助。

雅思写作低分原因分析

篇1：雅思写作低分原因分析

第一个原因，也是很多同学常犯的错误——不重视雅思小作文备考。为什么会出现这样的情况?主要原因有两点：一，自以为雅思小作文很容易，不用备考;二，认为雅思小作文所占分值低，不值得花时间备考。其实雅思小作文难度并不低，尤其是对于一些刚接触雅思考试的同学来说，小作文的写作形式比较新颖，文章虽然短小，但却要会分析图表内容，会正确表达，所以自认为简单不用备考，到了考场上肯定要吃亏。雅思写作分值比重小作文占比三分之一，大作文占比三分之二，总的来看小作文所占比重确实要远低于大作文，但是分值虽然低却也不能忽略小作文备考的重要性。如果我们平时不注重练习，到了考场无法在20分钟内完成小作文，势必会影响大作文的写作时间和质量，另外，小作文虽然分值低却也占据了三分之一，如果忽略了备考拿不到高分，对于雅思写作总成绩影响也很大。

雅思写作低分原因二错用词汇导致表达不清

雅思写作用一些高端词汇能提升文章的质量，词汇的多样化使用也会为文章增色不少，但是这些都要建立在能够正确使用词汇的前提之下，如果大家对词汇用法还没掌握，就胡乱运用到作文中，不仅会导致文章表达不清，还会直接导致作文低分。建议大家在考试中使用熟练掌握用法的词汇，想要提升文章词汇多样性，建议在平时多积累写作词汇并背记用法。

雅思写作低分原因三套用万能模板

有的同学因为备考时间不够，急急忙忙地在网上搜万能模板套用，背会以后在考试中直接套用;有的同学是觉得自己写作水平不行，不如直接套用模板写出来的作文质量更高，所以在考试中选择直接套用找来的模板……虽然套用模板写作非常轻松，但想要拿到高分也很困难。一般情况下，在雅思写作考试中直接套用模板的同学很难拿到6分以上的写作成绩，所以小站君建议大家，平时注意提升写作能力，尽量避免在考试中套用模板。

雅思写作低分原因四写完不检查拼写错误太多

同学们在备考雅思写作的时候有没有养成写完检查的好习惯?其实有很多同学雅思写作低分原因就是因为单词拼写错误太多，而这就是源于没有养成写完检查的好习惯。雅思写作考试一个小时，大家要把写作时间控制在55-57分钟之间，留出3-5分钟检查两篇做作文的拼写错误，这样可以避免因拼写错误太多而扣分。

其实雅思写作低分原因除了上文中列举的四个之外还有很多，比如审题不清，写作太慢等等，上文中四个低分原因是相对来说更需要大家注意的，建议大家在雅思写作备考中养成好习惯，重视小作文备考，掌握词汇正确用法，不要套用万能模板，写完养成及时检查的好习惯。

雅思小作文写作中趋势图的写作结构

雅思小作文写作中趋势图的写作结构为你带来在雅思A类的小作文当中，一种最为常见的图表——趋势图，也就是我们所说的曲线图的写作结构和审题的注意点。曲线图是图表当中用来表示数据变化的最常用的图表。对于这种以数据变化为描写点的图表，我们应该怎样在作文中将数据的变化清楚地表达出来呢?请看下文。

雅思图表作文通常涉及几种题型，即曲线图、柱状图、饼状图、文字图表以及流程图。在这几种题型中，以曲线图考的频率为最高。加之曲线图可以理解为任何其他一种图形的原型，对于曲线图写作的把握对于考生来说尤为重要。曲线图式主要以横轴、纵轴为主要指标(一般横轴表示时间，纵轴表示数值)，以曲线的形式来表达图中所描述对象(一般不止一个)在不同的时间所对应指标的变化。

描写图表信息中，第一个步骤是审题。审题过程中，重要的是要看清楚题目要求我们所描写的主题对象是什么，即subject，描述的时间范围(对应文章时态的选择)以及描述的信息单位，即time and unit。这些信息的捕捉的正确与否直接影响到文章是否切题。在审题结束，开始写作时所要遵循的基本原则是根据曲线数量来决定段落数量。

