Vocabulary for IELTS: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Word Power

IELTS Vocabulary: IELTS is one of the most widely taken English proficiency tests for admissions to universities abroad. It is essential to have a strong hold on vocabulary for IELTS to bolster your chances of securing better scores in the exam. Vocabulary for IELTS can help you come up with better responses that are not only well-structured but also articulated, comprehensible and coherent.

The exam evaluates the English Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking skills of the students. Refined vocabulary is a prominent part of the IELTS Syllabus as it helps students in each exam segment. This blog focuses on important words, exercises, and tips to improve vocabulary for IELTS. That being said, read the complete blog to learn more about IELTS Vocabulary.

How to Learn IELTS Vocabulary in 6 Steps?

If you are wondering about how to learn or get started to learn IELTS vocabulary, then here is a 6-step method to help you excel in your English vocabulary for IELTS. 

Find a Suitable Source of Learning 

Choose an interesting book, TV show, radio show, podcast, YouTube series, or magazine. People learn more efficiently when they are having fun, so don’t choose anything dull. 

Maintain a Journal or a Vocab Notebook 

Yes, if you truly want to improve your English vocabulary quickly, you must keep a diary or vocab copy. You will write the new words that you will learn each day in this copy. Make sentences with these terms and their definitions. The notebook does not have to be pricey; it simply has to be a place where you can keep track of your daily notes.

Consume your Source 

Read/watch/listen to whatever you choose in Step 1 and highlight or mark at least 10 words that you don’t understand or maybe don’t know the meaning of. Try to deduce what they imply from the context. This is an essential stage since it will help you remember the new words.

Start Using New Words 

Simply writing down and memorizing the word meanings of new words will not help you enhance your English vocabulary. You must begin utilizing these newly discovered words in your regular life and your daily interactions and communication.

Look for Synonyms 

In an online dictionary, look for alternative synonyms for the new words. Make a note of the synonyms, collocations, antonyms, and pronunciation for each word. You may also use images to help you recall the term.

Review your New Words

Finally, keep reviewing the list of new words, their synonyms, and antonyms after every one week, two weeks, and then one month. 

15+ Most Common Vocabulary for IELTS in 2024

 Here are some of the most common vocabulary that you can use in your IELTS tasks to secure better scores in 2024.

Word	Meaning
Range	Distance from low to high
Attribute	To give credit for
Tradition	What people normally do
Estimate	Take a guess
Melancholy	Sadness/Despair
Expose	Show something hidden
Embellish	Add details to something
Lucid	Something easy to understand
Archaic	Something very old
Audacity	Boldness
Jovial	Merry
Diligent	Careful and hardworking
Mundane	Routine
Unprecedented	Never done before
Extrapolate	Estimate or conclude
Banish	Get rid of
Paragon	Best of its kind
Retract	Take back
Empathetic	Relating to others’ feelings
Variance	Quality of being different

Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Check Out the Latest Topic-Wise Vocabulary in 2024

Here are some important vocabulary words for IELTS that you can use in your IELTS tasks. These vocabulary words for IELTS have been curated according to their topics for your convenience. Have a look.

Advertising 

Word	Meaning
Direct Mail	Letters and adverts are sent directly To customers. This is a direct approach with a select audience.
Radio Advertising	This approach reaches a target audience and relies on them listening To a particular station. However, the message can easily be forgotten.
Text Messages	These promotions reach a target audience in real-time but they have a limited number of characters in the text.
Internet Pop-ups	They can impact a viewer and allow them easy access To the product. However, they can be annoying, and intrusive and some even crash the system.
Email Advertising	Direct advertising To the customer. It is cost-effective as long as the customer database is up-to-date.
Flyers	Small flyers with printed information handed out To customers face-to-face. They can be attractive and informative but also costly.

Business Environment 

Word	Meaning
To balance the books	Do not spend more money than you are earning.
To be self-employed	To work for yourself/ To not work for an employer
To cold call	To make a sales call to someone without asking them for permission first
Cut-throat competition	When one company lowers its prices, forcing other companies to do the same, sometimes to a point where the business becomes unprofitable
To do market research	To do research into what potential customers would or wouldn’t buy
To draw up a business plan	To write a plan for a new business
To drum up business:	To try To get customers
To earn a living	To earn money
To go bust	When a business is forced To close because it is unsuccessful

