(on) BEHALF (of someone or something)

:
(preposition) For. For example: 'He thanked
the guests for coming on my behalf as I had
to leave early and couldnt talk to everyone.'

A
ABANDON
:
(verb) Leave, discard, desert. For
example: 'The fishermen had to abandon
their ship and escaped to safety in the
rescue helicopter when they were caught
in the storm last week.'

because there was no evidence'.

ACCOMPANY
:
(verb) Go with, escort. For example: 'The
Prime Minister will be accompanied by four
government officials through the whole tour
of Australia.'

Keyword(s):

ACRONYM
:
(noun) A word made up of the inital letters
of a collection of words. Example: 'IELTS is
the acronym for the International English
Language Testing System'.

ACCORDINGLY
:
(adverb) To show something corresponds,
relates. Example: 'He was told that the
project was urgent, so he accordingly
worked overtime until it was completed'.

ACTIVE VERB
:
(noun phrase) A verb which describes an
action. Example: run, write, listen, sleep.
See also STATIVE VERB

ACCOUNTABLE
:
(adjective) reponsible, answerable.
Example: 'Parents should be accountable for
the actions of their children'.

ADAPT
:
(verb) get used to, change, adjust. For
example: 'It can be difficult to adapt to a
different environment.'

ACCUMULATE
:
(verb) Collect, gather, amass. For example:
'The business accumulated a huge amount of
debt in the year prior to its closure.'

Keyword(s):

ACCOMPANIES

ABANDONED
Keyword(s):
ABSTRACT
:
(verb) Summary, synopsis, short version.
For example: 'When researching journals for
information, it is useful to read just the
abstract to quickly find out if the topic is
relevant to your assignment as it takes too
long to read the whole thing.'

ABSTRACTS
Keyword(s):
ACADEMIC
:
(adjective) Something or someone showing
a high level of education. Example:
'University students have to write in an
academic style'.

ACADEMY
:
(noun) School, comedy, institute. For
example: 'The academy, which opened two
years ago, has just had the pleasure of seeing
its first group of students graduate.'

ACADEMIES
Keyword(s):
ACCESS
:
(verb) Gain entry to, get in to, log on to. For
example: 'It is possible to access a wide
range of information on the internet.'

ACCESSED
Keyword(s):
ACCLIMATISE
:
(verb) Adapt, become used to something.
Example: 'It can take some time to
acclimatise when first moving to a new
country.'

ACCOMMODATE
:
(verb) Hold, have room for. For example:
'The hotel seems able to accommodate our
needs for the upcoming seminar.'
Keyword(s):

ACCOMMODATES

ADAPTS

ACCUMULATES

ADDICTION
:
(noun) A habit involving something that is
not just wanted but needed. For example: A
drug addiciton

Keyword(s):
ACCURATE
:
(adjective) Correct, true. For example: 'I am
not sure if the information you have
received is accurate as I have heard much
different information from a reliable source.'

ADDITION
:
(noun) More of something. Example:
'Schools would benefit from more funding.
In addition, they would also benefit from
having more qualified teachers.'

ACHIEVE
:
(verb) Get, accomplish, attain. For example:
'He won four gold medals and three silver
medals in his sporting career and achieved a
lot on behalf of his country.'

ADEQUATE
:
(adjective) enough, sufficient. For example:
'A large number of homeless people do not
have adequate food to eat.'

ACKNOWLEDGE
:
(verb) Recognise, make reference to. For
example: 'I feel disappointed because my
manager did not acknowledge all of the hard
work I had put into the project at last weeks
meeting.'

ACQUIRE
:
(verb) get hold of, gain, purchase. For
example: 'His business is to acquire
computers at low cost prices then sell them
on for a profit overseas.'

ACQUIRES
Keyword(s):
ACQUIT
:
(verb) To let go, to release from blame.
Example: 'He was acquitted of the murder

ADJACENT TO
:
(preposition) next to, near to. For example:
'The reception area is adjacent to the
Conference room, ask there and theyll show
you in.'

ADJECTIVE
:
A word used to describe a noun. Examples
of adjectives: hot, cold, intelligent,
impressive

ADJECTIVES
Keyword(s):
ADJUST
:
(verb) Alter, change, adapt. For example:
'There were errors in my last pay cheque so
they have adjusted this months pay to
correct the mistake.'

ADMINISTRATE
:
(verb) Control, run, manage. For example:
'The Head Office in London administrates
all operations for the company for the rest of
the country.'

ADULT
:
(noun) grown up, no longer a child. For
example: 'In the UK teenagers officially
become classed as adults on their 18th
birthday.'

ADULTS
Keyword(s):
ADVANCE
:
To move forward; to improve something.

ADVERB
:
An adverb describes a verb. Examples: run
quickly, wait patiently

ADVERBS
Keyword(s):
ADVOCATE
:
(noun) Supporter, backer, believer.
Example: 'While many people oppose the
new rules, there are probably enough
advocates to give support. '
(verb) To support, to back, to believe in.
Example: 'Some countries advocate higher
wages for teachers'.

ALBEIT
:
(adverb) Although, though, even though. For
example: 'A university education gives
graduates the opportunity to enter a high
paid job over the long term, albeit an
expensive investment during their years of
study.'

ALLOCATE
:
(verb) Assign, give out. For example: 'The
Government should allocate a higher
percentage of funding for healthcare'

ANALYSED
Keyword(s):
ANNUAL
:
(adjective) Yearly, twelve-monthly. For
example: 'The budget is decided on an
annual basis, at the end of April each year.'

ANNUL
:
(verb) Cancel or remove. Example:
'Developed countries should annul the debts
of developing countries.'

ALLOCATED
Keyword(s):

ANNULLED
Keyword(s):

ALTER
:
(verb) Change, adjust. For example: 'Many
cities have altered their road systems
dramatically in order to cope with additional
traffic.'

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
:
(noun phrase) Against the good of society.
Example: 'Increasing anti-social behaviour
is a cause for concern'.

ALTERED
Keyword(s):
ALTERNATIVE
:
(noun) Option, other choice. For example:
'The only alternative to cutting staff hours
would be to make some members of the
team redundant.'

ANTICIPATE
:
(verb) Expect, predict. For example: 'It is
difficult to anticipate which questions will
come up in an examination as the lecturer
uses a mixture of new questions and those
from past exam papers.'

ANTICIPATED
Keyword(s):
AMBIGUOUS
:
(adjective) Unclear, vague, confusing. For
example: 'The email message from the CEO
was ambiguous and confused the majority of
the Management team.'

ADVOCATES

APPARENT
:
(adjective) Clear, plain, obvious. For
example: 'It is apparent from the travel
information he gave us that we will be
spending a long time travelling on the bus.'

Keyword(s):
AFFECT
:
(verb) Have an effect on, influence. For
example: 'Drinking alcohol severely affects
a persons ability to drive safely.'

AMEND
:
(verb) Alter, make corrections, improve. For
example: 'The university policy regarding
international students was amended last July
and the changes will be put in place from the
New Year.'

APPEARANCE
:
(noun) Physical characteristics; the way
something looks. Example: 'People are often
judged by their appearance'.

AMENDS
AGGREGATE
:
(adjective) Total, combined. For example:
'We have 40 staff in aggregate and the
majority of them work in Sales.'

AID
:
To help.

AIM
:
(verb) To direct towards a particular goal or
target. For example: 'I am aiming to get a
7.5 on my IELTS test'

Keyword(s):
ANALOGY
:
(noun) Likeness, similarity, comparison. For
example: 'The finance lecturer used an
analogy to help students understand the
concept of profitability to a company; he
said it was similar to the bodys need for
food.'

APPEND
:
(verb) Add on, attach. For example: 'When
students complete a University assignment it
is common for them to append additional
information at the end of the project. These
are called the appendices and should be
clearly numbered.'

APPENDED
Keyword(s):

ANALYSE
:
(verb) To examine carefully and in detail to
find key points. Example: 'It is important to
analyse the question before you start writing
your IELTS essay'.

APPRECIATE
:
(verb) Be thankful for, be pleased about,
value. For example: 'James really
appreciated all of the help that Steven had
given him with his revision, so much so that
he bought him a gift to say thank you.'

APPRECIATED
Keyword(s):
APPROACH
:
(noun) Style, methodology. For example:
'Different people have different approaches
to learning and revision, one way is to make
notes of the main issues and read over them
several times to help remember the
information.'
(verb) The way of doing something

(noun) A part or feature of something.

Example: 'There are 4 aspects the examiner
will mark your essay on'.

ASPECTS
Keyword(s):
ASSEMBLE
:
(verb) Put together, build, compile. For
example: 'Jason has just assembled a new
computer from parts he was given by
friends.'

APPROACHED

ASSEMBLED

Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):

APPROPRIATE
:
(adjective) Suitable, correct, fitting. For
example: 'It is not always appropriate to act
in the same way as usual when in a different
culture..'

ASSESS
:
(verb) Measure, test, gauge. For example: 'In
the IELTS exam students are assessed on
their ability to read, write, speak and listen
in English.'

ASSESSED
APPROXIMATE
:
(adjective) Estimated. For example: 'We are
unsure exactly how many new students will
enrol in the course next term, however, we
could expect approximate figures to be
around 150.'
Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):
ASSIGN
:
(verb) Give, allocate, designate. For
example: 'I have been assigned a new
project at work, which will involve business
trips to Japan as I am the only member of
the team who can speak Japanese.'

ATTITUDE
:
(noun) Way of thinking, approach, manner.
For example: 'With a positive attitude and
hard work it is possible for most people to
gain a tertiary qualification.'

ATTRIBUTE
:
(noun) Characteristic, feature, trait. For
example: 'Simon has many positive
attributes including patience, dedication and
understanding.'

AUTHOR
:
(noun) Writer. For example: 'It is important
to reference the name of the author and the
year the book was written if quoting from
other books or journals in academic writing.'

AUTHORITY
:
(noun) Power, right, influence. For example:
'Teachers no longer have the authority to
smack children at school.'

APPROXIMATED
ARBITRARY
:
(adjective) Random, chance, illogical. For
example: 'The system for deciding which
workers will lose their jobs can sometimes
seem fairly arbitrary as it does not seem that
experience, or length of time working at the
company are taken into account..'

AREA
:
(noun) Section, part, field. For example: 'It
is important to consider carefully which area
of business we hope to work in, in the future
and choose modules for study which give
experience in that field.'

ARRANGEMENT
:
(noun) An agreed plan. Example: 'The
company made an arrangement to deliver
the product before 5.30 pm.'

ASCRIBE
:
(verb) A specified cause, source, or origin.
Example: 'The decline in the number of
people reading books can be ascribed to the
availability of the internet'.

ASCRIBED
Keyword(s):
ASPECT
:

ASSIST
:
(verb) Help, aid, support. For example:
'Being a P.A. can be an interesting job as the
role involves assisting the CEO with a
variety of important tasks.'

ASSUME
:
(verb) Think, believe, presume. For
example: 'It is sometimes wrongly assumed
that people with disabilities are also stupid.'

ASSURE
:
(verb) promise, guarantee, pledge. For
example: 'The technical support team
assured me that the internet service would
be working again within the next 30
minutes.'

ATTACH
:
(verb) add, join, append. For example: 'I
replied to the job advert by email and had to
attach a copy of my CV and qualifications.'

ATTAIN
:
(verb) Achieve, accomplish, reach. For
example: 'It is possible for most people to
attain wealth through hard work and
education. '

AUTOMATE
:
(verb) mechanise, computerise. For
example: 'Many companies are automating
their systems reducing the need for people
as machinery can do their jobs equally well.'

AVAILABLE
:
(adjective) existing, accessible, to be had.
For example: 'Types of medical treatment
available is increasing all the time due to
medical research.'

AWARE
:
(adjective) Informed, concerned. For
example: 'It is important for us to be aware
of the impact of human behaviour on the
environment.'

B
BALANCE
:
(noun) Equality, giving equal importance
to. Example: 'A good essay should show
balance, considering both sides of the
argument.'

BALANCED
:
(adjective) Considering both sides, fair.
Example: 'It is important to write a balanced
argument when asked for an opinion.'

BAN
:
(verb) To make illegal. Example: 'Smoking
in public palces has been banned in many
countries'.

BARBARIC
:
(adjective) Cruel; uncivilised. Example:
'Many people believe that capital
punishment is barbaric.'

BEAR IN MIND
:
(verb / idiom) Remember, consider.
Example: 'Always bear in mind that you
only have 40 minutes to complete Task II'.

BENEFICIAL
:
(adjective) Useful, bringing advantages.
Example: 'It is beneficial for IELTS
candidates to spend some time studying
before taking the test'.

BENEFIT
:
(verb) Help, assist, do good for. For
example: 'Eating healthily and taking regular
exercise can benefit people who are
overweight.'

BLANK
:
(adjective) Without information; empty.
Example: 'Answer all the questions in the
IELTS test. Don't leave any blank spaces.'

BOND
:
(verb) Connect, link, build a relationship.
For example: 'Human beings are naturally
social and it is important for us to bond with
the people around us.'

BRAINSTORM
:
(verb) Think of all related ideas. Example:
'When trying to write Task II, you should
brainstorm for ideas.

:
(adverb) Short, quickly. Example: 'He
briefly looked at the essay but didn't read it
in detail'.

CENTRALLY CONTROLLED
:
(adjective) Controlled by a country's
government, not by local governments.

BULK
:
(noun) Main part, major part. For example:
'The bulk of the research has now been
done, though we have a few small issues to
finish before it is completed.'

CERTAINTY
:
(noun) No doubt; sure. Example: 'It is a
certainty that the world's population will
increase.'

C
CAPABLE
:
(adjective) Able, confident, skilled. For
example: 'I sometimes feel I am not
capable of writing my university essays in
English, it is quite difficult for me.'

CAPACITY
:
(noun) Size, volume. For example: 'The
class is full to capacity so I will have to wait
and enroll in a new class next month.'

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
:
(noun) The penalty of death for a crime

CATEGORY
:
A division or class of something. For
example: There are several categories of
cars - family cars, sports cars, 4 wheel
drives...

CATEGORIES
Keyword(s):
CAUSE
:
(noun) The reason something happens.
Example: 'The cause of rising sea levels is
the melting of polar ice'.

CAUSED
Keyword(s):
CEASE
:
(verb) Stop, end, finish. For example: 'He
has been made redundant and his
employment contract will officially cease on
July 21st.'

Keyword(s):

BRAINSTORMED
BRIEF
:
(adjective) Short, quick . Example: 'The
meeting was brief as everyone was very
busy'.

CEASED
Keyword(s):
CELEBRITY
:
(noun) Someone very well known; a public
figure. 'Many celebrities, such as Tom
Cruise, are photographed wherever they go.'

