IELTS Vocabulary List by Topic: Words, Idioms and Synonyms with Examples
Key Takeaways
- IELTS has no separate vocabulary paper, but Lexical Resource is one of the four equally weighted criteria in Writing and Speaking, and a misspelt answer in Listening or Reading is marked wrong.
- Learn words by topic and in context: read the meaning, say the example sentence aloud, then write a sentence of your own.
- Idioms suit Speaking. Most are too informal for an Academic Writing Task 2 essay, so check where an idiom belongs before you use it.
- Synonyms are rarely perfect swaps. A wrong synonym is a vocabulary error and can cost more than repeating the simple word.
- Use two or three new words naturally in each practice answer rather than forcing many into one response.
Table of Contents
- How should you use this IELTS vocabulary list?
- What IELTS vocabulary should you learn by topic?
- Education
- Work and careers
- Technology
- Environment
- Health
- Travel and tourism
- Money and the economy
- Media and advertising
- Cities and housing
- Society and family
- Which idioms can you use in IELTS?
- Which synonyms help you avoid repeating yourself in IELTS?
- How can you build your IELTS vocabulary faster?
- Read and listen to English you actually enjoy
- Write new words down, then review them
- Learn how a word is used, not just what it means
- Vary your linking words
- Use the words before the exam does
- Go deeper with academic words if you need them
- How do you know if your vocabulary is improving?
IELTS has no separate vocabulary paper, but vocabulary is marked in every part of the test. In Writing and Speaking, Lexical Resource is one of the four criteria the examiner scores, and the four carry equal weight. In Listening and Reading, a misspelt answer is a wrong answer. The words you know, and how naturally you use them, show up in all four scores.
This page is an IELTS vocabulary list built for use, not for memorising. It gives you 60 words across 10 common IELTS topics, each with a plain meaning and an example sentence that shows the word at work. After the topic tables come two things most word lists skip: idioms, with a note on where they belong, and synonyms for the words students repeat most, with a caution on when a swap goes wrong.
Every example sentence on this page was written by our team. Work through a topic, then test yourself in a timed free IELTS mock test.
How should you use this IELTS vocabulary list?
Take one topic at a time rather than the whole list in one sitting. For each word, read the meaning, then say the example sentence aloud: hearing a word in context helps it stick better than reading it silently. After each topic, write one sentence of your own that uses a word in a different situation from the one given here.
Before your next Writing Task 2 or Speaking Part 3 practice, pick two or three new words and use them where they fit. A word forced into an answer where it does not belong costs you more than it earns.
What IELTS vocabulary should you learn by topic?
These ten topics come up again and again in IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking Parts 2 and 3. Each table gives six useful words, what they mean and a sentence you could adapt for your own answer.
Education
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| curriculum | the subjects taught in a school or course | Many universities are redesigning their curriculum to include more practical skills alongside theory. |
| tuition | money paid for teaching, or teaching itself | Rising tuition costs discourage many talented students from pursuing higher education abroad. |
| scholarship | money awarded to support a student’s studies | A generous scholarship allowed her to study engineering without taking on any debt. |
| rote learning | memorising facts by repetition rather than understanding | Critics argue that rote learning produces students who can recall facts but cannot apply them. |
| vocational | relating to the skills needed for a particular job | Vocational training gives school leavers a faster route into skilled employment than a traditional degree. |
| assessment | a judgement about the quality or value of something | Continuous assessment throughout the term gives a fairer picture of ability than one final exam. |
Practise these words in our free Vocabulary Builder app. It turns word lists into short daily practice sessions on your phone, built for IELTS and other exams. Download it from Google Play or the App Store.
