IELTS Writing Vocabulary

The IELTS writing vocabulary is given up-to-date for the 2026. It will enhance your lexical resources and helps you write essays and letters using new words. Similarly, linking structures, cohesive devices, and academic words are to help you describe graphs and different trends easily. Since vocabulary contributes 25% of the marking criteria in writing task 1 & task 2, our vocabulary list has included idioms & phrases, topic-wise word lists, collocation, etc. Utilise them and achieve a band score of 9.  

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IELTS Writing Vocabulary - Task 1

The IELTS writing task 1 vocabulary is given below to help you express your ideas, reduce redundancies and enhance coherence and cohesion.

Words/Phrases	Meaning/Synonyms	Example Sentence
Increase	rise, grow, climb, soar	The number of part-time jobs will increase significantly over the decade.
Decrease	drop, fall, plummet, shrink	The average rainfall decrease gradually after 2015.
Fluctuate	vary, be erratic, undulate	The climate seems to fluctuate due to climate change.
Peak	reach the highest point	Himalayas has the highest mountain peak.
Plummet	drop sharply, nosedive	The stock prices plummet suddenly after stock market fraud.
Remain steady	stay constant, maintain the same level	The unemployment rate remain steady despite new loans.
Moderate	gradual, steady	The job market saw a moderate increase over a period of time.
Exponential	rapid, dramatic, steep	The country experience an exponential growth in revenue.
Surpass	exceed, overtake	In 2200, the number of female employees will surpass the male across all sectors.
Dominate	lead, take over, control	Online shopping dominate the user's purchasing behaviour.
Account for	constitute, make up, represent	The service sector accounts for nearly 50% of total employment.
Proportion	percentage, fraction	A large proportion of students preferred practical education.
Twice as much	two times	The production of EV cars was twice as much as fuel-backed cars.
Half of	50%	In this day-and-age, half of the population own a bachelor's degree.
A quarter of	25%	A quarter of the student population striked against poor academic infrastructure.
The majority of	most, the greater part	The majority of consumers complained about the software malfunction.
A minority of	a small percentage	Only a minority of commuters chose metro rail.
Approximately	about, nearly	Approximately 40% of the population live in rural areas.
Significantly	considerably, notably, substantially	The crime rate significantly reduced during pandemic.
Slightly	marginally, minimally	The score rate slightly increased after the first innings.
Steadily	progressively	The consumption of fossil fuels steadily declined over the decade.
Dramatically	sharply, drastically	International tourism in the country increased dramatically.
A sharp rise	a sudden increase	There was a sharp rise in sea level last year.
Gradual decline	slow decrease	A gradual decline in turtles' birth rates was reported.
Significant difference	notable gap	There was a significant difference between the two parties.
Upward trend	rise	The data reveals an upward trend in social crime.
Downward trend	decrease	The report indicated that there was a downward trend in coal usage.
Level off	stabilize, plateau	To decrease inaccuracies, researchers level off the data.
Outnumber	be more than, exceed	Female athletes outnumbered males in Olympics.
Drop sharply	decrease suddenly	The government observe a drop sharply in tourism.
Roughly	approximately, nearly	Roughly 90% of the seats are won by the ruling party.
Triple	increase three times	Shewag hit a triple century in a test match against Pakistan.
Double	increase twofold	We must double the production end of this year.
Halve	reduce by half	The pollution levels need to halve before it reaches the alarming rate.
Per capita	per person	We achieve an income of 8.0 GDP per capita.
Respectively	in the same order as mentioned	Vicky and Swarup got 80 and 90 respectively in Mathematics.
Over the period	during the given time	The loan and EMI burden will reduce over the period of time.
Throughout the years	over time	Throughout the years, people are demanding for a new reformation.
Over the course of	during	Over the course of a decade, the tiger population rose exponentially.
Noticeable	significant	There was a noticeable difference in today's presentation.
Minimal	very little	We sell goods in minimal rates.
Considerable	substantial, large	Spend a considerable amount of time in physical activities.
Slight	small, minor	First time a slight drop in fuel consumption was recorded.
Evident	clear, obvious	It was evident that pollution causes cancer.
Widespread	extensive, common	There was a widespread rumour about deep sea ocean.
Marginally	a little	Poverty alleviation is marginally improving.
Significant	notable	There was a significant rise in students engagement.
Contribute to	add to, lead to	Technology contribute to more opportunities.
Predominantly	mainly, largely	Students predominantely focus on sports rather than studies.
In comparison to	compared with	The cricket scores were higher in comparison to last year.
By contrast	on the other hand	EVs usage increased, by contrast, traditional cars decreased.
On the other hand	whereas, however	Urban trees grew rapidly; on the other hand, rural areas face deforestation.
