Vocabulary Builder

Expand Your IELTS Vocabulary

Master essential vocabulary, idioms, and collocations to boost your Lexical Resource score and speak with confidence.

Essential IELTS Vocabulary by Topic

Learn high-frequency words organized by common IELTS speaking topics with definitions and examples.

🎓

Education & Learning

Curriculum

The subjects comprising a course of study

"The school updated its curriculum to include coding classes."

Pedagogy

The method and practice of teaching

"Modern pedagogy emphasizes student-centered learning."

Literacy

The ability to read and write

"Digital literacy is essential in today's world."

Tuition

Teaching or instruction, especially paid

"University tuition fees have increased significantly."

Scholarship

Academic study or achievement; a grant for education

"She received a scholarship to study abroad."

🌱

Environment & Nature

Sustainable

Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level

"We need sustainable energy sources for the future."

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal life

"Rainforests have incredible biodiversity."

Conservation

Prevention of wasteful use of a resource

"Wildlife conservation is crucial for ecosystem balance."

Renewable

Not depleted when used

"Solar power is a renewable energy source."

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms

"Coral reefs are delicate marine ecosystems."

💻

Technology & Innovation

Artificial Intelligence

Computer systems able to perform tasks requiring human intelligence

"AI is revolutionizing healthcare diagnostics."

Automation

Use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention

"Factory automation has increased production efficiency."

Innovation

The introduction of new ideas or methods

"Innovation drives economic growth and competitiveness."

Digital

Relating to computer technology

"The digital transformation changed how we work."

Cybersecurity

Protection of internet-connected systems

"Companies invest heavily in cybersecurity measures."

🏥

Health & Lifestyle

Wellness

The state of being in good health

"Mental wellness is as important as physical health."

Nutrition

The process of providing food necessary for health

"Good nutrition is essential for child development."

Sedentary

Involving little physical activity

"A sedentary lifestyle can lead to health problems."

Metabolism

Chemical processes that maintain life

"Regular exercise boosts your metabolism."

Immunity

The body's ability to resist infection

"Vaccines help build immunity against diseases."

🏛️

Culture & Society

Diversity

The state of being diverse; variety

"Cultural diversity enriches our communities."

Heritage

Valued traditions passed down through generations

"We must preserve our cultural heritage."

Integration

The process of combining or coordinating

"Social integration helps build cohesive communities."

Globalization

The process of international integration

"Globalization has connected economies worldwide."

Tradition

Customs or beliefs passed down

"Family traditions strengthen cultural identity."

💼

Work & Career

Entrepreneurship

The activity of setting up businesses

"Entrepreneurship drives innovation and job creation."

Collaboration

Working jointly on an activity

"Team collaboration is essential for project success."

Productivity

The effectiveness of productive effort

"Remote work can increase employee productivity."

Leadership

The action of leading a group

"Good leadership inspires and motivates teams."

Networking

Interacting with others to exchange information

"Professional networking opens career opportunities."

Common Idioms & Expressions

Sound more natural and fluent with these commonly used idioms and expressions.

"Break the ice"

To initiate conversation in a social setting

"He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting."

Best used in: Social situations, networking

"Hit the nail on the head"

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem

"You hit the nail on the head with your analysis."

Best used in: Discussions, problem-solving

"A piece of cake"

Something very easy to do

"The exam was a piece of cake for her."

Best used in: Describing difficulty levels

"Burn the midnight oil"

To work late into the night

"I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project."

Best used in: Work, study situations

"Get the ball rolling"

To start something

"Let's get the ball rolling on this new initiative."

Best used in: Starting projects, activities

"Think outside the box"

To think creatively or unconventionally

"We need to think outside the box to solve this problem."

Best used in: Problem-solving, creativity

Master Collocations

Learn which words naturally go together to sound more native-like in your speech.

Strong Collocations

Make a decision
✓ Correct
Do a decision
✗ Incorrect
Take a photo
✓ Correct
Make a photo
✗ Incorrect
Do homework
✓ Correct
Make homework
✗ Incorrect
Have a shower
✓ Correct
Take a shower (both acceptable)
✗ Incorrect
Pay attention
✓ Correct
Give attention
✗ Incorrect

Academic Collocations

Conduct research
✓ Correct
Make research
✗ Incorrect
Draw conclusions
✓ Correct
Take conclusions
✗ Incorrect
Raise awareness
✓ Correct
Lift awareness
✗ Incorrect
Achieve goals
✓ Correct
Reach goals (less common)
✗ Incorrect
Gain experience
✓ Correct
Get experience (informal)
✗ Incorrect

Vocabulary Learning Tips

Effective strategies to accelerate your vocabulary acquisition and retention.

Learning Strategies

  • Learn words in context, not in isolation
  • Use spaced repetition for better retention
  • Create personal example sentences
  • Group words by topic or theme
  • Practice using new words in speaking

Daily Practice

  • Learn 5-10 new words daily
  • Review previously learned words
  • Read English articles and note new words
  • Use vocabulary apps during free time
  • Keep a vocabulary journal

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