IELTS vocabulary: 12 band-boosting words with examples
B2–C112 words
IELTS examiners reward range and precision, not rare words used badly. These twelve 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.” |
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than all twelve 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.
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