Preparing for IELTS: Which vocabulary words should you prioritize in your studies?

Many students invest a lot of time learning different strategies but they overlook one simple technique which is to include new words or synonyms in their answers. When it comes to the IELTS examination, Lexical Resource, also known as Vocabulary – is one of the key judgement criteria, especially in the speaking and writing modules. However, a good vocabulary also helps one in the reading and listening modules as it broadens one’s understanding when it comes to different types of questions. 

So, it is safe to say that a good vocabulary is a lifesaver when it comes to the IELTS examination and it is a must-have in your IELTS preparation material. But what is the most effective way to build your vocabulary and how to choose the right IELTS study material out of a million options? Let’s dig deeper into the process of learning new words! 

How to level up your vocabulary using free IELTS study material online? 

Learn new words 

The first step to levelling up your vocabulary is to actively learn new words. One of the best ways to keep track of the words is by keeping a notebook handy to jot down unfamiliar words encountered while reading or listening or even while watching a movie or a show. Look up their meanings in a dictionary or online and try to incorporate these new words into your daily conversations so that they remain intact in your mind. Another exercise that one can do is to pick a normal word [for example: important] and try to build its synonyms [for example: crucial, vital, pivotal, etc]. Once done, look up the synonyms of the word online which will make one familiar with other unknown synonyms.

Notice and practice Collocations 

Collocations are pairs or groups of words that are often used together naturally in a sentence. [For example: Heavy rainfall, high temperature, glance, fast car, etc.]. Try to pay attention to common word pairings and phrases in context or use IELTS study material to understand the concept better. Using collocation is one of the best ways to build lexical resource as they provide the most natural way to say something. This not only helps one to recognise collocations that are already present in your speech but also allows one to notice the alternatives of a particular word.  

Use Phrasal Verbs 

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles such as prepositions or adverbs that together have a different meaning than the individual verb. [For example, take off, put up with, or break down]. Phrasal verbs are present in our day-to-day language and when we use them in our IELTS speaking module, they exhibit a good hold of vocabulary. Make sure to include a list of phrasal verbs in your IELTS material for the speaking module. 

Use Idioms 

Idioms are expressions with meanings that cannot be deduced from the individual words. They add color and depth to the language but can be confusing for non-native speakers. When one makes an effort and uses them in their speech, it demonstrates a deeper understanding of words and language. Using idioms in your speaking module gives a bump up to your overall band score. Try using some of the common idioms such as  “hit the nail on the head,” “raining cats and dogs,” or “piece of cake.” However, make sure that its usage appears to be natural and not forced while making the sentences. 

Read and write more 

Reading exposes an individual to a wide range of vocabulary in context and helps one to understand how words are to be used in sentences. One can choose materials of one’s interest such as books, articles, or online content, and make a habit of reading regularly. Additionally, writing regularly [whether through journaling, blogging, or even just writing emails] allows one to practise using new vocabulary and solidify their understanding of it. The more one reads and writes, the more their vocabulary will naturally grow and develop. So, make sure that you read or write to some extent each day

Vocabulary list to be added to your IELTS preparation material 

Here is a list of words you can memorise to enrich your vocabulary:

