Interactive Practice · IELTS Vocabulary
IELTS Vocabulary & Collocations Bank
Topic-specific vocabulary and natural word pairings (collocations) for the topics that come up again and again in IELTS Writing, Speaking, and Reading — search across every entry, or browse by topic.
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6 topics · 108 entries
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Education & Learning
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example curriculum the subjects and content taught in a course of study The school recently updated its curriculum to include more computer science. literacy the ability to read and write Improving literacy rates remains a major goal in many developing countries. rote learning memorising through repetition rather than understanding Critics argue that rote learning discourages critical thinking. vocational relating to skills needed for a particular job Vocational training gives students practical skills for the workplace. tuition the fee paid for instruction, or teaching itself University tuition has risen sharply over the past decade. undergraduate a student studying for a first degree She's currently an undergraduate studying biology. accreditation official recognition that a course meets required standards The programme recently received full accreditation. extracurricular activities outside the normal curriculum Extracurricular activities like debate club build valuable soft skills. plagiarism copying someone else's work and presenting it as your own Universities take plagiarism extremely seriously. distance learning studying remotely rather than attending in person Distance learning became far more common after 2020.
Key Collocations
acquire knowledge Students acquire knowledge more effectively through active discussion. academic achievement Academic achievement often depends on more than natural ability alone. higher education Access to higher education has expanded significantly worldwide. lifelong learning Employers increasingly value a commitment to lifelong learning. drop out of school Financial pressure is one common reason students drop out of school. sit an exam Thousands of students will sit an exam this week. pursue a degree She decided to pursue a degree in environmental science. broaden one's horizons Studying abroad can broaden a student's horizons considerably.
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Environment & Climate Change
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example sustainability meeting needs without depleting resources for the future Sustainability has become a core value for many businesses. carbon footprint the amount of carbon dioxide produced by activities Flying frequently significantly increases a person's carbon footprint. deforestation the clearing of forests, usually for other land use Deforestation continues to threaten biodiversity in tropical regions. renewable able to be replenished naturally, not depleted Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. emissions substances, especially gases, released into the air Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to urban air pollution. biodiversity the variety of plant and animal life in an area Coral reefs support extraordinary levels of biodiversity. ecosystem a community of living things and their environment Pollution can disrupt an entire ecosystem, not just a single species. conservation the protection of natural resources Conservation efforts have helped several species recover from near extinction. drought a prolonged period of insufficient rainfall The region experienced its worst drought in decades. greenhouse gas gases that trap heat in the atmosphere Carbon dioxide is the most commonly discussed greenhouse gas.
Key Collocations
tackle climate change Governments worldwide are under pressure to tackle climate change. reduce emissions The policy aims to reduce emissions by a third within a decade. raise awareness The campaign was designed to raise awareness of plastic pollution. natural resources Rapid industrialisation has placed enormous strain on natural resources. environmentally friendly More consumers are choosing environmentally friendly products. global warming Global warming is causing sea levels to rise steadily. renewable energy Investment in renewable energy has grown substantially in recent years. endangered species Poaching remains a serious threat to several endangered species.
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Technology & Media
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example artificial intelligence computer systems performing tasks that normally require human intelligence Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in medical diagnosis. algorithm a set of rules a computer follows to solve a problem Social media platforms use algorithms to decide what content users see. connectivity the state of being connected, especially digitally Improved connectivity has transformed remote working. cybersecurity protection of computer systems from digital attacks Cybersecurity has become a major concern for businesses of all sizes. bandwidth the capacity for data transfer on a network Streaming video requires significantly more bandwidth than browsing text. obsolete no longer used because something newer exists Many older devices become obsolete within just a few years. innovation a new method, idea, or product The company is known for constant technological innovation. automation the use of machines to do tasks previously done by people Automation has changed manufacturing dramatically over the past century. misinformation false or inaccurate information, often spread unintentionally Misinformation can spread rapidly across social media platforms. digital divide the gap between those with and without reliable technology access The digital divide became especially visible during remote schooling.
Key Collocations
cutting-edge technology The lab is developing cutting-edge technology for renewable batteries. rely on technology Modern businesses rely heavily on technology to function efficiently. keep pace with (change) Regulations often struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change. data breach The company suffered a major data breach last year. streamline a process The new software helps streamline the entire application process. widespread use The widespread use of smartphones has changed how people communicate. address a problem Engineers are working to address the problem of battery life. groundbreaking research Groundbreaking research in this field could transform healthcare.
