IELTS Vocabulary and Lexical Resource

IELTS Vocabulary means using a more academic style and word choice (Lexical
Resource) when writing your essay. Using Topic Specific Vocabulary, collocations
and words from the Academic Word List will help considerably.

This lesson focuses on what to learn, the importance of context, and how to learn /
memorise these new terms so you can improve your writing.

Topic Specific Vocabulary

The best vocabulary to score in IELTS is Topic Specific Vocabulary – a vocabulary

that focuses on one topic.

In this article we will give you plenty of detailed explanations, tips, examples and
resources for practice on this subject.

Topic Specific Vocabulary also contains lots of collocations, so you can expect a
thorough explanation on what they are and how to use them.
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What is a collocation?

A collocation is a group of words that has an above average possibility of being found
together.

Using collocations in your writing and speaking helps to make your language sound
more natural and fluent. This in turn makes your skills higher and gets you better
scoring in essays.

What is the best way to learn Topic Specific Collocations?

The best way is to learn Topic Specific Collocations is to look for them being used in
context, in their natural environment.

Each topic below contains a list of collocations, a sample band 9 essay in a gap fill
exercise.

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1. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Employment – Equal pay
Collocation Example

Many women discuss feminist theory and the differences in why women
Feminist theory
are oppressed the way they are.

Gender equality is an issue we have been struggling with in the world for
Gender equality
centuries and has yet to be fixed completely.

Men and women do not always receive equal pay in the workplace even
Equal pay
when they are doing the same work.

Balancing Some men believe that women have trouble balancing responsibilities
responsibilities involving the home and the workplace and therefore cannot do both things.

We must empower women to achieve their goals no matter how big they
Empower women
are in order to see gender equality succeed.

Affirmative action involves choosing someone for a job based on their race
Affirmative action
or gender as opposed to their skills alone.

Male entitlement is a problem in today’s society because men have been

Male entitlement
raised to think they are in control of everything.

Many countries in the world revolve around the idea of a patriarchal society
Patriarchal society
where the male leads the household and make the decisions.

Gender equality proves to be equally beneficial to both men and women in

Equally beneficial
the long run.

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Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

Firstly, women should be given the same opportunities in the workplace, because ____
___________ is unfair and out of date. Men should not be given privileges over women just
because of their gender. We need to promote ______ ________ in the workplace as well as
give men and women _____ ___. Studies show that women excel just as quickly if not faster
than men do in their careers when given the opportunity. Therefore, we need to _______ _____
and allow them to grow with no boundaries.

Secondly, women should not be hindered in their careers, because a working woman can be
_______ __________ to the man as well. If the woman in the home is working alongside the
man, the family can bring in more income and support their family more efficiently. ________
______ studies how women are discriminated against in their jobs and how this can be a
disadvantage to the family as a whole. Scientists have proved that couples who are equal when
it comes to gender are happier overall.

In conclusion, we must allow women to thrive in the workplace and use ___________ ______
initiatives in order to ensure that women get the same opportunities as men. It is better for the
world as a whole if we see both men and women in the home and leading successful careers.

2. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Sport

Collocation Examples

Performance Many athletes use performance enhancing drugs to do better in sports.

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Collocation Examples

enhancing

Many students saw that their behavior record improved when they started
Record improved
to behave better.

Americans love watching competitive sports because they are inherently

Competitive sports
competitive.

Average body The average body weight for a 5 foot female is 105 pounds.

Ultra-endurance sports force humans to work their hardest for as long as

Ultra-endurance
possible.

Specialized bodies Tall people have specialized bodies for the sport of basketball.

Many athletes take steroids because performing better provides financial

Financial incentives
incentives.

Athletic performance varies between people and is based on body type

Athletic performance
and experience.

Energy efficient It is most energy efficient to eat protein and carbs before playing sports.

Over time, changing genes in humans has caused athletes to perform

Changing genes
better.

We have a different mindset today about global warming than we did

Different mindset
twenty years ago.

Tearing tendons Athletes must be careful when lifting weights because tearing tendons is

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Collocation Examples

a serious concern.

Human health Taking drugs and drinking alcohol is not good for human health.

Controversial issue Global warming is a controversial issue in today’s political world.

Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

Performance enhancing drugs are a _____________ _____ in the sports world today. While
some people believe these drugs can increase ________ ___________, it is obvious that these
drugs are detrimental to _____ ______. These drugs cause athletes to have unfair benefits over
others as well.

Firstly, supplements to increase athletic performance should not be allowed because they can
cause significant harm to the human body. For example, athletes who take these supplements
may overwork their bodies and end up _______ _______ in the process. While professional
athletes take these supplements because of _________ __________ in order to perform better,
they are not ______ _________ to the body. Most athletes end up crashing after taking these
drugs. Therefore, these performance drugs should be banned from all markets.

