How important is vocabulary for IELTS? Uncovering the power of synonyms in speaking!

When one is preparing for the IELTS examination, one often hears the term lexical resource over and over again. Whether you hear it in an online video or you hear it from your instructor, it seems like a complex thing which one needs to inculcate in one’s skills in order to get the desired band score. But what if we tell you that lexical resource is nothing but your ability to use different words? 

One may go through tons of IELTS preparation materials to enhance their vocabulary, but it is a skill that cannot be forced. For instance, one might learn fancy words, but it is impossible to recall those words while you are actually building your answers in front of the examiner. The trick is not to learn words but to elevate the words that are present in your speech. One of the best ways to do that is to leverage the power of using synonyms. Let’s understand the importance of vocabulary and how we can build our lexical resources. 

Importance of Vocabulary in IELTS Examination

When it comes to the IELTS examination, vocabulary is one of the key factors in the assessment criteria for the Writing and Speaking module. Without a second thought, it elevates your interpretation skills, which helps you to score better in the Reading and Listening module, too. That is why most of the IELTS study materials revolve around vocabulary. Here’s how strong vocabulary skills affect each of the modules in the IELTS examination: 

• Reading – In the reading module, one often comes across distint set of words and some words can even be unique or new for an individual. In such a scenario, a good hold on vocabulary allows one to understand the passage more clearly. Furthermore, when honing the skill of paraphrasing, vocabulary plays a great role. 
• Listening – The listening module is also one of the tasks where paraphrasing is present up to a great extent. The keywords present in the question might not always resonate with the keywords in the audio. Hence, one’s vocabulary needs to be at par to understand the different synonyms. 
• Writing – without a second thought, your task 1 and task 2 answers should reflect a wide range of vocabulary in order to get a better score. The stronger your lexical resource, the better your overall band score. Also, one can reflect vocabulary by using different connectors instead of using the same connector over and over again.
• Speaking – In the speaking module, it is crucial to include a wide range of vocabulary because one needs to make it clear to the listener that one has a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary. Enhancing vocabulary should be one of the top priorities while preparing for the speaking module. One can do this easily by going through free IELTS study material online and learning how to use synonyms in their speech. 

Let’s understand how we can level up our vocabulary in the speaking section. 

Using synonyms in the speaking module 

Understanding the power of synonyms is a game changer when it comes to levelling up one’s vocabulary. One can go through various IELTS material for speaking but unless one does not use synonyms in their speech, one would always be forcing vocabulary rather than building it naturally. Using synonyms in your speaking answers reflects vocabulary in the most natural way.

For instance, if you have to use the word important in your answers, it might become repetitive since it is a common word. There can be other ways to highlight the same context including vital, pivotal, integral, crucial, essential, and indispensable. 

Another example can be replacing a common word – ‘Very’, and using adverbs instead of it to highlight the frequency, such as – extremely, highly, utterly, bitterly, strongly, deeply etc. 

Moreover, using synonyms helps you to paraphrase the question in the beginning so that you can start your answer in the best way possible. We often repeat the question as it is, but when we use synonyms and rephrase, it leaves a better impact on the listener, 

A plus point of using synonyms is that it helps you retain the words in your mind that you learn because you make an effort to naturally incorporate them in your answers rather than fixating on fancy words, which usually fall out of context on various occasions.  

By using this simple method, one can do wonders in elevating one’s speech. You can also make use of different IELTS preparation materials to enhance your knowledge of synonyms. Let’s understand some more methods to build vocabulary: 

How to improve vocabulary?

When aiming to bring a diverse set of words, it’s important to experiment with different methods and then select the one which works best for you. A good vocabulary adorns the language and is also a powerful tool for effective speaking.