Conversely	oppositely, in contrast	Smoking decreased; conversely, vaping became popular.
Whereas	while, although	Children plant trees whereas adults cut trees.
Despite	even though, although	Despite all efforts, the project was not finished.
Fluctuation	variation, instability, oscillation	There was a serious fluctuation in your performance.
Oscillate	swing back and forth	The body temperatures oscillate during winter monsoon.
Erratic	unpredictable, inconsistent	The sea level pattern was highly erratic in 2004.
Volatile	unstable, fluctuating	The stock market was highly volatile due to election results.
Stabilize	become steady, balance out	The new government is committed to stabilize the economy.
Dip	slight drop, decrease	There was a dip in cyclone speed compared to last year.
Reach a plateau	level off	Marketing team reached a plateau after a decade of intense hard work.
Attain a peak	reach the highest point	Inflation attain a peak in the new economic regime.
Moderate growth	steady increase	Employees experienced a moderate growth in their staff contributions.
Surge	sudden increase, jump	There was a surge in car ownership in India.
Trough	lowest point, bottom	The earthquake hit a trough dislocating millions.
Expand	grow	We will expand our stores across India.
Contract	shrink, decrease	The industry contracted despite new recruitments.
Widen the gap	increase the difference	Social media will widen the gap between different communities.
Narrow the gap	reduce the difference	We should narrow the gap in the Suez Canal to avoid disruptions.
Diverge	separate, move apart	We diverge the rivers to avoid unncessary flood.
Converge	come together, align	The trends converged after so many days.
Overwhelmingly	greatly, vastly	It was overwhelmingly scary to go abroad.
Marginal difference	slight variation	There was a marginal difference in your marks compared to previous exams.
Remain unchanged	stay the same	The speed limit in cities remain unchanged.
Decline steadily	decrease gradually	The bank's repo rate declined steadily from 2010 to 2020.
Abruptly	suddenly, unexpectedly	The wickets fell abruptly in the second match.
Dramatic shift	major change	There was a dramatic shift in people's mind after the election.
Sudden surge	rapid increase	There was a sudden surge in sugar level post-lunch.
Outpace	surpass, exceed	Cars outpace bikes in tier 1 cities.
Surpass expectations	exceed predictions	The employees surpass expectations when we treat them well.
Plunge	fall sharply, plummet	The bitcoins plunged when Trump won the election.
Consistently	regularly	The team consistently performed well in this quarter.
Percentage-wise	in terms of percentage	Percentage-wise, more students chose Arts than Engineering.
Ratio	proportion, fraction	The male-to-female ratio in the workplace is set to be 1:1.
Proliferate	spread rapidly	Physical sports proliferate in recent years among fresh graduates.
Predominate	be the largest, most common	Tiktok predominate this generation of users in the US.
Discernible	noticeable, observable	A discernible increase in GDP was observed.
Uptick	slight increase	There was an uptick in number of insurance coverage.
Downturn	decline, reduction	There is a drastic downturn in snowfall compared to last year.
Revive	recover, restore	The economy revived after the 2008 depression.
Aggregate	total, sum	The aggregate number of attendees was 50.
Devoid of	lacking, without	The place was devoid of tsunami.
Hover around	remain near, fluctuate slightly	The students success rate hovered around 10%.
Indicate	show	The data indicates a recent trend in consumer's user behaviour.
Illustrate	demonstrate	The graph illustrates the change in GenZ's mindset towards life.
Reveal	show, make known	The presentations reveal that there's a chance to win this competition.
Depict	represent, describe	The chart depicts the reality of poverty in Africa.
Project	predict	The stock markets project a decreasing trend.
Forecast	estimate	The climate forecast suggests heavy rain for the next two days.
Exhibit	show, display	The information exhibits a positive outcome from children.
Imply	suggest	The vehicle congestion imply a serious reformation in road traffic.
Demonstrate	show	The results demonstrate that hard work pays off.
Extrapolate	predict based on trends	Experts extrapolate that there will be inflation next year.
Correlate with	be linked to, be related to	High income correlates with good attitude and personality.
Infer	deduce, conclude	From the statistics, we can infer a positive response.
Contradict	go against, differ	The information contradicts earlier findings.
Highlight	emphasize, underline	The companies highlight work from office is better than work from home.
Suggest	propose	Ram suggests that I read this book.
Vary	differ, change	The prices vary based on the location.
Outweigh	be more significant than	The advantages outweigh the disadvantages after policy revision.
Comprise	include, consist of	The competitive exams comprise English and mathematical questions.
Enumerate	list, mention one by one	The report enumerates critical factors to consider for this financial year.
Depreciate	lose value, decrease	Singapore currency will depreciate if they don't invest in research and development.
Escalate	rise sharply	People escalate the poor sanitation in the neighbourhood.
Subside	decrease, decline	The blood will subside in the new few minutes.