主体段落描述过程中要注意几个方面：

一、是否有具体数值的描述。小作文所要达到的最终目的应为读文章的人看完文章后可以了解大致图形的概况，所以如果没了具体的数值，描述也就失去了意义。另外，描述数值不可忽视数值的单位。

二、描述图形所运用的词汇。曲线图的走势一般分为上升、下降、波动、持平四中，而每种走势都可以用不同的词汇进行表达。如：描述上升可以用increase, go up, climb, 下降可用decrease, go down, drop，持平的表达可以用level out, remain stable等等。对于同一走势的不同程度，我们也应用相应的词汇加以区别。如：急剧下降可说成decrease drastically，缓慢上升increase gradually。对于考生来说，运用多种词汇来表达曲线的走势对于小作文拿高分意义相当重大。

三、文章中出现的句式。在小作文评分中，句子结构是重要考察项。中国考生往往因为母语的影响，对运用不同句式作文掌握还有所欠缺。特别是在描写曲线时，很多曲线在不同阶段有相似的走势，在描述的过程中，更加应该注意尽量避免同种句式频繁出现。如要表示男性人均收入在1月到3月中上升很快，我们可以说：Average income for male workers in Australia increased greatly from January to March in . 也可以用名词来表示：There was a great increase for average income for male workers from January to March in 2001。类似的表达还有很多，考生们可以在备考的过程中加以总结归纳。

主体段落写完，最后就剩下总结工作了。文章的结尾段一般的不会有很多新信息的出现，主要目的是将主体段落中所描述的信息加以总结，也可以将不同的描述对象的趋势进行大致的比较。

描述雅思考试中的趋势图(曲线图)的4种方法

篇2：雅思写作低分原因分析

以时间为主的主语

4.时间+witness +趋势+in 对象

以上就是雅思小作文写作中趋势图的写作结构的内容。我们可以看出在小作文的写作中，审题是一个非常重要的步骤。在审题时，我们要审什么?一个是图表类型，一个是图表的极值和走势趋向。对于趋势图这种图形，我们更应该重视数据的趋势，在写作当中多描述数据的走向和到达的极值。如果是几组数据进行对比，我们还应该注意描述它们的不同。

雅思培训类写作之书信写作格式和审题解说

一般说来雅思G类小作文task1要求烤鸭们写一封不少于150词的信件。信件的类型共有9类，下面为大家一一分析。

9大类信件：投诉信、道歉信、感谢信、求职信、咨询信、建议信、求助信、邀请信、挂失信。建议写作时间20分钟。雅思书信备考三大方面：熟悉书信格式、分辨书信类别、熟记书信常用表达。

一、雅思书信写作4大块雅思书信写作可分为4部分：salutation称呼、body主体、closing结束语、signature署名。

二、G类task1的评分标准在答题纸的下方考官阅卷栏可以看到四个符号:TA, CC, LR, GRA，分别代表四大评分标准。 Task Achievement 考生是否清晰表达了信件的目的，所有要点是否全部涵盖。 Coherence and cohesion考生对信息和观点是否进行了很好地组织、表达和衔接。 Lexical Resource 使用词汇的范围、准确性以及恰当性。 Grammatical Range and Accuracy 所用语法结构的范围、准确性和恰当性。是否可以准确恰当使用多种语法结构和句式，使表达多样化。

写作注意事项：

1、审题把握把握好G类书信语气的第一步，就是要弄清写信的要求和背景。雅思书信写作题目就是由背景信息和写作任务两个部分构成的，我们可以将其分成私人信件和事务性信件两种类型。写给亲朋好友的信可以归为前者，如友情信，由于对方是挚友，写信的语气可以比较轻松和随意，在说明详细内容时，措辞不必讲究但要礼貌。

2、信头称呼所谓称呼是指写信人对收信人的称呼用语，一般用“dear”开头，在称呼后可以用逗号(英式)或是冒号“美式”。

(1)如果是写给亲戚或是关系密切的朋友，我们习惯于在“Dear”后加上对其的称呼或是名字(given name)。

(2)如果是写给一家公司或者不知道具体职衔的人，可以用Dear Sir or Madam;