CELEBRITIES
Keyword(s):
BRIEFLY

CHALLENGE
:
(verb) To argue against an opinion.
Example: 'In IELTS writing, you may need
to challenge an opinion by giving a different
point of view'.
(noun) A difficult situation. Example:
'Studying in a second language can be a
challenge for many students'.

CHALLENGES
Keyword(s):
CHALLENGING
:
(adjective) Difficult, not easy. Example: 'It
can be challenging for international students
to study at university in a second language'.

CHANNEL
:
(verb) Direct, guide, feed. For example: 'The
Government promises to channel more
funds into fighting crime if they win the next
election.'

CHANNELS
Keyword(s):
CHAPTER
:
(noun) Section, part of a book. For example:
'The information we learned today in the
lecture is found in more detail in chapter 10
of the textbook.'

CHAPTERS
Keyword(s):
CHARACTER
:
(noun) How someone behaves / thinks / acts.
Example: 'He has a very friendly,
approachable character.'

CHART
:
(noun) graph, table, diagram. For example:
'It was clear from the bar chart that sales had
risen in the period January-April.'

CHARTS
Keyword(s):
CHEMICAL
:
(noun) Substance, element, compound. For
example: 'There are many harmful
chemicals in cigarette smoke.'

CHEMICALS

'Knowledge of the highway code is tested in

the driving test in a theory exam.'

Keyword(s):
CIRCUMSTANCE
:
(noun) Situation, event. For example: 'It
should depend on the individual
circumstances of the crime, as to whether
the death penalty is implemented.'

COHERENCE
:
(noun) Able to be understood. Example:
'An essay needs to show coherence; that is, a
logical flow of ideas'. See also
COHERENT

Keyword(s):

CIRCUMSTANCES
CITE
:
(verb) Situation, event. For example: 'It is
important to cite the name of the author you
have used information from in academic
writing for university.'

CIVIL
:
(adjective) Related to individuals and the
general public. For example: 'Civil rights
allow the right to privacy in most countries.'

COHERENT
:
(adjective) Logical, reasoned. For example:
'In order to gain good marks it is important
to write an essay which has good ideas and
is coherent.'

COHESION
:
(noun) Joining ideas together. Example: 'A
good essay will be easy to understand
because of its cohesion'

COHESIVE
Keyword(s):

CIVILISED
:
(adjective) Having a high state of culture,
technology or society. Example: 'Many
ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and
the Azecs, were highly civilised.'

CLAIM
:
(noun) Something stated as fact, though not
necessarily proven. Example: 'His claims
have been ignored by the government'.

CLARIFY
:
(verb) Explain, make clear. For example:
'The instructions given on the examination
paper were not clear so we asked the
invigilator to clarify what we had to do.'

CLARIFIED

COINCIDE
:
(verb) Happen togther, match, overlap. For
example: 'The date for my IELTS exam
coincided with my college exams so I did
not have enough time to study properly as I
had too much to do.'

COLLAPSE
:
(verb) Give way, fail, come to nothing. For
example: 'The ideas and proposal for the
new business development collapsed when it
became clear that necessary funding was not
available.'

COLLEAGUE
:
(noun) Co-worker. For example: 'Having
supportive colleagues in the workplace is
very important'

(verb) Start, begin. For example: 'The new

university semester commences on February
25th and all new students need to enroll the
week before.'

COMMENT
:
(verb) Say in passing, mention, point out.
For example: 'My teacher commented that
my English has improved a lot in the last
two months when I spoke with her the other
day. '

COMMISSION
:
(verb) Appoint, authorise. For example: ' In
many peoples opinion artworks
commissioned by the Council, are an
example of money badly spent as there are
more important projects to spend money on.'

COMMIT TO
:
(verb) Pledge. For example: 'Although the
Government said, during the last election
that it was committed to reducing crime
rates there has been an increase in violent
crime in the last three years.'

COMMODITY
:
(noun) Product, good or service. For
example: 'Electronic commodities such as
computers and equipment have fallen
dramatically in price since their introduction
to the market.'

COMMON
:
(adjective)
#1 - Similar, shared. Example: 'It is
beneficial if husbands and wives have
common interests'.
#2 - Usual, regularly occuring. Example: 'It
is common for language learners to make
grammar mistakes'.

Keyword(s):
CLASSIC
:
(adjective) Typical. For example: 'A classic
example of discrimination is lower pay for
women.'

CLASSIFY
:
(verb) To put into a group or category.
Example: 'Humans are classified as
mammals. Sharks are classified as fish'.

CLASSIFIED

COMBINATION
:
(noun) When two or more things are put
together. Example: 'Some IELTS questions
will require you to use a combination of
skills and abilities'.

COMFORTABLE
:
(adjective) Calm, relaxed, at ease. Example:
'It is important to show the examiner that
you are comfortable speaking English
during your IELTS test'.

Keyword(s):
CODE
:
(noun) Rule, regulation. For example:

COMMENCE
:

COMMUNICATE
:
To give or exchange thoughts, ideas or
opinions.

COMMUNITY
:
(noun) A group of people in society. For
example: 'Over recent years local
communities have become more concerned
about increase in crime in their areas.'

COMPARATIVE
:
(grammar term) The form of an adjective
used for comparing. Example: tall > taller

COMPARISON
:
(noun) When something is compared to
something else. Example: 'There have been
comparisons made between the landscape of
New Zealand and Norway'.

COMPARISONS
Keyword(s):
COMPATIBLE
:
(adjective) Well-matched, like-minded. For
example: 'It is important for employers to
employ the most suitable person for a job
and that the employees personality is
compatible with the position being offered.'

COMPENSATE
:
(verb) Balance, make up for. For example:
'Nowadays some parents try to compensate
for having little time to spend with their
children by giving them too many material
things such as toys and games.'

COMPILE
:
(verb) List, compose, record. For example:
'Before I go to the library I need to compile
a list of information I need to look for while
I am there.'

COMPLEMENT
:
(verb) Add to, accompany. For example:
'Following a healthy diet and taking regular
exercise complement each other well to
create a healthy lifestyle..'

COMPLEX
:
(adjective) Not simple, involved, difficult.
For example: 'Arguments in support of, and
against the death penalty need to be
considered carefully, as the subject is
extremely complex.'

COMPLICATED
:
(adjective) Difficult, intricate. Example:
'Mathematics studied at university level is
complicated'.

COMPONENT
:
(noun) Part, piece. For example: 'Tom has
the ability to fix my computer but is unsure
if he can find the correct components he
needs to sort out the problem.'

COMPOUND
:
(verb) Add to, increase (a negative
situation). For example: 'Governments

should invest more money into public health

care as lack of funds only compound the
problem hospitals are facing.'

COMPREHENSIVE
:
(adjective) Wide-ranging, thorough. For
example: 'Hospitals should provide
comprehensive information booklets so that
patients will know what to expect when they
have an operation.'

COMPRISE
:
(verb) Include, contain, thorough. For
example: 'Australia comprises several states
including the A.C.T. which contains
Canberra.'

COMPULSORY
:
(adjective). Essential, must be done, no
choice. Example: 'It is compulsory to have a
passport when travelling overseas'.

CONCEIVE
:
(verb) Visualise, imagine, think of. For
example: 'It is difficult for us to conceive the
long term environmental impact of our
actions now. '

CONCENTRATE
:
(verb) Focus, think. For example: 'It is
important to concentrate when revising for
exams, study some where quietly and switch
of all distractions including radios and TV.'

CONCEPT
:
(noun) Idea, theory. For example: 'I am
learning about Marketing concepts in my
class this week, it is interesting to find out
about so many different theories.'

CONCESSION
:
(noun) An acknowledgment or admission
that there are opinions different to your own.
Example: 'It is important to add a concession
to your Task II essay to show that you can
consider other opinions'.

CONCEDE
Keyword(s):
CONCLUDE
:
(verb) End, finish, bring to a close. For
example: 'Before concluding the meeting the
CEO thanked us for attending and for our
input.'

CONCRETE
:
(adjective). Real, not theoretical or abstract.
Example: 'A concrete example'
(noun) A substance that is mixed with sand
and water to create a solid material used in
building.

CONCURRENT
:
(adjective) Same time, simultaneous. For
example: 'The countrys army had no time to
respond due to the concurrent attacks by sea,
land and air.'

CONDITIONAL CLAUSE
:
(grammar term) A sentence that has an 'if'
statement - can be zero, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or
mixed). Example: 'If students study hard,
they have a better chance of success'. (This
is a zero conditional clause)

CONDUCT
:
(noun) Behaviour, ways, manner. For
example: 'The high standard of conduct
expected of children at the school is
important in helping them learn lessons for
later in life.'

CONFER
:
(verb) Consult, discuss. For example:
'Education institutions should confer more
with parents to discuss solutions to the
growing problem of children missing
school.'

CONFIDENT
:
(adjective) Having no doubts; to be sure;
being self-assured. Example: 'It is important
to appear confident in an interview
situation'.

CONFINE
:
(verb) Constrict, limit. For example: 'A
number of countries are now confining
cigarette smoking to outside areas only in
public places.'

CONFIRM
:
(verb) Check, verify. For example: 'It is
shop owners' responsibility to confirm their
customers are old enough to buy cigarettes
by asking them to provide identification.'
(noun) CONFIRMATION Example: 'A
confirmation has been made for the booking
next month'.
Keyword(s):

CONFIRMED

CONFLICTING
:
(adjective) Differing, opposite. For example:
'There are a number of conflicting opinions
on whether technology has improved or
reduced quality of life.'

CONSIST
:
(verb) Be made up of. For example: 'The
main basis of his argument consisted of the
facts and figures he had direct from the
survey.'

CONSISTED
Keyword(s):
CONFORM
:
(verb) Fit in with, follow rules of conduct,
match. For example: 'Younger people
nowadays find it difficult to conform to the
rules of society.'

CONFUSE
:
(verb) To mix up, to not understand
correctly. Example: "It can be easy to
confuse tenses in English grammar'.

CONFUSED
Keyword(s):
CONNECT
:
(verb) To link, to join. Example: 'In English,
you can connect ideas with linking words'.

CONNECTED
Keyword(s):
CONSCRIPTION
:
(noun) Compulsory recruitment into the
military. Example: 'Many countries still
have conscription'.

CONSENT
:
To AGREE

CONSONANT
:
(noun). Letters in the alphabet that are not
a,e,i,o or u.
Some words can begin with a vowel but
have a consonant sound. Example:
university (yoo-ni-ver-si-ty), uniform (yooni-form).
See also VOWEL

CONSONANTS
Keyword(s):
CONSTANT
:
(adjective) Continual, endless. For example:
'There have been constant problems since
the new policy has been introduced.'

CONSTITUENT PARTS
:
(noun phrase) Parts or ingredients that
together make a whole. Example: 'There are
many constituent parts to a car engine'.

CONSTITUTE
:
(verb) Comprise, make up, form. For
example: 'The research I have collected
constitutes a very good basis for my
assignment.'

CONSTITUTED
Keyword(s):

CONSEQUENT
:
(adjective) Resulting, following. For
example: 'A number of people were
concerned about the change in government
policy and the consequent protests were no
surprise.'

CONSTRAIN
:
(verb) Limit, restrict, hinder. For example:
'In order to constrain the increasing use of
illegal drugs, stricter penalties should be
introduced.'

CONSTRAINED

CONSUME
:
(verb)
1. to expend by use; use up. 'Cities consume
a high percentage of a country's energy, due
to the high populations living there.'
2. to eat or drink up; devour. 'Many people
consume a great deal of junk food ona
regular basis.'
3. to destroy, as by decomposition or
burning: Fire consumed the forest.
4. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.
5. to absorb; engross: consumed with
curiosity.

CONSUMES
Keyword(s):
CONTACT
:
(verb). Write to/speak to, get in touch with.
Example: 'It is the schools responsibility to
contact parents of children they suspect are
taking drugs.'

CONTAIN
:
(verb) To include, to hold within. Example:
'The IELTS reading and listening tests both
contain 40 questions.'

CONTAINS
Keyword(s):
CONTEMPORARY
:
(adjective). Modern. Example: 'In my
opinion contemporary novels are more
interesting and true to life than classic
literature.'

CONTEXT
:
(noun). Perspective, background. Example:
'A good essay will put all ideas and
arguments into a clear context.'

CONTINENTS
:
Groups of countries; large masses of land.
For example: Europe, Asia

Keyword(s):
CONSIDER
:
(verb) Think carefully about. Example: 'You
need to consider possible synonyms for
keywords before scanning the reading
passage for the answer'.

CONSTRUCT
:
(verb) Build, put together, make. For
example: 'It is important to construct a solid
argument for your essay and making notes
beforehand helps enormously.'

CONSIDERED

CONTRACT
:
(noun). Written and signed agreement,
legally binding document. Example: 'An
employment contract protects the rights of
both employer and employee.'

CONSTRUCTED

Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):

CONSIDERABLE
:
(adjective) Large, sizeable, substantial. For
example: 'A recent survey showed that a
considerable number of parents have little
knowledge regarding the signs of drug use.'

CONSULT
:
(verb) Ask, check with. For example: 'It is
important for patients to consult their doctor
before taking any additional medication.'

CONSULTED
Keyword(s):

CONTRADICT
:
(verb). Disagree with, challenge the view of,
oppose. Example: 'The findings in the new
research project contradict those from the
earlier survey.'

CONTRARY
:
(adjective). Opposite. Example: 'There are
many contrary opinions to this view.'

CONTRARY (On the contrary)

:
(noun). Opposite. Example: 'Sensible
exercise has no ill effects on the body; on
the contrary it brings enormous benefits.'

CONTRAST
:
(noun). Difference, strong dissimilarity.
Example: 'There is enormous contrast
between the landscapes of the two
countries.'

CONTRIBUTE
:
(verb). Add, give. Example: 'Older workers
in the work force are important as they
contribute their experience, wisdom and
patience.'

CONTROVERSIAL
:
(adjective) Arguable, disputable, likely to
cause disagreement. Example: 'The
government's decision to reduce funding of
public healthcare was controversial.'

CONTROVERSY
:
(noun). Arguement, disagreement. Example:
'A decision to fine parents of children who
are not attending school would cause a huge
amount of controversy.'

CONVENE
:
(verb). Come together, assemble. Example:
'United Nations representatives will convene
in Europe next month.'

believe a point of view. Example: 'It has

been difficult to convince the general public
of the dangers related to this.'

(verb) Combine, link, join. For example:

'Rising unemployment amongst graduates
coupled with increasing costs to study at
university have resulted in the decreasing
enrolments into university programmes.'

COOPERATE
:
(verb) Work together. For example: 'It is
important for Governments of different
countries to cooperate together to find a
solution to global warming.'

Keyword(s):

COORDINATE
:
(verb) Organise, bring together. For
example: 'The conference will require a
huge amount of organisation so the company
has appointed an Events Manager to
coordinate the project.'