IELTS Writing Vocabulary - Task 2

Words/Phrases	Meaning/Synonyms	Example Sentence
Advantage	Benefit, Merit, Upside	The biggest advantage of online learning is flexibility.
Disadvantage	Drawback, Downside, Pitfall	The major disadvantage of urbanization is pollution and poor air quality.
Crucial	Essential, Vital, Critical	Sports plays a crucial role in character building.
Deteriorate	Worsen, Degrade	Laziness continues to deteriorate a person's inherent abilities.
Enhance	Improve, Boost, Strengthen	Reading books enhance mental well-being.
Alleviate	Reduce	Measures must be taken to alleviate people's hunger.
Subsequently	Thereafter, Consequently, As a result	Rain water harvesting will subsequently save the future.
Prosperity	Wealth, Affluence, Success	Economic prosperity is connected to increased purchasing power.
Controversial	Debatable, Disputed, Contentious	Controversial topics are not entertained in office.
Exacerbate	Worsen, Aggravate, Intensify	Forced marriage exacerbates gender-based violence.
Sustainable	Eco-friendly, Renewable	The UN has adopted sustainable development goals.
Inevitable	Unavoidable, Certain, Bound to happen	Communication skills is inevitable in today's work.
Compelling	Convincing, Persuasive, Strong	Your content is compelling and the readers will love it.
Mitigate	Lessen	Security officers must migitate the crime.
Prominent	Well-known, Renowned, Influential	Sir C V Raman is a prominent scientist in India.
Assert	Claim, State, Declare	People assert that they have the power to change the government.
Comprehensive	Thorough, Extensive, All-inclusive	We devise a comprehensive plan to crack this exam.
Imminent	Approaching, Forthcoming, About to happen	Loneliness and anxiety is imminent due to social media.
Fundamental	Basic, Core, Essential	Walking is fundamental for good health.
Impediment	Obstacle, Barrier, Hindrance	Procastination is a major impediment for success.
Viable	Feasible, Workable, Practical	Green energy is a viable solution for climate change.
Substantial	Considerable, Large, Significant	We need substantial evidence to proof this case.
Undermine	Weaken, Sabotage, Erode	Misinformation will undermine trust upon journalists.
Prevalent	Common, Widespread, Frequent	Crime is prevalent in many developed nations.
Repercussions	Consequences, Effects, Outcomes	You will face repercussions if you don't give compensation.
Compensate	Make up for, Repay	We will compensate your extra working hours with coupons.
Pragmatic	Practical, Realistic, Sensible	Suggest only pragmatic solutions to solve the issue.
Accelerate	Speed up, Hasten, Boost	Study abroad and accelerate your career.
Disseminate	Spread, Distribute, Circulate	The media disseminates information across all platforms.
Reinforce	Strengthen, Support	Parents should reinforce speaking skills in their children.
Indispensable	Essential, Necessary	AI is indispensable for data analysis.
Attain	Achieve, Accomplish, Reach	Choose the best university and attain higher education.
Ameliorate	Improve, Mitigate	Steps undertook to ameliorate the situation.
Innovative	Creative, Groundbreaking	We introducted innovative technology for car production.
Negligible	Insignificant, Minimal, Trivial	The cost was negligible and did not deter the customers.
Resilience	Strength, Toughness, Adaptability	Resilience is crucial to combat challenges.
Monetary	Financial, Economic, Fiscal	There are monetary benefits provided for interns.
Autonomy	Independence, Self-rule, Freedom	Government acts as an autonomy in milk production.
Inequality	Imbalance, Unfairness	Social inequality hampers economic growth.
Detrimental	Harmful, Damaging, Adverse	Overexercise is detrimental to health.
Compulsory	Mandatory, Obligatory, Required	Education is compulsory for children aged from 4 to 18.
Discourage	Deter, Dissuade, Prevent	Schools discourage students to leave videogames.
Advocate	Support, Promote, Recommend	Politicians advocate speedy welfare schemes for the needy.
Transform	Change, Revolutionize, Modify	Study abroad and transform yourself into a better person.
Prohibit	Ban, Restrict, Forbid	Countries prohibit smoking in public places.
Redundant	Unnecessary, Excessive, Superfluous	Don't use redundant words while writing.
Divergent	Different, Opposing, Contrasting	The government contains divergent opinions on climate policies.
Proliferation	Increase, Expansion, Growth	The proliferation of content creation leads to overconsumption.
Bolster	Strengthen, Support	Security forces bolster the premises with new measures.
Commence	Begin, Start, Initiate	The match will commence in another few minutes.
Concede	Admit, Acknowledge, Accept	The government conceded that savings is crucial.
Contend	Argue, Maintain, Insist	Many contend that technology is taking our jobs.
Curtail	Reduce, Cut down, Limit	In early days, parents curtail outside food.
Delineate	Describe, Outline, Define	The research papers delineate the impact of modernization.
Deprive	Deny, Withhold, Take away	If you're deprive of sleep, you must consult a doctor.
Disrupt	Disturb, Interfere, Interrupt	The music disrupts the concentration.
Endorse	Support, Approve	Donald Trump endorses Mike Tyson during his political campaign.
Facilitate	Aid, Assist, Enable	Classroom settings facilitate active participation.
Impart	Communicate, Convey, Pass on	Teachers impart good values to students.
Integrate	Merge, Combine, Incorporate	We must integrate AI technology in our training.
Manifest	Show, Demonstrate, Exhibit	Whatever we manifest will come true in life.
Neglect	Ignore, Overlook, Disregard	Students who neglect studies will suffer later.
Prevail	Dominate, Triumph, Succeed	Justice always prevails.
Reiterate	Repeat, Restate, Emphasize	I reiterate that we must climb this mountain before the dawn.
Suppress	Restrain, Subdue, Hold back	YouTube and other social media must suppress vulgar content.
Affluent	Wealthy, Prosperous, Rich	Affluent cities have a high standard of living.
Boom	Growth, Expansion, Increase	IT industry is a boom in India.
Burden	Load, Strain, Responsibility	Families take the burden of their children unnecessarily.
Decline	Decrease, Drop, Reduction	Citizens must decline wasting time.
Disparity	Imbalance, Difference	Income disparity is a never-ending issue in most countries.
Expenditure	Spending, Outlay, Expenses	Public expenditure is rising nowadays.
Friction	Conflict, Disagreement, Tension	There is friction between two communities.
Incentive	Motivation, Encouragement, Stimulus	Sales people get incentives for every conversion.
Surplus	Excess, Extra, Overflow	Give surplus food to others.
Breakthrough	Discovery, Innovation, Advancement	AI is the leading breakthrough in the industry.
Cutting-edge	Advanced, Modern, State-of-the-art	Use our cutting-edge technology to simplify the work.
Deploy	Implement, Use, Utilize	We deploy military for protection.
Expedite	Speed up, Hasten	Excel shortcuts will expedite your work.
Harness	Utilize, Exploit, Make use of	Movies must harness students' mind.
Obsolete	Outdated, Old-fashioned	AI generated content are obsolete.
Pioneer	Innovator, Trailblazer, Forerunner	Bruce Lee is a pioneer in introducing martial arts to movies.
Biodiversity	Ecosystem variety, Wildlife diversity	Biodiversity preservation is important.
Conserve	Protect, Save	Conserve water for the next generation.
Contaminate	Pollute, Taint, Spoil	Industrial waste contaminates environment.
Deplete	Exhaust, Use up, Drain	Overfishing depletes marine ecosystem.
Erosion	Wearing away, Degradation, Corrosion	Soil erosion is due to chemical consumption.
Offset	Counterbalance, Neutralize	Planting trees can offset carbon footprints.
Preserve	Maintain, Safeguard, Protect	Preserve the age-old tradition.
Learning	Attainment, Gaining	Learning swimming is good for your heart.
Curriculum	Syllabus, Course, Program	The exam curriculum is difficult.
Discipline	Regulation, Self-control, Order	Discipline is key to success.
Holistic	All-encompassing, Integrated	A holistic approach is required to foster fashion.
Literate	Educated, Knowledgeable, Well-read	Literate people must educate others.
Pedagogy	Teaching methods, Education style	We follow pedagogy of global standards.
Altruistic	Selfless, Charitable, Compassionate	Celebrities must be altruistic when it comes to their fans.
Disparate	Different, Distinct, Unrelated	The study compared the disparate responses from a set of respondents.
Equitable	Fair, Just, Impartial	An equitable society is what we must embrace.
Exorbitant	Excessive, Outrageous, Unreasonable	People report about the exorbitant cost of movie tickets.
Incumbent	Obligatory, Required, Necessary	It is incumbent upon governments to address AI Summit.
Juxtapose	Compare, Contrast, Place side by side	The essay juxtaposes two different opinions.
Nefarious	Wicked, Evil, Corrupt	Drugs is highly nefarious.
Salient	Prominent, Important, Notable	Customer satisfaction is a salient feature.
Tenuous	Weak, Fragile, Unstable	Your monthly performance is tenuous.
Ubiquitous	Everywhere, Omnipresent, Universal	Humanity is uniquitous.

