ABANDON

(verb) Leave, discard, desert. For example: 'The fishermen had to abandon their ship and escaped to safety in the rescue helicopter
when they were caught in the storm last week.'

Keyword(s):

ABSTRACT

(verb) Summary, synopsis, short version. For example: 'When researching journals for information, it is useful to read just the abstract
to quickly find out if the topic is relevant to your assignment as it takes too long to read the whole thing.'

Keyword(s):

ACADEMIC

(adjective) Something or someone showing a high level of education. Example: 'University students have to write in an academic
style'.

ACADEMY

(noun) School, comedy, institute. For example: 'The academy, which opened two years ago, has just had the pleasure of seeing its
first group of students graduate.'

Keyword(s):

ACCESS

(verb) Gain entry to, get in to, log on to. For example: 'It is possible to access a wide range of information on the internet.'

Keyword(s):

ACCLIMATISE

(verb) Adapt, become used to something. Example: 'It can take some time to acclimatise when first moving to a new country.'

ACCOMMODATE

(verb) Hold, have room for. For example: 'The hotel seems able to accommodate our needs for the upcoming seminar.'

Keyword(s):

ACCOMMODATION

(noun) Place to stay or temporary place to live. Example: 'Accommodation in capital cities is often very expensive.'

ACCOMPANY

(verb) Go with, escort. For example: 'The Prime Minister will be accompanied by four government officials through the whole tour of
Australia.'

Keyword(s):

ACCORDINGLY

(adverb) To show something corresponds, relates. Example: 'He was told that the project was urgent, so he accordingly worked
overtime until it was completed'.

ACCOUNTABLE

(adjective) responsible, answerable. Example: 'Parents should be accountable for the actions of their children'.

ACCUMULATE
(verb) Collect, gather, amass. For example: 'The business accumulated a huge amount of debt in the year prior to its closure.'

Keyword(s):

ACCURATE

(adjective) Correct, true. For example: 'I am not sure if the information you have received is accurate as I have heard much different
information from a reliable source.'

ACCUSING

(adjective) Giving the blame to someone for something. Example: 'When writing letters of complaint, it is a good idea to avoid being
too accusing'.

ACHIEVE

(verb) Get, accomplish, attain. For example: 'He won four gold medals and three silver medals in his sporting career and achieved a
lot on behalf of his country.'

ACKNOWLEDGE

(verb) Recognise, make reference to. For example: 'I feel disappointed because my manager did not acknowledge all of the hard work
I had put into the project at last week’s meeting.'

ACQUIRE

(verb) get hold of, gain, purchase. For example: 'His business is to acquire computers at low cost prices then sell them on for a profit
overseas.'

Keyword(s):

ACQUIT

(verb) To let go, to release from blame. Example: 'He was acquitted of the murder because there was no evidence'.

ACRONYM

(noun) A word made up of the initial letters of a collection of words. Example: 'IELTS is the acronym for the International English
Language Testing System'.

ACTIVE VERB

(noun phrase) A verb which describes an action. Example: run, write, listen, sleep.

See also STATIVE VERB

Adamant (Adjective)

Utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals.

ADAPT

(verb) get used to, change, adjust. For example: 'It can be difficult to adapt to a different environment.'

Keyword(s):

ADDICTION

(noun) A habit involving something that is not just wanted but needed. For example: A drug addiction

ADDITION
(noun) More of something. Example: 'Schools would benefit from more funding. In addition, they would also benefit from having
more qualified teachers.'

ADEQUATE

(adjective) enough, sufficient. For example: 'A large number of homeless people do not have adequate food to eat.'

ADJACENT TO

(preposition) next to, near to. For example: 'The reception area is adjacent to the Conference room, ask there and they’ll show you
in.'

ADJECTIVE

A word used to describe a noun. Examples of adjectives: hot, cold, intelligent, impressive

Keyword(s):

ADJUST

(verb) Alter, change, adapt. For example: 'There were errors in my last pay cheque so they have adjusted this month’s pay to correct
the mistake.'