Work and careers
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| workload | the amount of work someone has to do | An unmanageable workload is one of the main reasons employees leave a company within a year. |
| commute | a regular journey between home and work | Many city workers now spend over an hour each way on their commute. |
| qualification | a skill or achievement suited to a job | Employers increasingly value practical experience as highly as a formal qualification. |
| burnout | exhaustion caused by prolonged stress at work | Burnout among junior doctors has become a serious concern for hospital management. |
| entrepreneur | a person who starts a business, accepting the financial risk | Young entrepreneurs often struggle to secure funding without a proven track record. |
| appraisal | a formal assessment of an employee’s performance | An annual appraisal should give employees clear feedback, not just a numerical score. |
Technology
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| innovative | new and original in method or idea | An innovative approach to recycling electronic waste could keep far less of it out of landfill. |
| automate | to make a process work without human involvement | Factories that automate repetitive tasks can produce goods faster and with fewer errors. |
| obsolete | no longer used because something newer exists | Many skills taught a decade ago are now obsolete in a rapidly changing job market. |
| breakthrough | an important discovery or development | The breakthrough in battery technology could make electric vehicles affordable for far more buyers. |
| surveillance | close monitoring of behaviour or activity | Increased surveillance in public spaces raises genuine concerns about personal privacy. |
| streamline | to make a process simpler and more efficient | New software streamlined the hospital’s booking system, cutting patient waiting times significantly. |
Environment
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sustainable | able to continue without causing long-term damage | Switching to sustainable farming methods can protect soil quality for future generations. |
| emission | a substance released into the air, especially a pollutant | Cutting vehicle emissions in city centres has measurably improved air quality within a few years. |
| deforestation | the clearing of forests, usually for farming or building | Deforestation in river basins increases the risk of flooding further downstream. |
| renewable | describing an energy source that is naturally replenished | Countries investing early in renewable energy are now less exposed to fuel price shocks. |
| biodiversity | the variety of plant and animal life in an area | Protecting wetlands preserves biodiversity that a single-species farm never could. |
| carbon footprint | the amount of carbon dioxide produced by someone’s activities | Flying less is one of the simplest ways an individual can reduce their carbon footprint. |
Health
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sedentary | involving little physical activity | A sedentary lifestyle is increasingly common among office workers who spend most of the day seated. |
| obesity | the condition of being significantly overweight | Childhood obesity has risen alongside the growing availability of cheap processed food. |
| nutritious | containing substances the body needs to stay healthy | A nutritious breakfast helps children concentrate better during the first lessons of the day. |
| chronic | describing an illness that persists over a long time | Chronic back pain forced him to change careers after years of manual labour. |
| wellbeing | the state of being comfortable, healthy and content | Employers who invest in staff wellbeing often see lower rates of absenteeism. |
| ageing | becoming older, especially of a population | An ageing population puts increasing pressure on a country’s healthcare and pension systems. |
Travel and tourism
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| itinerary | a planned route or schedule for a journey | A loosely planned itinerary left us free to stay longer in places we enjoyed. |
| accommodation | a place to stay, especially while travelling | Budget accommodation near the city centre is often booked months in advance during peak season. |
| congestion | overcrowding, especially of traffic | Congestion in the historic centre has led some cities to restrict cars during the day. |
| heritage | traditions, buildings or sites passed down from the past | Preserving cultural heritage sites requires funding that many regions simply do not have. |
| overcrowded | too full of people | Overcrowded beaches during the summer months push many travellers towards quieter alternatives. |
| authentic | genuine, true to the original | Visitors increasingly look for an authentic local experience rather than a tourist-oriented one. |
Money and the economy
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| inflation | a general rise in prices over time | Persistent inflation erodes the value of savings faster than many people realise. |
| investment | money put into something to earn a profit | A long-term investment in public transport pays off through reduced congestion and pollution. |
| subsidy | financial support given by a government | A subsidy on renewable energy equipment encouraged many households to install solar panels. |
| recession | a period of economic decline | During the recession, many small businesses closed within months of losing their main customers. |
| disposable income | money left after essential expenses are paid | Rising rent has left many tenants with far less disposable income than a decade ago. |
| fluctuate | to change frequently and irregularly | Fuel prices fluctuate so often that long-term planning becomes difficult for transport companies. |
Media and advertising
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| misleading | giving a false impression | Misleading advertising can damage a brand’s reputation far more than it boosts short-term sales. |
| censorship | the suppression of information considered unacceptable | Censorship of online content raises difficult questions about who decides what is harmful. |
| influencer | a person who affects others’ opinions through social media | Brands increasingly pay influencers rather than running traditional television adverts. |
| bias | an unfair preference for or against something | Readers should be aware of potential bias before accepting a single source as the full picture. |
| endorsement | public approval or support, often for payment | A celebrity endorsement can increase sales dramatically, even without any change to the product itself. |
| viral | spreading quickly among many people online | A single viral video can generate more attention than an entire advertising campaign. |
Cities and housing
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| urbanisation | the growth of cities as people move from rural areas | Rapid urbanisation has placed enormous strain on housing supply in many major cities. |
| affordable | priced so that people can reasonably buy it | Affordable housing near employment centres remains scarce in most growing cities. |
| commuter | a person who travels regularly between home and work | Commuter towns often have excellent transport links but far fewer local job opportunities. |
| gentrification | the change of a poorer area by wealthier newcomers | Gentrification can improve a neighbourhood’s amenities while pricing out long-term residents. |
| infrastructure | the basic physical systems of a place | Ageing infrastructure cannot support a population that has grown far beyond its original plans. |
| tenant | a person who rents property | Tenants in older buildings often have little legal protection against sudden rent increases. |
Society and family
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| upbringing | how a child is cared for while growing up | A stable upbringing has a lasting influence on a child’s confidence in adulthood. |
| extended family | relatives beyond parents and children, such as grandparents | In many cultures, the extended family plays a far larger role in raising children than in nuclear households. |
| generation gap | differences in attitudes between older and younger people | The generation gap becomes obvious whenever grandparents and teenagers discuss new technology. |
| nurture | to care for and encourage someone’s development | Schools that nurture creativity alongside academic results tend to produce more confident graduates. |
| inequality | unfair differences between groups in society | Inequality in access to quality education often begins long before children start school. |
| peer pressure | influence from people your age to behave a certain way | Peer pressure during adolescence can shape habits that last well into adulthood. |
Which idioms can you use in IELTS?