Fashion World

Word	Meaning
Fashion House	A company that sells (usually expensive) new styles of clothes
Fashion Icon	A person who is famous for their sense of fashion
Fashion Show	An event where models show off the latest in fashion designs
To get dressed up	To put on nice clothes, often To go out somewhere special
To go out of fashion	To not be in fashion any more
Hand-me-downs	Clothes that are passed down from older brothers or sisters To their younger siblings
To have an eye for (fashion)	To be a good judge of
To have a sense of style	The ability To wear clothes that look stylish

Food 

Word	Meaning
Processed Food	Commercially prepared food bought for convenience
A Quick Snack	To eat a small amount of food between meals
A Ready Meal	Processed food
A Slap-Up Meal	A large meal
To Spoil Your Appetite	To eat something that will stop you from feeling hungry when it’s mealtime.
A Take Away	A cooked meal prepared in a restaurant and eaten at home
To Tuck Into	To eat something with pleasure
To Wine and Dine	To entertain someone by treating them to food and drink

Travel and Tourism 

Word	Meaning
Travel abroad	Travel to overseas destinations.
Travelling light	Travelling with little luggage.
Value for money	A good return on investment.
Visa regulations	Laws that relate to entry into a country
Wildlife safari	A guided tour through a game park.
Affordable destinations	Places within a reasonable price range.
Affordable travel	Travel that is within your price range.
Around the world	In all corners of the globe.

Books, Films and Art

Word	Meaning
Genre	The type of film. E.g. horror or comedy.
Commercial blockbusters	Films made for the mass market generate a lot of income.
A sea change in something	A fundamental shift
Online streaming	Watching via the internet
Cultural heritage	The background and history of a country.
Rom-com movie	A romantic comedy film
Adapted from fiction	A film which was first a book.
Strong characterisation	The main people are well-rounded and believable.
Black humour	Funny but rather dark or mysterious as well.

Social Media 

Word	Meaning
Vlogger	A person who regularly creates short videos to be posted online.
Emoji	A small digital image used in social media/ emails/ text to display an emotion, object or idea.
Meme	A humorous image or text that is easily sent to others over the internet.
DM	Direct message.
Photoshop	Software that allows users to digitally alter their images.
Filters	Preset photo enhancements that users can select to apply to their images or videos.
Block	Stopping or banning someone from interacting with you on social media or viewing your posts/ profile.
Censor	To keep certain images, texts, etc from being displayed or published because it is offensive or immoral.
Follow	Subscribe to the page of a person or business on social media.

Culture

Word	Meaning
Heritage	Something that is handed down/inherited from generation to generation.
Values	An individual’s ethics and beliefs
Stereotype	A generalised notion or idea about a specific race or group of people
Prejudice	A bad view about a person or group is formed without first meeting them and is generally based on stereotypes.
Cultural Diversity	The variations between several cultures
Culture Shock	A state of perplexity or disorientation caused by being exposed to a new culture or way of life.
Discrimination	Unfair treatment of a person or group based on bias

Environment

Word	Meaning
Habitat	A living organism’s natural surroundings.
Biodegradable	Matter that organisms can break down, hence preventing pollution.
Biodiversity	The number and variety of plants and animals found in a given location.
Ecosystem	Plants and animals inside an area that have an impact on the environment’s functioning
Pollution	The release of hazardous materials into the environment
Deforestation	Trees are being cut or uprooted as a result of natural or human activity
Global Warming	The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere as a result of greenhouse gases

Check out this video to get a hold of IELTS Band 9 Vocabulary-

Vocabulary for IELTS: Preparation Tips 

Here are a few tips to make your vocabulary more proficient:

1. Read more articles, blogs, texts etc. of your choice to build your vocabulary. This habit will ensure that you come across new words and this will also give you a better understanding of the usage of the word.
2. In case you don’t have time to read and build your vocabulary then you can go through various lists of important words for IELTS. You can start with 10 words and then do 15 words the next day and then 20 after that. This will help you focus on the words relevant to the exam.
3. Listen to podcasts and TED talks and keep track of the words the speaker is using. This will help you to understand the effect of using different words.
4. Sign up for ‘a word a day’ email blast.
5. Use flashcards to memorize the words.
6. Play Scrabble and other word-building games in your free time.

Most Common Vocabulary for IELTS Writing 2024

IELTS writing vocabulary is for both versions Academic and General. It involves writing an essay, of about 250 words.

There are two important components to any word. They are synonyms and antonyms.

