🧠 “Your vocabulary is your toolkit. The more tools you use skillfully, the more impressive your work becomes.”
Repetition is one of the most common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 1. Using the same basic verbs and adjectives to describe data—like “increase” or “go up”—can limit your band score in the Lexical Resource category.
To score a Band 8 or higher, you must show that you can use a range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately.
🔑 Why Vocabulary Variety Matters
According to the official IELTS Writing Band Descriptors:
Band 8 in Lexical Resource: “Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meaning.”
So if you repeat words, you signal a limited range—which caps your score. If you use synonyms correctly, you demonstrate depth and versatility.
🧰 Synonym Bank for Common Verbs
| 📈 Instead of “Increased” | 📉 Instead of “Decreased” |
|---|---|
| rose | fell |
| climbed | dropped |
| grew | declined |
| surged | plummeted |
| went up | dipped |
| escalated | reduced |
📝 Example:
❌ Sales increased steadily in March, and then increased sharply in April.
✅ Sales grew steadily in March, then surged sharply in April.
See how that reads much better?
📊 Describing Speed or Degree of Change
Use adjectives and adverbs to add detail and enhance clarity:
| Degree of Change | Example |
|---|---|
| slight | a slight rise |
| moderate | a moderate increase |
| sharp | a sharp fall |
| dramatic | a dramatic drop |
| steady | a steady growth |
| gradual | a gradual decline |
🔁 Combine these with your verbs: “There was a gradual climb in the number of users.”
“The profits plummeted dramatically after June.”
🧠 Pro Tip: Learn Noun and Verb Forms Together
| Verb | Noun |
|---|---|
| rise | a rise |
| fall | a fall |
| increase | an increase |
| decrease | a decrease |
| fluctuate | a fluctuation |
| peak | a peak |
| dip | a dip |
🔁 Alternate your sentence structure:
- “There was a sharp increase in production.” (noun form)
- “Production increased sharply.” (verb form)
This shows variety in both vocabulary and sentence structure, boosting your Grammatical Range too!
🚫 What to Avoid
- ❌ Repeating “increase” or “decrease” in every sentence.
- ❌ Using overly complicated words incorrectly (e.g., “ameliorated” for “increased”—wrong context).
- ❌ Mixing up similar words without knowing their exact meaning.
✅ Mini Checklist for Vocabulary Variety
🔲 Have I avoided repeating basic verbs like “increase”?
🔲 Did I use a mix of verbs, nouns, adverbs, and adjectives?
🔲 Are my word choices accurate for the data described?
🔲 Have I used intensity words like “sharp,” “gradual,” “dramatic”?
🔲 Do I sound natural and academic, not forced?
🏆 How This Boosts Your Band Score
| IELTS Criterion | How This Tip Helps |
|---|---|
| 📚 Lexical Resource | Shows range, precision, and flexibility |
| ✍️ Grammatical Range | Allows variety in sentence structure |
| 📊 Task Achievement | Enhances clarity and accuracy of descriptions |
| 🧠 Coherence | Makes your writing more fluent and natural |
💡 Final Thought
🌟 “Think like a data storyteller—not just a reporter. Use strong, varied words to highlight what matters most.”
Keep a personal word bank, read sample answers, and practice paraphrasing common trends with new vocabulary. Your variety will be your strength.