Vocabulary
for IELTS +7
Mohammed Mashal
IELTS Writing
Task II
I. Vocabulary:
Accelerate: make faster
Anticipate
Between a rock and a hard place
Breadwinner: worker
Breakthroughs: important inventions
Commence
Commuter: traveler
Correlated with
Couch potato: lazy
Crucial: important
Determinant: factor
Deteriorating: worsening
Devastation: destruction
Downsize: economize
Double-edged sword
Elucidation: clarification
Embodiment: example
Expenditure
Feasible
Futile: useless
Inaccessible
Incentive: motivation
Incite: provoke
Jump the gun: Start too early
Mitigate: lessen
Over-reliance on
Peculiar: weird, unusual
Pedestrian: walker among vehicles
Perks: benefits
Perspective: way, viewpoint
Precursor
Predominant: major
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Prospects: predictions
Reckon: estimate
Reconcile: settle
Striking: remarkable
Tackle: (attack problem)
The lesser of the two evils
Tremendous: wonderful
Ultimate
Unfeasible
Volatile: unstable
Vulnerable: weak to attack
Thrive: prosper
Zealous: enthusiastic, keen
II. Collocations
Adequate resources
Adverse effect
Appropriate solution
Bad egg: untrustworthy person
Ball in your court: It’s your decision
Built-up areas (crowded by houses)
Contributing factor
Cultural degeneration (deterioration, collapse)
Cultural diversity
Cutting-edge expertise
Demoralizing (depressing) impact
Deplorable (awful) condition
Devastating (shocking) effect
Dire (terrible) consequences
Eager beaver: hardworking and enthusiastic
Educational perspective
Enviable success
Established well-known) organization
Excessive consumption
External influence
Fertile source
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Fruitful results
Grave negligence
Handsome salary
Immense wealth
Inadequate (insufficient) facilities
Inevitable consequences
Innate (inborn) abilities
Invaluable contribution
Irreversible change
Long-term plan
Multifaceted career
Political corruption
Potential dangers
Punishable act
Relentless (insistent) enthusiasm
Ruthless (cruel) crimes
Sophisticated equipment
State-of-the-art machinery
Substantial (considerable) amounts
Tech-savvy generation
Thoughtless acts
Toxic fumes
Trendy costumes
Unbearable pain
Unbridgeable gap
Underprivileged people
Undesirable effects
Unpardonable offence
Unprecedented growth
Utter failure
Valuable contribution
Worse scenario
2. Adverb + adjective:
Actively involved
Desperately needed
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Dreadfully awful
Elegantly designed
Excessively cautious
Extremely conservative
Highly volatile (unstable)
Fully aware
Gorgeously planned
Heavily polluted
Highly contagious (infectious)
Hotly debated
Incredibly rich
Intensely motivated
Perfectly fitting
Superficially attractive
Thoroughly damaged
Utterly futile
Vitally important
Widely recognized
3. Noun + noun:
Alien concept
Career progression
Goal attainment
Job prospects
Juvenile crime
Key factors
Life-long aims
Performance review
Traffic congestion
4. Verb + noun:
Achieve target
Amend law
Belittle ability
Cash in on an opportunity
Come to a halt (stop)
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Cultivate good habits
Eliminate problem
Ensure safety
Eradicate poverty
Exploit nature
Fulfill a dream
Gain benefit
Impose appropriate punishment
Initiate a process
Incite violence
Instill confidence
Mitigate (lessen) problem
Prolong (delay) decision
Raise awareness
Reap benefits
Rectify (correct) situation
Speed up a procedure
Swayed (affected) by external influences
Throw in the towel: Give up
Uproot evils
Worsen situation
5. Verb + adverb
Act accordingly / instantly
Meet deadline
Spend extravagantly
5. Preposition
Correlated with
Down to earth
Full of beans: lively and active
In perspective
In tandem with
Out of perspective
Over-reliance on
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Vocabulary for Topics
1. Education:
1. boarding school
2. face-to-face classes
3. fall behind with your studies
4. graduation ceremony
5. illiterate (uneducated)
6. intensive course
7. keep up with your studies
8. learn something by heart
9. literacy (ability to read)
10. mature student
11. pedagogical experts
12. single-sex school
13. state school
14. take a year out
15. work your way through university: having job during study
2. Business and work:
16. commute (to do the same journey to work)
17. dead-end job (no promotion)
18. holiday entitlement
19. job satisfaction
20. maternity leave (baby holiday)
21. outsource (send work to other companies)
22. pension (retirement income)
23. perks of the job (benefits)
24. private sector
25. public sector
26. raise the company profile (more successful)
27. set a business
28. to be stuck behind a desk
29. to take early retirement
30. voluntary work
31. workforce
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3. Crime:
32. beyond reasonable doubt
33. breakers of law
34. commit minor offences
35. convict (decided to be guilty)
36. crime rate
37. deterrent to …
38. dismiss the case
39. escape punishment
40. face trial
41. illegal activities
42. imprisonment
43. jury (judges)
