IELTS · Articles · October 20, 2026 · 9 min read
IELTS vocabulary by topic: 80 collocations for Writing and Speaking
Vocabulary is one of the four criteria in both Writing and Speaking: a quarter of the band for each. Below are 80 collocations across eight common exam topics, more precise words for general ones, and phrases for speaking.
How vocabulary is scored
| Band | What the Writing descriptors say | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | minimally adequate vocabulary, frequent inaccuracies in word choice, simplification and repetition | the same words as the task, good and bad instead of precise words |
| 6 | generally adequate and appropriate vocabulary; meaning is clear despite a limited range or imprecise choices | the topic is clear, but some combinations do not sound natural |
| 7 | enough range for flexibility and precision, some less common words and awareness of collocation, with occasional slips | words sit in natural combinations; an idea can be said in two ways |
This paraphrases the public Writing band descriptors (May 2023 version). In Speaking the criterion has the same name and also covers paraphrasing when you do not know a word. All four criteria are in the marking criteria guide.
80 collocations across eight topics
Learn and use a collocation as a whole. Each topic has an example sentence and an essay where these words are useful.
Education
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| compulsory education | schooling required by law |
| tuition fees | money paid for teaching |
| to drop out of university | leave before finishing |
| academic performance | how well a student does |
| continuous assessment | marks across the course |
| vocational training | training for a job |
| rote learning | memorising without understanding |
| to meet a deadline | finish on time |
| to broaden your horizons | gain new experience |
| a gap year | a year off before university |
Continuous assessment gives a fairer picture of academic performance than a single exam.
Work
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| job security | low risk of losing your job |
| work-life balance | time for both work and life |
| to work remotely | work away from the office |
| flexible hours | choosing when you work |
| a heavy workload | a lot of work to do |
| a steady income | regular, reliable pay |
| career prospects | chances to progress |
| to be self-employed | work for yourself |
| to be made redundant | lose your job because it is no longer needed |
| job satisfaction | enjoying your work |
Many people would accept a lower salary in exchange for flexible hours and a better work-life balance.
Technology
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cutting-edge technology | the most advanced technology |
| to become obsolete | be replaced by something newer |
| screen time | time spent on devices |
| to rely heavily on | depend a lot on |
| a labour-saving device | a machine that saves effort |
| data privacy | control over personal information |
| artificial intelligence | computer systems that imitate human thinking |
| to keep in touch | stay in contact |
| the digital divide | the gap between those with and without technology |
| to be addicted to | be unable to stop using |
Students who rely heavily on artificial intelligence may never learn to structure an argument themselves.
Environment
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| climate change | long-term change in the planet’s climate |
| carbon emissions | CO2 released into the air |
| renewable energy | energy from sun, wind or water |
| fossil fuels | coal, oil and gas |
| single-use plastic | plastic used once and thrown away |
| to dispose of waste | get rid of rubbish |
| endangered species | animals or plants at risk of dying out |
| environmentally friendly | not harmful to nature |
| to reduce your carbon footprint | cause less CO2 through your lifestyle |
| to run out of resources | use up what is available |
Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the most direct way to cut carbon emissions.
Health
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a sedentary lifestyle | a life with little physical activity |
| a balanced diet | food with the right mix of nutrients |
| processed food | industrially prepared food |
| to take regular exercise | be active often |
| life expectancy | how long people are expected to live |
| mental health | emotional and psychological wellbeing |
| to be overweight | weigh more than is healthy |
| preventive medicine | stopping illness before it starts |
| the health care system | the services that provide medical care |
| to cut down on sugar | eat less sugar |
A sedentary lifestyle combined with processed food explains much of the rise in obesity.
Cities and transport
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| traffic congestion | too many vehicles on the roads |
| public transport | buses, trains and metro |
| rush hour | the busiest travel time |
| to commute to work | travel regularly to work |
| affordable housing | homes people can pay for |
| the cost of living | how much basic needs cost |
| urban sprawl | cities spreading outwards |
| a residential area | an area of homes |
| green spaces | parks and gardens |
| within walking distance | close enough to walk |
Affordable housing within walking distance of public transport would reduce the need to commute by car.
