IELTS SPEAKING BOOST | FASTRACK EDUCATION

LEXICAL RESOURCE

3 areas of your vocabulary that matter:

1) size of your vocabulary and how accurately you use words
2) if you use less common words, idiomatic language, and
collocations
3) how well you paraphrase

LEXICAL RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS

Band Requirements

• you can easily discuss any topic with full flexibility and convey precise
meaning
up • you use less common words and idiomatic expressions naturally and
make few/no mistakes
• you can paraphrase effectively in any situation

• your vocabulary is wide enough to discuss a variety of topics

• you use some less common words and idiomatic expressions, and have
7
some awareness of style and collocation, but make some mistakes
• you can paraphrase effectively

• your vocabulary is not sufficient to discuss all topics easily

down • you use words inappropriately more often
• in some situations, you are not able to paraphrase

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 IELTS SPEAKING BOOST | FASTRACK EDUCATION

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY SCORE

1. SPEAK INFORMALLY

✓ Use contractions

I am going to apply to university ➡ I’m gonna apply to university

I would like to ➡ I’d like to
I cannot ➡ I can’t

✓ Use phrasal verbs, and informal words and phrases

✓ Avoid overly formal words and phrases

Such as furthermore, nevertheless, thereafter, notwithstanding

I endeavour to attain high grades at university.

⬇
I work hard to achieve high grades at university.
I’ll do my best to get high grades.

✓ Avoid overly formal sentence structures

The company to which I applied for a job ➡ The company I applied for a job

The hotel at which I am going to stay ➡ The hotel I’m gonna stay at

A friend whom I met at university ➡ A friend I met at university

2. CHOOSE THE BEST WORD FOR EACH SITUATION

✓ Use words accurately and appropriately

✓ Aim to speak naturally

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3. USE IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

My parents struggled to make ends meet. (not to have enough money)

Companies try to encourage their employees to think outside the box. (think
differently, from a new perspective)

Despite his wealth, he’s a surprisingly down-to-earth man. (simple and sensible)

4. USE COLLOCATIONS

fast food quick meal

make a bed do the dishes

get upset go mad

5. PARAPHRASE

3 R’S OF PARAPHRASING

Reword Rearrange Realize

• use synonyms • change the • some
(words with the form of words information
same meaning) • change the can’t be
• use pronouns sentence paraphrased
(it, they, that, structure
these)
• describe the
word