(3)如果知道具体职衔但不知其姓氏，可以以其职位称呼，如Dear Chief Accountant;

(4)如果写信人知道收信人的姓名和性别，但关系不够密切，只属于一般往来，Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss Wang会显得友好却不随便;

(5)另外，也可以用学位及职称加上姓氏或者全名，如Dear Dr. Will Smith, Dear Prof. (Professor) Jane Austin。

3、语气斟酌正文作为整个信件内容最重要的部分，所选用的词汇和句式无不体现着写信人的态度和语气，应该根据不同的信件内容进行挑选和斟酌。

以上就是雅思培训类写作之书信写作格式和审题解说的内容。书信类的写作是英文写作中一种正式的，书面的写作形式。遵循很多约定俗成的格式和规定。在这一方面，我们需要去模仿范文的格式。且在表达语气的这一方面，英语也有很多固定的句型可以为我们所用。我们只需要遵照英语中的写信规则，加入礼貌性的表达语气斟酌的句型，就能写出一篇书信类的作文。

雅思写作词汇怎么才能提升?你需要掌握这2点

1. 雅思写作词汇量有限，只会重复使用简单的词汇

考生的词汇量不多，在复习过程中又不看优秀范文，或者即使看了范文，将之与自己写的文章对照后，也不做任何词汇积累工作。如果作文中涉及“污染”这个词的使用，绝大部分考生都选择用pollution 这个词，并且在行文过程中不停地重复这个词。这样重复使用一个词导致的结果就是作文词汇得分只能达到5分。

2. 有一定的写作词汇量，但是不会运用，浪费了词汇储备

有些考生复习时会很注意积累范文中的用词和表达，但总是不得其法，背下来一堆“高大上”但却不知道如何使用的词。在考场上，这类考生往往有一种“茶壶里煮饺子——肚子里有货倒不出”的感觉，即使背了很多词汇，在考场上也发挥不出来。

例如，虽然考生在考试前记住了facilitate (to make it easier for a process or activity to happen)这个词，但在考场上想表达“计算机可以帮助我们更好地学习语言”的时候，却仍然写成了“Computers make it easier for us to learn another language ”，而不是“Computers can be used to facilitate language learning ”。那么，对于这类考生来说，复习时所做的词汇积累就毫无意义可言了。

3. 写作用词不准确

有些考生很注重积累词汇，但在写作时却不分语境地随意使用。其结果是，虽然用了“高大上”的词汇，却因为用词不准确，仍不能得到自己满意的分数。

例如有些考生在词典中查到单词endorse 的中文解释有“赞同，同意”一项，于是决定把作文中的agree全改成endorse。殊不知，这个endorse在《朗文当代英语词典》中的英文定义是“to express formal support or approval for someone or something”，这意味着endorse表示“同意”时多用于正式场合，并且很多时候是有一定身份的人才可以使用的，例如：“The Prime Minister is unlikely to endorse this view. ”因此，考生在作文中直接把这个词当做“同意”来使用是不准确的。

接下来，将从雅思写作的词汇评分标准入手，帮助考生们明确评分标准的要求，同时提出解决上述三个问题的方法。

雅思写作中词汇评分标准的要求

雅思词汇评分标准中已经明确地阐述了不同分数档对考生的词汇要求，下面笔者以5 分、6 分和7 分的评分标准为例，为考生进行分析讲解。

雅思写作5分：uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task; may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

雅思写作6分：uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task; attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy; makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

雅思写作7分：uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision; uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation; may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and word formation

从这三个分数档的要求描述中可以看出：

如果考生想达到5 分，只需具有有限的词汇量(limited range of vocabulary) ，能够完成作文就好;

而如果考生想达到6 分，则需要有足够的词汇量(adequate range of vocabulary)，并使用不常见词汇(less common vocabulary) ;

7 分的要求更高，要求考生有丰富的词汇量(sufficient range of vocabulary) ，在词汇使用方面体现出灵活性(flexibility) 和准确性(precision) ，在使用不常见词汇的同时也能对语体(style) 和搭配(collocation) 有一定了解。