Media and advertising
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a reliable source | information you can trust |
| to spread misinformation | share false information |
| biased coverage | reporting that favours one side |
| to influence public opinion | change what people think |
| to go viral | spread very quickly online |
| freedom of the press | journalists reporting without control |
| to target consumers | aim advertising at buyers |
| brand loyalty | always buying the same brand |
| celebrity endorsement | a famous person promoting a product |
| impulse buying | buying without planning |
Stories that go viral are not always from a reliable source, which makes it easy to spread misinformation.
Society and government
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to tackle a problem | deal with a problem |
| to raise awareness | make people know about something |
| to take measures | act to deal with something |
| to impose a tax | make people pay a tax |
| public spending | money the government spends |
| an ageing population | more older people in society |
| income inequality | big gaps between rich and poor |
| to commit a crime | break the law |
| a law-abiding citizen | someone who obeys the law |
| the older generation | older people as a group |
An ageing population puts pressure on public spending, so governments need to take measures early.
These lists are based on common Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3 topics. There is no official IELTS word list.
Better words for general ones
Paraphrasing the task in your introduction is the first thing an examiner notices for this criterion.
| General word | More precise | Example |
|---|---|---|
| good | beneficial, valuable, effective | Regular exercise is beneficial for mental health. |
| bad | harmful, damaging | Too much screen time can be harmful to children. |
| big | significant, considerable | There has been a significant rise in tuition fees. |
| important | essential, crucial | Reliable sources are essential for an informed public. |
| problem | issue, challenge | Affordable housing is a growing challenge in large cities. |
| a lot of | a great deal of, numerous | Remote work saves a great deal of time. |
| many people | a growing number of people | A growing number of people work for themselves. |
| think | believe, argue | Some argue that homework should be abolished. |
| show | illustrate, indicate | The figures indicate a steady decline. |
| make better | improve, enhance | Bus lanes would improve journey times. |
A replacement only works if the word fits the meaning and the words around it. It is heavy rain, not strong rain, even though strong argument is natural. Chart vocabulary is in the Writing Task 1 guide and linkers in linking words for IELTS.
Phrases for speaking
In conversation, sounding natural matters more than rare words.
- Starting an answer: Well, I’d say… · To be honest… · It depends, really… · As far as I know…
- Buying a second: That’s an interesting question. · I’ve never really thought about it, but… · Let me think.
- Paraphrasing a missing word: It’s a kind of… · What I mean is… · It’s the thing you use to… The Speaking descriptors mention this skill directly.
- Giving an example: For instance… · Take my city, for example. · A good example of this is…
- Comparing and disagreeing: On the other hand… · Having said that… · Compared to ten years ago…
You need only a few of these: starting every answer with the same phrase makes it sound rehearsed. Questions to practise with are in IELTS Speaking topics.
How to make words your own
- Learn collocations. Not congestion but traffic congestion. Not measures but take measures. The word arrives with its natural partners.
- In your own sentence. For every new collocation, write a sentence about yourself or your city. Words you only recognise do not come back in the exam.
- One topic at a time. Ten collocations, then an essay or a Part 3 answer on the same topic the same day.
- With feedback. A collocation mistake shows only in your own text, never in a list. In Nomto, imprecise word choices are marked directly in your essay and your Speaking answer.
Common questions
How many words do I need for band 7? IELTS does not give a number: what is assessed is flexibility and precision, not size.
Do I need idioms? In Speaking, natural expressions help; in Writing, idioms are usually out of place because essays are neutral in style. An idiom used for its own sake sounds memorised and does not raise the band.
Do rare words raise the score? Only when they are used precisely. A simple word in the right place beats a rare one in the wrong place.