Vocabulary for linking structures and cohesive devices

Listening

• Firstly, secondly, thirdly
• First, furthermore, finally
• To begin with, to conclude
• Next, upcoming, following

Giving examples

• for example
• for instance
• as follows
• that is
• in this case
• namely
• in other words
• in particular
• such as
• viz

Generalising

• in general
• generally
• on the whole
• as a rule
• for the most part
• in most cases
• usually
• normally
• all in all
• overall
• basically
• substantially
• broadly
• by and large

Reinforcement

• Also
• In addition to
• Moreover
• What is more
• Besides
• In spite of
• Despite
• Above all
• As well as
• In the same way
• Into the bargain
• On top of that
• What’s more
• Not only .... but also

Result/consequence

• so
• therefore
• as a
• result/consequence
• thus
• hence
• for this/that reason
• accordingly
• consequently
• so that
• in that case
• under these circumstances
• that being the case
• on that account
• as a result

Highlighting

• emphasise
• in particular
• especially
• mainly spotlight
• underscore
• show up

Similarly

• equally
• likewisecorrespondingly
• in the same way
• uniformly
• in parallel
• comparably

Deduction

• then
• in other words
• in that case
• otherwise
• this implies that
• if so/not
• withdrawal
• removal
• debit

Reformulation

• in other words
• rather
• to put it more simply
• quite
• fairly
• slightly
• moderately
• relatively
• comparatively

Transition to new point

• now
• later
• as far as X is concerned
• with regards to
• with reference to
• as for
• it follows that
• turning to
• at present
• at the moment
• currently