ADMINISTRATE

(verb) Control, run, manage. For example: 'The Head Office in London administrates all operations for the company for the rest of the
country.'

ADULT

(noun) grown up, no longer a child. For example: 'In the UK, teenagers officially become classed as adults on their 18th birthday.'

Keyword(s):

ADVANCE

To move forward; to improve something.

ADVERB

An adverb describes a verb. Examples: run quickly, wait patiently

Keyword(s):

ADVOCATE

(noun) Supporter, backer, believer. Example: 'While many people oppose the new rules, there are probably enough advocates to give
support. '

(verb) To support, to back, to believe in. Example: 'Some countries advocate higher wages for teachers'.

Keyword(s):

AFFECT

(verb) Have an effect on, influence. For example: 'Drinking alcohol severely affects a person’s ability to drive safely.'

AGGREGATE

(adjective) Total, combined. For example: 'We have 40 staff in aggregate and the majority of them work in Sales.'
AGGRESSIVE

(adjective) Showing anger or violence. Example: 'Some animals become aggressive if they are treated badly'.

AID

To help.

AIM

(verb) To direct towards a particular goal or target. For example: 'I am aiming to get a 7.5 on my IELTS test'

ALBEIT

(adverb) Although, though, even though. For example: 'A university education gives graduates the opportunity to enter a high paid
job over the long term, albeit an expensive investment during their years of study.'

ALLOCATE

(verb) Assign, give out. For example: 'The government should allocate a higher percentage of funding for healthcare'

Keyword(s):

ALTER

(verb) Change, adjust. For example: 'Many cities have altered their road systems dramatically in order to cope with additional traffic.'

Keyword(s):

ALTERNATIVE

(noun) Option, other choice. For example: 'The only alternative to cutting staff hours would be to make some members of the team
redundant.'

AMBIGUOUS

(adjective) Unclear, vague, confusing. For example: 'The email message from the CEO was ambiguous and confused the majority of
the Management team.'

AMEND

(verb) Alter, make corrections, improve. For example: 'The university policy regarding international students was amended last July
and the changes will be put in place from the New Year.'

Keyword(s):

ANALOGY

(noun) Likeness, similarity, comparison. For example: 'The finance lecturer used an analogy to help students understand the concept
of profitability to a company; he said it was similar to the body’s need for food.'

ANALYSE

(verb) To examine carefully and in detail to find key points. Example: 'It is important to analyse the question before you start writing
your IELTS essay'.

Keyword(s):

ANNUAL

(adjective) Yearly, twelve-monthly. For example: 'The budget is decided on an annual basis, at the end of April each year.'

ANNUL

(verb) Cancel or remove. Example: 'Developed countries should annul the debts of developing countries.'
Keyword(s):

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

(noun phrase) Against the good of society. Example: 'Increasing anti-social behaviour is a cause for concern'.

ANTICIPATE

(verb) Expect, predict. For example: 'It is difficult to anticipate which questions will come up in an examination as the lecturer uses a
mixture of new questions and those from past exam papers.'

Keyword(s):

APOLOGY

(noun) A statement showing that you are sorry about something you have done. Example: 'Many people are happy to forgive if they
receive an apology'.

(verb) Apologise (US spelling apologize)

Keyword(s):

APPARENT

(adjective) Clear, plain, obvious. For example: 'It is apparent from the travel information he gave us that we will be spending a long
time travelling on the bus.'

APPEARANCE

(noun) Physical characteristics; the way something looks. Example: 'People are often judged by their appearance'.

APPEND

(verb) Add on, attach. For example: 'When students complete a University assignment it is common for them to append additional
information at the end of the project. These are called the appendices and should be clearly numbered.'

Keyword(s):

APPLIANCE

(noun) Electrical item or tool. Eg: iron, fridge, toaster, kettle.