CORE
:
(adjective) Central, main. For example: 'The
company is involved in many different areas
of business but its core business is computer
software.'

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
:
(noun phrase) Physical punishment.
Example: 'Corporal punishment, such as
caning, is now banned in many schools.'

CORPORATE
:
(adjective) Business or company related,
commercial. For example: 'It is relatively
easy to find out information at companies
these days as on the web there are numerous
sites holding corporate information.'

CORRELATION
:
(noun) A connection or link between things.
Example: 'There is a correlation between
healthy living and lifespan'.
Keyword(s):

CONVENTIONAL
:
(adjective) Following accepted customs and
traditions. Example: 'In western countries, it
is conventional for the bride to wear a white
dress on her wedding day.'

CONVERT
:
(verb). Change, alter from one use or
purpose to another. Example: 'In many parts
of the world forest land has been converted
to agricultural land and this has impacted on
the environment.'

CORRELATIONS
CORRESPOND
:
(verb) Match, match up to, relate to. For
example: 'The findings from this research
project correspond with those from earlier
studies.'

COUNTERPART
:
(noun) Equal, equivalent. Example: 'A prime
minister is the counterpart of a president'.

COUPLED WITH
CREATE
:
(verb) Make, invent, produce, generate. For
example: 'The arrival of the new factory has
created a number of job opportunities for
local people.'

CREDIT
:
(noun) Praise, recognition, acclaim. For
example: 'Nursing staff are often not given
enough credit for the difficult job they
perform.'

CRITERIA
:
(noun) Condition related to a situation. For
example: 'The successful candidate for the
job must meet all the criteria laid down in
the job description.'

CRUCIAL
:
(adjective) essential, necessary, vital. For
example: 'It is crucial that governments
provide good education opportunities for
teenagers to ensure a successful future for
the country.'

CULPABLE
:
(noun) The state of being guilty of doing
something. 'He is culpable for the damage
his children caused.'

CULPABILITY
Keyword(s):
CULTURE
:
(noun) Society, traditon, customs, way of
life. For example: 'It is an important
education for people to experience different
cultures as it allows them the opportunity to
better understand people from countries
different to their own.'

CURE
:
(noun) Treatment, solution. Example: 'Many
people are searching for a cure for the
common cold'.

CURES
Keyword(s):

CONVINCE
:
(verb). Persuade, encourage another to

COUPLE WITH
:

CURRENCY
:
(noun) Money, exchange. For example:

'Currency exchange in Europe is no longer

an issue as the majority of countries use the
Euro.'

(noun) A conclusion drawn from evidence.

Example: 'The deduction made was clearly
logical.'

CYCLE
:
(noun) Series, sequence. For example:
'Students may be required to describe a
process for Task 1 of the writing exam, for
example the Water Cycle which describes
the journey of water from land to sky and
back again.'

DEFINE
:
(verb) Identify, describe. For example: 'The
main responsibilities of a job are defined in
the job description.'

D
DATA
:
(noun) Statistics, figures, information. For
example: 'The most accurate data
available on a countrys population is
probably found in Census information
collected every four years in a
Government survey.'

DEATH PENALTY
:
When the punishment for a crime means you
will be killed, this is the death penalty. See
also: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

DEBATE
:
(noun) Discussion, argument. For example:
'Controversial subjects such as capital
punishment often attract heated debate.'

DEBT
:
(noun) Something owed; needs to be repaid.
Example: 'Many students amass a large debt
while studying.'

DEFINITE
:
(adjective) Certain, sure. For example:
'Scientists know that there are definite links
between cigarette smoking and lung cancer,
though the causes of many other cancers as
still unknown.'

DEMONSTRATE
:
(verb) To show. Example: 'It is important to
demonstrate a range of accurate grammar in
your IELTS essay'.
Keyword(s):

:
(verb) Invent, create. For example: 'The
Head of the Marketing Department has
designed a new marketing strategy which
will hopefully bring more business to the
company.'

DESPITE
:
(preposition) In spite of, even with. For
example: 'Despite the Governments efforts
to increase safety of citizens, the level of
crime has continued to increase.'

DETECT
:
(verb) Form an inpression, find out,
discover. For example: 'From the reaction of
the staff, it was easy to detect that they were
unhappy with the new proposal.'

DETERIORATE
:
(verb) To get worse. For example: 'The
situation has deteriorated'.

DEMONSTRATES
DENOTE
:
(verb) Indicate, stand for, identify. For
example: 'Many road accidents are caused
because drivers do not understand the
Highway Code and ignore road signs which
denote the need for caution.'

DENY
:
(verb) Disallow, refuse. For example: 'The
students were denied the right to longer
holidays despite their protests.'

DETRACT FROM
:
(verb) reduce value or importance of
something. Example: 'His negative
comments detracted from the enjoyment of
the evening'.

DEVIATE
:
(verb) Move away from, differ. For
example: 'A large number of young people
today like to deviate from the norm of their
society.'
Keyword(s):

DEVIATES, DEVIATED
DECADE
:
(noun) Ten year period. For example:
'Almost certainly violent crime has
increased dramatically over the last decade.'

DEPRESS
:
(verb) Weaken, cause to drop. For example:
'The Government should take action in
reducing inflation as many people are
worried that it will depress the economy
even further.'

DEVICE
:
(noun) Machine, tool, gadget. For example:
'Electronic devices such as mobile phones
have improved our ability to communicate'

DEVISES

DECLINE
:
(noun) A weakening, a fall off, a drop off.
For example: 'Fortunately, there has been a
decline in the number of cigarette smokers
over recent years.'

DERIVE
:
(verb) Arrive at (from reasoning). For
example: 'This conclusion can logically be
derived from the information given.'

DEDUCE
:
(verb) Figure out, reason, work out. For
example: 'It can be deduced from the
information given that the problem is likely
to continue.'

DESCRIPTION
:
(noun) A statement that describes
something. Example: 'For Task I writing,
you may have to give a description of a
diagram'.

DEDUCTION
:

DESIGN

Keyword(s):
DEVOTE
:
(verb) dedicate, give, alot. For example: 'It
is important to devote adequate time to
studying for an exam to ensure a good
result.'

DIALOGUE
:
(noun) A conversation. Example: 'In Parts
One and Three of the listening test, you will
hear a dialogue between two or more people
and you will have to answer questions.'

DIFFERENTIATE
:
(verb) Tell apart, distinguish, see the
difference between. For example: 'It is
important for teachers to differentiate
between the different skills and abilities of
their students to ensure they all get a good
education.'

DIMENSION
:
(noun) Aspect, feature, factor. For example:
'The subject has many dimensions which
must be taken into consideration when
formulating a rounded argument.'

DIMINISH
:
(verb). Reduce, weaken, detract from
(authority, reputation, prestige,
responsibility). Example: 'Many people are
unhappy when laws are introduced which
seem to diminish parents responsibility for
their own children.'

DIMINISHED
Keyword(s):
DIRECTION
:
(noun) Route, focus, aim. Example: 'The
introduction of a report shows the direction
and main ideas included in the body'.

DISADVANTAGED
:
Not having an equal situation to something
or someone else; when something or
someone has less than other people have.

DISCHARGE
:
(verb) 1. To fire a weapon. 'He discharged
the gun'
(verb) 2. To release. let go. 'The patient was
discharged from hospital this morning'.

DISCHARGED
Keyword(s):
DISCRETE
:
(adjective) Separate, disconnected. For
example: 'The Council is made up of there
discrete divisions and communication
between them is often difficult.'

DISCRIMINATE
:
(verb) Show prejudice. For example:
'Companies should not discriminate against
older workers because of their age as their
knowledge, experience and maturity can be
of great benefit to a business.'

:
(verb) Choose to ignore; decide something is
unimportant. Example: 'The CEO dismissed
the idea of higher wages for staff'.

DISMISSED
Keyword(s):
DISORDER
:
(noun) Illness, syndrome. Example: 'Many
learning disorders have now been identified.'

DISPARITY
:
(noun) A difference, something that is not
similar. Example: 'There are disparities in
economic stability in different regions'.
See also: INEQUALITY

DISPARITIES
Keyword(s):
DISPLACE
:
(verb) move or shift from usual position. For
example: 'Due to the enormous damage to
property a large number if people were
displaced due to the damage caused by
earthquake.'

DISPLAY
:
(verb) show, present. For example: 'By law,
motorists must display a current tax disc in
the windscreen of their vehicle.'

DISPOSE OF
:
(verb) Get rid of, throw away. For example:
'It is our duty as citizens to dispose of
rubbish responsibly.'

DISTINCT
:
(adjective) clear, defintie, noticeable. For
example: 'The bar chart shows that there is a
distinct variation in purchasing habits over
the period shown.'

DISTORT
:
(verb) Alter, warp, misrepresent. For
example: 'The facts received were so
distorted that it was difficult to know the
truth of the matter.'

DISTRIBUTE
:
(verb) Spread, give out. For example: 'It is
the Councils responsibility to distribute
information leaflets on this topic to ensure
that the public are aware.'

DISTRIBUTED
DISMISS

Keyword(s):

DIVERSE
:
(adjective) Varied, including different types.
For example: 'Cities such as London for
example, are interesting as the population
there is made up of many cultures and is so
diverse.'

DIVISION
:
(noun) Differences in standard between two
or more things. Example: 'There are
divisions in wealth between different areas
of the country'.

DIVISIONS
Keyword(s):
DOCUMENT
:
(noun) Report, file, paper. For example: 'A
marriage certificate is an example of a
legally-binding document.'

DOGMATIC
:
(adjective) Describing opinions or beliefs
that are unproven but presented as facts.
Example: 'It is important that you state your
opinions in an appropriate manner and are
not dogmatic.'

DOMAIN
:
(noun) Area. sphere. For example: 'The
domain of computer science involves many
sub areas.'

DOMESTIC
:
(adjective) Within a country, internal,
national. For example: 'A number of
countries generate much higher income from
business in their international markets than
from domestic sales.'

DOMINATE
:
(verb) Rule, control, lead, govern,
overshadow. For example: 'Use of Microsoft
products is so widespread it can be said that
they dominate the software industry.'

DOMINATED
Keyword(s):
DRAFT
:
(verb) Draw up, prepare, plan. For example:
'I need to draft a proposal before the meeting
next week.'

DRAFTED
Keyword(s):
DRAMA
:
(noun) Crisis, commotion. For example:
'The proposed changes to the education

system have caused quite a drama in the

newspapers recently.'

DRAMATIC
:
(adjective) Signiificant, large, major. "There
was a dramatic rise in the cost of
production."

DURATION
:
(noun) Period, length of time. For example:
'Exam candidates are not allowed to talk at
all for the full duration of the exam.'

DYNAMIC
:
(adjective) Continually changing or
progressing. For example: 'The IT industry
is extremely dynamic with huge investment
into Research and Development. '

E
ECONOMY
:
(noun) Financial system, financial market.
For example: 'The strength of the
countrys economy has attracted the
interest of foreign investors.'

EDIT
:
(verb) Correct, alter, improve. For example:
'My lecturer has offered to edit the first part
of my thesis to ensure I am writing
correctly.'

EFFECT
:
(noun) What happens; the result. Example:
'The effect of climate change is
unpredictable.'

EFFECTS

success of the country.'

ELIMINATE
:
(verb) Get rid of, remove. For example: 'It is
the Governments responsibility to eliminate
the problem of drug use in society.'

EMERGE
:
(verb) Appear, materialise, come to light.
For example: 'Our medical knowledge
improves almost daily and new cures for
disease continue to emerge.'

EMMIGRATION
:
(noun) To leave your home country to live
in another place. See also IMMIGRATION.
Example: John is from England. He now
lives in New Zealand. He has emmigrated
from England and immigrated to New
Zealand.

EMIGRANT
Keyword(s):
EMOTIVE
:
(adjective) Sensitive, affecting, stimulating
emotion. Example: 'He gave a highly
emotive speech.'

EMPHASIS
:
(noun) Importance, weight, stress. For
example: 'There should be more emphasis
on increasing the number of disabled people
in the workforce.'

EMPHASISE
:
(verb) To reinforce, to restate, to highlight.
Example: 'When you write a conclusion to
your essay, you should emphasise your main
argument.'

Keyword(s):
EFFECTIVE
:
(adjective) Efficient, successful, useful.
Example: 'ILSNZ Online IELTS is an
effective way to study'.

EFFICIENTLY
:
(adverb) Time saving; productively.
Example: 'It is important to use your time in
the IELTS test efficiently to get a good
result'.

ELEMENT
:
(noun) Part, component, factor. For
example: 'Certain elements of society are
not contributing properly to the overall

EMPHASISED
Keyword(s):
EMPIRICAL
:
(adjective) Observed, practical. For
example: 'Empirical research is required to
obtain confirmation that the theories are
correct.'

ENABLE
:
(verb) Allow, make possible. For example:
'Government should subsidise entry fees to
museums and art galleries to enable a higher
number of people to visit. '

ENCOUNTER

:
(verb) Come across, come in contact with,
meet. Example: 'When travelling abroad
tourists have the opportunity to encounter
many interesting people and learn a great
deal about a different culture'.

ENCOUNTERED
Keyword(s):
ENCOURAGEMENT
:
(noun) Support, inspiration, confidencebuilding. Example: 'Students achieve better
results with encouragement from parents
and teachers.'

ENERGY
:
(noun) Power, force, vigour. For example:
'A great deal of energy from members of the
team will be required to ensure the success
of the new venture.'

ENFORCE
:
(verb) Make compulsory, insist on. For
example: 'It is important for schools to
enforce school rules strictly as students learn
important lessons which will be useful later
in life.'

ENHANCE
:
(verb) Improve, add to. For example:
'Access to parks and gardens enhances the
quality of life of city dwellers.'

ENORMOUS
:
(adjective) huge, massive, vast. For
example: 'Industrial activity has an
enormous impact on the environment.'

ENROL
:
(verb) To join, to sign up. Example: 'New
students have to enrol in the course before
Monday'.

ENSURE
:
(verb) Make sure, make certain. For
example: 'It is the duty of a parent to ensure
that their child has access to a solid
education'

ENTITLED
:
To have the right to claim something. For
example: 'If you are not happy with your
IELTS result, you are entitled to ask them to
check your exam again.'

ENTITY
:
(noun) Body, unit. For example: 'Although
they are both Government organisations
they are completely separate entities.'

ENVIRONMENT
:
(noun) Natural world, nature, ecosystem.
For example: 'More people should use
public transport due to the negative impact
of cars on the environment.'

EQUATE
:
(verb) Liken, compare, connect. For
example: 'Society often equates old age with
weakness and dependence.'

EQUIDISTANT
:
(adjective) Equal distance between things.
Example: 'The school is equidistant from the
railway station and the hospital - it only take
5 minutes to walk to each place.'

business in Asia next year.'

ESTATE
:
(noun) Assets, property, wealth. For
example: 'He has left his estate to his
children and grandchild in the event of his
death.'