下面对以上评分标准中提到的关键词做详细解析，希望能帮考生明确备考方向。

1. 词汇量(range of vocabulary)

对于词汇量的要求，5 分的评分标准中用的形容词是limited ( 有限的)。什么样的情况属于词汇量有限呢?举例来说，如果要描述这样一个事实：“越来越多的人购买了越来越多的车辆，造成了越来越严重的空气污染。”很多考生多半会写成：“More and more people are buying more and more cars, which causes more and more serious air pollution.”这个英语句子的意思表达得很清楚，可在词汇上只能拿到5 分。因为在表示“越来越多”这个概念的时候，more and more这个词组被重复了三遍，这表现了考生在词汇储备方面的匮乏。

如果考生想得到6 分及以上的分数，就要学会用a/an growing/increasing number of 、increasingly来替换more and more，即把本句改成：“Agrowing number of people are buying more and more cars,which causes increasingly serious air pollution. ”对于每个常见含义，笔者建议考生至少要掌握三种不同的英文表达方式。

此外，在作文中，考官也会看重考生对不同话题相关词汇量的掌握情况，以此作为评分的一种依据。比如说，对于犯罪的话题，criminal ( 罪犯)这个词是考生在写作时必然会用上的。除了可以使用lawbreaker 、offender这样的同义转换词外，如果考生在考试中能使用一些表示具体犯了某种罪的罪犯的名词，例如thief ( 小偷)、juvenile delinquent(少年犯)以及serial killer (连环杀手)，也是自身具有充足词汇量的有力证明。

2.不常见词汇(less common vocabulary)

什么是不常见词汇?有很多考生认为不常见词汇就是大词、难词，于是费尽了心思去搜集。其实，所谓的不常见词汇，是指那些考生在写作文时往往用不到，但一看范文或官方样文就认识的词。

如果考生观察《剑桥雅思考试全真试题集(3~9) 》中所提供的官方样文的话，就会发现样文里几乎没有大词、难词。相反，官方样文的用词几乎都是四、六级考查范围内的词汇。比如，在上文中笔者曾经提到，一旦说到“污染”这个词，很多考生的第一反应就是用pollution ，而contamination这个词其实就是六级词汇中要求考生掌握的词，它完全可以替换pollution 。再比如，表示“破坏环境”这个含义时，大部分考生写出的表达是damage environment，而“破坏”这个词可以替换为六级词汇中的deteriorate。所以，考生只要把大学四、六级考查的词汇掌握好就行，不需要特意去寻找其他的词汇资源。

3.词汇运用的灵活性(flexibility)

关于写作词汇运用的灵活性，涉及以下两个方面。

(1)利用同义词或同义的概念替换词以避免同一词汇在文章中重复出现。这里利用同义词是指如果考生在作文中两次提到了相同的概念，那么考生可以分别用两个不同的词来表示。例如，在作文中考生可以分别用important和significant来表示“重要的”以避免重复。而同义的概念替换词是指两个可能并非完全同义，但在一定情境下可以相互替换的词汇。例如，activity ( 活动) 和competition ( 竞争) 的意思并不完全相同，但在谈到关于“比赛”这个概念时，这两个词都是可以使用的。例如，一场篮球赛是一场竞争(competition)，也是一种活动(activity) 。

(2)通过使用“词性不同但词义相同的词汇”来避免重复。例如，在文章中要表达“日本的石油消耗量居全世界首位，而美国排第二”这个含义时，可以用“Japan consumes the largest amount of oil in the world, while consumption in the US ranks second place ”来体现词汇使用的灵活性。其中，句中的consume和consumption 词性不同，但词义相同。

4.词汇运用的准确性(precision)

顾名思义，准确性就是指单词使用的准确程度。在积累词汇的过程中，考生会背很多同义或可表示相似意义的词汇，但有些词汇即使意思相近，在用法上也有很大的区别。例如，在前文提到了endorse这个词的使用，如果不分场合地用它来代替agree，就会造成表达不当。再如，描述一个人的眼睛大可以用big，虽然big非常常见，但big eyes 搭配起来没有问题。可是如果用enormous (extremely large in size or amount) 来形容眼睛的大小，就不恰当了。