44. juvenile crime
45. legislation (law)
46. loss of freedom
47. misdeeds
48. offender (criminal / crook)
49. probation period
50. rehabilitate
51. to break the law
52. to breed future offenders
53. to make easy money
54. to resort to crime
55. white-collar crime (Crimes committed by office works)
4. Environment:
56. alternative energy sources
57. biodiversity (variety in plants and animals)
58. chemical fertilisers/weedkillers
59. contamination
60. deforestation
61. drought (dryness)
62. ecosystem (natural environment)
63. emission
64. endangered species
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65. energy conservation
66. environmental catastrophe
67. erosion (destroying land)
68. exhaust fumes from vehicles
69. fossil fuel (natural)
70. gas emissions from factories
71. global warming
72. illegal logging and deforestation
73. loss of habitat
74. mild climate
75. natural disaster
76. oil spill
77. poaching (illegal hunting)
78. protection of wildlife
79. renewable energy
80. serious environmental degradation
81. sustainable (causing no harm to environment)
82. toxic waste
83. wildlife conservation
84. waste treatment systems
85. to raise the public’s ecological consciousness
86. to reduce the dependence on the traditional energy resources
5. Science and Art:
87. abstract
88. artifact (historical object)
89. gene
90. genetic engineering
91. modification
92. side effects
93. sculpture (carving)
6. Town and City:
94. infrastructure
95. public transport system
96. suburban
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97. tourist attraction
98. traffic congestion
99. urban
7. Accommodation:
100. apartment block
101. detached house (isolated)
102. first-time buyer
103. fully-furnished
104. permanent address
105. spacious
106. terrace
8. Books and Films:
107. bedtime reading
108. be engrossed in (focus)
109. blockbuster (bestseller)
110. box office hit (successful movie)
111. low-budget movie
10. Dieting:
112. additive
113. allergy
114. appetite
115. balanced diet
116. diabetes
117. nutrients
118. overweight
119. quick snacks
11. Sports:
120. athletics (sports)
121. brisk walk (a fast walk)
122. running track
123. strenuous exercise: needs effort
124. to get into shape: to become fit
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12. Holidays:
125. departure-lounge
126. far-off destination
127. guided tour
128. holiday resort
129. self-catering (supplying own food)
130. stunning landscape
131. wildlife safari
132. youth hostel
13. Computer and IT:
133. automation
134. innovation
135. navigate a website
136. techie: interested in technology
14. Art:
137. artifact
138. display
139. exhibition
140. festival
141. inspired
142. performance
143. sculpture
15. Advertising
144. advertising agency
145. advertising budget
146. advertising campaign
147. brand awareness
148. brand loyalty
149. celebrity endorsement
150. classified ads
151. commercial break
152. commercial channel
153. prime time: hot time
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154. sales page
155. target audience
156. to cold call
157. to go viral: become popular
158. to launch a product
16. Shopping
159. big brand name
160. carrier bag
161. customer service
162. loyalty card
163. must-have product
164. to be on a tight budget
165. to be on commission
166. to get into debt
167. to give someone the hard sell
168. a pay in cash
169. to pay the full price
170. to pick up a bargain
171. to run up a credit card bill
172. to shop until you drop (do a lot of shopping)
173. to slash prices (deal)
174. to snap up a bargain
175. window shopping
7. People description:
176. bear a striking resemblance to
177. broad-minded
178. complexion (skin)
179. easy-going
180. extrovert (sociable)
181. go grey (hair)
182. introvert (shy)
183. lose temper
184. quick-tempered = volatile
185. reserved (shy)
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186. scruffy (dressed untidily)
187. self-assured (confident)
188. thick-skinned (not affected by criticism)
189. trustworthy
190. two-faced
191. well-built
192. youthful appearance (look young)
Alternative Words
Good: satisfactory, competent, fabulous
Bad: unsatisfactory, dreadful, terrible
Strong: powerful, intense
Weak: fragile, vulnerable
Big: immense, enormous, vast
Small: insignificant, minor
Happy: pleased, delighted contended
Sad: miserable, depressed, unfortunate
New: novel, latest
Old: outdated, obsolete
Calm: peaceful, tranquil, serene
Angry: furious, inflamed, wrathful
Serious: grave
Funny: humorous
Interesting: fascinating, arresting
Boring: mundane, monotonous
Active: energetic
Lazy: indolent
Beautiful: gorgeous
Ugly: dreadful
Important: key, crucial
Unimportant: trivial, insignificant
Safe: harmless
Dangerous: perilous, risky
Brave: courageous
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Important Sentences and Phrases
1. Opinion Essay
Introduction:
- There is a widespread opinion/belief/ claim that …. While I find this viewpoint of
some people justifiable to some extent, I also argue that … (may prove to have
adverse effects).