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Work & Employment
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example workforce all the people who work in a company, industry, or country Automation is reshaping the global workforce. redundancy loss of a job because it's no longer needed The company announced significant redundancies last month. entrepreneur a person who starts and runs a business She became a successful entrepreneur after leaving university. remuneration payment for work or services Remuneration packages often include benefits beyond salary alone. probation a trial period at the start of a new job New employees typically complete a three-month probation period. flexitime a system allowing flexible working hours Flexitime has become popular among companies seeking to boost morale. burnout extreme physical or mental exhaustion from work Burnout is an increasingly recognised workplace health issue. freelance working independently rather than for one employer Many young professionals now choose to freelance rather than take permanent roles. qualification a skill or achievement that makes someone suitable for a role A relevant qualification is often required for entry-level positions. work-life balance the balance between working time and personal time Employees increasingly prioritise work-life balance over salary alone.
Key Collocations
climb the career ladder She worked hard to climb the career ladder within the firm. meet a deadline The team worked overtime to meet the project deadline. job satisfaction Job satisfaction depends on more than salary alone. take on responsibility New managers must quickly learn to take on responsibility. make redundant Hundreds of workers were made redundant during the restructuring. gain experience Internships are a valuable way to gain experience early in a career. competitive salary The role offers a competitive salary and strong benefits package. team player Employers consistently look for candidates who are strong team players.
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Health & Lifestyle
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example sedentary involving little physical movement A sedentary lifestyle is linked to numerous long-term health risks. obesity the condition of being significantly overweight Rates of childhood obesity have risen in many countries. immune system the body's defence against disease A balanced diet helps support a healthy immune system. chronic persisting over a long time Chronic conditions require ongoing rather than short-term treatment. wellbeing the state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy Mental wellbeing is now widely recognised as equally important as physical health. malnutrition a lack of proper nutrition Malnutrition remains a serious problem in several regions of the world. preventive designed to stop something happening in advance Preventive healthcare can reduce long-term treatment costs significantly. addiction a strong, harmful dependency on something Addiction to smartphones is a growing concern among researchers. life expectancy the average length of time a person is expected to live Life expectancy has risen substantially over the past century. holistic considering the whole person, not just symptoms Many clinics now favour a more holistic approach to treatment.
Key Collocations
lead a healthy lifestyle Regular exercise is essential for anyone hoping to lead a healthy lifestyle. maintain a balanced diet It can be difficult to maintain a balanced diet while travelling frequently. cope with stress Effective techniques for coping with stress vary from person to person. boost the immune system Vitamin C is often claimed to boost the immune system. get sufficient sleep Teenagers rarely get sufficient sleep during term time. suffer from (an illness) Millions of people worldwide suffer from chronic back pain. reduce the risk of Regular screening can reduce the risk of late diagnosis. access to healthcare Equal access to healthcare remains a major policy challenge.
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Society, Culture & Family
Core Vocabulary
Term Meaning Example urbanisation the growth of cities as populations move from rural areas Rapid urbanisation has placed enormous pressure on housing supply. nuclear family a family unit of parents and children only The traditional nuclear family model has become less dominant in many societies. multiculturalism the coexistence of diverse cultures within a society Multiculturalism is often celebrated as a strength of major global cities. inequality unfair differences between groups in society Income inequality has widened in many countries in recent decades. heritage traditions, culture, and history passed down through generations The old town is a protected site of significant cultural heritage. generation gap differences in attitudes between older and younger generations The generation gap is often visible in attitudes towards technology. norms accepted standards of behaviour within a society Social norms around work have shifted considerably since the pandemic. assimilate to become part of a different culture or group It can take years for newcomers to fully assimilate into a new culture. demographic relating to the structure of a population The country's ageing demographic presents significant economic challenges. stereotype an oversimplified, widely held idea about a group Media portrayals can reinforce harmful stereotypes.
Key Collocations
cultural identity Language plays a central role in shaping cultural identity. extended family In many cultures, the extended family plays a significant role in raising children. social cohesion Shared community spaces can help strengthen social cohesion. bridge the generation gap Family gatherings can help bridge the generation gap. preserve tradition Many festivals exist specifically to preserve local traditions. rapid urbanisation Rapid urbanisation has transformed the skyline of the city entirely. close-knit community She grew up in a close-knit community where neighbours knew each other well. shape attitudes Upbringing plays a major role in shaping a person's attitudes.
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