所以，考生在平时记忆词汇时要多注意区分词汇使用的语境，从而确保词汇使用的准确性。

5. 词汇，语体及搭配(style and collocation)

Style是指语体的风格。雅思考试中的写作测试是一个偏向于正式文体的语言测试，所以考生在行文的过程中不应出现过于口语化的内容，也不能用缩略语的形式。例如“I am gonna ... ”或“I’d like to ... ”这种表达都不应在雅思写作中出现，而应该用“I will …”或“I tend to … ”这样的表达来替代。评分标准中要求的搭配(collocation)的英文定义是“the way in which some words are often used together, or a particular combination of words ”，这要求考生在写作时要注意词语的固定搭配。例如，表示“学习知识”应该用acquire knowledge ，而不是learn knowledge;表示“犯罪”应该用commit a crime，而不是do a crime。这需要考生在平时多看范文，注意多多积累固定搭配，以提高自己在雅思词汇方面的得分。

解决雅思写作词汇积累和使用难题

事实上，考生在知道了词汇评分标准的要求后，再遇到问题时就不难解决了。下面笔者就根据词汇的评分标准，给出解决本文开头提到的三个问题的方法。

1. 积累丰富多样化的雅思写作词语

为了避免在写作时重复使用有限词汇，考生在看范文时应对范文中意义相似或相同的词进行积累和背诵。例如，在《剑桥雅思考试全真试题集6 》Test 2 的官方样文中，表示某人观点的时候，分别用了find 、feel 、think等词汇表示“认为”的含义，考生就可以将其归纳总结，并在表达观点时使用，以确保自己作文中的词汇表达具有多样性。

篇3：雅思写作低分原因解析

雅思写作低分原因二错用词汇导致表达不清

雅思写作低分原因三套用万能模板

雅思写作低分原因四写完不检查拼写错误太多

篇4：雅思写作低分原因解析

Write about the following topic:

Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of them in private situations.

Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people?

Model Answer:

Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to be entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous people in magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include stories like these which are neither informative nor useful.

In my opinion, this type of gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several reasons. Firstly, for example, the fact that Princess Diana is going out with a sportsman is not important news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about Princess Diana it should be about her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition, journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumours. One should be able to rely on newspapers for the actual truth.

Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. But I feel it is more acceptable for them to contain some features about famous personalities. In addition to being popular reading, these stories often benefit the stars by giving free publicity to them, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe that magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract people to buy the magazine. Sensational stories, such as these, cause great unhappiness to the people concerned.

In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some articles on people's private lives.

雅思写作

篇5：雅思写作低分原因解析

Many people believe that television programs are of no value for children.

Do you agree? Why or why not?

Model Answer:

Televisual media has become a pervasive force in the lives of families around the world today. Yet, a central question remains regarding whether watching television is harmful or beneficial for children. An analysis of this question reveals that television programs present three major concerns in the case of children, including depictions of violence, the use of profane language, and the representation of poor moral role models.

Television programs that portray violence are a paramount concern for parents nowadays. Recent research has shown that children may commit acts of violence because they wish to emulate the behavior that they see on television. This is especially true when violent acts are committed by well-known action “heroes.” In addition, television programs show cartoon figures, as well as actors, committing violent acts. Using comic situations to depict violent themes causes further problems with the way in which young people view violence.

Television programs that contain profane or disrespectful language also worry parents with young children. Because censorship laws have relaxed over the past few decades, it has become very common for television programs of each and every kind to show characters expressing impolite, rude, and insulting utterances to one another. Bearing resemblance to the case of portrayals of violence, children unfortunately often try to imitate these actions they watch on their television screens.

Finally, some parents are upset about the moral behavior depicted on television. As they struggle to teach their children moral and ethical values, parents might despair about the lack of morals and ethics represented in some of the so-called role models on television. For instance, certain characters not only have no remorse for their immoral actions, but also frequently go unpunished by larger society.

Because of these factors, many parents believe that television programs send their youth the wrong kinds of messages. The emulation of this poor behavior by their children is something they wish to avoid at all costs, and they have accordingly decided to ban television in their households for these reasons.