1. Keep a dictionary or look up online to understand new words

One cannot know all the words; to enhance your vocabulary, the best way to start is by keeping a dictionary with you. Just imagine a dictionary as a large ocean, where words are different species of fish; you have to catch the right one. Whenever you face any unfamiliar word, be it while reading a book or watching a show online – simply look up the meaning of that word – this will increase the recall effect in your mind as you will associate that word with the particular experience it was part of. 

2. Write synonyms: 

Besides learning new words, get into the habit of writing a journal or a daily diary and interject new words in your writing. Learn new synonyms to perk up your vocabulary. You can also make use of Thesaurus to find synonyms. Another effective exercise is to write synonyms of the common words which you come across; let’s say you chose the word ‘student’ – now try to jot down the synonyms of this word in your notebook. You might come up with pupil, learner, or aspirant. Once you are done, look up the word online and find more synonyms. This will help you remember the synonyms that you previously did not know.

3. Read more and more: 

Reading is another good way to enhance your vocabulary. It not only enriches your word power but also improves your expression. By reading different kinds of books, articles, science work, literature, biographies, magazines, journals, newspapers, etc., you will come across many new words; mark those words and, look up their meanings in the dictionary and jot those words to use them in your communication. Try to know about the root of those words, as it helps you to understand the origin of the word. Keep a thesaurus in your mobile phone or keep it handy each time you come across a new word along with its meaning, and then take a look at the synonyms of that word. It grows your word strength.

4. Play Word Games

There are many games that increase your vocabulary. Games like Scrabble, Spellex, or Crossword are very effective at improving your word power. In these games, either you have to make a new word or you are given some clues from which you have to deduce the correct word. It’s a brain-scratching activity that enhances your thinking power, too.

5. Create a learning environment 

Create an English-speaking surrounding, having English-speaking people around you to converse with. Watching English series, videos, teleserials, English movies, etc., will hone your lexicon because, in English movies, there are a lot of new words that one can learn from. Build an English-speaking circle. Get the help of your friends who are preparing for the IELTS or are otherwise English-speaking. You can access IELTS material for speaking to get the latest speaking questions and practise them with your peers

6. Practise more and more 

Inculcate the habit of speaking in English by infusing new words into your communication every day. The more you practise, the more words you will speak and this way, you will remember the new words by continually using them. Vocabulary is a powerful instrument that lets you say or express exactly how you want to express yourself. You should always take mock tests or practice through IELTS study materials to enhance your skills. 

7. Don’t forget to Revise: 

Give your memory a refresher course each day which means re-read your stacked up word list each day, that way you will refresh your memory of new words. And practise them each time so that you remember them in your regular flow of English. Also, a childhood activity of making sentences of the new words we learn, if practised on a regular basis can help you enhance your vocabulary really quickly. This way you will also learn the application of the new word.

8. Stream content rich in lexical resource: 

Listening is another activity that helps you revamp your vocabulary. Listening to English radio channels, English podcasts, and monologues or dialogues by many impressive speakers online will help you gather more words and the way they can be used in your speech. The delivery of speech, along with good word choice, makes your language impactful.

9. Build your confidence by speaking up publically: 

Public Speaking is another way of honing up your English vocabulary. Whenever you get a chance to speak on any topic publicly or in social gatherings, always take up that opportunity and speak, as it will enhance your confidence and give you a chance to apply your word stock. It really gives you a boost to learn more and more new words.

10. Learn from your mistakes

Always try to identify your mistakes and rectify them. Whether you record yourself or ask your friends to hear your answers, make sure that you self-assess and find your weak spots because that’s the only way you are going to grow your skill set. Notice how you could have answered a question differently to portray a better set of vocabulary words. 

To encapsulate, In IELTS, vocabulary plays a very crucial role besides correct grammar, punctuations, sentence structuring, transition words, the flow of writing, cohesion and the expression. You get additional scores when you speak or write in efficacious English using the right word choice. So, kick-start your practice by taking these steps to build an efficient vocabulary. Access free IELTS study material online to enrich your vocabulary and prepare for IELTS better.