IELTS vocabulary: 25 band-boosting words with examples
B2–C125 words
IELTS examiners reward range and precision, not rare words used badly. These twenty-five are safe, flexible and easy to place in a Task 2 essay or a Part 3 answer — the sort of vocabulary that quietly lifts a band score.
Where you will use it: IELTS Writing Task 2, Speaking Parts 2 and 3.
IELTS vocabulary — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| substantial | Large in amount or importance.“There was a substantial rise in car ownership.” |
| widespread | Existing in many places.“Smartphone use is now widespread.” |
| detrimental | Harmful.“Long commutes are detrimental to health.” |
| alleviate | To make a problem less severe.“Better transport could alleviate congestion.” |
| incentive | Something that encourages action.“Tax breaks act as an incentive.” |
| sustainable | Able to continue without damage.“Cities need sustainable energy sources.” |
| disparity | A clear difference or inequality.“There is a disparity between rural and urban income.” |
| advocate | To publicly support an idea.“Some advocate a four-day week.” |
| implement | To put a plan into action.“The city implemented a cycling scheme.” |
| arguably | It can be argued that.“This is arguably the main cause.” |
| notably | Especially, worth noticing.“Costs fell, notably in the last decade.” |
| trend | A general direction of change.“The graph shows an upward trend.” |
| prevalent | Common or widespread.“Air pollution is prevalent in large cities.” |
| compelling | Very convincing.“There is a compelling case for reform.” |
| inevitable | Certain to happen.“Some degree of change is inevitable.” |
| viable | Capable of working successfully.“Public transport is a viable alternative.” |
| exacerbate | To make a problem worse.“High rents exacerbate inequality.” |
| mitigate | To reduce the severity of something.“Trees can mitigate urban heat.” |
| controversial | Causing public disagreement.“The proposal remains controversial.” |
| allocate | To distribute resources for a purpose.“Governments should allocate funds to schools.” |
| proportion | A part or share of a whole.“A large proportion commute by car.” |
| fluctuate | To rise and fall irregularly.“Prices fluctuated throughout the period.” |
| plateau | To stop rising after a period of growth.“The figure plateaued at sixty percent.” |
| outweigh | To be more important than something else.“The benefits outweigh the drawbacks.” |
| long-term | Continuing over a long period.“The policy needs a long-term solution.” |
Useful learning tips
- Learn in small groupsTake five words at a time and review them before adding more.
- Say the examples aloudReading each sentence aloud connects spelling, sound and meaning.
- Write your own sentenceUse each word in a true sentence about your life or work.
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than the whole list at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying ielts vocabulary pairs well with our TOEFL vocabulary list, Academic Word List words and linking words for IELTS writing, or browse all free English word lists.
Related guides
Questions about this list
How can I practise IELTS vocabulary?
Start with five words and say each example aloud. Then recall the word from its meaning and review it over several days.
Where can I use IELTS vocabulary?
IELTS Writing Task 2, Speaking Parts 2 and 3.
How many words are in this list?
This list contains 25 English words with definitions and example sentences. It is a starting set, not a complete syllabus.
Turn this list into flashcards
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