🎯 “Your words reflect your band.”
Vocabulary accounts for 25% of your IELTS Speaking score under the criterion Lexical Resource. To score a Band 8 or 9, you must not only use a variety of words but also ensure that your vocabulary is appropriate, accurate, and flexibly used in context.
💬 Why It Matters
✅ It shows language richness
✅ Helps express subtle meanings or emotions
✅ Makes your speech more natural and engaging
✅ Reduces the repetition of basic words like “good,” “bad,” “nice,” “thing,” etc.
🔍 Common Pitfall: Repeating the Same Words
❌ “I like watching movies. Movies are fun. I watch movies every weekend.”
✔️ “I enjoy watching films. They’re a great source of entertainment, and I usually catch a new one every weekend.”
🎯 Strategy: Master 3 Layers of Vocabulary
1️⃣ Everyday Synonyms
Replace overused words with richer alternatives.
| Basic Word | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| good | excellent, enjoyable, beneficial |
| bad | terrible, harmful, unpleasant |
| happy | delighted, thrilled, content |
2️⃣ Topic-Specific Vocabulary
Use terms that relate to common IELTS topics.
💼 Work: promotion, deadline, overtime, job satisfaction
🌱 Environment: pollution, renewable energy, global warming
🏫 Education: curriculum, assignment, lecture, thesis
3️⃣ Collocations & Phrasal Verbs
Natural expressions improve fluency.
🗣️ make a decision, get along with, run out of time, take part in, catch up on
🛠️ How to Practice Using Rich Vocabulary
📘 Mini Exercise 1: Replace the Basics
Take a basic sentence and replace underlined words with stronger alternatives.
📌 “I had a good day. The food was nice and the people were friendly.”
🎯 Try:
“I had a wonderful day. The food was delicious and the people were welcoming.”
🗂️ Mini Exercise 2: Topic Word Bank Creation
Pick a topic (e.g., Travel) and build a vocabulary list:
✈️ Travel Vocabulary Bank
- Destination
- Itinerary
- Backpacking
- Sightseeing
- Budget travel
- Cultural experience
Now, use at least 3 words from the list in a short response:
🗣️ “Last summer, I went backpacking through Europe. I had a detailed itinerary and visited many famous sightseeing spots.”
✅ Vocabulary Building Checklist
| ✅ Task | Status |
|---|---|
| Use a variety of synonyms | |
| Avoid repeating common words | |
| Include 2–3 topic-related words | |
| Use at least 1-2 collocations | |
| Apply vocabulary naturally in context |
🔥 Tips & Tricks to Improve Vocabulary
🧠 Use the 3x Method:
Whenever you learn a new word:
- Read it in a sentence
- Write your own sentence
- Speak it aloud in context
📚 Apps That Help:
- Quizlet – make your own vocab sets
- Anki – spaced repetition for long-term memory
- BBC Learning English – “The English We Speak” series
- IPE IELTS Pro – can be downloaded from https://www.ipepakistan.com.pk
📖 Books & Articles
Read short news pieces on BBC, The Guardian, or National Geographic and highlight new words.
🧪 Examiner Insight
Examiners reward natural vocabulary usage, NOT just “big words.” Don’t force complex vocabulary if it doesn’t fit the context.
🚫 Don’t say:
“I was euphoric because my sibling partook in nourishment.”
✅ Say:
“I was really happy because my brother joined me for dinner.”
🎤 Final Reminder:
Vocabulary is your toolkit. The more tools you have—and the more naturally you use them—the more professional and confident you’ll sound.
Ready to flex your vocabulary muscles? 💪💬