ESTIMATE
:
(verb) Calculate approximately, assess. For
example: 'It is estimated that the new
building will cost around $6.5million dollars
to build.'

ETHIC
:
(noun) Set of principles, moral values. For
example: 'Companies can encourage a
strong work ethic in their employees through
fair treatment and by offering favourable
work conditions.'

Example: 'For some IELTS reading

questions, you need to answer using exact
words from the passage. You are not
allowed to use your own words'.

EXCEED
:
(verb) Go beyond, surpass. For example: 'It
is irresponsible for drivers to exceed the
speed limit, particularly in areas around
schools.'

EXCESSIVE
:
(adjective) Too much. Example: 'Excessive
drinking is becoming a problem among
teenagers in many countries.'

EXCLUDE
:
(verb) Keep out, leave out. For example: 'In
extreme cases schools will often exclude
students from school as punishment if they
continue to misbehave.'

ETHICS
Keyword(s):

EQUIP
:
(verb) Prepare, train, get (someone) ready.
For example: 'It is important that the
education received at school equips students
with skills they will require in the working
world.'

EQUIVALENT
:
(adjective) Equal, the same, comparable. For
example: '40 degrees celsius is equivalent to
104 degrees fahrenheit.'

ERODE
:
(verb) Wear away, wear down. For example:
'Valleys are formed when rivers erode away
the land.'

ETHNIC
:
(adjective) of a particular group of people or
culture. For example: 'Londons population
is made up of many different ethnic groups..'

EVALUATE
:
(verb) Assess, appraise. For example: 'The
company evaluates its performance by
monitoring various aspects of the business
carefully.'

EVENTUAL
:
(adjective) Ultimate, final. For example:
'The organisation needs to increase its sales
turnover or we can expect its eventual
closure.'

EXEMPLARY
:
(adjective) Perfect. Example: 'The student
was given an award for exemplary
behaviour'.

EXHIBIT
:
(verb) Show, display. For example: 'He
exhibits the talent to be a very good athlete
one day.'

EXPAND
:
(verb) Grow, become larger. For example:
'The organisation has expanded its
manufacturing operation since it won the
Government contract.'

EXPANDED
Keyword(s):

ERROR
:
(noun) A mistake. Example: 'There are a
number of common errors made by IELTS
candidates'.

EVIDENT
:
(adjective) Clear, obvious, apparent. For
example: 'It is evident from the graph that
18-25 year olds were the biggest purchasers
of CDs in the period shown'

EXPENDITURE
:
(noun) Spending, outgoings, expenses.
Example: 'For the majority of families, the
biggest monthly expenditure is on mortgage
repayments'.

EVOLVE
:
(verb) Develop, grow, progress. For
example: 'The small home-based business
evolved into a major company over a period
of five years.'

EXPERT
:
(noun) Specialist. For example: 'Some
experts claim that there is a link between
violence in children and playing of violent
video games.'

EXACT
:
(adjective) Correct, accurate, precise.

EXPLANATION
:
(noun) A statement made to make something

ERRORS
Keyword(s):
ESSENTIAL
:
(adjective) Something you must have or do.
Example: Water is essential for survival.

ESTABLISH
:
(verb) Set up, start, begin. For example: 'The
company is establishing a new arm of the

understandable. Example: 'My teacher gave

a very good explanation of how to improve
my writing'.

asked some extension questions related to

the topic card you spoke about.'

(noun) Charge, payment. For example:

'Entry to the park used to be free but now
visitors are asked to pay a small fee.'

EXTERNAL
:
(adjective) Outside. For example: 'The
company will be audited by an external
auditor next week.'

Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):

EXPLANATIONS
EXPLICIT
:
(adjective) Open, graphic, uninhibited. For
example: 'Many people believe that the
pictures we see on the news nowadays of
war and suffering are much too explicit.'

EXPLOIT
:
(verb) Take advantage of, ill use. For
example: 'Laws protecting workers are
necessary to prevent some employers from
exploiting their rights.'

EXPORT
:
(verb) Sell overseas. For example: 'The
country is very self-sufficient and exports
significantly more produce than it needs to
import. '

EXPORTED
Keyword(s):
EXPOSE
:
(verb) Bring attention to, reveal publicly.
For example: 'It is important for the media
to have freedom to publish as often scandals
are exposed by their investigations.'

EXPOSE TO
:
(verb) Bring / come into contact with.
Example: 'Skin needs to be protected when
it is exposed to the sun'.

EXPOSED TO
Keyword(s):
EXPRESS
:
(verb) To communicate, to say. Example:
'An increasing number of people are
expressing concern regarding our impact on
the environment.'

EXTEND
:
(verb) To make bigger; to make longer.
Example: 'You should try to extend your
answers as much as possible without
repeating yourself in the IELTS speaking
test.'

EXTENSION QUESTION
:
(noun phrase) A question that asks for more
detailed information on a topic you have
already discussed. Example: 'Towards the
end of the IELTS speaking test, you wil be

EXTRACT
:
(noun) A part/passage from a literary work
or speech. For example: 'The author will
read an extract from his latest book at the
book signing next week.'

F
FACILITATE
:
(verb) Help, aid, make easy. For example:
'Agreement and cooperation between the
two Governments has helped to facilitate
the programme.'

FACILITIES
:
(noun) Amenities, services available.
Example: 'The facilities at the new leisure
centre are excellent.'

FEES
FILE
:
(noun) Report, profile, record. For example:
'A CV and copy of qualifications are kept in
the staff file of each employee.'

FINAL
:
(adjective) Last, ending. For example: 'The
final point relating to this issue is the most
significant'

FINANCE
:
(noun) Money, funding. For example:
'Hospitals in the public sector often have
difficulty obtaining enough finance to
provide quality healthcare.'

FINITE
:
(adjective) Limited, set. For example: 'Fossil
fuels, such as coal, are a finite resource and
it is important to find an alternative before
supplies are used up completely.'

FACILITY
Keyword(s):
FACTOR
:
(noun) issue, feature, aspect, reason. For
example: 'There are a number of factors
which influence an increase in crime.'

FACTORS

FIRST HAND
:
(adjective) From personal experience or
from the original source. Example:
'Overseas volunteers get first hand
experience of problems some people face in
poorer countries.'

Keyword(s):
FAMILIARITY
:
(noun) Sense of knowing something very
well. Example: 'With familiarity, it becomes
easier to have conversations in English'.

FEATURE
:
(noun) characteristic, trait, quality. For
example: 'The computer programme has a
number of features which are extremely
user-friendly.'

FLEXIBLE
:
(adjective) Adaptable, open to change. For
example: 'Hours worked by students in parttime jobs need to be flexible so they can
take time off if necessary for revision.'

FLOWCHART
:
(noun) A diagram showing the sequence of
events. Example: 'The process was
explained clearly by use of a flowchart'.

FEATURES
Keyword(s):
FEDERAL
:
(adjective) Centralised (related to
Government). For example: 'The Federal
Government of the U.S.A. controls laws and
issues relating to all States.'

FEE
:

FLUCTUATE
:
(verb) Vary, change, rise and fall. For
example: 'It can be seen from the graph that
expenditure fluctuated from March to July,
after which it steadily increased.'

FLUENCY
:
(noun) A measure of how clear and

connected your speech is. Example: 'He

knows a lot of grammar, but has difficulty
speaking - he has very poor fluency'.

FOCUS
:
(verb) Direct attention towards a central,
focal point. For example: 'The majority of
people seem to agree that the Government
should focus on increasing job opportunities
for school leavers.'

FORMAT
:
(noun) Arrangement, layout, design. For
example: 'I like the format of the new text
book, it is clear and easy to follow.'

FORMULA
:
(noun) Method, recipe, blueprint. For
example: 'Many movies these days are not
based upon new ideas, simply new actors
and locations following an old formula.'

FORTHCOMING
:
(adjective) Approaching, coming soon,
imminent. For example: 'The forthcoming
election is likely to result in a change of
Government.'

FOUND
:
(verb) establish, set up. For example: 'The
university has a long history and was
founded in 1903.'

FOUNDATION
:
(noun) Base, basis. For example: 'My
business diploma has provided a good
foundation for my studies, now I hope to
study a Bachelors Degree.'

FRAMEWORK
:
(noun) Structure, basis. For example: 'The
framework of the course includes all aspects
of study which relate to my job.'

FRUSTRATING
:
(adjective) Annoying, irritating. Example:
'Learning a foreign language can be
frustrating if there are not many
opportunities to practise.'

FULLY
:
(adverb) Completely, 100%. Example: 'I
fully understand his point of view'.

FUNCTION
:
(verb) Purpose, meaning, role. For example:
'The main function of the department is
quality control.'

FUND
:
(verb) Finance, support financially. For
example: 'Many university students take on
part-time work to help to fund their studies.'

FURTHERMORE
:
(adverb). Additionally, also. Example: 'Drug
use is illegal and furthermore it is damaging
to health.'

G
GENDER
:
(noun). Sex, male or female. Example:
'Women in the workplace are still
sometimes discriminated against because
of their gender.'

GENERAL
:
(adjective). Not particular or exact.
Example: 'I have a general idea as to what I
will be studying on my course, but no
specific information yet.'

GENERATE
:
(verb). Produce, cause. Example: 'It is hoped
that the new advertising campaign will
create enough interest to generate a huge
increase in sales.'

GENERATION
:
(noun). Age group, age bracket. Example: 'It
is often difficult to understand the thinking
of people of different generations'

GENERIC
:
(adjective) General, not specific. Example:
'Generic sales letters are less successful than
those personalised for the receiver.'

GET SIDETRACKED
:
(Verb phrase) To lose focus. Example:
'When reading an IELTS passage for
specific information, it is important not to
get sidetracked with small details.'

:
(adjective). Worldwide. Example: 'Global
awareness is increasing as more and more
people travel and are able to experience
different countries firsthand.'

GLOSSARY
:
(noun) A list of words and explanations at
the end of a text. Example: 'Some IELTS
reading passages will have a short glossary
at the end'.

GOAL
:
(noun). Objective, aim. Example: 'The goal
of the training programme is to improve
communication within the team.'

GRADE
:
(noun). Score, mark. Example: 'It is
important to answer the question correctly in
order to achieve a high grade in the exam.'

GRAMMAR TENSE
:
(noun phrase) Structures used to show past,
present or future. E.g. Present simple tense,
past continuous tense.

GRAMMATICAL RANGE
:
(noun phrase) A variety of sentence
structures and tenses. Example: 'It is
important to demonstrate a wide
grammatical range in the IELTS test.'

GRAMMATICALLY
:
(Adverb) To do with grammar.

GRANT
:
(noun). Financial subsidy to offer support.
Example: 'Government grants for higher
education allow students from poorer
families to also gain a university education.'

GUARANTEE
:
(verb). Assure, make certain. Example:
'Many young people nowadays are deciding
against going to university as they think that
a university degree will not guarantee them
a job.'
(noun) An assurance that something is
protected. Example: 'He got a three year
guarantee with his new television'.
A guarantee is also called a warranty

GUARANTEED
Keyword(s):
GLOBAL

GUIDELINE
:
(noun). Suggested rule to follow. Example:
'The Government has issued healthy eating
guidelines to schools in an effort make
school meals healthier.'

GUIDELINES

I
IDENTICAL
:
(adjective) Exactly the same. 'Identical
twins share the same genetic make up'.

Keyword(s):
H
HENCE
:
So, therefore, because. The government
has increased taxes, hence many educated
people are leaving for foreign countries to
find work.

IDENTIFY
:
(verb) To tell the difference between; to
recognise. Example: 'It is important to
identify all parts of the graph before
beginning to write your Task I essay'.

IDENTIFIES
Keyword(s):
HIERARCHY
:
(noun) A group of people or things arranged
in order of rank or grade. Example: 'Most
larger corporations have a management
hierarchy'.

IDEOLOGY
:
(noun) Belief system, values. Example: 'The
ideology of left wing and right wing
political parties is different in a number of
ways'.

Keyword(s):

HIGHLIGHTS
Keyword(s):
HONOUR
:
(noun) Privilege. Example: 'It was an honour
to meet the Queen'.

HORIZONTAL
:
(adjective) Parallel to level ground.
Example: If you have backache, it is
recommended that you remain horizontal in
bed.

HUMANITARIAN
:
(adjective) Caring, civilised, kind. Example:
'Humanitarian organisations deliver food
and supplies to poor communities all over
the world.'

HYPOTHESIS
:
(noun). Theory, assumption. Example: 'The
research conducted so far indicates that the
hypothesis is accurate.'

HYPOTHETICAL
:
(adjective) Theoretical, supposed. Example:
'The presentation he gave was based based
on a hypothetical situation.'

IMMIGRANT
Keyword(s):
IMPACT
:
Having an influence or effect on something.

HIT
Keyword(s):
IMPLEMENT
:
(verb) To put into action, to start. Example:
'The changes will be implemented
immediately'.

IMPLICATION
:
(Noun) Consequence, related result.
Example: 'The implications of abuse of
drugs such as ecstasy are still unknown'.
Keyword(s):

HIERARCHICAL
HIGHLIGHT
:
(verb). Draw attention to, emphasise.
Example: 'The increase in homeless people
over recent years highlights the need for a
better social welfare system.'

lives in New Zealand. He has emmigrated

from England and immigrated to New
Zealand.

IGNORANT
:
(adjective) Unaware, lacking knowledge.
'Travelling abroad broadens our knowledge
and allows us to become less ignorant about
other cultures.'

IGNORANT
Keyword(s):
ILLUSTRATE
:
(verb). Demonstrate, give an example, show.
Example: 'The example used in the lecture
illustrated the theory we were being taught.'

ILLUSTRATION
:
(noun) A picture or diagram. Example:
'There is an illustration of the product on the
box'.

IMAGE
:
(noun). Impression, idea, view. Example:
'The behaviour of a countrys citizens
abroad influences the image of the country
itself.'

IMAGINARY
:
(adjective) made up; unreal. Example: 'The
characters in children's books are usually
imaginary'.

IMMIGRATION
:
(noun) Moving into a country which is not
your place of birth. See also
EMMIGRATION
Example: John is from England. He now

IMPLICATIONS
IMPLICIT
:
(adjective) Not spoken but understood
between two or more parties. Example: 'We
have an implicit agreement not to talk about
the difficulty again. '

IMPLY
:
(verb) Suggest, say something indirectly.
Example: 'Although my boss didnt so say
directly, he implied that my having a holiday
then would be inconvenient'.

IMPLIED
Keyword(s):
IMPOSE
:
(verb) Make compulsory, force. Example:
'In some countries, penalties are imposed on
families who have more than one child'.

