Vocabulary for IELTS: With the IELTS preparation season on, students give their maximum effort to be ready for the test so they can finally land their dream college abroad. While you guys are working hard, how could we sit doing nothing? We at Admissify took it upon ourselves to help you guys with one of the most important aspects of an IELTS exam, IELTS vocabulary. Students often struggle with IELTS vocabulary as it is a vast thing to cover and there is only so much you can study, but don’t worry, we got you. Let’s work on your IELTS vocabulary together.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a widely accepted standardized exam created to evaluate non-native speakers’ English language competence. The listening, reading, writing, and speaking components make up its four primary divisions. IELTS is used for several things, including immigration, employment, and admittance to universities in English-speaking nations. Each segment of the exam is graded on a scale of 1 to 9, and an overall band score is computed as the average. The test assesses a variety of linguistic abilities, including speaking fluency, writing proficiency, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. IELTS is available in two versions: Academic (for use in academic settings) and General Training (for use in immigration and other settings).
Sections of IELTS: Vocabulary for IELTS
There are various aspects of an IELTS test that you need to be accustomed to and take into account while preparing so that you do well in them and having a good IELTS vocabulary can help.
| Language Skill | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Evaluation of comprehension in spoken English with exposure to different accents and settings in audio recordings. | Requires a good vocabulary to understand a wide range of expressions. |
| Reading | Comprehension of written passages containing difficult vocabulary, specialized terminology, idiomatic phrases, and colloquial language. | Optimal understanding is dependent on a large vocabulary. |
| Writing (Tasks 1 and 2) | Task 1 (Academic): Summarizing data effectively. Task 2: Writing an essay expressing views succinctly and effectively. | A good vocabulary is essential for clear and concise expression in both tasks. |
| Speaking (Parts 1, 2, and 3) | Part 1: Answering questions fluidly on various subjects. Part 2: Expounding on given themes. Part 3: Communicating successfully. | An extensive vocabulary is crucial for effective communication in all three parts. |
All IELTS exam parts benefit from having a strong vocabulary since it helps you communicate and grasp your ideas clearly, which enhances your performance.
Therefore, working on your IELTS vocabulary is instrumental.
IELTS Vocabulary
You know you need to work on your vocabulary for IELTS but do you know how many types of vocabulary there are that you will need to work on? You don’t need to ponder about this, we got you.
IELTS calls for a variety of terminology in various registers and situations. For the IELTS test, you should be fluent in the following vocabulary categories:
| Vocabulary Type | IELTS Sections | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| General Vocabulary | IELTS Speaking (Part 1), IELTS Writing Task 1 | Essential for both written and spoken communication |
| Academic Vocabulary | IELTS Reading, IELTS Writing Task 2 | Crucial for academic writing, research, and lectures |
| Technical Vocabulary | IELTS Reading (Academic) | Necessary for understanding subject-specific terminology |
| Descriptive Vocabulary | IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic/General Training) | Important for explaining visual information accurately |
| Persuasive Vocabulary | IELTS Writing Task 2 (Academic/General Training) | Essential for presenting arguments convincingly |
| Idiomatic Vocabulary | All sections, especially Speaking and Listening | Enhances comprehension of colloquial language |
| Formal Vocabulary | IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training), Speaking | Required for formal letters and responses |
| Subject-Particular Terminology | Depending on background and IELTS materials | Relevant to individuals with specific subject expertise |
Overwhelming? It is natural but you don’t have to worry most of these types of vocabulary are taken care of when you study the course matter in preparation for the course you’ll be studying abroad and it develops naturally. Therefore we’ll be focusing on the parts of IELTS Vocabulary that often remain underprapared.