1. Abundant – plentiful; existing in large quantities.
2. Acquire – obtain; gain possession of.
3. Adapt – adjust; modify for a new purpose.
4. Adhere – stick; cling firmly to.
5. Alleviate – ease; make less severe.
6. Ambitious – determined; having high aspirations.
7. Analyze – examine; study closely.
8. Apprehensive – anxious; fearful of the future.
9. Assert – state; express confidently.
10. Assess – evaluate; judge the quality of.
11. Assimilate – absorb; understand fully.
12. Authentic – genuine; real; original.
13. Benevolent – kind; well-meaning.
14. Cite – quote; mention as evidence.
15. Cohesive – united; forming a whole.
16. Collaborate – work together; cooperate.
17. Comprehend – understand; grasp.
18. Convey – communicate; express.
19. Critical – important; expressing disapproval.
20. Cultivate – nurture; promote growth of.
21. Delineate – describe; outline precisely.
22. Discern – perceive; recognize.
23. Diverse – varied; different.
24. Elaborate – detailed; complex.
25. Eloquent – articulate; fluent in speech.
26. Enhance – improve; make better.
27. Evaluate – assess; judge the value of.
28. Evolve – develop; change gradually.
29. Exemplify – illustrate; serve as an example.
30. Explicate – explain; clarify.
31. Facilitate – make easier; aid.
32. Formulate – devise; create systematically.
33. Foster – encourage; promote the development of.
34. Generate – create; produce.
35. Grasp – understand; comprehend.
36. Hone – sharpen; refine.
37. Illuminate – light up; clarify.
38. Implement – put into effect; apply.
39. Imply – suggest; indicate indirectly.
40. Incorporate – include; integrate into.
41. Indicate – show; point out.
42. Ingenious – clever; original.
43. Initiate – begin; start.
44. Innovate – introduce new ideas or methods.
45. Integrate – combine; merge into a whole.
46. Interpret – explain; make sense of.
47. Justify – provide reasons for; defend.
48. Manifest – demonstrate; reveal.
49. Merge – combine; join together.
50. Mitigate – lessen; reduce in severity.
51. Navigate – find one’s way through.
52. Nurture – nourish; encourage growth of.
53. Observe – notice; watch closely.
54. Obtain – acquire; get hold of.
55. Omit – leave out; exclude.
56. Originate – begin; come from.
57. Outline – summarize; give a brief account of.
58. Participate – take part in; be involved.
59. Perceive – recognize; become aware of.
60. Persuade – convince; influence.
61. Predict – forecast; anticipate.
62. Presume – assume; take for granted.
63. Prioritize – rank in order of importance.
64. Probe – investigate; explore thoroughly.
65. Promote – encourage; advocate for.
66. Provoke – incite; stimulate.
67. Rationalize – justify; provide logical reasons for.
68. Reconcile – resolve; make compatible.
69. Reflect – consider; think deeply about.
70. Reinforce – strengthen; support.
71. Relate – connect; show the relationship between.
72. Reveal – disclose; make known.
73. Revise – edit; amend.
74. Simulate – imitate; replicate.
75. Specify – define precisely; state details.
76. Stimulate – excite; arouse interest in.
77. Strive – work hard; make great efforts.
78. Substantiate – support with evidence.
79. Sustain – maintain; keep going.
80. Synthesize – combine; integrate parts into a whole.
81. Terminate – end; bring to a conclusion.
82. Transform – change; convert.
83. Unify – bring together; make into one.
84. Utilize – make use of; employ.
85. Validate – confirm; prove the truth of.
86. Verify – confirm; prove to be true.
87. Vigorous – strong; full of energy.
88. Virtually – nearly; almost.
89. Vital – essential; crucial.
90. Vow – promise; pledge.
91. Warrant – justify; authorize.
92. Widespread – common; extensive.
93. Zeal – enthusiasm; passion.
94. Abide – accept; obey.
95. Absorb – take in; soak up.
96. Accumulate – gather; collect over time.
97. Adhere – stick; cling to.
98. Allocate – assign; distribute for a purpose.
99. Amend – change; modify for improvement.
100. Appreciate – value; recognize the worth of.
101. Assemble – gather; put together.
102. Authenticate – verify; confirm as genuine.
103. Baffle – puzzle; confuse completely.
104. Bolster – support; strengthen.
105. Coalesce – merge; come together as one.
106. Coincide – occur at the same time; coincide.
107. Conceive – imagine; form in the mind.
108. Constitute – form; make up.
109. Culminate – reach climax; peak.
110. Deflect – divert; turn aside.
111. Devise – invent; create.
112. Dissolve – melt; disappear.
113. Emit – release; give out.
114. Encompass – include; surround.
115. Escalate – increase; intensify rapidly.
116. Exert – apply; put into action.
117. Facilitate – make it easier; assist.
118. Flourish – thrive; grow vigorously.
119. Frustrate – thwart; hinder the progress of.
120. Garner – gather; collect.
121. Grapple – wrestle; struggle with.
122. Illuminate – light up; clarify.
123. Implement – put into action; carry out.
124. Induce – bring about; cause to happen.
125. Intervene – come between; interfere.
126. Juxtapose – place side by side; compare.
127. Lament – mourn; express sorrow for.
128. Manipulate – handle skillfully; control.
129. Migrate – move; relocate to another place.
130. Navigate – find one’s way through; steer.
131. Nominate – propose; put forward as a candidate.
132. Nullify – cancel; make void.
133. Omit – leave out; exclude.
134. Outlaw – ban; make illegal.
135. Overlook – miss; fail to notice.
136. Pioneer – trailblazer; innovator.
137. Precipitate – cause; bring about suddenly.
138. Proclaim – announce; declare publicly.
139. Prohibit – ban; forbid by law.
140. Quell – suppress; put an end to.
141. Rally – gather; come together again.
142. Ratify – approve; confirm formally.
143. Rectify – correct; make right.
144. Redefine – reinterpret; give a new meaning to.
145. Refrain – abstain; stop oneself from doing.
146. Reinstate – restore; put back into position.
147. Relinquish – give up; let go of.
148. Replicate – copy; duplicate.
149. Resolve – solve; find a solution to.
150. Retain – keep; maintain possession of.

In conclusion, mastering vocabulary is undeniably a crucial aspect of excelling in the IELTS examination. Whether it’s enriching lexical resources for speaking fluently or comprehending passages with ease in the reading section, a good grasp of vocabulary is a must-have. With the help of free IELTS study material online, make a habit of learning new vocabulary words to achieve your desired band score in the IELTS examination.