Stating the obvious

• obviously
• clearly
• naturally
• of course
• as can be expected
• surely
• after all
• evidently
• visibly
• noticeably
• undeniably

An alternative

• alternatively
• rather
• on the other hand
• but
• nevertheless
• another possibility is
• proxy
• subsitute
• replacement

Summary

• in conclusion
• to conclude
• in brief
• to summarise
• overall
• therefore
• consequently
• as a consequence
• hence
• on that account
• according to

Contrast

• instead
• conversely
• on the contrary
• in contrast
• in comparisondifference
• variation
• contradiction
• dissimilarity

Concession (smth unexpected)

• even though
• although
• though
• however
• nevertheless
• still yet
• nonetheless
• anyway
• any how

Vocabulary for IELTS writing essay

Expressing personal opinions:

• In my opinion ….
• Personally, I think that ….
• It seems to me that ….
• I must admit that …..
• I believe/suppose that ….
• In my experience ….
• As I see it ….
• I cannot deny that ….
• As far as I’m concerned, …..
• I would argue that …..
• I would like to point out that …..
• I think that ….
• I’d like to say that ….

Expressing strong opinions:

• I am sure that …..
• I am convinced that …..
• I am certain that ….
• I am clear that …..

Example: I am sure that climate change has started to affect the Earth.

Providing your arguments: 

• To attest ……
• To prove ……
• This (fact) is attested/proven by ……
• This (fact) is evidenced by ….
• This (fact) is testified by ….
• This (fact) is endorsed/supported by ….

Example: It is evident that students get distracted easily by today’s technology.

Expressing general point of view:

• It is (generally) claimed that …..
• It is (generally) said that …..
• It is (generally) thought that …..
• It is (generally) considered that …..
• It is (generally) perceived that …..
• A common purpose is that …..
• A popular belief is that …..

Example: It is generally believed that household chores are meant for women, which is wrong.

Outlining facts:

• The fact is that …..
• It is obvious that …..
• It is clear that …..
• There is no doubt that …..
• This proves that …..

Example: It is obvious that fashionable clothes are expensive.

It is generally believed that household chores are meant for women, which is wrong.

Generalising:

• Generally speaking, …..
• On the whole, …..
• Typically, …..
• By and large …..
• Overall …..

Example: Generally speaking, cycling is a good sport.

Giving examples:

For example, …..
For instance, …..
A good illustration of this is ….
Evidence for this is provided by …..
We can see this when …..
Namely …..
Such as …..

Example: To learn a new skill you need consistency. For instance, when you read a newspaper everyday, you will learn English quicker. 

Concluding:

• To summarise, …..
• In conclusion, …..
• Overall, …..
• On balance, …..
• Taking everything into consideration ……

Example: In conclusion, people must save money for their future.

Vocabulary for IELTS describe graphs

Introducing the graph

The graph/table/pie chart/bar chart/diagram/map/line graph ….

• gives information about/on …
• Provides information about/on …
• Delivers information about/on …
• Shows …..
• Illustrates …..
• Compare ……
• Explains why …..
• Describes …..
• Draws the conclusion of (a survey) ……

Example: The line graph illustrates the migrated population in the US in the 1990s.

Types of Changes

Nouns

A rise (of)

An increase (of)

A growth (of)

A peak (of)

A surge (of)

A leap (of)

Verbs

To rise

To increase

To surge

To grow

To get up

To upturn

To improve

To jump

To peak

Large rises:

To rocket

To soar

To leap

Nouns

A fall (in)

A decrease (in)

A decline (in)

A dip (in)

A downward trend (in)

A downfall (in)

Verbs

To fall

To decrease

To decline

To diminish

To shrink

To lessen

To devalue

To dip

To dive

To plunge

Large falls:

To plummet

Nouns

A fluctuation (in)

A variation (in)

A difference (in)

Verbs

To fluctuate

To vary

To differentiate

To wave

To shift

To change

Description of changes

Adverbs

Sharply

Suddenly

Rapidly

Abruptly

Dramatically

Significantly

Considerably

Markedly

Wildly

Clearly

Strongly

Distinctly

Adjectives

Sharp

Sudden

Rapid

Abrupt

Instant

Swift

Rapid

Immediate

Dramatic

Steep

Significant

Considerable

Marked

Substantial

Spectacular

Adverbs

slightly

gently

gradually

steadily

modestly

marginally

cautiously

slowly

moderately

Adjectives

slight

gentle

gradual

steady

consistent

modest

marginal

moderate

progressive

adequate

decent

Useful phrases

A small portion, a small part, a small number, a small fraction
A large portion, a significant amount, a big majority
Almost one-third, nearly 30%, in region of 56%, more than a half, one fourth, a quarter, more or less ten times, exactly one in hundred, approximately 50%

Also Read: IELTS writing band descriptors

Vocabulary to write letters (Formal/Informal/Semi-formal)

Letter Structure

1) Formal letter
How to start the letter?

If you don’t know the receiver’s name, then write:

Dear Madam ….
Dear Sir ….
Dear Sir/Madam ….