- It is argued that … My position is that … As far as I am concerned, I am on the same
wavelength with them on this matter.
- It is true that … While I appreciate that …, I believe that …
Body 1:
- Some people advocate the opinion that … It is suggested by those who side with this
opinion that
- On the one hand, I understand that …
- On the other hand, I am totally convinced that …
- In the first, place, … In the second place, …
- There are several reasons why …
Giving examples:
- A clear evidence of this notion is …
- An obvious embodiment of this is …
- In X, for instance, there was a well-known case in which …
Body 2:
- Despite the above argument, I am convinced that …
Conclusion:
- To conclude, the above mentioned points have manifestly shown that …
- Thus, I ratify that it is not advisable to …
- Despite the fact that ….., it remains a contentious issue.
Synonyms:
Opinion: view, judgment, belief, estimation, attitude
Argue: maintain, claim, proclaim, assert, agree, be convinced
Think: reckon, believe, consider, ratify, affirm, confirm
Advise: recommend
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2. Comparing two opinions
Introduction:
- While some people are of the opinion that …., others believe that … Personally, I
advocate the notion that …
- The debate regarding …. has been heated constantly. This essay will examine both
sides of the issue.
- There is a current discussion among people whether X is … or … This essay will
examine both sides of the issue.
- People have differing views with regard to the question of … In my view, both views
can be used together.
- The issue of X has become a frequent subject of debate with strong arguments for
and against. Personally, I believe that …
Body 1:
- Some people believe that ….It is suggested by those who side with this opinion that …
Body 2:
- On the other hand, it is argued that …
Conclusion:
- In brief, while some people think that X others believe it is … Personally, I reckon that
X is destined to be futile (pointless/useless/worthless).
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3. Cause and solution Essay
Introduction:
- There is a current distressing situation that … In this essay, I would elucidate the
precursors to this issue before some viable (feasible) measures are drawn.
- This essay will discuss the reasons for / predominant factors resulting in …
Body 1:
- The principal aspects resulting in X are …
- The (distressing) problem of X primarily (essentially) stems from a number of root
motives. The predominant one is … Another major reason is …
Body 2:
- Nevertheless, there are potential ways to tackle / solve this problem, or at least
reduce its effects. Firstly, …
- To address this problem, multiple solutions can be proposed.
- However, I would like to propose several methods (a number of remedies) to tackle
(mitigate) this problem. First and foremost,
Conclusion:
- In brief, the above-mentioned ways are worth considering to solve the problem, or at
least, to reduce its effects and, consequently, improve the current situation.
- In conclusion, this solution is worth considering to improve the current situation, but
there are advantages and disadvantages of introducing such a policy.
- Society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating
further.
- The above mentioned recommendations may open new avenues for solving the
problem.
Synonyms:
Cause: source, foundations, grounds, derivation, descent
Effect: consequence, outcome, influence,
Way: method, manner
Solutions: keys, answers, resolutions, ways out
Mitigate/alleviate a problem: lessen, diminish
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4. Advantages and Disadvantages
Introduction:
- It is commonly believed that …. This essay will first discuss the significance of X
followed by an analysis of the foremost drawbacks.