Secondly, supplements should be banned because they provide an unfair advantage. In the
world of __________ ______, an unfair advantage can result in money loss and defamation for
the losing athlete. These drugs help athletes create ___________ ______ for the sport in
question. Athletes on drugs have _____ _________ capabilities unlike the athlete with the drug-
free and _______ ____. This causes the competition to lose its value and the real athletic talent
to be lost. These drugs get rid of the real meaning of sports.

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In conclusion, performance enhancing drugs and supplements should not be allowed in
competitive sports due to unfair advantages, and they should not be allowed in any
marketplace, because they are unhealthy.

3. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Employment – Highly Skilled Jobs

Collocations Examples
Highly skilled There are too many highly skilled people and not enough jobs for

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Collocations Examples
these people to fill.
Qualified Many qualified graduates find themselves without work, because the
graduates job market does not need them.
Increase education such as graduate degrees has become more
Increased
necessary when getting jobs, because college degrees are
education
becoming very common and therefore less valuable.
The job requirements for companies have become more extensive in
Job requirements
order to differentiate between recent graduates.
Company policies usually require new employees to have ample
Company policies
experience when coming on board.
Internship Internship experience is one of the most common requirements for
experience new graduates looking for work.
The job fields that many graduates are seeking jobs in already have
Job field
enough workers.
The working world is hard to enter as a graduate when you do not
Working world
have a unique and extensive resume.
The unemployment problem for recent graduates is growing because
Unemployment
more people are graduating and there are less jobs becoming
problem
available.

Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

Many college graduates who are ______ _______ for jobs in their preferred fields are finding
themselves without work, because there are not enough jobs to go around. The main problem is
that young adults are being told how important a college degree is, yet in the end, there are too
many people with this degree. A good way to fix this problem would be to send people to
technical schools in order to fill positions that need to be filled. Firstly, _________ _________
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are having trouble getting into the _______ _____, because there are not enough jobs for these
qualified people to go around. Many graduates are qualified in specific, popular ___ ______ that
have too many people to being with. Because of this, _________ _________ is beginning to be
required for these jobs. In order to combat this problem, _______ ________ are becoming more
strict and the ___ ____________ now include __________ __________ in order to get the job.
This makes it more difficult for these highly skilled graduates to get jobs.

Secondly, in order to fix the ____________ _______ for recent graduates, we must try and
create schooling other than college that will allow students to get more specialized training in
fields where employment is needed such as computer systems and technology. By creating and
encouraging these schools, we will be able to provide employment for people who are qualified
and ready for work. This will increase employment among recent graduates.

In conclusion, recent graduates are unable to find work because there are not enough jobs in
the fields they are skilled in. Also, this is causing jobs in these fields to be even harder to get,
because requirements are becoming more extensive. In order to fix this problem, we must
create and encourage specialized schooling to prepare for the workplace.

4. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Environment – Global warming

Collocations Examples
There are many political issues in America such as women’s rights
Political issue
and immigration.
The climate crisis is a huge problem today, because temperatures are
Climate crisis
rising and the ice caps are melting.

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Collocations Examples
Global warming is causing polar bears in the north and deep south to
Global warming
die.
Green Becoming a green consumer can help fix the climate crisis in the
consumer world.
Carbon Reducing our carbon emissions can slow down the effects of global
emissions warming on our planet.
Historical
The temperatures have risen and beaten the historical average.
average
The current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are
Current levels
dangerously high.
Every person must reduce their carbon footprint by mindfully treating
Carbon footprint
the environment better.
Climate There are many climate solutions that can help our planet, but we all
solutions must do our part to make a change.

Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

People are creating more waste and garbage today and it is negatively affecting our planet by
causing _______ ______ of carbon dioxide emissions to rise and the _______ ______ to get
worse. We must fix this issue with _______ _________ that will reduce our personal waste and,
in turn, reduce our ______ __________.

Firstly, we must stop creating so much garbage by becoming _____ _________ . We have to be
mindful of our use and learn to be more environmentally friendly. Studies show that the
__________ _______ of temperatures has been exceeded and this is related to our amount of

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waste. We need to recycle more and emit less. Otherwise, our ______ _________ will continue
to increase.

Secondly, we need to fix the climate crisis on a personal level. We cannot consider ______
_______ a _________ _____, because we all need to participate in making a change. Scientists
agree that in order to make a difference and reduce our garbage, we need to drive our cars
less, stop drinking bottled water, and recycle and throw away our trash. With each person
making these small changes, we can make a big difference in the world when it comes to
climate change.

In conclusion, the amount of garbage we put out in the world is affecting us negatively and
causing climates to rise. We must make changes and make them fast in order to fix this issue.
Together, we can make a difference.

5. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Law

Collocations Examples
Violent offender The violent offender was arrested and taken to jail.
Ultimate goal The runner’s ultimate goal was to win the race.
The puppy was placed in small confines so he would not use the
Small confines
bathroom in his cage.
Cell blocks The cell blocks of the prison held inmates of all shapes and sizes.
She was very smart compared to the knowledge of the general
General population
population.
The toddler needed more social contact with other toddlers in
Social contact
order to learn how to share and be kind.
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Collocations Examples
I was kicked out of the classroom for my loud antics and disruptive
Disruptive behavior
behavior.
Emergency The girl collapsed on the floor and we dialed 999 for the
response emergency response team.
The purpose of the correctional facility was to try and teach
Correctional facility
prisoners to behave better and be less violent.
Brute force We had to use brute force to open the rusty door.
The soldier had to go through a training academy in order to
Training academy
become part of the Army.
The school’s internal politics involving finding a new principal
Internal politics
caused the faculty to fight with one another.
Controversial The issue of electing a woman president has become a big
component controversial component in the 2016 election.
Intimidation
The school bully used an intimidation technique of
technique
The church provided a safe environment for members who were
Safe environment
feeling threatened at home.

Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

It is a common viewpoint in today’s society that someone who has been labeled as a criminal for
committing illegal activity is unable to change his or her identity and will always be considered a
criminal. Does this viewpoint align with yours? Support your argument with specific reasoning.

Many people in today’s society believe that criminals cannot change their identity and will
remain criminals forever. However, there is reason to believe that this viewpoint is false. With
increased ______ _______ between prisoners as well as officers, a ____ ___________ can be
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created in which prisoners can improve themselves and change who they are. This essay will
discuss why it may be possible for criminals to abandon their past and live meaningful lives in
their future.

Firstly, people always have the power to change their situation and their lives for the better. A
criminal’s life is not fixed forever and prison can help these _______ _________ better
themselves, hence the titling of most prisons as “____________ ___________.” For example, a
recent study showed that when the _______ __________ interacted with prisoners before
prison and again after prison, they could tell a positive difference in the prisoner’s demeanor.
Therefore, it is possible for prisoners to change with the help of prison.

Secondly, people outside of prison have proven change is possible is everyday life and because
criminals are human like everyone else, change is possible for them as well. Various prisons
strive to make inmates’ lives more meaningful, because they believe in the power of change.
For example, many prisons have abandoned ____________ __________ and the use of _____
_____. Instead, the ________ ____ of officers is to combat __________ ________ with
nonviolence strategies. These radical techniques have resulted in great success and have
proven that criminals can change for the better.

In conclusion, while some individuals in prison may not have the power to improve themselves,
many criminals have gone through prison and proven that they can abandon their past and live
meaningful lives.

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6. IELTS Topic Vocabulary – Environment – Fossil Fuels

Collocations Examples
 In the modern age, we depend on freezers and packaging to
Modern age
preserve our food.
A company’s business model is important to form goals and
Business models
succeed.
The economic success of our planet is vital to keeping our world
Economic success
clean and sustainable.
Fossil fuels Coal and oil are two important fossil fuels we use in our society.
Our carbon emissions are so high that we are seeing global
Carbon emissions
warming occur.
Urgent We must begin urgent decarbonization in order to bring our carbon
decarbonization levels down and slow down global warming.
Climate change is a serious issue that will affect generations to
Climate change
come.

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Collocations Examples
The energy crisis revolves around the idea that when our fossil
Energy crisis
fuels are used up, we will not have a way to produce energy.
We must learn the benefits of energy efficiency so we can use our
Energy efficiency
fossil fuels for as long as possible.

Task Two Sample Essay - with collocations removed (Gap fill task)

The discovery and researching of safe alternative options to ______ _____ should be the
biggest priority of all government in our world today, because if we do not try to solve the
______ ______ as well as prevent it, our world will be lost when our fossil fuels are all used up.

Firstly, this should be the world’s first priority, because even if ______ _______________ is
successful, eventually we will still run out of our fossil fuels. When we do run out, we will need
safe alternatives to take their place in order to produce energy and keep our ________
_______. Studies have shown that even with our population incorporating ______ __________
into their lifestyles, we will still run out of both coal and oil in the next few centuries. Therefore,
we need to start thinking of alternatives now.

Secondly, we need to revolve ________ ______ for companies and plans for communities
around new energy use, because lowering our ______ __________ is not enough. While it is
effective to invest in teaching green methods to prevent _______ ______, we must also invest
in teaching sustainability as well in order to survive without fossil fuels in the future. It is possible
that we will not find a safe alternative to fossil fuels and we will have to revert back to manual
labor and personal farming for our families. Therefore, sustainability and research are just as
important as preservation.

In conclusion, while reducing our carbon emissions and slowing down climate change is
important, it should be our world’s first priority to look towards the future. We need to find safe
alternatives as well as prepare for the worst in the ______ ___, because the future is inevitable.
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