APPRECIATE

(verb) Be thankful for, be pleased about, value. For example: 'James really appreciated all of the help that Steven had given him with
his revision, so much so that he bought him a gift to say thank you.'

Keyword(s):

APPROACH

(noun) Style, methodology. For example: 'Different people have different approaches to learning and revision, one way is to make
notes of the main issues and read over them several times to help remember the information.'

(verb) The way of doing something

Keyword(s):
APPROPRIATE

(adjective) Suitable, correct, fitting. For example: 'It is not always appropriate to act in the same way as usual when in a different
culture..'

APPROXIMATE

(adjective) Estimated. For example: 'We are unsure exactly how many new students will enrol in the course next term, however, we
could expect approximate figures to be around 150.'

Keyword(s):

ARBITRARY

(adjective) Random, chance, illogical. For example: 'The system for deciding which workers will lose their jobs can sometimes seem
fairly arbitrary as it does not seem that experience, or length of time working at the company are taken into account..'

AREA

(noun) Section, part, field. For example: 'It is important to consider carefully which area of business we hope to work in, in the future
and choose modules for study which give experience in that field.'

ARRANGEMENT

(noun) An agreed plan. Example: 'The company made an arrangement to deliver the product before 5.30 pm.'

ASCRIBE

(verb) A specified cause, source, or origin. Example: 'The decline in the number of people reading books can be ascribed to the
availability of the internet'.

Keyword(s):

ASPECT

(noun) A part or feature of something. Example: 'There are 4 aspects the examiner will mark your essay on'.

Keyword(s):

ASSEMBLE

(verb) Put together, build, compile. For example: 'Jason has just assembled a new computer from parts he was given by friends.'

Keyword(s):

ASSESS

(verb) Measure, test, gauge. For example: 'In the IELTS exam students are assessed on their ability to read, write, speak and listen in
English.'

Keyword(s):

ASSIGN

(verb) Give, allocate, designate. For example: 'I have been assigned a new project at work, which will involve business trips to Japan
as I am the only member of the team who can speak Japanese.'

ASSIST

(verb) Help, aid, support. For example: 'Being a P.A. can be an interesting job as the role involves assisting the CEO with a variety of
important tasks.'

ASSUME

(verb) Think, believe, presume. For example: 'It is sometimes wrongly assumed that people with disabilities are also stupid.'
ASSURE

(verb) promise, guarantee, pledge. For example: 'The technical support team assured me that the internet service would be working
again within the next 30 minutes.'

ATTACH

(verb) add, join, append. For example: 'I replied to the job advert by email and had to attach a copy of my CV and qualifications.'

ATTAIN

(verb) Achieve, accomplish, reach. For example: 'It is possible for most people to attain wealth through hard work and education. '

ATTITUDE

(noun) Way of thinking, approach, manner. For example: 'With a positive attitude and hard work it is possible for most people to gain
a tertiary qualification.'

ATTRIBUTE

(noun) Characteristic, feature, trait. For example: 'Simon has many positive attributes including patience, dedication and
understanding.'

AUTHOR

(noun) Writer. For example: 'It is important to reference the name of the author and the year the book was written if quoting from
other books or journals in academic writing.'

AUTHORITY

(noun) Power, right, influence. For example: 'Teachers no longer have the authority to smack children at school.'

AUTOMATE

(verb) mechanise, computerise. For example: 'Many companies are automating their systems reducing the need for people as
machinery can do their jobs equally well.'

AVAILABLE

(adjective) existing, accessible, to be had. For example: 'Types of medical treatment available is increasing all the time due to medical
research.'

AWARE

(adjective) Informed, concerned. For example: 'It is important for us to be aware of the impact of human behaviour on the
environment.'

AWARENESS

(noun) Understanding and acknowledgement of something. Some parents have no awareness of the teenage drug problem'.

BALANCE

(noun) Equality, giving equal importance to. Example: 'A good essay should show balance, considering both sides of the argument.'

