IELTS vocabulary
IELTS argument vocabulary
Words for giving opinions, conceding and evaluating, the language of a strong Task 2 essay.
Each entry has the typical band it's useful for, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the words it most often goes with. Learn the collocations along with the word: that's what makes vocabulary sound natural.
Band 6 words
argue verb · academic
To give reasons for or against an idea or point of view.
Some people argue that cities should charge drivers to reduce congestion in busy areas.
Collocations: argue that · argue in favour of · argue against
beneficial adjective · formal
Producing a good effect or helping someone or something.
Regular exercise is beneficial to both physical health and mental wellbeing.
Collocations: beneficial to health · mutually beneficial · beneficial effect
claim verb · formal
To state that something is true, although it may not be proven.
Supporters claim that flexible working improves productivity and employee wellbeing.
Collocations: claim that · claim to be · claim responsibility for
consequence noun · formal
A result or effect of an action or situation.
One consequence of excessive screen time may be a decline in the quality of sleep.
Collocations: consequence of · serious consequence · face the consequences
controversial adjective
Causing strong disagreement among different people.
The controversial proposal to restrict car use has prompted debate among residents.
Collocations: controversial issue · highly controversial · controversial proposal
crucial adjective · formal
Extremely important to the success or outcome of something.
It is crucial for governments to provide reliable information during public health emergencies.
Collocations: crucial role · crucial factor · crucial to success
disadvantage noun
A condition that makes success or progress more difficult.
One disadvantage of living in a large city is the high cost of housing.
Collocations: major disadvantage · significant disadvantage · disadvantage of
drawback noun
A feature that makes something less useful or desirable.
A major drawback of remote work is that some employees may feel socially isolated.
Collocations: major drawback · main drawback · drawback of
essential adjective · formal
Completely necessary or extremely important.
Affordable childcare is essential if more parents are to return to work.
Collocations: essential service · essential for success · absolutely essential
long-term adjective
Continuing or having an effect over a long period.
Governments should focus on long-term solutions rather than temporary measures.
Collocations: long-term benefits · long-term effects · long-term strategy
oppose verb · formal
To disagree with or try to prevent a plan, idea, or action.
Some residents oppose the development because it would reduce access to local green space.
Collocations: oppose a proposal · strongly oppose · oppose the introduction of
pros and cons plural noun phrase
The advantages and disadvantages of something.
Before adopting the policy, decision-makers should carefully consider its pros and cons.
Collocations: weigh the pros and cons · the pros and cons of · pros and cons analysis
short-term adjective
Continuing or intended for only a brief period.
Although the plan may involve short-term costs, it could save money over time.
Collocations: short-term benefits · short-term effects · short-term solution
tackle verb · formal
Take action to deal with a difficult problem.
Governments should tackle housing shortages by supporting the construction of affordable homes.
Collocations: tackle a problem · tackle inequality · tackle the issue
there is no doubt that phrase · formal
Used to emphasise that something is certainly true.
There is no doubt that access to reliable healthcare can improve people’s quality of life.
Collocations: there is no doubt that education · there is no doubt that this · there is no doubt that access
viewpoint noun
A particular opinion or way of thinking about something.
A useful viewpoint is that stricter rules can protect both consumers and businesses.
Collocations: from a viewpoint · different viewpoint · consider a viewpoint
vital adjective · formal
Extremely important or necessary for life or success.
Access to clean water is vital for the health of every community.
Collocations: vital role · vital to success · vital importance
Band 7 words
acknowledge verb · formal
To accept or recognise that something is true or exists.
Governments should acknowledge that public transport needs sustained investment.
Collocations: acknowledge a problem · acknowledge that · openly acknowledge
address the problem phrase · formal
Take action to deal with a particular difficulty.
Improving access to mental health services is one way to address the problem of long waiting times.
Collocations: address the problem directly · address the problem of poverty · measures to address the problem
adverse adjective · formal
Unfavourable or harmful.
The project could have adverse effects on local wildlife if it is poorly managed.
Collocations: adverse effects · adverse impact · adverse consequences
advocate verb · formal
To publicly support a particular idea, policy, or way of doing something.
Many educators advocate teaching financial skills at school to prepare students for adult life.