If you know the receiver’s name, then write:

Dear Mr Antony ….
Dear Mrs Antony ….
Dear Miss Antony ….
Dear Ms Antony ….

How to end the letter?

If you don’t know the receiver’s name, then write:

Yours faithfully

If you know the receiver’s name, then write:

Yours sincerely

2) Semi-formal letter

When you write to your friend or colleague:

Dear Sam …. Best wishes/Best regards
Dear Sam …. Many thanks

3) Informal letter

When you are writing to a friend or colleague:

Hello John …. Best wishes
Hi John ….See you/Missing you/Love

When you are writing to someone you love:

Dear Sakshi …. Your always/ Lots of love

Letter Openings

In a letter opening, you must:

• Introduce yourself
• State the purpose 

Examples of formal letter:

• I am writing to request ….
• I am writing to explain why ….
• I am writing to complain about ….
• After having received your address from …. , I ….
• In response to your letter of 13 January, ….
• I am writing to enquire about you ….
• I am writing to express interest in ….
• After seeing your advertisement in …. , I would like to ….
• With reference to your email, I am writing this letter ….
• Thank you for your reply regarding/about ….
• Thank you for accepting our invitation ….

Examples of informal letter:

• Hey! My name is Juan and I’m working as a carpenter ….
• Hello, my name is Manasa and I’m volunteering for social services ….
• Hi there, I hope you’re doing well. It’s been two years since we met ….
• Hi, thanks for asking me out, I’m glad to come with you this weekend ….

Letter Closing

In a letter closing you need to offer help, suggest something, request for apology, etc. 

Examples of formal letter:

• I look forward to meeting you.
• I would like to express my gratitude for ….
• Once again, I apologise for the inconvenience.
• I am looking forward to your reply.
• If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.
• Thanks in advance!
• Thank you for your assistance.
• In case you need any support, please let us know.

Examples of informal letter:

• Anyway I’ve got to leave now. Just call or text me if you need any more information.
• Well, let me stop here. I am eagerly waiting for your response to this letter.
• Okay then. We will catch up this week hopefully. Don’t forget to call me, bye!

IELTS Academic word list

S No	Words 1 - 20	Words 21 - 40	Words 41 - 60	Words 61 - 80
1	animation	biotechnology	circus	determination
2	ambulance	bygone	closure	discrimination
3	affiliate	bacteria	calendar	distinguished
4	addiction	business	crude	differentiate
5	accompany	bureaucracy	central	disinvestment
6	appraisal	bottomless	carrier	deliberate
7	afternoon	breathtaking	cottage	denomination
8	advantage	bewilderness	capital	delightfulness
9	abandoned	biodegradable	capture	detention
10	attend	background	calamity	domestic
11	adjoining	bachelor	capitulate	drama
12	alternative	brainstorm	capricious	draughtsmanship
13	algorithm	bookkeeper	cartography	distribution
14	alcoholic	boil	cease	development
15	authentic	benevolent	chagrin	destination
16	affection	beneficiary	charisma	documentation
17	ambitious	bulletproof	circuitous	description
18	adventure	brilliance	clandestine	distinction
19	architecture	blackboard	coercion	discipline
20	advertisement	bipartisan	cognizant	designation

 

S No	Words 81 - 100	Words 101 - 120	Words 121 - 140	Words 141 - 160
21	experiment	fundamental	gratification	hospital
22	environment	friend	gesture	homogenous
23	electronics	function	ground	historically
24	expression	fraction	genuine	hypersensitive
25	ecstasy	frequency	geography	habit
26	education	formation	gravity	hallucination
27	encouragement	fortnight	gratefulness	headquarters
28	enlightenment	fraudulent	grasshoppers	hierarchical
29	extraordinary	friction	gorgeous	horticulture
30	embellishment	feather	government	heatwave
31	entertainment	fragmentation	gracious	humanitarian
32	enthusiastic	fertilisation	garnishment	hyperactive
33	exploitation	fortification	generation	handwriting
34	encyclopaedia	fashion	generosity	heavyweight
35	entitlement	fantasy	gynaecology	hummingbird
36	enchantment	fermentation	gymnastics	hemisphere
37	ethnography	fulfilment	graduation	hyphenated
38	excellence	fruitfulness	gregarious	handicraft
39	exhibition	forensic	goldsmith	highlight
40	extinction	forgiveness	grappling	humankind

 

S No	Words 161 - 180	Words 181 - 200	Words 201 - 220	Words 221 - 240
41	industry	justification	knowledge	latitude
42	instrumental	juxtaposition	keratin	longitude
43	incomplete	juvenile	kaleidoscope	legislature
44	intellectualism	judgement	kitchen	legitimate
45	immunisation	jurisprudence	keyboard	legal
46	indigenous	jingoistic	kingfisher	lazy
47	introspection	journalism	kickboxing	linguistic
48	infrastructure	judiciary	knockout	liberalisation
49	intangible	jettison	knighthood	lexical
50	intelligent	jeopardise	kindness	licence
51	intentional	jukebox	kilometre	leadership
52	investigation	jealousy	kiwifruit	lucrative
53	international	jubilant	kidnapping	library
54	inspirational	janitor	keystone	lengthiness
55	individual	jaggery	kilogram	liquidity
56	institution	junior	kangaroo	lightheartedness
57	inconsistency	joyfulness	kingwood	location
58	interpersonal	jail	kingship	logarithm
59	internship	jute	karaoke	luminescent
60	introduction	job	knife	leatherwood