篇6：雅思阅读低分原因分析

雅思阅读低分原因分析 3大结论让人信服

雅思阅读低分原因之一、不了解学术阅读，阅读方法不科学

剑桥官方很明确地在雅思网站上说明：雅思阅读考的是学术场景下的阅读，而这种阅读方式是中国英语教学没有强调和专门训练过的。

所以，这些同学不知道什么叫做Skimming for gist(快速浏览把握文章主旨)和Scan for details(快速扫描特定细节)的阅读方式;不明白怎样去区分事实信息和主观论点;更不知道怎样去对文章去进行结构扫描，了解文章线索和脉络(Frame work of the Text, Contextual Clues, Coherence and Cohesion)。

这些阅读技能和策略(Reading Strategies)的缺乏导致他们阅读的时候不分主次，不会灵活调整阅读速度，只看见个别细节而不能把握它们之间的逻辑关系。所以他们在阅读里只能解出那些针对个别细节的小题目，对阅读技能要求比较高的题型，比博彩通如List of Headings(段标题，考察文章线索结构和把握段落章主题的能力)和True / False /NotGiven题(考察观点与事实、主观与客观的区别以及作者态度等)，就明显力不从心。

根据我当时的统计，他们在这些题目上的正确率不足50%。在最近的雅思阅读里，这两种题型加起来超过了总题量的一半，这样的正确率当然没法得到好分数。

雅思阅读低分原因之二、偏重解题技巧，忽视阅读实力

因为着急尽快出国留学，所以这些同学往往是在已经拿到Conditionaloffer的情况准备应考，并必须在Deadline之前提交合格的雅思成绩。这样的学习计划使他们往往只在考试前去“抱佛脚”，听说有什么“阅读秘笈”、“9分方案”就趋之若骛。

这些技巧一学就会，一开始在他们还不熟悉雅思的情况下也显得非常有效——做第一张卷子得4分，了解技巧后再做马上就升到5分。实际上并不是这些阅读技巧有多少神奇之处，只是由陌生到熟悉以后自然的提高，然而同学们还是对此深信不疑。

但是雅思阅读毕竟是现在所有出国英语考试中阅读单项最难的一个，文章最长、题型最多、难度最大，对于阅读技能的考察非常全面深入。

迷信解题技巧而忽视实力的后果就像Castle in the air，吹得越神的技巧最后也让人摔得越惨。我在阅读单项上考过9——绝不是全凭技巧。所以我在课上从不鼓吹说9分靠万能技巧;相反，我还经常提醒同学：技巧有局限，9分靠实力。

雅思阅读低分原因之三、以考试代替学习，没有积累

Deadline的压力导致这些同学仓促考试、匆忙准备，结果就是第一次考试大都没过关。第一次失利后，Deadline的压力又迫使他们马上去报三个月后的考试。

因此，学习计划完全是考试型的，而没有真正积累型的学习。把上次已经证明失败的做法简单重复一遍而没有总结经验教训，也没有提高和改进，这又有什么意义呢?

阅读是最需要积累的一项语言能力，词汇、句法乃至常见文章写法、思路，没有一段时间循序渐进的积累和能力的提升，阅读的能力——Competence就不会有实质的提高。

只凭技巧(Skills)没有实力(Competence)是不可能有长久的效果的。事实也证明：在技巧发挥到了极致，他们的分数上升也就到了头：长期徘徊在6分以下，就是因为他们的阅读实力还没有达到相应水准的缘故。

雅思阅读素材积累：The magic of diasporas

Immigrant networks are a rare bright spark in the world economy. Rich countries should welcome them

THIS is not a good time to be foreign. Anti-immigrant parties are gaining ground in Europe. Britain has been fretting this week over lapses in its border controls. In America Barack Obama has failed to deliver the immigration reform he promised , and Republican presidential candidates would rather electrify the border fence with Mexico than educate the children of illegal aliens. America educates foreign scientists in its universities and then expels them, a policy the mayor of New York calls “national suicide”.

This illiberal turn in attitudes to migration is no surprise. It is the result of cyclical economic gloom combined with a secular rise in pressure on rich countries' borders. But governments now weighing up whether or not to try to slam the door should consider another factor: the growing economic importance of diasporas, and the contribution they can make to a country's economic growth.