Collocations: advocate for reform · strongly advocate · advocate a policy
biased adjective · formal
Unfairly favouring one person, group or opinion over others.
News reports should avoid biased language when covering a controversial public issue.
Collocations: biased reporting · biased towards · clearly biased
convincing adjective
Believable and supported by strong reasons or evidence.
The most convincing argument for cycling is that it improves health while reducing emissions.
Collocations: convincing argument · convincing evidence · highly convincing
critics noun · formal
People who express disapproval or point out the weaknesses of something.
Critics argue that the policy may benefit large companies more than ordinary workers.
Collocations: critics argue · critics of the policy · critics point out
debatable adjective · formal
Open to discussion or disagreement because it is not certain.
Whether online learning is as effective as classroom teaching remains debatable.
Collocations: highly debatable · debatable point · debatable whether
detrimental adjective · formal
Causing harm or damage.
A lack of sleep can be detrimental to students’ concentration and academic performance.
Collocations: detrimental to health · detrimental effect · prove detrimental
dispute verb · formal
To disagree with or question whether something is true.
Some researchers dispute the view that technology inevitably weakens social relationships.
Collocations: dispute a claim · dispute the idea · widely disputed
favourable adjective · formal
Helpful, positive, or likely to lead to success.
Favourable conditions, such as cheap fares, can encourage people to leave their cars at home.
Collocations: favourable conditions · favourable impression · favourable outcome
flawed adjective · formal
Having a mistake or weakness that makes something less effective or reliable.
The plan is flawed because it ignores the needs of people without internet access.
Collocations: flawed argument · deeply flawed · fundamentally flawed
fundamental adjective · academic
Forming the basic and most important part of something.
Trust is fundamental to the success of any relationship between citizens and public institutions.
Collocations: fundamental right · fundamental principle · fundamental to
have a negative impact on phrase · formal
Cause harmful effects for someone or something.
Excessive screen time can have a negative impact on children’s sleep and concentration.
Collocations: have a negative impact on health · have a negative impact on the environment · have a negative impact on performance
implication noun · academic
A possible effect or result of an action or decision.
One implication of remote working is that employees may have fewer opportunities for social interaction.
Collocations: implication for society · serious implication · consider the implications
inevitable adjective · formal
Certain to happen and impossible to avoid.
As cities grow, some pressure on housing and public services may be inevitable.
Collocations: inevitable consequence · seem inevitable · virtually inevitable
it is widely believed phrase · formal
Many people think that something is true.
It is widely believed that early access to books can support children’s language development.
Collocations: it is widely believed that · it is widely believed to be · it is widely believed among researchers
justify verb · formal
To give a good reason for an action or opinion.
The potential health benefits may justify the cost of providing free school meals.
Collocations: justify a decision · justify the expense · difficult to justify
merit noun · formal
A good feature or quality that makes something worth considering.
The main merit of the proposal is that it offers practical support to low-income families.
Collocations: have merit · considerable merit · merit of
on balance linking phrase · formal
After considering all the facts, taking everything into account.
On balance, the benefits of investing in public transport outweigh the costs.
Collocations: on balance, the benefits · on balance, it is better · on balance, I would argue
outweigh verb · academic
To be more important or valuable than something else.
In my view, the benefits of public transport outweigh its disadvantages.
Collocations: outweigh the costs · outweigh the benefits · benefits outweigh drawbacks
perspective noun
A particular way of considering or understanding a situation.
From an economic perspective, investing in preventive healthcare could reduce public spending.
Collocations: from a perspective · different perspective · broader perspective
persuasive adjective · formal
Able to make someone agree with an idea or take action.
The campaign presented a persuasive case for making healthy food more affordable.
Collocations: persuasive argument · persuasive case · highly persuasive
play a key role phrase · formal
Be very important in causing or influencing something.
Local communities play a key role in protecting shared public spaces.
Collocations: play a key role in education · play a key role in development · play a key role in shaping policy
pose a threat phrase · formal
Create a danger or risk to someone or something.
The loss of natural habitats can pose a threat to many species.
Collocations: pose a serious threat · pose a threat to wildlife · pose a potential threat
raise awareness phrase · formal
Help more people understand or know about an issue.
