IELTS & PTE lesson · Vocabulary

IELTS & PTE Work and Careers Vocabulary notesWork words that say what you mean

Swap good, bad and big for precise pairs. This IELTS & PTE lesson is a deck of 9 visual cards from BandLadder's own study library, written and fact-checked by our team.
  • 9 cards
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  • Updated 30 September 2026

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What's inside

Along the way you get worked examples with the key words marked, before-and-after fixes that show why the first version loses marks, a one-page visual summary, word cards with meanings and examples (a heavy workload, working conditions, job satisfaction and job security), a quick check to test yourself and a recap of the rules to remember. Each card holds one idea, so you can read it on a phone between practice sessions.

Reading it online is free: create a free BandLadder account and the whole lesson opens in our study reader, on the web and in the app. Downloading the PDF to keep needs a plan; the free reader has every card.

The first 3 of 9 cards

Preview

  1. IELTS · PTEVocabulary · Work and careers

    A good job, a big salary

    words that fit anything say little

    Good, bad, big, a lot of: they fit every topic, so they tell your reader almost nothing. A precise pair does.

    Many graduates want a good jobgood how? with a big salary,formal: high but a lot of jobs are bad.bad how?

    Better: a secure job with a high salary, but many jobs are low-paid.

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material1 / 9
  2. IELTS · PTEVocabulary · Work and careers

    Good in what way?

    name the quality, then pick the word

    QualityInstead of goodInstead of bad
    Paywell-paidlow-paid
    Futurea secure jobinsecure work
    Meaningrewardingunrewarding
    Prospectswith prospectsdead-end
    Hoursflexible hourslong hours

    IELTS Writing Band 7, Lexical Resource: “some flexibility and precision”.

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material2 / 9
  3. IELTS · PTEVocabulary · Work and careers

    Describing the job

    adjective + noun, noun + noun

    • a heavy workloadlots of work to do

      Junior nurses often cope with a heavy workload.

    • working conditionspay, hours and safety

      The strike was about poor working conditions.

    • job satisfactionenjoying your work

      Many nurses value job satisfaction over pay.

    • job securityknowing your job will last

      Short-term contracts offer little job security.

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material3 / 9
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9 cards

Contents

  1. 1A good job, a big salarywords that fit anything say littleIn the preview
  2. 2Good in what way?name the quality, then pick the wordIn the preview
  3. 3Describing the jobadjective + noun, noun + nounIn the preview
  4. 4Building a careerverb + noun: learn the verb with the nounFree account
  5. 5The big essay issuesissue nouns for essays and Speaking Part 3Free account
  6. 6In an essay paragraphthe prompt: one employer, or many?Free account
  7. 7Two slips to swapone small word, one wrong verbFree account
  8. 8Your turnpick the word that pairs naturallyFree account
  9. 9Save thisthe work-words checklistFree account

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The BandLadder team wrote and checked it. It is original BandLadder material, not copied from books or other websites, and its exam facts are checked against the official IELTS and PTE pages.

Is it for IELTS or PTE?+

Both. The lesson is in the IELTS and the PTE study library, so it opens whichever exam you prepare for.

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© 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

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