IELTS Writing Vocabulary Improvement

IELTS Writing Vocabulary Improvement

• Word Choice & Usage: Focus on accurate, appropriate word use, not just memorizing high-level vocabulary. Real band 7-9 essays utilize a mix of vocabulary levels (A1-C2), with a majority of words being A1-B2.
• Overuse of High-Level Words is Ineffective: Avoid cramming essays with C1/C2 words. It's more beneficial to effectively use a range of vocabulary levels. Experts like Cambridge examiners, George Orwell, and financial news writers primarily use A1-B2 level words.

High-Level Words (C1 & C2) List

• Viable: Able to work or succeed (synonyms: feasible, workable, possible). Common collocations: viable option, viable alternative.

• Schooling: Education received at school (synonyms: education, learning, training). Common collocations: primary schooling, secondary schooling.

• Renowned: Famous or respected (synonyms: well-known, famous, celebrated). Common collocations: renowned expert, renowned for.

• Prime: Best or most important (synonyms: best, top, main). Common collocation: prime example, but can be used with other words like disadvantage/advantage/solution/reason.

• Prone: Likely to do or experience something (synonyms: likely, inclined, susceptible). Common collocation: prone to errors, but can be applied to many things people are likely to experience.

• Officials: People in authority or government (synonyms: authorities, leaders, administrators). Common collocations: government officials, public officials.

• Output: Amount produced (synonyms: production, yield). Common collocations: industrial output, total output.

• Intellect: Ability to think and understand (synonym: intelligence). Common collocations: his/her/child's intellect.

• Incentives: Things that encourage (synonyms: motivation, reward, encouragement). Common collocations: provide incentives, offer incentives.

• Irrespective: Without considering something (synonyms: regardless, despite). Common collocation: irrespective of.

• Fundamental: Important (synonyms: important, essential, primary). Common collocations: fundamental principle, fundamental change.

• Disclose: Make something known (synonyms: reveal, show, tell). Common collocation: disclose information.

• Detrimental: Causing harm (synonyms: harmful, damaging, bad). Common collocation: detrimental effect.

• Adolescence: Young people (ages 13-19) (synonym: teenager). Use sparingly and precisely.

• Accountable: Responsible (synonyms: responsible, answerable, liable). Common collocation: accountable to.

• Address: Fix an issue (synonyms: tackle, deal with, handle, fix). Common collocations: address a problem/issue.

• Affluence: Having a lot of money (synonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous). Common collocations: affluent society, affluent country.

• Allocate: Distribute resources/duties (synonyms: assign, distribute, allot). Common collocation: allocate resources.

• Awareness: Knowledge about something (synonyms: knowledge, understanding). Common collocations: raise awareness, awareness campaigns.

• Bullying: Repeated aggressive behavior (synonyms: harassment, intimidation, abuse). Common collocations: school bullying, cyberbullying.

• Burden: Heavy load/responsibility (synonyms: load, responsibility). Common collocations: heavy burden, financial burden.

• Capabilities: Ability to do something (synonyms: abilities, skills, talents). Common collocations: their/its capabilities.

• Commonly: Frequently/usually (synonyms: often, usually, regularly).

• Consumption: Act of using something (synonyms: use, usage). Common collocations: energy consumption, human consumption.

• Competence: Ability to do something well (synonyms: ability, skill, proficiency). Common collocations: professional competence, competence in.

• Corruption: Dishonest or illegal behavior (synonyms: dishonesty, fraud, bribery). Common collocation: political corruption.

• Downsides/Drawbacks: Negative aspects of something (synonyms: disadvantages, negatives). Common collocations: potential downsides, major drawbacks.

• Deficiency: Lack of something (synonyms: lack, shortage, insufficiency). Common collocation: vitamin deficiency, deficiency in.

• Embrace: Accept enthusiastically (synonyms: accept, welcome, adopt). Common collocation: embrace change/new things.

• Enhance: Improve (synonyms: improve, boost, increase). Common collocations: enhance performance.

• Emissions: Gases or substances released (synonyms: output). Common collocations: carbon emissions, reduce emissions.

• Establishments: Businesses/organizations (synonyms: institutions, organizations, firms). Common collocations: educational establishments.

• Expenditure: Money spent (synonyms: spending, costs, outlay). Common collocations: government expenditure, public expenditure.

• Exceed: Go beyond a limit (synonyms: surpass, go beyond). Common collocations: exceed expectations.

• Harassment: Aggressive pressure (synonyms: bullying, intimidation, abuse). Common collocations: workplace harassment, sexual harassment.

• Hence: For this reason (synonyms: therefore, thus, so).

• Informative: Providing useful information (synonyms: educational, enlightening, instructive).

• Infrastructure: Basic systems (synonyms: system). Common collocations: transport infrastructure, infrastructure projects.

• Insights: Understanding/knowledge (synonyms: understandings, perceptions, intuition). Common collocations: valuable insights.

• Insufficient: Not enough (synonyms: inadequate, lacking, deficient). Common collocation: insufficient funds/resources

• Innate: Existing from birth (synonyms: inborn, inherent, natural). Common collocation: innate ability.

• Inappropriate: Not suitable (synonyms: unsuitable, improper, unfit). Common collocation: inappropriate behavior.

• Merit: Quality of being good (synonyms: worth, value, excellence). Common collocations: academic merit, on merit.

• Mediocre: Not very good; average (synonyms: average, ordinary, so-so).

• Notable: Worthy of attention (synonyms: remarkable, significant, noteworthy). Common collocations: notable achievement, notable exception.

• Numerous: Many in number (synonyms: many, several, various). Common collocation: numerous times.

• Peers: People of same age/status (synonyms: equals, colleagues, contemporaries). Common collocations: peer pressure, their peers.

• Phenomenon: Something that happens/exists (synonyms: event, occurrence, happening). Common collocations: natural phenomenon, social phenomenon.

• Proportion: Part of a whole (synonyms: part, portion, fraction). Common collocations: large proportion, small proportion.

• Revenue: Income (synonyms: income, earnings, profits). Common collocations: annual revenue, revenue from.

• Resent: Feel angry/bitter (synonyms: begrudge, disliked, annoyed).

• Sector: Part of a larger group (synonyms: divisions, segments, areas). Common collocations: public sector, private sector, voluntary sector.

• Workforce: All people who work (synonyms: staff, employees, labor force). Common collocation: skilled workforce.

• Gifted: Having special talent (synonyms: talented, skilled, exceptional). Common collocation: gifted child/children.

• Nutritional: Relating to nutrients (synonyms: dietary, nutritious, nourishing). Common collocations: nutritional value, nutritional deficiencies

• Thrive: Grow or develop well (synonyms: flourish, prosper, succeed). Common collocation: thrive in [an environment].

• Unsafe: Not safe or dangerous (synonyms: dangerous, risky, hazardous). Common collocations: unsafe conditions.

• Unwind: Relax (synonyms: relax, rest, de-stress) Common collocation: unwind after [activity].

IELTS Essay Writing Tips

• Accuracy: Use high-level vocabulary appropriately and accurately.
• Appropriate Word Choice: Avoid using overly complex words if simpler words serve the purpose better.
• Focus on accuracy and quality: A good range across vocabulary levels will support your argument. Extensive use of complex, advanced vocabulary without careful thought to appropriate application might harm your score. Avoid using words in a way that doesn't make sense.