IMPOSED
Keyword(s):
IN-DEPTH
:
(adjective) Deeper, more detailed. Example:
'Market researchers often conduct in-depth
interviews to find out specific and detailed
information. '

INADVISABLE
:
(adjective) Not recommended. Example: It
is inadvisable to carry a lot of money in your
wallet. It is better to keep it in a bank'.

INCENTIVE

:
(noun) Offering to encourage someone to do
something. Example: 'Incentives such as
lower tax rates could encourage companies
to expand their operations in rural areas'.

INCENTIVES
Keyword(s):
INCIDENCE
:
(noun) occurance, situation. example: 'There
have been a number of incidences where
children who have watched violent movies
have acted violently themselves'.

INCIDENCES
Keyword(s):
INCOME
:
(noun) Money coming in (often for
working). Example: 'It is important to have a
job that gives a regular income'.

INCOMPLETE
:
(adjective) Not whole, not finished.
Example: 'An essay is incomplete without a
conclusion'.

INCONVENIENT
:
(adjective) Problematic, awkward, badly
timed. Example: "The meeting was
inconvenient for everyone so the time was
changed'.

INCORPORATE
:
(verb) Include, add in. Example: Some
parents believe it is wrong for schools to
incorporate a sex education programme into
their science classes.

his indifference clearly through his comment

that he didn't care who won the election'.

INDUSTRY
:
(noun) Manufacturing and processing.
Example: 'The service sector is often bigger
than the manufacturing industry in many
developed countries'.

INDUSTRIES
INEQUALITY
:
(noun) A difference, something that is not
equal. Example: "Even today, there are
inequalities in the workplace for men and
women'.
See also: DISPARITY
Keyword(s):

INEQUALITIES
INEVITABLE
:
(adjective) Unavoidable, certain. For
example: 'With advances in medical
treatment, it is inevitable that the aging
population will grow.'

INFER
:
(verb) Assume, suppose, suggest. For
example: 'The message received infers there
will be trouble ahead.'

INFRASTRUCTURE
:
(noun) Network, roads and rail. For
example: 'Government investment in the
public transport infrasturcture will help
encourage more people to use public
transport.'

INCORPORATED, INCORPORATES

INDICATE
:
(verb) To show or suggest. Example: "He
indicated that he was bored."
(noun = INDICATION) A sign showing or
suggesting something.

INDICATION
Keyword(s):
INDIFFERENCE
:
(noun)The state of not having an opinion
one way or another. Example: 'He showed

INITIATE
:
(verb) Start, begin, make the first move. For
example: 'The Government should initiate a
move towards more responsible recycling of
rubbish.'

Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):

INDEX
:
(noun) Contents list Example: The quickest
way to search for content is to look in the
index.

(adjective) First, preliminary, original. For

example: 'My initial impressions of my new
job were negative, though now I enjoy it.'

INFRINGEMENT
:
(noun) A violation, a breach, an act against
something. Example: 'Some people believe
that having to carry identification cards is an
infrigement of our right to privacy.'

INHERENT
:
(adjective) Essential, intrinsic. Hard work
and dedication are inherent to success.

INHIBIT
:
(verb) Hold back, prevent. For example:
'Excess criticism can inhibit a child's
confidence to try new things.'

INITIAL
:

INJURE
:
(verb) hurt, harm. For example: 'Insurance
often does not cover individuals who injure
themselves whilst taking part in dangerous
sports.'

INNOVATE
:
(verb) make something new, something up
to date. For example: 'The company needs to
innovate its image and products to attract
younger customers who currently think it is
old fashioned.'

INPUT
:
(noun)Contribution of ideas, opinions,
effort. For example: 'The CEO asked for my
input at the meeting, which shows he values
my ideas.'

INSERT
:
(verb) Put in, include, add in. For example:
'Illustrations are often inserted into a text to
make the information more interesting.'

INSIGHT
:
(noun) Understanding, knowledge of a
situation. For example: 'World news reports
allow people from developed countries an
insight into the suffering of people in the
developing world'

INSPECT
:
(verb) Check, examine. For example: 'The
landlord will come to inspect our apartment
for damage before we move out next week'

INSTANCE
:
(noun) Situation, case, occasion. For
example: 'In this instance you will not be
required to pay, though there is usually a fee'

INSTITUTE
:
(noun) Institution, organization. For
example: 'The institution, which is

responsible for medical research, was

founded in 1970.'

INSTRUCT
:
(verb) Command, order. For example: 'The
company has instructed workers not to talk
to the media about the problem'

INSTRUCTIONS
:
(noun) What you have to do. For example:
His instructions were to deliver the package
to Mr Jones.

INTERFERE WITH
:
(verb) To have an impact on, to disturb, to
interrupt. Example: 'It is important your
native language does not interefere with
people's ability to understand you when
speaking English.'

INTERMEDIATE
:
(adjective) Mid-level. For example:
'Students with an intermediate level of
English have problems getting a high IELTS
result.'

(adjective) Opposite; converse; opposing.

Example: 'There is an inverse relationship
when something increases as the other
decreases'.

INVERT
:
(verb) To switch around, to reverse, to
change order. Example: 'It is possible to
invert your sentence structure to show a
wider range of structures in your writing.
There was an increase in sales last month
could become Last month, there was an
increase in sales.'

INVERTED
Keyword(s):

INSURMOUNTABLE
:
(adjective) Cannot be solved or overcome.
'An insurmountable problem'

INTERNAL
:
(adjective) Inside, within. 'Companies often
conduct internal audits to be sure operations
are running correctly'.

INTEGRAL
:
(adjective) Essential, central. For example:
'Useful learning outcomes are intergral to a
good education system'

INTERPRET
:
(verb) Translate into another language. For
example: 'The President's speech was
interpreted into a number of languages.'

INTEGRATE
:
(verb) Mix in, become part of, join together.
For example: 'It is useful for immigrants to
speak the language of the country they live
if they wish to integrate properly into the
community.'

INTERPRETATION
:
(noun) Understanding, explanation. For
example: 'The newspaper's interpretation of
events was very different to the information
I saw on the news.'

INTEGRITY
:
(noun) Having honesty, honour and
reliability. For example: 'He is well
respected and known for his integrity.'

INTERVAL
:
(noun) Gap, break. For example: 'The
weather forecast says it will rain most of
tomorrow but that there will be brief sunny
intervals.'

INTELLIGENCE
:
(noun) Having intellect, cleverness. For
example: 'A sound education will allow
anyone to develop their intelligence'

INTERVENE
:
(verb) Get involved, interfere. For
example:'The State should not intervene in
the domestic affairs of its citizens'

INTERACT
:
(verb) The way people or things act and
react to each other. Example: 'When
children go to nursery school or
kindergarten, they can interact with others
their own age'.

INTRANSITIVE VERB
:
(noun) A verb that requires an object.
Example: like, meet.
See also TRANSITIVE VERB

INVEST
:
(verb) put in, devote (time, effort, money).
For example: 'Parents invest a great deal of
time, energy and money into the raising of
their children.'

INVESTIGATE
:
(verb) Look into, probe. For example: 'The
police are currently investigating the crime
and hope to find the culprit soon.'

INVOLVE
:
(verb) include, comprise. For example:
'Setting up a new business involves a great
deal of planning, risk and hard work.'
Keyword(s):

INTERCHANGE
:
(verb) Subsitute, use two things for the same
purpose. Example: 'Native speakers of
English interchange going to and the present
continuous to talk about future plans and
arrangements'.

INTRINSIC
:
(adjective) essential, vital, fundamental. For
example: 'Fair discipline procedures are
intrinsic to the successful running of a
school'

INVERSE
:

INVOLVED,INVOLVES
IRRELEVANT
:
(adjective) Not useful or connected to the
subject. Example: 'You need to make sure
that the points you include in your IELTS
essay are related to the question. Do not
include any irrelevant points.'

IRRESPONSIBLE
:
(adjective) Not showing responsibility or
maturity. Example: 'It is irresponsible to
drive while under the influence of alcohol'.
See also RESPONSIBLE

ISOLATED
:
(adjective) Cut off, lonely, seperate. For
example: 'University students can often feel
isolated at first when they move to a new
town away from their friends and family.'

ISOLATE
Keyword(s):
ISSUE
:
(noun) Subject, topic, matter. For example:

'The internet is a useful tool for keeping

people informed of global issues.'

diagrams'.
Keyword(s):

LABELS, LABELLED
ITALICS
:
(noun) A style of writing in which the letters
of the words lean to the right. This sentence
is written in italics.

ITEM
:
(noun) Thing, article. For example: 'The
packaging of a huge number of items on our
weekly shopping list is unneccessary and
damaging to the environment.'

J
JOB
:
(noun) work, role. For example: 'Getting
an interesting and well-paid job is the goal
for most university graduates.'

JOBS
Keyword(s):
JOURNAL
:
(noun) academic publication, academic
paper, periodical. For example: 'Journals can
sometimes be difficult to read as the
language used is very academic.'

LABOUR
:
(noun) work. For example: 'It is more
beneficial to society to set up Labour
Schemes for non-violent criminals rather
than imprison them.'

LACK
:
(verb) Not have something that is considered
desirable or needed. Example: 'Many elderly
people lack the ability to surf the internet.'

LACKS
Keyword(s):
LAW
:
(noun) Decision made by a government; rule
of a country. Example: 'The government has
just passed a law making it illegal to use a
mobile phone while driving'.

LAWS
Keyword(s):
LAYER
:
(noun) level, tier. For example: 'There are
many layers to this problem.'

JOURNALS

LAYERS

Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
JUSTIFY
:
(verb) Give good reason for, rationalise,
excuse. For example: 'Governments should
be made to justify the high salaries of
politicians.'

LECTURE
:
(noun) university lesson, class. For example:
'I often take a dictophone to my lectures as it
can be difficult to understand all of the
information.'

JUSTIFIED

LECTURES

Keyword(s):

LEGISLATE
:
(verb) Pass laws. For example: 'Many
people believe that the Government
legislates in private matters which do not
concern it.'

LEGISLATES
Keyword(s):
LEGISLATION
:
(noun) Legal matters; law. Example: 'The
government has introduced new legislation
relating to schools.'

LESS ADVANTAGED
:
(comparative adjective) Referring to people
who have less than average (commonly
referring to money or opportunities).
Example: 'It is difficult for less advantaged
families to be able to buy their own home'.

LEVY
:
(noun) tax. For example: 'Levies in the
country are so high that for finacial reasons
people are choosing to live abroad.'

LEVIES
Keyword(s):
LEXICAL
:
(adjective) Talking about vocabulary
(words). For example: 'He has a good lexical
ability - he knows a lot of words'

LIBERAL
:
(adjective) broad-minded, tolerant. For
example: 'Some people believe society is too
liberal and that we should return to more
traditional values.'

Keyword(s):
K
KEEP IN TOUCH
:
To stay in communication with someone.

KEYWORDS
:
(noun) The main words in a sentence that
express the main ideas. Example: 'In the
reading test, you can find answers quickly
and efficiently by looking for keywords.'

L
LABEL
:
(verb) Mark, identify. For example:
'Unhealthy foods containing additives or
with high fat or sugar content should be
clearly labelled.'
(noun) A tag showing title or information.
Example: 'In the IELTS test you should
read any labels that are given on

LECTURER
:
(noun) Similar to a teacher but presenting
more academic subjects, often to a large
group of people

LICENCE
:
(noun) Having the necessary qualifications.
Example: A driver's licence, a doctor's
license

LEGAL
:
(adjective) Lawful, authorised by law. For
example: 'The death penalty is still legal in a
number of countries.'

LIFE EXPECTANCY
:
(noun phrase) A prediction of the average
time a person will live. Example: 'Life
expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in
the world.'

LEGALISE
:
(verb) Make legal. Example: Some people
believe that drugs such as cannabis should
be legalised'.

LEGALISED
Keyword(s):

LIKEWISE
:
(adverb) Similarly, in the same way. For
example: 'Some people see no benefit in the
arts and likewise have no interest in learning
more about them.'

LIMIT
:
(noun) A top or bottom point. For example:
If you drink three bottles of beer, you are
over the limit to be able to drive.

LIMITATIONS
:
(noun) Drawbacks, weak points, short
comings. Example: 'Although the argument
has some good points, there are also some
limitations.'

:
(noun phrase). Central focus. Example:
'Paragraphs generally focus on a main
message but also include supporting
information'

MAINTAIN
:
(verb) Keep, sustain. For example: 'The
company has maintained its position as
market leader by selling high quality
products at low prices.'

:
(verb) expand, grow to full potential. For
example: 'Most companies wish to maximise
their profits.'

MECHANISM
:
(Noun) Physical or mental process. For
example: 'Behaviour and thought
mechanisms vary from people to people.'

MECHANISMS
Keyword(s):

LIMITATION
Keyword(s):
LIMITED
:
(adjective) Restricted, kept within a certain
amount. Example: 'You have to answer
some IELTS questions in a limited number
of words.'

LINK
:
(noun) Relationship, connection. For
example: 'Experts now believe there is a link
between diet and bad behaviour in children.'
(verb) To make a connection, to join.

LINKED
Keyword(s):
LINKING WORD
:
(noun phrase) A word used to connect ideas.
For example: and, yet, however.

LOCATE
:
(verb) Find. track down. For example: 'I
could not locate the street on the map and
had to ask for directions.'

LOGIC
:
(noun) Reason, sense, common sense. For
example: 'The majority of people cannot see
the logic behind the recent decision.'

MAJOR
:
(adjective) Huge, large. For example:
'Alcohol and drug abuse is a major problem
in some parts of society.'

MEDIA
:
(Noun) newspapers, TV, magazines etc. For
example: 'It is important for the media to
have freedom of speech.'

MANIPULATE
:
(adjective) Change, alter (for own benefit) .
For example: 'Facts are often manipulated
by the media to give news stories additional
interest.'

MEDIATE
:
(verb) Act as a go between, encourage
discussion between two parties. For
example: 'An independent advisor will
mediate the talks between the company and
its workers.'

MANUAL
:
(adjective) Physical, labour-intensive, bluecollar. For example: 'Manual workers
generally earn lower wages than skilled
workers or professionals.'

MARGIN
:
(Noun) Level. For example: 'It is important
for companies to have a healthy profit
margin.'

MATCH
:
(verb) To fit together, to be equal. 'Some
IELTS questions require you to match
information with a speaker'.

MATCHES

MEDICAL
:
(adjective) Related to medicine or health.
For example: 'There are proven medical
benefits to taking regular exercise and eating
a healthy diet.'

MEDIUM
:
(noun) Method, vehicle, channel, mode. For
example: 'Email is nowadays the most
popular medium for communication.'

MENTAL
:
(adjective) Related to the mind or
psychological state. For example: 'Mental
illness is often more difficult for others to
understand than physical sickness.'