 

S No	Words 241 - 260	Words 261 - 280	Words 281 - 300	Words 301 - 320
61	machine	national	opportunity	psychology
62	multiprocessing	numeration	overwhelming	professionalism
63	monolithic	negotiable	oxygen	photosynthesis
64	magnetic	notwithstanding	obstruction	production
65	microscope	naturalisation	obnoxious	pharmaceutical
66	misconception	nanotechnology	observation	post mortem
67	materialisation	nomenclature	occasionally	prevention
68	magistrate	noteworthiness	organic	participation
69	masculine	nonviolent	overpopulation	psychotherapy
70	meaningfulness	nullification	objectionable	phytoplankton
71	mastermind	northeast	ornament	parents
72	microprocessor	notification	opposition	president
73	mountaineering	nevertheless	organisation	prerequisite
74	manifestation	newspaper	oceanography	preparedness
75	malnutrition	nonflammable	ostentatious	policyholder
76	mediterranean	neurosurgery	optimisation	professional
77	merchandise	neighbourhood	orientation	prescription
78	miscellaneous	neuroscience	outstanding	peacekeeping
79	manipulation	necessary	obsolete	perseverance
80	magnificence	nonetheless	optimisation	productivity

 

S No	Words 321 - 340	Words 341 - 360	Words 361 - 380	Words 381 - 400
81	quarantine	revolution	straightforward	transformation
82	qualification	realisation	stereotype	technology
83	quicker	retrospective	semiconductor	transnational
84	quasi-judicial	reincarnation	superficial	transportation
85	quintics	reconciliation	sustenance	troubleshooter
86	questionnaires	reappointment	stereotype	telephone
87	quintessential	reinvestigation	substantial	territory
88	quantity	religion	superintendent	traditional
89	qualitatively	responsibility	sentimental	transmission
90	quadrivalent	representation	segregation	thoughtfulness
91	questionable	respect	superimpose	transparent
92	queen	routine	secularism	theoretical
93	quizmaster	ruthlessness	sedimentation	telemarket
94	quotation	reliability	sophisticated	thanksgiving
95	qualifier	round	significant	tranquiliser
96	quotient	rejuvenation	sportsmanship	thermography
97	quadrant	reinforcement	satisfaction	turbocharge
98	quantum	republic	surveillance	thunderstorm
99	quiet	rationalisation	subcontinent	testimonial
100	quack	registration	spokesperson	trailblazer

 

S No	Words 401 - 420	Words 421 - 440	Words 441 - 460	Words 461 - 480
101	understand	videoconference	weather	xiphoid
102	underprivileged	velocity	waterproof	xmas
103	uncharted	vulnerable	whistleblower	xography
104	universal	verification	wonderful	xenology
105	unconventional	violation	westward	xeric
106	unimaginative	valueness	wolverine	xerox
107	unemployment	vocabulary	wristband	xebec
108	usefulness	vernacularism	witness	Xiang
109	university	valedictory	windshield	xylem
110	undergraduate	vegetarianism	withdrawal	xenotransplants
111	unproductive	vertical	workstation	yardstick
112	unrealistic	vandalism	workaholic	youngsters
113	uncertainty	victimology	workmanship	youthfulness
114	underground	volunteerism	whispering	yachtsman
115	utilitarian	vaccination	wallpaper	yellowish
116	unstoppable	vivification	wholehearted	yielding
117	ultrasound	volcanology	willfulness	yearbook
118	undisputed	vocational	worldwide	yummy
119	unexpected	visualiser	wasteland	yacks
120	undercover	vernacular	whirlpool	yoga

 

S No	Words 481 - 500
121	yawmeter
122	yardwork
123	yardbird
124	yardwands
125	yellowfin
126	yesterday
127	yourselves
128	yellowthroat
129	youngberries
130	yellowtails
131	zodiac
132	zombie
133	zestfulness
134	zealousness
135	zooplankton
136	zillionaire
137	zebrafishes
138	zoology
139	zoophiles
140	zeptosecond

Also Read: IELTS General Writing Task 1 Vocabulary

Topic Vocabulary

Since IELTS writing vocabulary is important for topic-wise study, we brought to you a list of topics to keep in mind while preparing for the exam. 

The writing task 1 vocabulary includes educational topics, books, current events, etc., and they are given as follows:

• The Arts
• Accommodation
• Advertising
• Books and Films
• Education
• Information technology 
• Science 
• Work 
• Clothes and fashion

The IELTS writing task 2 vocabulary consists of general topics, social gatherings, events, etc., and they are given as follows:

• Crime 
• Children and family
• Diet, health and fitness
• Business
• Environment
• Music 
• Shopping
• Weather
• People – Physical Appearance
• People – Personality and Character
• Towns and Cities

Idioms and Phrases

To get a band score of 7.5 and above in the IELTS writing tasks, you need to equip yourself with the idioms and phrases. To incorporate them in your writing, you need to learn the correct meaning and practice it. Below is the list of famous idioms and meanings.

