IELTS Grammar: using 'with' instead of 'and'

Here's a structure that my students found interesting:

A) The IELTS exam is popular, and over 1 million people take it every year.
B) The IELTS exam is popular, with over 1 million people taking it every year.

A) The cost of living is high, and prices are going up every year.
B) The cost of living is high, with prices going up every year.

Notice the use of the 'ing' verb form after 'with'. Notice also that there is no auxiliary verb 'are' in the second example. To practise this type of sentence, try making an example of your own!