Keyword(s):
LOGICAL
:
(adjective) Makes sense, is reasonable.
Example: 'It is important to take a logical
approach to the IELTS exam'.
(adverb: logically)

MATERIALISTIC
:
(adjective) Motivated and finding pleasure
in physical possessions and objects
displaying wealth. Example: 'Many religions
discourage their followers from being overly
materialistic'.

Keyword(s):

M
MAIN MESSAGE

MENTIONS
Keyword(s):

LOGICALLY
LOYAL
:
To be faithful to someone or something.
Example: 'Dogs are very loyal pets'.

MENTION
:
(verb) To talk about, to refer to. Example:
'The subject was first mentioned at last
week's meeting.'

MATURE
:
(adjective) Responsible, stable through age
and experience. For example: 'Younger staff
benefit from interaction with older workers
as they learn from their mature outlook.'

METHOD
:
(Noun) way of doing something, system. For
example: 'Modern methods of teaching have
replaced traditional methods in some
schools.'

MAXIMISE

MIGRATE

:
(verb) To move from one place to another or
one country to another. See
also EMIGRATION and IMMIGRATION

:
(Verb) Adapt, adjust, change. For example:
'We often modify our behaviour and speech
depending on who we are talking to.'

MIGRATION

MODIFIED

Keyword(s):

Keyword(s):

MILITARY
:
(Noun) Armed forces, army. For example:
'Food and medical supplies will be delivered
to the area as part of the Military's rescus
operation.'

MONITOR
:
(Verb) Observe, check, supervise. For
example: 'A baby's deveopment is carefully
monitored particularly in the early stages of
growth.'

MINIMAL
:
(adjective) Smallest amount, minium
amount. For example: 'The recent
Government campaign has had minimal
effect and can be considerd a failure.'

MORTGAGE
:
(noun) Bank loan for buying a house.
Example: 'Mortgage interest rates have
increased significantly over the years in
many countries'.

MINIMISE
:
(Verb) Make as small as possible. For
example: 'Parents should try to minimise the
effect that divorce has on the their children.'

MOTIVATED
:
(adjective) Full of energy and purpose;
aiming for a goal. Example: 'It is important
to keep motivated when studying, even
when there are difficulties.'

MINIMISED
Keyword(s):
MINIMUM
:
(Noun) Smallest amount, least amount. For
example: 'I can study the course in my own
time, but it should take a minimum of 2
months to complete.'

MINISTRY
:
(Noun) Bureau, Department, Authority. For
example: 'The Ministry of Health will
release new healthy eating guidelines soon.'

MINOR
:
(Adjective) Small, not of great significance.
For example: 'The minor issues on the
agenda were not covered at the meeting as
we ran out of time.'

MODAL VERB
:
(noun phrase) An additional verb used with
a main verb. Example: should, can, might,
would, will.

MODAL VERBS
Keyword(s):
MODE
:
(Noun) Type, method, style. For example:
'Bicycles are an environmentally-friendly
mode of transport.'

MODIFY

MOTIVE
:
(Noun) Reason, cause. For example: 'The
main motive to work for most people is to
earn money.'

MULTIPLE
:
(adjective) Many. Example: 'He had
multiple injuries from the car crash'

MUTUAL
:
(adjective) Joint, shared, common. For
example: 'Employment contracts betwwen
employers and employees can be altered
subject to mutual agreement.'

MUTUALLY DEPENDENT
:
(adjective) When two things or people need
or rely on each other.

N
NECESSITY
:
(noun) Something needed or required.
Example: 'Water is a necessaity for life.'

NEGATES
Keyword(s):
NETWORK
:
(noun) Connection, set of connections. For
example: 'A close network of friends is
important to most people.'

NEUTRAL
:
(Adjective) Unbiased, not taking sides. For
example: 'During the war, the country
remained neutral.'

NEVERTHELESS
:
(Adverb) Nontheless, yet. For example: 'The
project would be relatively inexpensive to
set up, nevertheless it would be of great
benefit.'

NORM
:
(noun) standard, average. For example: 'It is
no longer the norm in many cultures for the
wife to stay at home full-time and look after
the children.'

NORMAL
:
(adjective) Usual, standard, typical. For
example: 'Aerobic exercise is good for the
heart because it raises the heartbeat above
the normal level.'

NOT APPLICABLE
:
(phrase) Not relevant; does not apply.
Example: 'If questions on an application
form are not relevant, then you can write
N/A meaning that it is not applicable to you.'

NOTION
:
(noun) Idea, concept. For example: 'The
notion that one day people may live on other
planets is almost impossible for us to
visualise.'

NOUN
:
(grammar term) A noun is the part of speech
that is used to name a person, place, or
thing. Nouns can be countable (chair, table,
car) or uncountable (water, rice, air).

NOUNS
Keyword(s):
NEGATE
:
(verb) Cancel out, counteract. For example:
'The recent decision will negate all progress
made before.'

NUCLEAR
:
(adjective) Relating to atomic source. For
example: 'A nuclear war would be
devastating for the world and its population.'

the guests for coming on my behalf as I had

to leave early and couldnt talk to everyone.'
NUMEROUS
:
(adjective) Lots, many. Example: 'There are
numerous charities that collect money from
donations'.

O
OBJECTIVE
:
(Noun) Aim, purpose. For example: 'The
aims and objectives of the research project
are found at the beginning of the report.'

OBLIGATION
:
(noun) No choice; need to do something.
Example: 'It is the parents' obligation to take
good care of their child.'

OBTAIN
:
(verb) To get. Example: 'Application forms
can be obtained from the Admissions office'.

OBTAINED
Keyword(s):
OBVIOUS
:
(adjective) Clear, evident. For example: 'The
obvious solution to the problem of passive
smoking is to ban cigarette smoking in
public places as some countries have already
done.'

OPEN-MINDED
:
(adjective) To be open to new ideas;
tolerant. Example: 'When travelling
overseas, it is important to be open-minded
about other cultures.'

OPPOSING
:
(adjective) Opposite point of view, against.
Example: 'There are many opposing views
on the subject of capital punishment'.

OPT
:
(verb) To choose. 'He opted to take a few
extra days holiday'.

OPTED
Keyword(s):
OPTION
:
(noun) Choice, alternative, opportunity. For
example: 'There are several options
available to him and he must choose the
best.'

OPTIONAL
:
You do not have to have this; you have a
choice

OVERLAP
:
(verb) Coincide, have similarities. For
example: 'There are several areas where to
two departments' responsibilities overlap.'

OVERSEAS
:
(noun) abroad, in another country. For
example: 'In some countries people are
resorting to having operations overseas as
medical care there is cheaper.'

OVERSEE
:
(verb) To manage, supervise or control.
Example: 'My manager is overseeing the
project'.

OVERVIEW
:
(noun) A general idea, an outline. Example:
'He gave an overview of the situation at the
meeting, but did not go into all of the
details.'

P
PARADIGM
:
(noun) Example, model. For example: 'A
paradigm to illustrate the situation
follows.'

PARADIGMS
Keyword(s):

OCCUPY
:
(verb) Take up, absorb. For example:
'Marking and administration tasks occupy a
large proportion of a teacher's time.'

ORIENT
:
(verb) Adjust to, get used to. For example:
'The training week is designed so that new
employees can orient themselves in the
workplace.'

PARAGRAPH
:
(noun) Section of a text. For example: 'It is
important to use paragraphs in essay writing
as it is easier for the reader to follow the key
ideas.'

PARAGRAPHS
OCCUR
:
(verb) take place, happen. For example:
'Problems in families often occur when
communication breaks down.'

OFFENCE
:
(noun) an insult. Example: 'He took offence
at her comment about his country.'

OMIT
:
(verb) To leave out, not to include. 'His
name was omitted from the list'

OMITTED
Keyword(s):
on BEHALF
:
(preposition) For. For example: 'He thanked

Keyword(s):
OUTCOME
:
(noun) result, ending, conclusion. For
example: 'People around the world are
hoping for a peaceful outcome to the
situation.'

PARALLEL
:
(adjective) Similar, matching, equivalent.
For example: 'It is important for couples to
have parrallel goals in life and beliefs.'

OUTPUT
:
(noun) Production, yield. For example: 'The
factory is operational seven days a week and
has continual output.'

PARAMETER
:
(noun) limit, boundary. For example: 'The
parameters of our knowledge are expanding
all the time.'

PARAMETERS
Keyword(s):
OVERALL
:
(adverb) Largely, in the main, mainly. For
example: 'Although there were a few minor
problems, overall the conference was a
success.'

PARAPHRASE
:
(verb) To write about something again
in another form or other words.

PARTICIPATE
:
(verb) Take part in, join, join in. For
example: 'Over 200 companies will
participate in next week's exhibition.'
Keyword(s):

PARTICIPATES
PARTNER
:
(verb) Unite, connect, link up. For example:
'The two companies intend to partner
together for the purpose of the project.'

PARTNERS
Keyword(s):
PASSAGE
:
(noun) A piece of reading with more than
one paragraph. Example: 'In the IELTS
reading test, you have to answer questions
about the passages given'.

PASSIVE
:
(adjective) Not active, learnt through
exposure not action. For example: 'We are
influenced in a passive way by many factors
in our lives.'

PASSIVE TENSE
:
A grammar term for a sentence that changes
the subject and object. For example:
'Someone has stolen my car' (active)
becomes 'My car has been stolen' (passive).

PATIENCE
:
(noun) Quality of being tolerant,
understanding or calm. Example: 'When
working with teenagers, it is necessary to
have patience'.

PATIENT
:
(noun) Someone who is receiving medical
care
(adjective) Tolerant, understanding, calm.
For example: 'When training a dog, you
need to be patient. Shouting at the animal
will not help.'

PENALISE
:
(verb) To punish, to give a penalty.
Example: 'Students who hand in their
assignments late are penalised by losing a
percentage of their marks'.

Example: 'The penalty for driving over the

speed limit is strict in many countries.'

PENALTIES
Keyword(s):
PERCEIVE
:
(verb) Understand, comprehend. For
example: 'The attitudes of our parents
influence the way in which we perceive the
world.'

POINT OF VIEW
:
(noun phrase) An opinion . Example: 'It can
sometimes be difficult to understand other
peoples' points of view.'
Keyword(s):

POINTS OF VIEW
PERCENT
:
(noun) proportion out of a hundred (%). For
example: 'According to the chart less than 8
percent of people never watch television.'

PERIOD
:
(noun) Phase, time. For example: 'While
summer was very busy the company is now
experiencing a quiet period.'

PERSPECTIVE
:
(noun) Point of view, outlook, perception.
For example: 'It is important to consider the
situation from more than one perspective.'

PHASE
:
(noun) Period of time, temporary period. For
example: 'Many of us go through phases in
our life when we have negative experiences.'

PHENOMENON
:
(noun) Occurance, happening. For example:
'As our understanding increases many
previously unexplained phenomenons can
now be understood.'

PHILOSOPHY
:
(noun) Viewpoint, way of life. For example:
'Many traditional business philosophies are
still taught and useful today.'

PHYSICAL
:
(adjective) Bodily. For example: 'Physical
beauty is often wrongly valued over
personality in our society.'

Keyword(s):

PLURAL
:
(grammar term) More than one. Example:
'The plural of shoe is shoes.'

PENALTY
:
(noun) Punishment; fine; consequence.

PLUS

PENALISED

:
(conjunction) More, added to. Example:
Everything is half price plus they are giving
away free accessories.

POLICY
:
(noun) Rule, strategy, plan. For example:
'The change in immigration policy has
resulted in more people immigrating to the
country.'

POPULATION
:
The total number of people living in a place.
For example: 'The population of Japan is
over 120 million.'

PORTION
:
(noun) part, piece. For example: 'The
company invests a significant portion of its
profits into research and development.'

POSITIVE
:
(adjective) In support, not negative. For
example: 'Customers' reaction to the new
product has been positive and sales are
expected to increase..'

POTENTIAL
:
(noun) The full possible extent of ability or
excellence. Example: 'The course allows
trainees to perform in their job to their full
potential'
(adjective) Possible, probable, likely. For
example: 'The idea has a lot of potential
benefits if put into place carefully.'

POVERTY
:
(noun) The state of being poor
(opposite=wealth) Example: 'A large
proportion of the developing world lives in
poverty.'

PRACTIONER
:
(noun) A person with a professional skill.
For example: 'A general practioner or G.P.
refers patients to specialist doctors when
necessary.'

PRECEDE
:
(verb) come before, preface. For example:
'He preceded his presentation with a
welcome speech.'

PRESUME
:
(noun) Assume, suppose. For example: 'In
many legal systems someone accused of
commiting a crime is presumed innocent
until proven guilty.'

PRECISE
:
(adjective) Accurate, exact. For example:
'The information given at the meeting was
very precise.'

PREVIOUS
:
(adjective) Earlier, prior, before. For
example: 'The research results are similar to
and support those in the previous study.'

PREDICT
:
(verb) Foretell, estimate. For example:
'Experts predict that house prices will
continue to rise.'

PREDICTION
:
(noun) A guess, an estimation about the
future. Example: 'The prediciton that the
world's population will rise is probably
correct.'

PREDICTIONS
Keyword(s):
PREDOMINANT
:
(adjective) Main, most common. For
example: 'The predominant reason people
commit crime is lack of money.'

PREFERENCE
:
(noun) A preferred choice; something you
would rather have/do. Example: 'They are
both good universities, but my preference
would be to study at the university in my
hometown'.

PRELIMINARY
:
(adjective) Initial, first. For example: 'A
preliminary hearing is often held before a
major court case goes to trial.'

PREPOSITION
:
(noun) A part of grammar that tells you
about place or time. Examples:
on the table
between the chairs
at 12 p.m.
Keyword(s):

PRIMARILY
:
(adverb) Most importantly, firstly

PRIMARY
:
(adjective) Main, most important. For
example: 'The primary cause of skin cancer
is over-exposure to the sun.'

PRIME
:
(adjective) Major, key. For example: 'His
experience and qualifications make him a
prime candidate for promotion.'

PRINCIPAL
:
(noun) Head or boss of an operation (often a
school). Example: 'The school will have a
new Principal from next semester'.

PROCEEDS
Keyword(s):
PROCESS
:
(verb) Procedure, way of doing something.
For example: 'IELTS task 1 writing may
involve describing a process, such as, for
example, whiskey-making.'

PROCESSES
Keyword(s):
PROFESSIONAL
:
(adjective) Specialised, qualified, skilled or
trained in a given area For example: 'The
country needs to attract more professional
people into its workforce.'
(noun) Relating to people working in an
educated field such as lawyers and
accountants.
Keyword(s):

PROFESSIONALS
PROHIBIT
:
(verb) ban, do not allow by law. For
example: 'Laws exist which prohibit the sale
of alcohol and cigarettes to children.'

PROJECT
:
(Noun) An undertaking involving effort. For
example: 'Improving public healthcare is a
significant project for the Government.'

