IELTS vocabulary by topic
Lexical resource is a quarter of your Writing and Speaking bands. Examiners reward words used accurately and naturally, with the right collocations, more than rare words used wrongly.
These lists come from the ielts.coach word bank: 1,100 words and phrases in 16 topics that come up again and again in IELTS, each with a plain meaning, an example sentence and common collocations.
Word lists by topic
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I need for IELTS band 7?
There's no fixed number. Band 7 needs a range of less common vocabulary used with awareness of style and collocation; learning topic words with their collocations is the fastest route.
Should I use rare words to impress the examiner?
Only if you're sure of the meaning and the words around them. A wrongly used complex word can lower your Lexical resource score.
What's the best way to remember new words?
Learn them in phrases, use them in your own sentences, and review them on a spaced schedule: a day later, then a few days later, then a week later.
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.