Simple Ways to Improve Your IELTS Writing Vocabulary: Guide to Your Desired Score

The IELTS test might not have a specific test with respect to vocabulary words but in turn, it is used to assess every other skill in the exam. When attempting the skills reading, listening, writing and speaking tests you have to make use of different words with proper pronunciation and spellings.

And importantly when it comes to speaking and writing around 20 – 30% points are based on your vocabulary. This reason alone is enough for you to start preparing a rich vocabulary that can help you improve your band score.

How to increase your vocabulary words for IELTS?

1 . Look up Words You Don’t Know

Many would advise you to read books, magazines and watch shows to learn new words but at the same time it is equally important to look up for the academic words you don’t know. Many have the habit to leave difficult and new words thinking that those won’t be required in our life or exam. But make a habit of looking up for vocabulary words that you don’t know about, either it being a difficult one to read, spell or write as well.

Example

• Funambulism

The above word might seem strange for someone who might be looking at it for the first time, but using such sophisticated words can earn you a good impression.

• Pronunciation – Fue-nahm-bue-lism
• Meaning – Demonstration of cleverness, mental agility
• Sentence – Rajit deserved the award because he showed great funambulism with the project he finished.
• Origin – The word in Latin means “one who performs on a tightrope” that gives the essence of a person with quick agility in terms of cleverness and mentality.

So once you’ve gone through the meaning, pronunciation, example sentence and the true origin doesn’t this word seem easier now? And this literally means you’ve learned a new vocabulary word right now, which isn’t so difficult when you look for the meaning.

2.Keep a Notebook for IELTS Writing Vocabulary

It might seem a bit old fashioned to have a notebook to write down all new academic words and their meanings but it might help you understand those words better. Other than this you can even use the book to revise the written words when the exam is near. That is a way better option than hustling to find resources with new words right before the exam.

Contents of the Notebook

Here is a list of things you have to note along with the vocabulary word you are going to write in the book.

Example Main Word – Steep

So the main word which we are going to write down is “Steep” and the related content is listed below.

• Main word – steep
• Synonym – sharp, abrupt
• Antonym – gentle
• Example sentence – the prices may be steep this season due to fewer sales
• Literal meaning – flight of stairs or angle of a slope

3. Practice but Don’t Exaggerate

So when you come with a notebook or find an app to learn new words, the only thing left to do is practice the word in real life. In the case of speaking skill, you can take on any topic or question that was recently asked in the exam. And then try to speak about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes with the vocabulary you’ve learned recently.

Next in case of IELTS writing vocabulary you need to make sure that you don’t exaggerate sentences because you can use a single but sophisticated word. This is a great practice to boost your vocabulary word for IELTS.

And the most important thing is not to dwell too much on a single word, by trying to find tons of related example sentences. Well doing that might just waste your time because; if you want to learn then practice the word a few times which should be enough.

4. Try Vocabulary Building Apps

Everybody owns smartphones these days and there are tons of apps on play store, app stores which can help us improve our language. Well for starters I advise you to make use of Magoosh vocabulary builder app which not only has word understanding, but it consists of exercises, meanings, synonyms that can really help you.

Some Apps

• 7 little words
• Word to word
• PowerVocab
• A word a day widget

The reason to advise you to make use of Android apps to build your vocabulary for IELTS speaking is that you can even open these apps during your free time and learn new vocabulary words right away. It saves a lot of time and it doesn’t even have to be added as a part of your schedule when it takes less time to learn from these apps.

Want to know more tips to improve your IELTS Writing Vocabulary, just click here