PROJECTS
Keyword(s):
PRINCIPLE
:
(noun) Idea, standard, belief. For example:
'The principle behind offering free
university education is to give equal
opportunites to all.'

PROMOTE
:
(verb) Advertise, publicise An undertaking
involving effort. For example: 'Improving
public healthcare is a significant project for
the Government.'

PRIOR
:
(adjective) Previous, earlier. For example:
'In the years prior to cheaper air travel, few
people had the opportunity to experience
different countries and their cultures.'

PROMPT
:
(noun) Something used to help organise and
structure ideas. Example: 'Good public
speakers write notes in the form of prompts
to help them give a speech.'

PRIORITY
:
(noun) Factor of number one importance.
For example: 'The main priority when
parents divorce should be the well-being of
the children.'

PROPORTION
:
(Noun) Amount, quantity, part. For
example: 'A number of companies donate a
proportion of their profits to charity every
year.'

PREPOSITIONS
PROPORTIONS
PRESSURE
:
A force or a feeling that something has to be
done.

PROCEED
:
(verb) Go forward, begin, carry on. 'Please
proceed without me as I will be unable to
attend the meeting'.

Keyword(s):
PROPOSED
:
(adjective) suggested, planned. Example:
'The proposed building was rejected because
of the cost'.

PROSPECT
:
(Noun) Opportunity, option, chance. For
example: 'The computer industry offers a
range of job prospects to qualified people.'

PROSPECTS
Keyword(s):
PROTOCOL
:
(Noun) Code of conduct, set of rules. For
example: 'Employees of the company are
expected to follow a strict protocol.'

PROTOCOLS
Keyword(s):
PROVIDE
:
(verb) To give or offer. Example: 'IELTS
students need to provide evidence and
examples to support their opinions.'

PROVIDES
Keyword(s):
PSYCHOLOGY
:
(Noun) Mental processes and behaviour,
thoughts and emotions. For example:
'Human psychology is extremely complex.'

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
:
Buses and trains for example.

PUBLICATION
:
(Noun) Printed work i.e. book, magazine,
newspaper, journal. For example: 'The
author's new publication is said to be his
best.'
Keyword(s):

PUBLICATIONS
PUBLISH
:
(Verb) Make public, make known. For
example: 'Not all facts are published and the
General Public may not be aware of the
dangers.'

PUNCTUAL
:
Not late / on time.

PURCHASE
:
(Verb) Buy. For example: 'Identification is
often required in order to purchase alcohol.'

PURSUE
:

(Verb) Go in for, take up, engage in. For

example: 'A number of teachers are
becoming disillusioned with teaching and
are pursuing different careers.'

Q
QUALIFYING WORD
:
(grammar term) A word that gives more
information to the main subject. Example:
'Tokyo is a lot more crowded than
Auckland'.

QUOTE
:
(Verb) Cite, refer to the words of another.
For example: 'No more than two or three
sentences should be directly quoted from
another author in academic writing.'

R
RADICAL
:
(Adjective) Drastic, major. For example:
'The new CEO has already made radical
changes to the running of the company.'

RAISE MONEY
:
(phrase) To build funds (usually through
charity). Example: 'The school is currently
raising money to build a new sports hall'.

example: 'People do not react well to

criticism or blame.'

RECIPIENT
:
(noun) The person who receives something.
Example: 'The recipient must sign their
name when receiving a delivery'.

RECITE
:
(verb) To speak from memory or from
something written. Not a naturally
conversation. Example: 'He had to recite the
whole poem in front of the class'.

RECOGNISE
:
(verb) To notice; to identify. Example:
'When listening to the IELTS recording, you
may need to recognise the voices of specific
speakers.'

RECOGNISED
Keyword(s):
RECOMMEND
:
(verb) To advise or suggest as the best
course of action. 'He recommended I visit
the doctor'
Keyword(s):

RECOMMENDED

RANDOM
:
(Adjective) By chance, unsystematic. For
example: 'Members of the public will be
chosen at random to take part in the survey.'

RECOVER
:
(verb) Get back, regain. For example: 'The
Goverment is unlikely to recover its support
after the recent failure.'

RANGE
:
(Noun) Variety, choice, selection. For
example: 'The university offers a wide range
of choice to students interested in different
aspects of business.'

REFER TO
:
(verb) Check, look at. Example: 'When
sitting your IELTS test, it is important to
refer to the plan you have made as you are
writing''.

RATIO
:
(Noun) Relative amount, proportion,
fraction. For example: 'The ratio of men and
women is unbalanced in a number of
countries.'

REFERENCE
:
(noun) A mention of. Example: 'In the
reading test, look for references to the
keywords in the question'.

REFERENCES
Keyword(s):
RATIONAL
:
(Adjective) Sensible, logical, with reason.
For example: 'It can be difficult to remain
rational about emotional issues.'

REACT
:
(Verb) Act in response, respond. For

REFERENCE WORD
:
(noun phrase) Use of a pronoun (he, she, it
for example) to refer to a noun mentioned
before. Example: 'Dr Barton was responsible
for the project, although he did not complete
all of the research.'

REFINE

:
(verb) Improve, make better. For example:
'The company needs to refine its production
process as a number of problems have been
indentified.'

REGIME
:
(noun) System or routine. For example:
'When trying to lose weight it can be
difficult to stick to a strict exercise regime.'

REGION
:
(noun) Area, district. For example: 'The
entire region suffered damage in the recent
earthquake.'

REGISTER
:
(noun) Language used in a specific situation.
For example: 'Formal register is required for
academic writing.'

REGULATE
:
(verb) Control, monitor. For example:
'Introduction of the new examination system
will be regulated by the Ministry of
Education.'

basis for private loans'.

RELATIVE CLAUSE
:
(noun) A grammar term for a sentence that
commonly uses that, who or which to add
more information. For example: 'London,
which is the capital of England, is situated
near a river' or 'The man who lives next door
is a doctor'.

RELAX
:
(verb) Lighten up, loosen up, calm down.
For example: 'Many people use alcohol as a
way to relax in social situations.'

RELEASE
:
(verb) Set free. For example: 'Early release
of prisoners into society could be
dangerous.'

RELEVANT
:
(Adjective) Related to the point in question.
For example: 'His input at the meeting was
very relevant to the problem at hand.'

RELIANT
:
Being dependent or needing something.

REHABILITATION
:
(noun) Support and help to recover
(physical, emotional or mental). Example:
'The rehabilitation centre helps many
patients to get better'.

RELOCATE
:
(verb) Move to a different place. Example:
'The promotion involves having to relocate
to another city'.

REINFORCE
:
(verb) Strengthen, give more force to. For
example: 'New information has reinforced
our original ideas.'

RELY ON
:
(verb) Depend on, count on. For example:
'Many people rely on television as their
main form of entertainment.'

REJECT
:
(verb) Refuse, discard, throw out, dismiss.
For example: 'Visa applications can be
rejected on the basis of a criminal record.'

RELATE TO
:
(verb) Have a connection with. Example:
'Supernova' and 'star' are words that relate to
astronomy'.

RELATIONSHIP
:
(noun) A connection. Example: 'There is a
relationship between good health and
exercise'.

REMOVE
:
(verb) Eliminate, do away with, get rid of.
For example: 'Since barriers to trade have
been removed the country's export industry
has grown dramatically.'

RENT
:
(noun) Money spent on accommodation
which is paid to the landlord of the property.
Example: 'Rents are often very high in
capital cities'.

REPAYMENT
:
(noun) Money returned to the lender (often
in installments). Example: 'Many people
make repayments to the bank on a monthly

REPAYMENTS
Keyword(s):
REPERCUSSION
:
(noun) Consequence, effect, impact.
Example: 'Many families are feeling the
repercussion of higher taxes'.

REPETITION
:
(noun) duplication; something repeated.
Example: 'It is important to avoid repetition
in IELTS writing by using a range of
vocabulary'.

REPETITIVE
:
(adjective) Describing something that
repeats. Example: 'Some jobs are boring
because they are repetitive - the same thing
happens every day'.

REPHRASE
:
(verb) To give the same information in a
different way. Example: 'In IELTS writing,
try not to copy words from the title. Try to
rephrase as much as possible.'

REQUIRE
:
(verb) Need, need to have. For example:
'Visitors to the country are required to hold a
valid visa.'

REQUIRED
:
Something you have to have; something that
is needed.

RESEARCH
:
(noun) Investigation or study into a given
area or topic. For example: 'Most postgraduate programmes are research-based.'

RESENTMENT
:
(noun) A feeling of anger or bitterness. For
example: 'Unfair treatment can cause
resentment'.

RESERVATIONS
:
(noun) Doubts, concerns. Example: 'Many
parents have reservations about allowing
young children to have mobile phones
because of the potential risks'.

RESERVATION
Keyword(s):

RESIDE
:
(verb) Live. For example: 'It is necessary to
reside in the country for two years before
applying for citizenship.'

RETAIN
:
(verb) Maintain, keep. For example: 'It is
difficult to retain a foreign language without
regular practice.'

RESOLVE
:
(verb) Solve, put an end to, settle. For
example: 'Schools and parents should work
together to resolve the problem.'

RETIRE
:
(verb) To stop work permanently (often at
the age of around 60). Example: 'More and
more people are choosing to retire overseas.'

RESOLVED
Keyword(s):

RESOURCE
:
(noun) Something useful or helpful. For
example: 'The university library has a
number of useful resources for academic
writing.'

REVEAL
:
(verb) Make something known. For
example: 'The Government will reveal its
new Budget in April.'

Keyword(s):
RESPECTED
:
(adjective) highly thought of, considered
important and influential. Example: "The
owner of the company is highly respected by
his employees.'

RESPOND
:
(verb) Reply, answer. For example: 'It is
important that companies respond to
customer complaints quickly and
efficiently.'

RESPONSE
:
(noun) An answer, a reply. Example: 'You
should always try to use a range of
vocabulary and structures in your responses
in the IELTS speaking and writing tests.'

RESPONSIBLE
:
(adjective) Reliable; dependable. Example:
'He is very responsible, despite being very
young'.
See also IRRESPONSIBLE

RESTORE
:
(verb) Bring back. For example: 'The good
results from my last test have restored my
confidence after a series of failures.'

RESTRICT
:
(verb) Control, limit. For example: 'The
internet makes it difficult for parents to
restrict the type of information their children
are exposed to.'

ROLE
:
Job or position. For example: 'He is taking
the role of the Managing Director'

RETIRED

Keyword(s):

RESOURCES

RIGID
:
(adjective) Not flexible, strictly maintained.
For example: 'Soldiers in the army are
required to follow rigid rules and
regulations.'

REVENUE
:
(noun) Financial income or return. For
example: 'Many people rely on revenue
from investments as their retirement fund.'

REVERSE
:
(verb) Turn backward. For example: 'The
Government has reversed its decision due to
enormous public protest.'

REVISE
:
(verb) Study information for an exam, go
back over information already learned. For
example: 'Classes finish two weeks before
examinations start so there will be plenty of
time to revise .'

REVOLUTION
:
(noun) Sudden and enormous change or
development. For example: 'The IT
revolution has improved the efficiency of
businesses.'

REWARD
:
(noun) Prize or payment for something
done. Example: 'There was a reward offered
for any information about the crime'.

RHETORICAL
:
(ADJECTIVE) A writing style where the
writer asks a question which either does not
need an answer or the writer answers
himself or herself. For example: "Who can
make a difference? You can!". Rhetorical
questions are not considered good academic
style.

ROLE MODEL
:
(noun) A perfect example of behaviour to
someone. Example: 'Parents should act as
role models for their children'.

ROUTE
:
(noun) Way, direction of reaching
something. For example: 'A sound education
offers a solid route to success.'

S
SCENARIO
:
(noun) Situation, circumstance. For
example: 'Several scenarios could occur as
a result if this change.'

SCHEDULE
:
(noun) Plan, timetable, programme. For
example: 'He will be on a very busy
schedule during his business trip and will
have very little free time.'

SCHEME
:
(noun) Plan, idea, project. For example:
'Many schools offer work experience
schemes to give students the opportunity to
experience the workplace.'

SCOPE
:
(noun) Range, capacity, extent. For
example: 'The full scope of the damage
caused by the earthquake is still unknown.'

SECTION
:
(noun) part, division. For example: 'Business
reports are broken down into sections to
allow readers to find information more
quickly.'

SECTOR
:
(noun) Segment, subdivision. For example:
'There is generally a shortage of workers in

the healthcare sector.'

Occupational sector relates to different
categories of job. Example: 'Salaries are
often high for people working in the
professional sector'.

SECTORS
Keyword(s):
SECURE
:
(adjective) Safe, protected. For example:
'Since the company is experiencing financial
problems a large number of jobs may no
longer be secure.'

SEEK
:
(verb) Look for, search for, try to find. For
example: 'Most people seek happiness in
their lives.'

SELECT
:
(verb) Choose, pick. For example: 'The new
team for the next Olympic Games will be
selected soon.'

SEMI-FORMAL
:
(adjective) Between casual and formal.
Example: 'The dress code for the party is
semi-formal. Suits and ties are not
necessary, but jeans are not permitted.'

SENIOR
:
(adjective). Older, more respected, higher
ranked. Example: 'New employees can get
useful guidance from senior staff'.

SENSITIVE
:
(adjective) Delicate. Example: 'Topics that
may cause offence to some people are
sensitive issues.'

SENTENCED
:
The penalty given for a crime. For example:
'He was sentenced to 2 years in prison for
the robbery'.

SEQUENCE
:
(noun) Order, series, progression. For
example: 'An unfortunate sequence of events
led to the closure of the factory.'

SEQUENCING WORD
:
(noun phrase) Words showing order of how
something happens/happened. E.g. then,
after that, following

lecturer said my coursework was slightly

improved but I still needed to work harder.'
SERIES
:
(noun) String, chain, run. For example: 'The
company has received a series of complaints
about its customer service.'

SHIFT
:
(noun) Move, swing, change (towards or
away from a pattern of behaviour). For
example: 'Increased health awareness has
resulted in a shift away from fatty foods.'

SHORT-SIGHTED
:
(adjective) Unable to see future
consequences; unable to think over the long
term. Example: 'Many people think it is
short-sighted not to take care of the
environment'.

SIGNIFICANT
:
(adjective) Major, large, big. For example:
'The graph shows a significant decrease in
numbers of smokers.'
(adverb = significantly)
Keyword(s):

SIGNIFICANTLY
SIMILAR
:
(adjective) Alike, almost the same, related,
comparable. For example: 'We often have
similar opinions and perceptions as our
parents.'

SIMILARITY
:
(noun) Being the same or similar to
something/someone else. Example: 'I think
there are many similarities between here and
my hometown. For example, the weather is
about the same'.

SIMULATE
:
(verb) Copy, replicate, imitate. For example:
'Car manufacturers often simulate accidents
in quality checks to assess the safety of their
vehicles.'

