This list was written by BandLadder's authors, Fizza Butool Zaidi and Ali Zaidi. The meanings and example sentences are our own, not taken from model answers or dictionaries.

12 words

Writing Task 2 vocabulary

Formal and neutral items that suit an essay. They work in Speaking too.

urbanisation
The growth in the share of people living in towns and cities.
Rapid urbanisation has put pressure on housing and transport in many developing countries.
British spelling; 'urbanization' is also accepted.
urban sprawl
The spread of a city into the surrounding countryside.
Urban sprawl swallows farmland and increases dependence on cars.
overcrowding
Too many people in one place.
Overcrowding strains schools, hospitals and public transport.
the cost of living
The amount of money needed for basic needs such as food and housing.
The cost of living in capital cities is often far higher than elsewhere.
green spaces
Parks and other areas of grass and trees in a town.
Green spaces improve both air quality and residents' mental health.
urban planning
Deciding how land in a town or city is used and developed.
Good urban planning places homes, schools and shops within walking distance.
amenities
Useful services and facilities, such as hospitals and libraries.
Cities offer amenities such as specialist hospitals and universities that rural areas lack.
air pollution
Harmful substances in the air.
Air pollution in many large cities exceeds World Health Organization guidelines.
rural-urban migration
People moving from the countryside to cities.
Rural-urban migration is driven mainly by the search for better-paid work.
infrastructure
Basic systems such as roads, water supply and power.
Infrastructure must expand as fast as the population, or services decline.
regeneration
Improving a run-down area with new investment.
The regeneration of former industrial districts has created new homes and jobs.
a sense of community
A feeling of belonging among people in an area.
Some argue that large cities lack a sense of community.

Use cities and urban life vocabulary in a Task 2 essay

Write a Task 2 answer using words that fit your argument. Get your first guest Writing evaluation before signup, with feedback on vocabulary, grammar, coherence and task response. BandLadder AI feedback is an estimate, not an official IELTS score.

Get free essay feedback →

10 phrases

Speaking vocabulary

Natural spoken English for Parts 1 to 3. Items noted as informal or as an idiom belong in Speaking only, never in Task 2.

hustle and bustle
Busy, noisy activity.
I love the hustle and bustle of city life.
lively
Full of energy and activity.
My neighbourhood is really lively at night.
the city centre
The main central area of a city.
I work in the city centre, so I'm there every day.
British; American English often says 'downtown'.
the suburbs
Residential areas on the edge of a city.
I grew up in the suburbs, about forty minutes from the centre.
always something going on
There are many events and activities.
In a big city there's always something going on.
run-down
In poor condition because of neglect.
Parts of the old town are quite run-down now.
a concrete jungle
A city area with many buildings and no nature.
Some districts are just a concrete jungle with hardly any trees.
get away from it all
To escape from daily stress, usually by travelling.
At weekends I like to get away from it all and go to the countryside.
built-up
Covered with many buildings.
The area around my office is very built-up.
the locals
People who live in a particular place.
The locals are very friendly to tourists.

Writing Task 2

Use it in an answer

Some people think living in a large city is better than living in a small town. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Large cities offer clear advantages: more jobs, better amenities and specialist services that small towns cannot support. Yet these benefits come at a price. The cost of living is higher, air pollution is worse and many residents feel they lack a sense of community. Small towns, by contrast, are calmer and more affordable but may offer limited careers. In my opinion, cities are better for young adults building careers, while towns often suit families, provided transport links make city services reachable.

Written by our authors to show the vocabulary in use; not an official IELTS sample.

Lexical Resource

How examiners judge this vocabulary

Vocabulary is scored as Lexical Resource, one quarter of your Writing and Speaking marks. At the higher bands the public IELTS band descriptors for Speaking mention “less common and idiomatic vocabulary”, together with awareness of style and collocation. In practice that means the right item in the right register: ‘urbanisation’ in an essay, ‘hustle and bustle’ when you speak. Accuracy comes first; a misused advanced word costs more than a plain one used well.

Practise in context

Cities and urban life questions to practise

Frequently asked questions

Should I write 'urbanisation' or 'urbanization'?+

Both are accepted in IELTS. British English usually uses -isation; American English uses -ization. What matters is consistency: do not mix the two spellings in one essay.

What is the difference between a city and a town?+

A city is large and important, often with a cathedral or government offices; a town is smaller. In Speaking you can say 'my hometown' for either, which avoids the question.

Can I use the Speaking phrases in Writing Task 2?+

Not the informal ones. Phrasal verbs and idioms sound natural in Speaking but are too casual for an essay, and Task 2 should have no contractions. Everything in the Writing list works in both papers.

Will learning these words raise my IELTS band?+

Not on their own, and no word list guarantees a band. Lexical Resource rewards vocabulary used precisely and naturally, so five items you can use correctly are worth more than twenty forced into an answer. Learn each one with its example, then write or say a sentence of your own.

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

IELTS vocabulary for cities and urban life