20+ Less Common Words in IELTS: Words, Idioms, Tips and More

The IELTS test is conducted to check the candidate’s proficiency in the English language. The IELTS Vocabulary often contains words and phrases where candidates have to provide their meanings and uses in sentences. This test requires you to have an understanding of a wide range of words, their meaning and their appropriate use in sentences. You need to improve your vocabulary skills to get a better score on the test.

A lot of times, the IELTS Vocabulary tests your knowledge of words and their synonyms and antonyms. Here, you need to be very cautious while using words with similar meanings, as this might affect the meaning of your responses, resulting in fewer scores on the test. In this article, we are going to tell you about some of the less common words in IELTS.

20+ Uncommon Words in IELTS

To help candidates with an understanding of the less common words for IELTS, here is a table which highlights some of the less common words for IELTS.

IELTS Common Words	Meaning	Example
Aforementioned	Denoting someone with something which was previously mentioned.	He highlighted the aforementioned points made during the meeting.
Bellicose	Showing aggression and urge to fight.	The mayor appeared in a bellicose mood as he stamped on the platform and squared up to his rival.
Cogent	Trying to convince or compel someone using logical and clear reasoning	They put forward cogent arguments for British membership.
Ephemeral	Something which doesn’t last longer	Fashions are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old.
Imperative	Believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities	It is imperative to keep the following points in mind.
Egalitarian	A belief or principle that everybody is equal and deserves equal rights and opportunities	He was a social and political egalitarian.
Esoteric	Something that is planned for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest	The paintings made by the artist displayed esoteric themes.
Mitigate	To make something less severe or fierce	She tried to mitigate the tension in the room.
Myriad	Something which is countless or cannot be counted	The UK boasts of housing a myriad of top-tier universities.
Opine	Stating one’s opinion or idea	The man is a genius, he opined.
Plethora	Something extremely large or excessive	The city has a plethora of cafes and pubs.
Pernicious	Something which has harmful effects, especially in a gradual or subtle way	Smoking can be pernicious to your help.
Quixotic	Something extremely idealistic or impractical	Now that he wants to rejoin society no goal seems more quixotic and hopeless.
Phenomenon	A situation or something that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question	The band was a pop phenomenon just for their sales figures alone.
Panacea	It means a solution or remedy for all problems or difficulties	This will not be a panacea for all our ills.
Salient	Something very important or should be noticed	The Allied command planned to clear the salient of Germans along a 20-mile front.
Ubiquitous	Something present, appearing or found everywhere	His ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family.
Zoilus	A bitter and usually enviously carping critic.	His corpse, thrown into the sea, was washed ashore and buried by the aged priest Zoilus who is also the patron saint of Zadar.
Obsequious	Sycophant	I can’t stand his obsequious manner.
Zionist	A nationalist movement emerged in the 19th century to enable the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine.	My father, who was a Zionist, told my mother on his deathbed to take the family to Israel.
Anhedonia	Inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities.	Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure. It’s a common symptom of depression as well as other mental health disorders.
Aphasia	Language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.	In addition to recovering from her physical injuries, Giffords suffered a brain injury that left her with aphasia.
Myopic	Short-sighted	He peered at me with his myopic blue eyes.

Less Common Idioms and Phrases in IELTS

The ILEST test not only contains less common words, but idioms and phrases, which you must avoid using repetitively. Using uncommon words repetitively can hurt your overall score on the IELTS test. Check the table below to have an understanding of some of the less common idioms and phrases in IELTS.

Uncommon Phrases	Phrases Meanings
A far cry from	Something which is not similar or very different from one thing
On the cusp of	A point in time when something is about to transform into another
In the throes of	Facing difficulty or struggle in an intense situation
To hit the ground running	To begin or start something with great enthusiasm and energy
To cut corners	Doing something carelessly or hastily to save time or money.
To be in the doldrums	A condition or state of low spirit or stagnation
To get a handle on	Understanding something or gaining control of something or someone
To make a beeline for	Going directly or quickly towards someone or something
To be in the pipeline	The process of planning or developing something
To fall by the wayside	To fail or be forgotten over time

Top 5 Tips to Ace Your IELTS Score

IELTS Preparation: The IELTS Writing Section might seem like a formidable mountain to climb, but fret not! With the right preparation and consistent practice, you can reach the summit and achieve stellar scores. Here are the top 5 IELTS preparation tips to expedite your journey to IELTS success:

a) Engaging with a diverse range of sample papers constitutes a comprehensive preparation tool for IELTS writing. Through this simulated testing environment, individuals acquire a robust understanding of the section’s structure, the nuances of question formats, the anticipated level of difficulty, and the strategic allocation of time, all of which are crucial for optimizing one’s performance.

b) Prioritize purchasing resources that reflect the latest test format and come from reputable experts. Look for those packed with practice tests and loaded with insightful strategies to propel your scores. 

c) Implement self-imposed deadlines for your studying to enhance both your speed and precision. Structuring your preparation with time constraints will optimize both your efficiency and execution.

d) Transcending the confines of textbooks, effective IELTS preparation embraces a holistic immersion in the English language. Reading captivating novels, immersing oneself in compelling films, and engaging with the multifaceted voices of podcasts and news channels not only fortifies one’s linguistic foundation but also expands vocabulary horizons and refines grammatical precision, thus equipping candidates for the intricacies of the IELTS examination.

e) The bedrock of IELTS success lies in dedicated practice. For optimal preparation, construct a meticulous schedule, designating specific time blocks for each exam section. Through consistent engagement with practice tests and meticulous cultivation of your skills across all domains, you will feel poised to confront even the most formidable questions with unwavering confidence.

Best IELTS Preparation Books 📖 to Purchase in 2024 

Individuals preparing for the IELTS Exam can refer to the following table to go through the list of the best IELTS  preparation books. 

Name of the Book	Author/Publisher	Price	Purchase Link
The Official Cambridge Guide To Ielts Student’s Book With Answers	Pauline Cullen	INR 594	Click Here To Buy
R*barron’s Ielts Practice Exams	Lin Lougheed	INR 448	Click Here To Buy
IELTS Graphs from the past exam	Kiranpreet Kaur Makkar	INR 287	Click Here To Buy
Cambridge IELTS Academic 16 Student’s Book [paperback] Cambridge	Career Zone	INR 130	Click Here To Buy
Word Power Made Easy Including Latest Word List	Norman Lewis	INR 149	Click Here To Buy
IELTS WRITING ACADEMIC 2023	Karamveer Singh	INR 299	Click Here To Buy
Cambridge IELTS 18 academic with authentic papers	Cambridge Press	INR 234	Click Here To Buy

So that was all about the Less common words in IELTS. Hope the blog has answered your queries pertaining to the topic.

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