scientific consensus
The generally accepted position among scientists in a field, based on a large body of evidence.
readingwriting-task-2speakingScience and researchEnvironmentHealth
IELTS use
Useful for discussing scientific debates, policy decisions, and the reliability of research in Writing Task 2 and Speaking.
Examples
- Despite occasional disagreements, there is a scientific consensus that human activity is accelerating climate change.
- The report highlighted that the scientific consensus on vaccination has strengthened over the past decade.
- In the IELTS reading passage, the author questioned whether the scientific consensus had been reached through rigorous evidence.
- Politicians often cite scientific consensus to justify new environmental regulations.
Collocations
- reach a scientific consensus
- Scientists have yet to reach a scientific consensus on the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners.
- scientific consensus on
- There is a broad scientific consensus on the benefits of early childhood education.
- challenge the scientific consensus
- A minority of researchers continue to challenge the scientific consensus regarding climate change.
- overwhelming scientific consensus
- The overwhelming scientific consensus was that the new drug was safe for public use.
- against scientific consensus
- Some policy decisions appear to go against scientific consensus.
Word family
- Noun
- science
- Adjective
- scientific
- Adverb
- scientifically
Paraphrases
- general agreement among scientists: A more explanatory paraphrase useful in Writing Task 2.
- prevailing scientific view: Focuses on the majority opinion among experts.
- widely accepted scientific position: Emphasizes the broad acceptance within the scientific community.
Common mistakes
- Scientists have consensus about climate change. to Scientists have reached a consensus on climate change.. We usually say 'reach a consensus' or 'there is a consensus'.
- The scientific consensus are clear. to The scientific consensus is clear.. Consensus is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
- Scientific consensus is the majority opinion of scientists. to Scientific consensus refers to the general agreement among scientists.. Avoid defining a term with the same term; use clearer phrasing.
- There is a scientific consensus that smoking is bad. to There is a scientific consensus that smoking is harmful.. Use precise academic vocabulary rather than informal 'bad'.