- The habit of X has entered the mainstream of many societies; most notably in …
However, there are advantages and disadvantages of introducing such a policy. This
essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure.
Body 1:
- The major benefits of X are ….
Body 2:
§ Nevertheless, there are potential drawbacks that should be taken into consideration.
First and foremost, this would be …
Conclusion:
- In brief, while there are numerous merits with X, there are demerits that should be
considered, too. I therefore, affirm that...
Synonyms:
Advantages: rewards, compensations, returns, benefits, gains, merits, perks, incentives
Disadvantages: drawbacks, shortcomings, hindrances, difficulties, demerits
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Essay Structure
The best structure you can use for this type of essay is:
Paragraph 1- Introduction
- Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
- Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
- Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 1
- Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
- Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
- Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
- Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
- Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
- Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
- Sentence 1- Summary and reiteration of your opinion.
Common Problems
1. Talking too generally about the topic.
Never start with ‘Nowadays……’ or ‘In modern life….’ followed by general information
about the topic
2. Not including a thesis statement
3. Not outlining what you are going to do
If you don’t include a sentence outlining what your essay will say, the examiner doesn’t
really know what you are going to write about in the rest of your essay. This will also
lose you marks.
4. Trying to write a ‘hook’ or be entertaining
5. Partly agree and disagree. This often leads to an essay with no clear focus
6. Using an informal style
Know your audience. You are expected to write in an academic style.
7. Writing any new ideas in your conclusion
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Sample essay 1
Whether or not someone achieves their aims is mostly a question of luck. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
The debate whether luck is the primary determinant of success in achieving targets has been
heated constantly. My position is that hard work and determination are far more important
than luck, while luck must not be considered as the main precursor of the attainment of
one’s goals.
I advocate the notion that the role of being industrious and determined is more significant
than luck. Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in the 20th century, is an excellent
example of such a notion. He conducted numerous experiments with the filament until the
finest light bulb was produced; and his hard work, rather than luck, was acknowledged by all
the human race. Another clear evidence of this notion is the case of Nguyen Ngoc Ky. This
disabled man could not write by hand, but he was determined enough to teach himself to
write by foot. The fact that he would then became one of the greatest teachers in the history
of education in Vietnam provides a concrete foundation that even with bad luck,
determination could result in goal achievement.
By contrast, I believe the saying that fortune has a major part to play is just a fallacy. One
clear reason is that although there may have been a number of people reaching their goals
with good luck, such good luck in most cases only comes to people who have worked hard.
Take Mendeleev as an example. As a research chemist, he worked tirelessly for a few
decades, until one day in his dream, the complete arrangement of the elements appeared.
The appearance of this arrangement could be ascribed to luck, but no one could deny the
extreme effort that Mendeleev had exerted. Another clear reason for my belief is that luck
could only lead people to short-term achievements, and there is nothing to ascertain that it
would continue to exist in the long run. The over-reliance on good fortune, as a result,
would prevent people from achieving their long-term or life-long aims.
In brief, I think the importance of luck in determining goal attainment is overstated, while
there are much more significant factors to consider, namely hard work and determination.
(359 words, written by Tu Pham)
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Sample essay 2
People have different views about what elements contribute the most to a person’s success.
While I accept that luck does have an important role in helping people reach their targets, I
would argue that hard work and determination are much more crucial factors leading to the
achievement of an individual.
On the one hand, I agree that luck can be an important factor. Some people are fortunate
enough to be born in a wealthy family, which allows them to have better education or to
easily start their own business without having to borrow money from someone else. As a
result, these people tend to have better opportunities to succeed than those coming from
poor families. Furthermore, some individuals are lucky to be given great talents which others
do not have. For example, Mozart was able to play music when he was very young, or Lionel
Messi already had great football skills when he was born.
However, I would argue that although luck can be necessary, it is not the most crucial factor
leading to success. Firstly, people need to work really hard and put much effort into their jobs
if they want to be successful. For instance, before becoming one of the best football players
in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo had to go through intense training hours every day for many
years. Secondly, a person is less likely to reach his targets if he does not have determination.
On the way leading to success, there might be many difficulties, and people need to keep
moving forward to overcome those challenges.
In conclusion, while I agree that luck is important in helping people become successful, I
believe that hard work and determination are the most important elements.
(286 words, by IELTS Teacher, Quang Thang)
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