General Vocabulary for IELTS
General Vocabulary is where people often lack the most when working on their IELTS vocabulary. Maybe because it’s general and they don’t consider it worthy to spend time on. But that’s not going to happen with you because we won’t let this slide. So let’s get it.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs are a key part of General Vocabulary and you’ll need them to nail them down so here are a few Phrasal Verbs, their meaning, and an example of their usage to aid in your IELTS Vocabulary:
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Come across | To discover or come upon something by chance | “While researching for my paper, I came across an interesting hypothesis.” |
| Bringing up | To bring up or introduce a subject in conversation | “During the Speaking test, the examiner may bring up questions about your hobbies.” |
| Turn up | To show up or come, frequently without warning | “They still interviewed her even though she turned up for the interview without an appointment.” |
| Run out of | To exhaust the available supply and leave nothing | “I was unable to complete my second essay during the Writing section as I ran out of time.” |
| Get along with | To get along well with somebody | “You might be asked about how well you get along with your coworkers during the Speaking portion of the test.” |
| Look forward to | To be excited about future events | “I am looking forward to studying abroad and experiencing a new culture.” |
| Settle down | To initiate a permanent existence, often involving marriage and family | “He decided to settle down in peace after struggling for years for a good bride.” |
| Take up | To start a new hobby | “I’ve taken up singing as a creative outlet in my spare time.” |
| Come up with | To discover a fresh idea or strategy | “You must come up with compelling arguments for your debate competition next week.” |
| Look into | To closely examine or investigate something | “The government is looking into the issue of water pollution in rural areas.” |
Idioms
Idioms are a key part of the IELTS Vocabulary. So, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam, there are some idioms given below with their definitions and some examples:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bite the bullet | To bravely overcome a challenging or unpleasant circumstance. | “Even though the exams were difficult, I had to bite the bullet and give them my all.” |
| Break a leg | Wishing you luck or success. | The actor’s companion exclaimed, “Break a leg!” before the actor entered the stage for the performance. |
| Don’t cry over spilt milk | Don’t waste time fretting about things that have already happened or are unavoidable. | “Don’t cry over spilt milk, I know you made a mistake. Recover from that and continue.” |
| Piece of cake | An exceedingly simple task. | “The physics test was a piece of cake for him; he finished it without any difficulty.” |
| Keep an eye on | To attentively observe or keep track of someone or something. | “Parents should always keep an eye on their kids while they play in the park.” |
| On the same page | To comprehend something or to be in accord. | “We need to make sure everyone is on the same page about the goals before we start the project.” |
| Cost an arm and a leg | To cost a lot of money. | “The car I wanted cost an arm and a leg, so I decided not to go for it.” |
| Hit the nail on the head | To accurately describe or pinpoint something. | “Her analysis of the issue hit the nail on the head, and we were able to come up with a solution quickly.” |
| In hot water | Struggling or having problems. | “After missing the deadline, he found himself in hot water with his boss.” |
| The ball is in your court | You now have the opportunity to decide or act. | “I’ve provided you with all the knowledge you need to decide. Now, the ball is in your court.” |
Synonyms and Antonyms for Writing and Speaking Vocabulary
If you’re eyeing IELTS you need to have the synonyms and antonyms in your arsenal of the IELTS vocabulary to really get your idea across to the assessors whether in the written test or the speaking test. So here are some words with their synonyms and antonyms to help get you started.
| Word | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|
| Benevolent | Kind, compassionate, generous | Malevolent, unkind, selfish |
| Consequence | Result, outcome, effect | Cause, origin, source |
| Ubiquitous | Pervasive, omnipresent, everywhere | Rare, scarce, limited |
| Diverse | Varied, assorted, heterogeneous | Homogeneous, uniform, alike |
| Innovative | Creative, inventive, original | Conventional, traditional, unoriginal |
| Precarious | Unstable, uncertain, risky | Stable, secure, safe |
| Ambiguous | Vague, unclear, uncertain | Clear, explicit, definite |
| Cautious | Careful, prudent, wary | Reckless, impulsive, careless |
| Resilient | Strong, adaptable, robust | Fragile, vulnerable, delicate |
| Prolific | Productive, fertile, abundant | Unproductive, barren, scarce |
These synonyms and antonyms will help you with your IELTS vocabulary and help you ace the test. However, we do recommend you treat this as a beginning to your preparations and look up words to expand your vocabulary by yourself too.
Conclusion
There you have it folks. It’s just a scratch of the IELTS vocabulary you’ll need to work on but we hope this helps you with working on your vocabulary for IELTS writing and speaking tests. In case you need any more help from our end to improve your IELTS Vocabulary, we at Admissify are always waiting to hear from you and will help in whatever aspect you need to improve. In the context of IELTS impacts your ability to convey ideas, understand texts, and achieve higher scores in both the speaking and writing sections. Therefore we hope you’ll continue to work on your IELTS Vocabulary and ace that test to successfully get your dream college.
FAQs
Why is vocabulary a crucial component of the IELTS test?
Vocabulary is important since it has an impact on your capacity to comprehend reading passages, communicate concepts effectively in writing and speaking, and score higher in these areas.
How can I expand my word choice for the IELTS test?
By reading widely, utilizing vocabulary apps, practising with flashcards, and researching word lists linked to popular IELTS themes, you may improve your vocabulary.
Should I memorize extensive word lists for the IELTS exam?
Although learning word lists by heart might be useful, understanding word usage in context is more crucial. It is more beneficial to read and use words in sentences than to memorize facts by heart.
How can I stop utilizing vocabulary terms excessively in my articles and spoken responses?
Learn synonyms and practice using them to prevent repetition. To make your writing and speaking more engaging, pay particular attention to strengthening your general sentence structure and coherence.
Can I use idioms in the speaking and writing portions of the IELTS exam?
Yes, employing idioms may demonstrate your command of the language, but take caution and make sure you do it correctly and in the appropriate context.
Gaurav Kandari is a seasoned study abroad consultant with over 5 years of experience, specializing in guiding students to the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. An avid traveler, he draws on his global adventures to enrich his consulting, providing invaluable insights to aspiring scholars.
