In IELTS writing and speaking test, vocabulary comprises 25% of marks and it also plays key role in reading and listening. Several ways can be used to imbibe flexible use of a wide range of vocabulary in your English language skills from reading extensively to practicing exercises and word lists. However, we should practice the way in which we are more comfortable.
Why vocabulary is important?
We use variety of words in day-to-day life to communicate our ideas and thoughts. Sometimes the expression of these thoughts and ideas becomes difficult due to lack of knowledge about the usage of right word (word selection). This is what known as lack of vocabulary. Therefore, it is requisite to expand our vocabulary list to perform better in writing and speaking test. If it is weak then you will be using the same word again and again because you will run out of words as it shows your limitation of knowledge of words or synonyms which will fail to impress the examiner, resulting in poor or average scores in IELTS.
How to become adept in Vocabulary (IELTS)?
Learning new words is not the only thing but it is also important to know its usage, that is, using right word in the right context.
Example:
Wrong: I got up early in the morning.
Correct: I wake up early in the morning.
Wrong: Sam did a mistake.
Correct: Sam made a mistake.
So, from the above examples it is vivid that every word cannot be used everywhere, but there is a particular context of using the words. The ways to expand the vocabulary are mentioned below:
1. Academic word list: These are the common words found in academic texts. It includes all the forms of the chosen academic word and the ways in which that particular word can be moulded and used under various circumstances.
Example of an academic word “Analyse”
- Analysed
- Analyser
- Analysers
- Analysing
- Analysis
- Analyses
- Analyst
- Analysts
- Analytic
- Analytical
- Analytically
- Analysed
- Analysing
2. Topic Vocabulary: There are some common topics and if you learn some common vocabulary words related to these topics then it will be helpful to you to score good in IELTS writing and speaking test as you will not be repeating the same word. For instance: learn some vocabulary words related to advertisement, books, shopping, media, education, politics, crime, science, arts, children and family, environment, work, health, and so on.
3. Collocation: It means words that are commonly placed together. Sometimes unknowingly we all use such collocations like:
- To make the bed/money/a noise
- To come late/on time/ to a decision
4. Read and listen: Try to read more and more like newspaper articles, any magazine, or book and listen to debates, chat shows or movies which will help you to stay connected to learning new words and you can also make notes of whatever you read and listen to but don’t forget to use them in your daily routine life.