Schools can raise awareness of online safety by teaching pupils how to recognise harmful content.
Collocations: raise awareness of an issue · raise public awareness · campaign to raise awareness
stance noun · formal
A clear opinion or position on an issue.
The government should adopt a firm stance on the irresponsible use of personal data.
Collocations: take a stance · adopt a stance · clear stance
standpoint noun · formal
A particular position or way of thinking about an issue.
From the standpoint of public health, reducing air pollution should be a priority.
Collocations: from a standpoint · legal standpoint · practical standpoint
substantial adjective · formal
Large in amount, size, or importance.
The new programme requires substantial investment, but it could improve access to healthcare.
Collocations: substantial investment · substantial amount · substantial improvement
take measures phrase · formal
Take specific actions to achieve a result or prevent a problem.
Cities need to take measures to reduce air pollution near schools and hospitals.
Collocations: take measures to reduce · take effective measures · take measures against pollution
undeniable adjective · formal
Clearly true and impossible to reasonably dispute.
There is undeniable evidence that access to education can improve life opportunities.
Collocations: undeniable fact · undeniable evidence · undeniable impact
Band 8+ words
a double-edged sword idiom
Something that has both advantages and disadvantages.
Social media can be a double-edged sword because it connects people but can also spread misinformation.
Collocations: be a double-edged sword · prove to be a double-edged sword · a double-edged sword for society
assert verb · formal
To state an opinion or fact confidently and firmly.
Some researchers assert that regular reading can improve children's language development.
Collocations: assert that · assert a right · firmly assert
compelling adjective · academic
Very convincing and able to make people believe or agree.
There is compelling evidence that early childhood education benefits society as a whole.
Collocations: compelling evidence · compelling argument · compelling reason
concede verb · formal
To admit that something is true, often reluctantly.
Opponents may concede that the proposal could reduce traffic in the city centre.
Collocations: concede that · concede a point · reluctantly concede
contend verb · academic
To argue that something is true, especially in a formal discussion.
Critics contend that the policy may place an unfair burden on low-income households.
Collocations: contend that · critics contend · contend strongly
counterargument noun · academic
An argument that opposes or challenges another argument.
A common counterargument is that stricter regulations could place excessive costs on small businesses.
Collocations: present a counterargument · strong counterargument · counterargument to a claim
far-reaching adjective · formal
Having a wide and significant effect.
Changes to the education system can have far-reaching consequences for future generations.
Collocations: far-reaching consequences · far-reaching impact · far-reaching reform
give rise to phrase · formal
Cause something to happen or exist, often a problem or situation.
Rapid urban growth may give rise to pressure on housing and public services.
Collocations: give rise to concerns · give rise to conflict · give rise to problems
paramount adjective · formal
More important than anything else.
When designing public spaces, the safety of pedestrians should be paramount.
Collocations: of paramount importance · paramount concern · make safety paramount
profound adjective · formal
Very great or intense, often with a lasting effect.
The widespread use of smartphones has had a profound effect on how people communicate.
Collocations: profound effect · profound impact · profound influence
proponents noun · formal
People who support an idea, plan, or system.
Proponents of remote working argue that it improves employees’ work-life balance.
Collocations: proponents argue · proponents of reform · proponents point out
rationale noun · academic
The main reason or explanation behind a decision or idea.
The rationale for introducing a congestion charge is to discourage unnecessary car journeys.
Collocations: the rationale for · clear rationale · underlying rationale
refute verb · academic
To prove that a statement or argument is wrong.
The report refutes the claim that longer school days always improve academic results.
Collocations: refute a claim · refute an argument · effectively refute
repercussion noun · formal
An indirect or unexpected result of an action, often an unpleasant one.
A likely repercussion of restricting public transport is increased traffic congestion.
Collocations: serious repercussion · long-term repercussion · repercussion of a decision
root cause noun · academic
The main underlying reason why a problem happens.
Effective policies should target the root cause of homelessness rather than its visible consequences.
Collocations: identify the root cause · address the root cause · root cause of the problem
viable solution noun phrase · formal
A practical answer that has a reasonable chance of working.
Expanding bus services could be a viable solution to overcrowding on urban roads.
Collocations: find a viable solution · offer a viable solution · a viable solution to the problem
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