Old networks, new communications

Diaspora networks—of Huguenots, Scots, Jews and many others—have always been a potent economic force, but the cheapness and ease of modern travel has made them larger and more numerous than ever before. There are now 215m first-generation migrants around the world: that's 3% of the world's population. If they were a nation, it would be a little larger than Brazil. There are more Chinese people living outside China than there are French people in France. Some 22m Indians are scattered all over the globe. Small concentrations of ethnic and linguistic groups have always been found in surprising places—Lebanese in west Africa, Japanese in Brazil and Welsh in Patagonia, for instance—but they have been joined by newer ones, such as west Africans in southern China.

These networks of kinship and language make it easier to do business across borders. They speed the flow of information: a Chinese trader in Indonesia who spots a gap in the market for cheap umbrellas will alert his cousin in Shenzhen who knows someone who runs an umbrella factory. Kinship ties foster trust, so they can seal the deal and get the umbrellas to Jakarta before the rainy season ends. Trust matters, especially in emerging markets where the rule of law is weak. So does a knowledge of the local culture. That is why so much foreign direct investment in China still passes through the Chinese diaspora. And modern communications make these networks an even more powerful tool of business.

Diasporas also help spread ideas. Many of the emerging world's brightest minds are educated at Western universities. An increasing number go home, taking with them both knowledge and contacts. Indian computer scientists in Bangalore bounce ideas constantly off their Indian friends in Silicon Valley. China's technology industry is dominated by “sea turtles” (Chinese who have lived abroad and returned).

Diasporas spread money, too. Migrants into rich countries not only send cash to their families; they also help companies in their host country operate in their home country. A Harvard Business School study shows that American companies that employ lots of ethnic Chinese people find it much easier to set up in China without a joint venture with a local firm.

Such arguments are unlikely to make much headway against hostility towards immigrants in rich countries. Fury against foreigners is usually based on two (mutually incompatible) notions: that because so many migrants claim welfare they are a drain on the public purse; and that because they are prepared to work harder for less pay they will depress the wages of those at the bottom of the pile.

The first is usually not true (in Britain, for instance, immigrants claim benefits less than indigenous people do), and the second is hard to establish either way. Some studies do indeed suggest that competition from unskilled immigrants depresses the wages of unskilled locals. But others find this effect to be small or non-existent.

Nor is it possible to establish the impact of migration on overall growth. The sums are simply too difficult. Yet there are good reasons for believing that it is likely to be positive. Migrants tend to be hard-working and innovative. That spurs productivity and company formation. A recent study carried out by Duke University showed that, while immigrants make up an eighth of America's population, they founded a quarter of the country's technology and engineering firms. And, by linking the West with emerging markets, diasporas help rich countries to plug into fast-growing economies.

Rich countries are thus likely to benefit from looser immigration policy; and fears that poor countries will suffer as a result of a “brain drain” are overblown. The prospect of working abroad spurs more people to acquire valuable skills, and not all subsequently emigrate. Skilled migrants send money home, and they often return to set up new businesses. One study found that unless they lose more than 20% of their university graduates, the brain drain makes poor countries richer.

Indian takeaways

Government as well as business gains from the spread of ideas through diasporas. Foreign-educated Indians, including the prime minister, Manmohan Singh (Oxford and Cambridge) and his sidekick Montek Ahluwalia (Oxford), played a big role in bringing economic reform to India in the early 1990s. Some 500,000 Chinese people have studied abroad and returned, mostly in the past decade; they dominate the think-tanks that advise the government, and are moving up the ranks of the Communist Party. Cheng Li of the Brookings Institution, an American think-tank, predicts that they will be 15-17% of its Central Committee next year, up from 6% in . Few sea turtles call openly for democracy. But they have seen how it works in practice, and they know that many countries that practise it are richer, cleaner and more stable than China.

As for the old world, its desire to close its borders is understandable but dangerous. Migration brings youth to ageing countries, and allows ideas to circulate in millions of mobile minds. That is good both for those who arrive with suitcases and dreams and for those who should welcome them.

雅思阅读低分原因分析