IELTS Vocabulary
Topic vocabulary, collocations, linking words and the language of graphs: the words that raise your IELTS band score.
Vocabulary counts in every part of IELTS. In Writing and Speaking it is one of the four marking criteria, called Lexical Resource. In Reading and Listening, the questions use different words from the text, so you need to recognise synonyms and paraphrases quickly.
What the Examiner Looks For
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing score and a quarter of your Speaking score.
✓Four Signs of a Higher Band
- Range You use a variety of words and do not repeat the same ones.
- Precision You choose the exact word: "a sharp rise", not "a big change".
- Collocation Words go together naturally: "heavy traffic", "raise awareness".
- Accuracy Spelling and word forms are correct: "economic growth", not "economical grow".
Topic Vocabulary
Eight topics that come up again and again in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.
Environment
Governments should invest in renewable energy to cut carbon emissions.
Education
Vocational training gives young people practical skills for the job market.
Technology
Automation may replace some jobs but create new ones in other areas.
Health
A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of many illnesses.
Work
Remote working can improve work-life balance for many employees.
Cities & Transport
Better public transport would reduce traffic congestion in urban areas.
Society & Globalisation
An ageing population puts pressure on health and pension systems.
Crime & Law
Some argue that longer prison sentences do not deter crime.
Describing Graphs and Trends
The core language for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.
| Movement | Verbs | Nouns | How much / how fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | rise, increase, grow, climb | a rise, an increase, growth | sharply, steeply, significantly |
| Down | fall, decrease, decline, drop | a fall, a decrease, a decline | slightly, gradually, steadily |
| No change | remain stable, level off, stay at | a plateau | at around, at roughly |
| Up and down | fluctuate | a fluctuation | between … and … |
| Highest / lowest | peak at, reach a low of | a peak, a low point | in (year), at (figure) |
Example: "Sales rose sharply from 2010 to 2015, peaked at 40,000, and then levelled off."
Linking Words
Linking words help your ideas flow, but use them accurately. Too many is as bad as too few.
| Purpose | Useful words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Adding | moreover, in addition, furthermore, not only … but also |
| Contrasting | however, whereas, on the other hand, although, despite |
| Cause | because of, due to, as a result of, owing to |
| Effect | therefore, as a result, consequently, this means that |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as, a case in point is |
| Opinion | in my view, I would argue that, it seems to me that |
| Concluding | in conclusion, overall, to sum up |
Paraphrasing
Reading and Listening questions rarely repeat the words of the text. Train your eye for the same idea in different words.
| The question says… | The text says… |
|---|---|
| The number of tourists went up. | Visitor numbers increased. |
| Young people | teenagers, the younger generation, people under 25 |
| It is very expensive. | The cost is prohibitive. |
| Most experts agree. | There is a broad consensus among specialists. |
| The plan was not successful. | The scheme failed to achieve its aims. |
False Friends for German Speakers
These words look like German words but mean something different. Examiners notice them.
| English word | Means | Not to be confused with |
|---|---|---|
| become | werden | bekommen = get, receive |
| actual / actually | tatsächlich | aktuell = current, currently |
| eventually | schließlich | eventuell = possibly, perhaps |
| sensible | vernünftig | sensibel = sensitive |
| consequent | daraus folgend | konsequent = consistent |
| handy | praktisch | Handy = mobile phone |
| chef | Koch / Köchin | Chef = boss, manager |
Quick Vocabulary Quiz
Choose the best word for each gap, then check your answers.
Questions 1–8
Choose the word that fits best.
Show the answer key
- heavy: "heavy traffic" is the natural collocation.
- raise: you raise something; prices rise by themselves.
- sharply: a jump from 4% to 9% is large and fast.
- make: we "make a decision" in British English.
- However: the second sentence contrasts with the first.
- currently: "aktuell" = currently; "actually" = tatsächlich.
- sedentary: a lifestyle with a lot of sitting.
- levelled off: the figure stopped changing ("peaked" would need a later fall).
How to Build Your IELTS Vocabulary
A few minutes every day works better than long lists the week before the exam.
4Four Habits
- Notebook by topic Collect phrases under the eight topics above, with one example sentence each.
- Read like an examiner In every article, underline three useful collocations.
- Use it aloud Answer a Speaking question each day using two new phrases.
- Review Go back to your notebook every few days until the words feel natural.
The right word, used naturally.
A wide range of words helps, but precise, natural phrases help more. Learn words in context, use them, and review them often.
Collect. Use. Review. Repeat.
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