Synonym – a word that means exactly, the given word For example: Confused – baffled, perplexed, perplexed, mystified

Antonym – a word that means the opposite of a given word. For example: Confused – Lucid, precise, clear

IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary

There is writing task 1 for the Academic part. It involves visual interpretation and vocabulary related to maps, pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs etc.  

IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary

Writing task 2 is for both versions of Academic and General which involve writing an essay, in about 250 words. There are different types of essays.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

Practising idioms and phrasal verbs will help to improve English. Many people insert them while speaking which looks quite unnatural. People who use them well have picked them up through experience.

Phrasal Verbs for IELTS Vocabulary

A phrasal verb is made up of two or three words from several grammatical groupings. When all of them are joined, a new meaning emerges, which must be applied according to the circumstances. Furthermore, phrasal verbs are included in the IELTS vocabulary list, and candidates can utilise them to demonstrate their mastery of the English language.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
cut down on	reduce	I had to cut down on sugar and coffee to lose some weight.
bank on	to expect and hope something will happen	I’d banked on getting a pay rise this year. I could always bank on my father’s support.
brush up on	to improve a skill you haven’t practised for some time	I thought I’d brush up on my French before going to Paris.
bring down	and make someone upset	I am not fond of listening to heavy metal because it brings me down.
check-in	arrive at the hotel or airport and register	We checked in online, so we didn’t need to waste time queuing.
check out	leave a hotel	We checked out the next morning right after breakfast.

Idioms for IELTS Vocabulary

Idioms in this section help us explain ourselves more clearly and seem more natural. However, candidates must not use idioms without comprehending their meaning, as this will result in a grade reduction. As a result, it is recommended that applicants use it in tasks only when they are certain of its meaning and context.

We’ve collected a collection of frequent IELTS vocabulary idioms that can be used in the speaking section. Remember that when used correctly, they will result in a high band score.

Colourful Idioms	Meaning	Example
Out of the blue	Something that happened unexpectedly	One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
In the red	To owe money, to not have money	Sorry, I can’t afford it, I’m in the red.
Give someone the green light	To give permission	I was given the green light to start this new book.
A white lie	To tell a lie that is not very serious	I don’t think you should get in trouble for telling a white lie.
Green with envy	To be jealous/envious	Chad is heading off to Spain for the week, and I’m green with envy.

Student Idioms	Meaning	Example
Day and night	Continually working without stopping	They toiled day and night to search for survivors and recover bodies.
Drop out	To leave without finishing	She dropped out of the course because it was too hard.
Learn by heart	To memorise	My father can still recite the poems he learned by heart at school.
Pass with flying colours	To pass a test with a high grade	He passed the test with flying colours.
Bookworm	Someone who reads a lot	She is such a bookworm! She seems to have a new book every day!

IELTS Idioms	Meaning	Example
Practice makes perfect	To continuously improve by practising	I train so hard for the marathons because I believe that practice makes perfect.
Break a leg	To wish someone good luck	Danny’s family told him to “break a leg” right before he went up on stage.
Driving me up the wall	Something that annoys you	My flatmate is driving me up the wall.
Better late than never	It’s better to do something late than not to try it	The dress arrived after the dance but better late than never—I’ll wear it to the next event.
Blind as a bat	Can’t see, bad eyesight	I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.

Best Online Sources and Websites for IELTS Vocabulary

In these trying times of the pandemic, we’re scarcely venturing out to find new materials to assist us in enhancing our English vocabulary. Having said that, there are several internet resources available to you. The nice thing about using internet resources is that you can pick and choose what you want and never get bored. The following is a collection of world-renowned websites for reading online English study resources and also practising and improving the English language:

• BBC
• TIME
• Cosmopolitan 
• History Today 
• The Economist 
• New Scientist 
• National Geographic
• Wired 
• Duolingo 
• ABCYa
• BBC Learning English
• ESL Bits
• Oxford University Press
• FluentU
• British Council
• Livemocha
• English Central

Best IELTS Vocabulary Books in 2024

Here are a few highly recommended books that can boost your English vocabulary for IELTS.

Books	Links to Buy
Collins Vocabulary for IELTS	Buy here
Barron`s Essential Words for the IELTS	Buy here
IELTS Band 9 Vocab Secrets	Buy here
4000 English Words	Buy here
IELTS Band 9 Vocab Secrets	Buy here
English Vocabulary in Use	Buy here
Oxford Word Skills	Buy here
IELTS Vocabulary Booster	Buy here
Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS	Buy here
Check your English Vocabulary for IELTS	Buy here

So that was all about vocabulary words for IELTS. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.

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