S No	Idioms	Meanings
1	Get your act together	Get organised and do things effectively
2	Good things come to those who wait	To have patience
3	Hit the sack	Go to sleep
4	Boil the ocean	Taking up an almost impossible or overly ambitious task
5	Eat like a horse	Eating too much
6	A snowball effect	The aspect of momentum in every event and how they build upon each other
7	Cut corners	Doing something in an easier and least expensive way
8	Beat around the bush	Not coming to the point while saying something
9	Break a leg	Good luck
10	A blessing in disguise	A good thing that perceived bad at first
11	Hand in there	Don't give up
12	It’s not rocket science	It's not complicated
13	Miss the boat	It's too late
14	On the ball	Doing a good job
15	Speak of the devil	The person we were just talking about showed up

When it comes to phrases, it does not contain a subject and a verb, yet it gives a complete sentence with meaning. There are eight types of phrases – noun, verb, infinitive, gerund, appositive, participial, prepositional and absolute phrases. Students preparing for the IELTS General writing task 1 must keep these phrases in mind as it helps them during the exam date.

S No	Phrases	Meanings
1	Romp in	Win easily
2	Salt away	Save money
3	Kick back	Relax
4	Limber up for	Prepare for something that needs a huge effort
5	Pass over	Neglect, ignore
6	Peel away	Leave a group by moving in a different direction
7	Measure against	Evaluate or judge by comparison
8	Venture forth	Leave somewhere safe or comfortable
9	Tee off	Start or inaugurate an event
10	Quarrel with	Dispute or disagree with something
11	Go by	The passing of time

Collocation

Collocation mainly refers to words (two or three) coming together in a sentence. For IELTS preparation, you need to know their meaning and how to use them appropriately to connect with other words.

Examples of collocation

• To catch a cold/a bus /a fish
• To make the bed/money/a noise
• To come late/on time /to a decision

Other useful vocabulary for IELTS Writing

To keep yourself updated with any given topic from IELTS Writing task 1 or IELTS writing task 2, you must know the following list of useful vocabulary for IELTS writing.
 

• When I was younger 
• In the past 
• Then 
• Right now 
• Another reason 
• And
• Also 
• I suppose 
• I think 
• It was caused 
• Because 
• Reckon 
• For instance 
• These days 
• At the moment 
• Nowadays 
• For example 
• Such as 
• Like 
• Years ago 

Tips to Improve/Expand your Vocabulary

Below are the effective tips to improve or expand your IELTS writing vocabulary in a short span. 

• Read, Listen – Take your favourite TV show, podcast or book of your choice in English and listen to their words. Do not use subtitles once you’re familiar with their pronunciation.
• Note down the words – Once you start giving attention to new words, make a note of it.
• Memorise the words – With a bunch of new words, you need to master them by applying in your speaking and writing. It naturally helps to memorise them.
• Practice – Now you need to practice this exercise until you reach the exam. Since vocabulary is infinite, you need to constantly update by practising daily.

While practising for IELTS general writing, make sure you follow the above mentioned tips.

FAQs

1. How can I improve my IELTS vocabulary?

To improve your IELTS writing vocabulary, you must:

• Read newspapers, magazines, online articles, etc.
• Listen to English TV shows, podcasts, and radio programs.
• Note down the new words and understand their meanings.
• Practice them while speaking and writing.

2. What words are used in IELTS writing?

The commonly-used in IELTS writing are as follows:

• Due to. Because, Therefore, …
• However, But. Nevertheless. On the contrary, ...
• Similar to. As...as. in common. …
• More or less, Gradually, To some extent, Up to a point, ...
• Certainly, Clearly, Undoubtedly, Doubtless, ...
• In my opinion, Based on my observation, In my view, According to me, ...
• For instance, For example, such as. Like ...
• Generally, Generally speaking, Overall, ... 

3. How can I get 7, 8 or 9 in IELTS writing?

• Identify the question type first.
• Give your answers on the answer sheet.
• Make sure your essay sounds logically correct, with clear intent.
• Organise your essays into an introduction, paragraph and a concluding remark.
• Use alternative words (vocabulary) with correct spellings.

4. How do I memorise vocabulary words?

To memorise new vocabulary words,

• Maintain a notebook exclusively for vocabulary.
• Write all new vocabulary words you come across in all forms of reading materials, TV and radio.
• Understand their meanings and use it while you’re speaking and writing.

5. What are the four types of vocabulary that I must master to score well in the IELTS test?

There are four types of vocabulary: Listening Vocabulary, Speaking Vocabulary, Reading Vocabulary and Writing Vocabulary. Each set of vocabulary serves a different purpose in the IELTS exam. So whether it is the IELTS writing task 2 or task 1, you need to be ready with your vocabulary.