Idioms can lift a Speaking answer, because a well-placed idiom sounds natural and shows range. They need care in Writing. Most idioms are informal, and an Academic Writing Task 2 essay is a formal piece, so an idiom there usually sounds out of place. The note next to each idiom tells you where it belongs: “Speaking only”, or “Speaking or informal Writing”, such as a General Training letter to a friend.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example sentence | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| get the ball rolling | to start something | Once the manager got the ball rolling, the rest of the team quickly joined in. | Speaking only |
| a double-edged sword | something with both good and bad effects | Social media is a double-edged sword: it keeps people connected but can also harm their mental health. | Speaking only |
| think outside the box | to think creatively, beyond the usual methods | The company only recovered because a few employees were willing to think outside the box. | Speaking only |
| cut corners | to do something badly or cheaply to save time or money | Builders who cut corners on safety checks put everyone on the site at risk. | Speaking only |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small, visible part of a much larger problem | The reported cases are probably just the tip of the iceberg, since many go unrecorded. | Speaking only |
| a blessing in disguise | something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good | Losing that job turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since it pushed her to start her own business. | Speaking only |
| break the ice | to make people feel more comfortable in a social situation | The teacher asked a light-hearted question to break the ice on the first day of class. | Speaking only |
| on the same page | in agreement about something | Before the project began, the whole team made sure they were on the same page about the deadline. | Speaking or informal Writing |
| a rule of thumb | a general principle based on experience rather than exact calculation | As a rule of thumb, it is wise to set aside part of your income every month. | Speaking or informal Writing |
| in the long run | over a long period of time | Public transport is cheaper in the long run, even if the initial investment is high. | Speaking or informal Writing |
One idiom used naturally is worth more than five squeezed into the same answer. If you are not sure an idiom fits the situation, say it plainly instead. For Speaking questions to practise with, see our list of IELTS Speaking topics.
Which synonyms help you avoid repeating yourself in IELTS?
Examiners notice when the same handful of words carry an entire answer. Below are ten words students lean on most, three alternatives for each, and an example using the best fit.
A word of caution: synonyms are rarely perfect swaps. Each alternative has its own shade of meaning or level of formality, so read the caution before you replace a word automatically. Using the wrong synonym is a vocabulary error, and it can cost you more than repeating the simple word.
| Overused word | Alternatives | Example sentence | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| important | significant, essential, major | Early childhood education has a significant effect on a person’s confidence in later life. | “Essential” means necessary, not just important. Do not use it for something merely helpful. |
| big | substantial, considerable, enormous | The policy led to a considerable rise in the number of students applying from rural areas. | “Enormous” suggests something unusually large. Avoid it for an ordinary-sized change. |
| good | beneficial, effective, favourable | Regular exercise is beneficial for both physical health and concentration at work. | “Effective” describes something that works for a purpose, not simply something pleasant. |
| bad | harmful, detrimental, poor | Excessive screen time before bed can be detrimental to a child’s sleep quality. | “Poor” usually describes quality, such as a poor diet, rather than harm itself. |
| show | demonstrate, reveal, indicate | Recent surveys indicate that remote working has improved employees’ work-life balance. | “Reveal” suggests something previously hidden or unknown, not just displayed. |
| increase | rise, grow, soar | House prices in the city rose steadily over the past decade. | “Soar” means to increase very quickly. Do not use it for a gradual change. |
| problem | issue, drawback, obstacle | A lack of affordable childcare remains the main obstacle for many working parents. | “Drawback” is a disadvantage of something otherwise useful, not a serious crisis. |
| think | believe, consider, argue | Many economists argue that short-term subsidies rarely solve a long-term housing shortage. | “Argue” implies a position supported by reasoning, not a casual opinion. |
| difficult | challenging, demanding, tough | Balancing a full-time job with part-time study is undeniably demanding. | “Tough” is informal. Avoid it in Academic Writing Task 2. |
| get | obtain, acquire, gain | Graduates with practical experience often gain employment faster than those with qualifications alone. | “Acquire” suits skills or possessions, not experiences such as confidence or trust. |
How can you build your IELTS vocabulary faster?
