12 topics
Vocabulary from Band 8 answers
Each word links to the sample essay or Part 1 answer it was used in.
- Society319 words · appeal, coincides, diverse
- Education251 words · counterproductive, unstructured, tedium
- Environment217 words · mitigates, ambient, robust
- Work and careers215 words · misalignment, curricula, proficiencies
- Technology204 words · executive function, spatial awareness, intricate
- Economy and money203 words · imported, domestic producers, workshops
- Culture and tradition202 words · redundant, tactile, replicate
- Government, law and crime200 words · petty theft, make amends, lenient
- Health192 words · indiscriminate, proliferate, resilient
- Media and advertising149 words · exposed to, persuasion, irresistible
- Travel and transport141 words · catalyst, preconceived notions, xenophobic
- Family138 words · childminders, hardship, sacrificing
20 topics
More topics, written by our authors
Lists for sport, food, transport, housing and other common topics, with formal words for Writing Task 2, natural phrases for Speaking and a short model answer that uses them.
- Sport and fitness22 words · sedentary lifestyle, physical activity, participate in sport
- Food and diet22 words · a balanced diet, processed food, nutritional value
- Housing and accommodation22 words · affordable housing, the housing market, property prices
- Transport and commuting22 words · public transport, traffic congestion, commuter
- Shopping and consumerism22 words · consumerism, consumer spending, disposable income
- Fashion and clothing22 words · the fashion industry, fast fashion, textile waste
- Music22 words · the music industry, streaming services, musical heritage
- Art and design22 words · the arts, artistic expression, foster creativity
- Science and research22 words · scientific research, breakthrough, carry out experiments
- Space exploration22 words · space exploration, space agencies, a waste of resources
- Animals and wildlife22 words · endangered species, habitat loss, biodiversity
- Weather and climate22 words · climate change, global warming, extreme weather events
- Cities and urban life22 words · urbanisation, urban sprawl, overcrowding
- History and heritage22 words · cultural heritage, historical sites, preserve
- Languages and communication22 words · bilingual, a lingua franca, linguistic diversity
- Advertising and marketing22 words · target audience, persuasive techniques, celebrity endorsement
- Energy22 words · renewable energy, fossil fuels, energy consumption
- Water and natural resources22 words · natural resources, water scarcity, deplete
- Agriculture and farming22 words · agricultural land, crop yields, organic farming
- Ageing and older people22 words · an ageing population, life expectancy, the elderly
Word partners
Learn the words that go together
Accurate word pairs matter as much as single words. Our IELTS collocations pages give natural combinations such as tackle climate change and job satisfaction for each Task 2 topic, with register notes and common mistakes.
In context
See them used in full answers
For Speaking, add a few natural expressions too: our idioms for IELTS Speaking are grouped by topic and mark which ones sound dated or overused.
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