下面這兩段寫的是同一個觀點——一個會被打 Band 6，一個會到 Band 7。差別不是詞彙，不是結構——是條件句。
Band 6: If people drive less, pollution is lower. This is good for cities. Governments ban cars. Then air is cleaner.
Band 7: If governments were to impose stricter vehicle restrictions, urban air quality would improve markedly. Had such measures been introduced a decade ago, the cumulative health savings would already exceed the cost of implementation.
Band 7 的秘密武器：條件句（Conditionals）。它讓你跳出「描述現實」，進入「假設並推論」——這正是 academic essay 的標準語氣。
為什麼條件句 = Band 7 的鑰匙
Task 2 不是要你「報告事實」——是要你分析可能性、預測後果、反思過去。這三件事全部需要條件句：
| Task 2 任務 | 需要的條件句型 | |-------------------|---------------------| | 預測未來後果 | First conditional | | 提出假設性方案 | Second conditional | | 反思過去錯誤 | Third conditional | | 跨時間推論 | Mixed conditional |
不會條件句 = 只能停在「現在」= Band 6 上限。
四型 + 混合型完整表
零型（Zero Conditional）—— 事實、通則
If + 現在簡單, 現在簡單If water reaches 100°C, it boils. If governments subsidise renewables, private investment follows.
用途：不變的科學事實、一般規律。Task 1 流程圖時也常用。
第一型（First Conditional）—— 未來的可能事件
If + 現在簡單, will + 原形If governments act now, emissions will fall within a decade. If more young people move abroad, Taiwan will face a demographic crisis.
用途：Task 2 提解方時必備——「如果做 X，就會 Y」。
第二型（Second Conditional）—— 現在／未來的假設
If + 過去簡單, would + 原形If there were no internet, daily life would be dramatically different. If university were free, participation rates would rise substantially.
用途：假設性情境。Task 2 最高頻、最加分的條件句——因為 IELTS 題目經常問「如果...會怎樣？」
第三型（Third Conditional）—— 過去的假設
If + had + 過去分詞, would have + 過去分詞If the policy had been enforced in 2015, the crisis would have been avoided. If the government had invested earlier, the situation would have been far less severe.
用途：反思過去決策——Band 7+ essay 裡常用來檢討為什麼現在問題嚴重。
混合型（Mixed Conditional）—— Band 8 的進階招
If + had + 過去分詞 (過去), would + 原形 (現在)If I had saved money when I was young, I would be richer today. If policymakers had acted in the 1990s, we would not be in this crisis now.
用途：連結過去原因與現在結果。出現一次——Examiner 立刻知道你到 Band 8。
每型在 Task 2 的使用時機
第一型 → 討論可行方案
If governments invest more in public transport, fewer people will rely on private cars.
第二型 → 假設極端情境
If social media did not exist, political polarisation would likely be less acute.
第三型 → 批評過去決策
If regulators had imposed stricter oversight, the financial crisis would not have spread so widely.
混合型 → 連結過去與現在
If developed nations had transitioned to renewables in the 1990s, the climate would already be stabilising.
10 個 Task 2 plug-and-play 模板
背熟這十個——任何 Task 2 題目都能直接套。
| # | 情境 | 模板 | |---|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | 提出政策預測 | If governments act decisively, the trend will reverse within a decade. | | 2 | 警告不作為的後果 | Unless action is taken, the problem will worsen considerably. | | 3 | 假設反事實情境 | Were it not for X, Y would be far more prevalent. | | 4 | 假設性支持 | If X were properly funded, outcomes would improve substantially. | | 5 | 假設性反對 | Even if X were introduced, the fundamental problem would remain. | | 6 | 過去檢討 | If the issue had been addressed earlier, current costs would be lower. | | 7 | 歷史反事實 | Had the policy been enforced from the outset, the outcome would have been different. | | 8 | 混合型推論 | If regulators had acted decades ago, we would not face this crisis today. | | 9 | 條件式讓步 | Provided certain safeguards are put in place, the approach could succeed. | |10 | 溫和的第一型 | Should governments introduce stricter rules, compliance will follow naturally. |
注意：同一篇 essay 用 2-3 個條件句就夠——不是愈多愈好。多樣性比「很多」重要。
常見錯誤
錯誤 1：if 子句裡用 will
❌ If governments will act, emissions will fall. ✓ If governments act, emissions will fall.
規則：if 子句永遠不用 will。主句才用 will。
錯誤 2：Second / Third 時態搞混
❌ If the policy was enforced last year, the crisis would not have happened.（混 2/3） ✓ If the policy had been enforced last year, the crisis would not have happened.（全第三型）
規則：第三型的 if 子句一律用 had + 過去分詞，主句一律用 would have + 過去分詞。
錯誤 3：would 跟 will 混用
❌ If there were no internet, people will communicate differently. ✓ If there were no internet, people would communicate differently.
規則：第二型的主句永遠用 would，不用 will。
錯誤 4：把條件句當一般句型亂用
每段塞一個條件句——硬。只在討論假設、預測、反思時用。描述現實用直陳句即可。
Band 6 vs Band 7 同觀點對照
觀點：Online learning 有助於教育平等。
Band 6
Online learning helps poor students. They can learn at home. They do not need to travel. It is cheaper. More students can get education. This is good for society.
六個直陳句，零條件句——描述現實，沒有推論。
Band 7
Online learning has the potential to narrow the educational divide. If universities were to offer their core courses freely online, students from disadvantaged backgrounds would gain access to teaching that was previously reserved for the privileged. Had such platforms existed a generation ago, the current attainment gap would almost certainly be smaller than it is today. Even so, access alone is insufficient: unless these platforms are actively supported by mentoring and pastoral care, many learners will drop out long before completion.
四句裡用了三個條件句（第二型、混合型、第一型變體 unless）。同樣的觀點，立刻變 Band 7。
下一步練習
寫一篇 Task 2 為題：Some believe governments should provide free university education for all qualified students. To what extent do you agree?
任務：寫 280 字。刻意在 §2 跟 §3 各塞一個條件句（建議第二型），在 §4 結論塞一個第三型或混合型。寫完圈出所有條件句——確認是 3 個、時態正確。
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