A list gives you the words. These habits help you keep them and use them under exam pressure.
Read and listen to English you actually enjoy
Reading widely is the most reliable way to grow your vocabulary, because you meet words in context and see how they are really used. Newspapers and magazine articles are especially useful, since their topics overlap with IELTS Reading passages and Writing questions. Podcasts, news broadcasts and talk shows do the same for your ear. Choose material that interests you, or you will not keep it up.
Write new words down, then review them
Keep a notebook or a notes file for new words. Next to each one, write its meaning, the sentence you found it in and one sentence of your own. Review the list once or twice a week. That is far more useful than scrambling for new words the night before the test.
Learn how a word is used, not just what it means
When you look a word up, check which words usually go with it and whether it is formal or informal. Words close in meaning are not always interchangeable: you can describe a hole as deep, but not as profound, even though the two words often overlap. The same care applies to phrasal verbs, where “look for”, “look down on” and “look out for” mean three different things.
Vary your linking words
Some of the easiest gains come from small words. If every contrast in your essay starts with “but” and every new paragraph with “firstly” or “secondly”, try alternatives such as “however”, “nevertheless”, “on the other hand”, “as a result” and “for instance”. Check how each one is punctuated before you use it.
Use the words before the exam does
Pick a recent Speaking question and talk about it for two minutes using words you have just learned, recording yourself as you go. Then listen back: where did you repeat yourself, and which word would have been more precise? Do the same with a Writing task, and compare your answer with a high-scoring model. Our IELTS sample questions with answers give you prompts to start with.
Go deeper with academic words if you need them
If you are aiming for a high band in Academic IELTS, the Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000) is a useful next step. It collects 570 word families that appear often in academic texts across subjects. Learn them the same way as the words above: meaning, example, then a sentence of your own.
How do you know if your vocabulary is improving?
Vocabulary practice pays off only when it shows up in your scores. Take a timed free IELTS mock test, then convert your section results with our IELTS band calculator to see where you stand overall.
Keep practising between sessions with our free Vocabulary Builder app on Google Play or the App Store.
A downloadable PDF of the full list, with all 120 topic words, 20 idioms and 20 synonym sets, is on its way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words do I need for IELTS?
There is no official number. What matters is whether you can use words accurately and naturally on common topics. A few hundred well-understood topic words will help you more than thousands of memorised ones.
Is vocabulary marked in IELTS?
Yes. In Writing and Speaking, Lexical Resource is one of the four marking criteria, and the four carry equal weight. In Listening and Reading, spelling counts, so a misspelt answer is marked wrong.
Which topics come up most in IELTS?
Education, work, technology, the environment, health, travel, money, the media, cities and housing, and society and family are among the topics that come up most often in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Parts 2 and 3.
Can I use idioms in IELTS Writing?
Rarely. Most idioms are informal, and an Academic Writing Task 2 essay is formal, so an idiom there usually sounds out of place. A few, such as in the long run, can work in an informal General Training letter.
Do idioms improve my IELTS Speaking score?
They can, if you use them naturally and correctly. One idiom that fits the situation shows range; several squeezed into one answer sound rehearsed and can lower your score.
How do I use synonyms without making mistakes?
Check the meaning and formality of each alternative before you use it. For example, soar means to rise very quickly, so it does not fit a gradual increase.
Should I memorise word lists for IELTS?
Not on their own. Learn each word with its meaning, an example sentence and a sentence of your own, then use it in practice answers. Words learned in context are easier to recall and use correctly.
Do I need difficult words to get a high IELTS band?
No. Examiners reward precise and natural word choice, not rare words. A difficult word used in the wrong place lowers your score, while a common word used well does not.
What is the Academic Word List?
It is a list of 570 word families that appear often in academic texts across subjects, compiled by Averil Coxhead in 2000. It is useful for Academic IELTS candidates aiming for a high band.
How can I practise IELTS vocabulary every day?
Review a small set of words daily, read or listen to English on IELTS topics, and use new words in short spoken or written answers. The free Galvanize Vocabulary Builder app is one way to fit short practice sessions into your day.
Does accent affect my IELTS Speaking score?
No. Examiners assess how clearly you can be understood, not which accent you have. Clear pronunciation matters more than sounding like a native speaker.