SITE
:
(noun) Location. For example: 'The site for
the new school has now been decided and
building will commence soon.'

SLIGHTLY
:
(adverb) A little, not much. Example: 'The

SOLE
:
(adjective) Only, one and only, singular. For
example: 'Many people believe that human
impact is the sole cause of global warming.'

SOMEWHAT
:
(adjective) rather, fairly, to some extent. For
example: 'The topic is somewhat
controversial.'

SOURCE
:
(noun) Resource, supply. For example: 'The
internet is a useful source of information.'

SPECIFIC
:
(adjective) Particular or exact. Example: 'It
is important to give some specific examples
in your writing test.'

SPECIFY
:
(verb) Detail, identify, give clear
information. For example: 'The instrcutions
specified clearly what we had to do.'

SPECULATE
:
(verb) To make a guess, prediction,
estimation. 'He speculated that Italy would
win the competition'.

SPECULATION
Keyword(s):
SPHERE
:
(noun) Area, field. For example: 'There are
many opportunities in the sphere of business
at the moment.'

SPLIT
:
(adjective) Separated, divided, not united.
Example: 'Opinion on this controversial
issue is split'.

SPONSORSHIP
:
(noun) Financial supporting; funding.
Example: 'Some forms of the arts, such as
ballet, require government sponsorship in
order to continue.'

STABLE
:

(adjective) Steady, secure. For example:

'The economy is currently very stable and
consumer expenditure is high .'

STARVATION
:
(noun) Hunger which could lead to death.
Example: 'Starvation is still common in
some regions of the world.'

STATE
:
(verb) To make clear, to say something
firmly. Example: 'The terms of the refund
policy were stated on the ticket'.

STRESSFUL
:
(adjective) Causing worry and concern.
Example: 'Buying a new house can be very
stressful'.

STRIKE
:
(noun) An industrial protest where people
stop working. Example: 'The Teacher's
Union is organising a strike to protest about
low pay.'

STRIKES
Keyword(s):

STATED
Keyword(s):
STATEMENT
:
(noun). A sentence showing opinion or fact.
Example: 'Some IELTS writing tasks give
you a statement and then ask your opinion
about it.'

STATISTIC
:
(noun) Numerical data. For example:
'Statistics show that more men than women
smoke.'

STRIKING
:
(adjective) Clear, obvious, notable.
Example: 'Tigers have very striking orange
and black markings on their coats'.

STRUCTURE
:
(noun) The way in which parts are arranged
or put together. Example: 'A good essay
should have a clear structure'.
(verb) To arrange something into clear parts
or order. Example: 'It is important to
structure your answer clearly in the IELTS
test'.

STATISTICS
Keyword(s):

STATUS
:
(noun) Position, recognition, importance.
For example: 'Many people seek promotion
not just for financial gain but also for status.'

STRAIGHTFORWARD
:
(adjective) Direct, simple, clear. Example:
'Some answers in the IELTS test are
straightforward. Others are more difficult.'

STRATEGY
:
(noun) Plan, tactic. For example: 'Different
people find that different study strategies
work best for them.'

STRESS
:
(noun) Pressure, anxiety, nervous tension.
For example: 'A large number of school
teachers suffer from stress due to their job.'

SUBSIDY
:
(noun) Financial assistance, grant, funding.
For example: 'Subsidies are available to
businesses who meet the application
criteria.'

SUBSTITUTE
:
(noun) Something which replaces or takes
the place of something else. For example:
'Substitute teachers take over classes
temporarily when permanent staff are away
from work.'

SUCCESSOR
:
(noun) A person who replaces another in a
specific role. For example: 'The president's
successor is yet to be decided.'

SUFFER
:
(verb) Endure, bear (negative experience or
situation). Example: 'Students suffer because
of poor funding in education.'

STRUCTURED

Keyword(s):
STATIVE VERB
:
(noun phrase) A verb wihch describes a
feeling, emotion, or state. Example: love,
hate, believe, think, own.
See also ACTIVE VERB

(adverb) Following, consequent. For

example: 'The problem was already out of
hand and subsequent events have made it
even worse.'

SUFFERS
Keyword(s):

STYLE
:
(noun) Method, approach, way, manner. For
example: 'The majority of workers are
unhappy with the new boss and his
management style.'

SUFFICIENT
:
(adjective) Enough, adequate. For example:
'It is a basic human right to have sufficient
food to eat, warm housing and clothing.'

SUBHEADING
:
(noun) A heading under the main heading
showing a sub section. Example:
THE IELTS TEST
Reading module (this is a subheading)

SUITABLE
:
(adjective) well matched, appropriate.
Example: 'He is very suitable for the
position as he has all the skills required'.
Antonym: unsuitable (not well matched,
inappropriate)

UNSUITABLE
SUBMIT
:
(verb) Present, give in, put forward. For
example: 'University assignments need to be
submitted by due date or a penalty will
apply.'

SUBORDINATE
:
(noun) Someone subject to authority and
control of another. For example: 'A good
manager should support and motivate his
subordinates.'

SUBSEQUENT
:

Keyword(s):
SUM
:
(noun) Figure, amount. For example: 'A
huge sum of money will be required from
the Government to fund improvements in
the area.'

SUMMARY
:
(noun) Outline, review of main facts. For
example: 'In summary, it can be seen that
the following advantages and disadvantages
exist.'

SUPERLATIVE
:
(grammar term) The form of an adjective
used for comparing something against two
or more things. Example: Tall > the tallest

SUPPLEMENT
:
(verb) Add to, enhance, extend. For
example: 'The Government often
supplements the income of mothers
returning to work in part-time jobs.'

SUPPORT
:
(verb) To back up, to make an argument
stronger / believable. Example: 'It is
important to support your arguments with
examples in the IELTS writing test'.

SUPPORTED
Keyword(s):
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
:
(noun phrase). Additional details. Example:
'Paragraphs generally focus on a main
message but also include supporting
information'

SURVEY
:
(noun) Study, investigation, analysis. For
example: 'The results of the survey will be
published ina report.'

SURVIVE
:
(verb) Continue to exist, stay alive, live on.
For example: 'Cheaper imports from abroad
make it difficult for many companies to
survive.'

SUSPEND
:
(verb) bar from a privilege, exclude for a
period of time. For example: 'Children who
misbehave at school are often suspended
from class as punishment.'

SUSTAIN
:
(verb) Maintain, keep up. For example:
'Advertising is an important tool for
sustaining sales of an older product.'

SYMBOL
:
(noun) Sign, representation, icon. For
example: 'Expensive cars are a symbol of
wealth.'

SYNONYM
:

(noun) A word that has the same meaning as

another. Example happy/joyful,
sad/depressed.

T
TARGET
:
(noun) Object for attack or criticism. For
example: 'Motorists who speed near
schools are the target of the Police's latest
saftey campaign.'

TASK
:
(noun) Job, chore, duty. For example:
'Passing of the course involves successful
completion of a number of tasks.'

TEAM
:
(noun) Group of people working together for
the same aim. For example: 'The department
is made up of a team of twenty workers.'

TECHNICAL
:
(adjective) Specialised, technological. For
example: 'The process is really very straightforward and not at all technical.'

TECHNIQUE
:
(noun) Method, skill, system. For example:
'It is a matter of practising and learning the
correct technique.'

TECHNOLOGY
:
(noun) Electronic/digital know-how. For
example: 'We know have the technology to
do many things we once thought
impossible.'

TEMPORARY
:
(adjective) Short-term, not permanent. For
example: 'Temporary shelters were set up
until people were able to return to their own
homes.'

TEMPTATION
:
(noun) Something that seems attractive;
motivates someone to act in a certain way.
Example: 'The temptation to socialise can
cause students to neglect their studies.'

TERMINATE
:
(verb) End, finish, cease. For example: 'The
contract may be terminated with one
month's notice period.'

TEXT
:
(noun) Book or part of a book, passage. For
example: 'In the IELTS reading exam it is
useful to underline key words in the text.'

THEME
:
(noun) Subject, topic. For example:
'Common themes for the IELTS test are
society, health, education and technology.'

THEORY
:
(noun) Idea, concept. For example: 'The
theories learned at university provide
background knowledge for use in the
business world.'

THEREBY
:
(adverb) In that way, By this means, In
doing so. For example: 'More investment
should be put into rural areas thereby
increasing employment opportunities there.'

THESIS
:
(noun) Academic research project. For
example: 'A university professor will be
appointed to each student to supervise the
writing of their thesis.'

TO BE INCLINED
:
(verb) To prefer to do something; to lean
towards and action or idea. 'More pople will
be inclined to protect the environment, if it
is made easier for them to do so.'
Keyword(s):

INCLINED, INCLINE
TOLERATE
:
(verb) To accept, to allow to happen.
Example: 'Too many parents tolerate bad
behaviour from their children'.

TOLERATES
Keyword(s):

TENSE
:
(adjective) Anxious, worried, stressed. For
example: ' It is quite common to feel tense
before an important exam.'

TOPIC
:
(noun) Subject, focus. For example: 'Topics
for IELTS writing exams are often related to
social issues.'

TRACE
:
(verb) Track, locate, discover. For example:
'It is difficult to trace calls made from
mobile phones.'

TREND
:
(noun) General direction or pattern of
behaviour. Example: 'There has been an
increasing trend towards having smaller
families'.

UNITY
:
(noun) Agreement, harmony. For example:
'It is important there is unity of purpose in
order to solve this problem.'

TRENDS
Keyword(s):
TRADESPEOPLE
:
(noun) People that are employed in a skilled
trade such as carpenters, plumbers or
electricians.

TRADITION
:
(noun) Custom, practice followed for some
time. For example: 'Many important
traditions are rejected or forgotton by
modern society.'

TRANSFER
:
(verb) To move from one place to another
or from one type to another. Example: 'In
the IELTS reading test, candidates have to
complete the test and transfer their answer to
the answer paper in 60 minutes'.

TRIGGER
:
(verb) Set off, cause to start. For example:
'The recent policy change has triggered a
great deal of protest.'

U
ULTIMATE
:
(adjective) Of the greatest size or
significance. For example: 'Finding a
solution to this problem is of ultimate
importance.'

UNDER-PRIVILEGED
:
(adjective) Not having an acceptable
standard of living. Example: 'Many charities
provide toys for under-privileged children'.

TRANSFERS
Keyword(s):
TRANSFORM
:
(verb) Dramatically change appearance of.
For example: 'Landfill areas can be
transformed into beautiful park areas which
can be enjoyed by the public.'

TRANSITION
:
(noun) Conversion, changeover. For
example: 'It can be difficult for people to
make the transition from working all day to
a quieter life when they retire.'

TRANSITIVE VERB
:
(noun phrase) A verb that does not require
an object. Example: live, die.
See also INTRANSITIVE VERB

TRANSMIT
:
(verb) Spread, pass on. For example: 'On
rare occasions infections have been
transmitted through blood transfusions.'

TRANSPORT
:
(noun) Form of vehicle used to get from one
place to another. For example: 'Free public
transport should be available to retired
people.'

UNDERLIE
:
(verb) Be the basis of. For example: 'There
are several reasons which underlie the
changes.'

UNSCRUPULOUS
:
(adjective) Without principles, morals or
ethics. Example: 'It is unscrupulous for
companies to exploit child labour.' See
ETHICS.

UTILISE
:
(verb) Use, use up. For example: 'Energysaving light bulbs utilise less electricity than
regular ones.'

V
VALID
:
(adjective) Legitimate, justifiable. For
example: 'Being late is not a valid excuse
for speeding.'

VARIATION
:
(noun) Alternative, different version of
something. Example: 'There are many
variations of multiple choice questions in the
IELTS test - short answer, long answer etc...'

VARIATIONS
UNDERMINE
:
(verb) To weaken, to cause to collapse.
Example: 'You can undermine an opposing
point of view by identifying its weaknesses'.

UNDERTAKE
:
(verb) Commit to, take on. For example: 'At
a wedding ceremony the bride and groom
undertake to support each other for the rest
of their lives.'

UNIFORM
:
(adjective) The same, equal, very
similar. Example: 'Fast food chains attempt
to offer a uniform standard of service across
all their sites.'
(noun) A specific set of clothes for a job.
For example: a nurse's uniform, a soldier's
uniform

UNIQUE
:
(adjective) Only one of its kind, special. For
example: 'The company says that it offers
unique work opportunities to its employees.'

Keyword(s):
VARY
:
(verb) differ, show differences. For
example: 'Opinions vary on this subject.'

VEHICLE
:
(noun) motorised form of transport. For
example: 'It is irresponsible and dangerous
to be in charge of a vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol.'

VERB
:
A verb is an action word. Example: run,
expect, hope, demand

VERBS
Keyword(s):
VERSION
:
(noun) Form, type, style, variety. For
example: 'The new version of the computer
software has many more functions than the
old one.'

VERTICAL
:
(adjective) At 90 degrees, straight up.
Example: Unlike aeroplanes, helicopters can
do a vertical take off.

VIA
:
(preposition) Through, by means of. For
example: 'We can now access all kinds of
information quickly and easily via the
internet.'

VIOLATE
:
(verb) Disturb, intrude on. For example: 'It
is unacceptable where a situation violates
our human rights.'

VIOLENCE
:
(noun) Physical harm to another person.
Example: 'Violence at football matches is,
unfortunately, a common sight.'

VISIBLE
:
(adjective) Apparent, obvious, able to be
seen. For example: 'There have been no
visible benefits to the change in policy.'

VISUAL
:
(adjective) Able to be seen by the eye. For
example: 'Visual aids help to make a
presentation more interesting to the
audience.'

VOLUME
:
(noun) Quantity, amount. For example: 'The
volume of water that we waste every day is
enormous.'

VOLUNTARY
:
(adjective) Unpaid, charitable. For example:
'A significant amount of assistance given in
third world countries is given by voluntary
workers.'

VOLUNTEER
:
(noun) a person works for free out of choice.
Example: 'Many volunteers help at the
homeless shelter.'

VOLUNTEERS
Keyword(s):
VOWEL
:
(noun) The letters a,e,i,o and u.
Some words can begin with a vowel sound

even though the first letter is a consonant.

Example: hour, honour.
See also CONSONANT

VULNERABLE
:
(adjective) Defenceless, helpless, at risk.
Example: 'Older people are more vulnerable
to ill health caused by cold weather'.

W
WEALTHY
:
(adjective) Having a lot of something
(commonly money) Example: 'Bill Gates
is a very wealthy man'.

WELFARE
:
(noun) Well-being. For example: 'As a
society we should be responsible for the
welfare of the elderly.'

WHEREAS
:
(conjunction) While, but. For example:
'Promotion for women at work is even now
sometimes difficult, whereas men often have
more opportunities and earn higher wages .'

WIDESPREAD
:
(adjective) Very common, all around. For
example: 'Death from treatable diseases is
widespread in the developing world.'