BALANCED

(adjective) Considering both sides, fair. Example: 'It is important to write a balanced argument when asked for an opinion.'

BAN

(verb) To make illegal. Example: 'Smoking in public places has been banned in many countries'.

BARBARIC
(adjective) Cruel; uncivilised. Example: 'Many people believe that capital punishment is barbaric.'

BEAR IN MIND

(verb / idiom) Remember, consider. Example: 'Always bear in mind that you only have 40 minutes to complete Task II'.

BEHALF (on behalf of someone or something)

(preposition) For. For example: 'He thanked the guests for coming on my behalf as I had to leave early and couldn’t talk to everyone.'

BENEFICIAL

(adjective) Useful, bringing advantages. Example: 'It is beneficial for IELTS candidates to spend some time studying before taking the
test'.

BENEFIT

(verb) Help, assist, do good for. For example: 'Eating healthily and taking regular exercise can benefit people who are overweight.'

BLANK

(adjective) Without information; empty. Example: 'Answer all the questions in the IELTS test. Don't leave any blank spaces.'

BOND

(verb) Connect, link, build a relationship. For example: 'Human beings are naturally social and it is important for us to bond with the
people around us.'

BRAINSTORM

(verb) Think of all related ideas. Example: 'When trying to write Task II, you should brainstorm for ideas.

Keyword(s):

BRIEF

(adjective) Short, quick . Example: 'The meeting was brief as everyone was very busy'.

BRIEFLY

(adverb) Short, quickly. Example: 'He briefly looked at the essay but didn't read it in detail'.

BUDGET

(adjective) cheap, value for money. Example: 'Many young people on holiday stay in budget hotels or motels.

BULK

(noun) Main part, major part. For example: 'The bulk of the research has now been done, though we have a few small issues to finish
before it is completed.'

CAPABLE

(adjective) Able, confident, skilled. For example: 'I sometimes feel I am not capable of writing my university essays in English, it is
quite difficult for me.'

CAPACITY

(noun) Size, volume. For example: 'The class is full to capacity so I will have to wait and enroll in a new class next month.'

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
(noun) The penalty of death for a crime

CATEGORY

A division or class of something. For example: There are several categories of cars - family cars, sports cars, 4 wheel drives...

Keyword(s):

CAUSE

(noun) The reason something happens. Example: 'The cause of rising sea levels is the melting of polar ice'.

Keyword(s):

CEASE

(verb) Stop, end, finish. For example: 'He has been made redundant and his employment contract will officially cease on July 21st.'

Keyword(s):

CELEBRITY

(noun) Someone very well known; a public figure. 'Many celebrities, such as Tom Cruise, are photographed wherever they go.'

Keyword(s):

CENTRALLY CONTROLLED

(adjective) Controlled by a country's government, not by local governments.

CERTAINTY

(noun) No doubt; sure. Example: 'It is a certainty that the world's population will increase.'

CHALLENGE

(verb) To argue against an opinion. Example: 'In IELTS writing, you may need to challenge an opinion by giving a different point of
view'.

(noun) A difficult situation. Example: 'Studying in a second language can be a challenge for many students'.

Keyword(s):

CHALLENGING

(adjective) Difficult, not easy. Example: 'It can be challenging for international students to study at university in a second language'.

CHANNEL

(verb) Direct, guide, feed. For example: 'The Government promises to channel more funds into fighting crime if they win the next
election.'

Keyword(s):

CHAPTER

(noun) Section, part of a book. For example: 'The information we learned today in the lecture is found in more detail in chapter 10 of
the textbook.'

Keyword(s):

CHARACTER
(noun) How someone behaves / thinks / acts. Example: 'He has a very friendly, approachable character.'

CHART

(noun) graph, table, diagram. For example: 'It was clear from the bar chart that sales had risen in the period January-April.'

Keyword(s):

CHEMICAL

(noun) Substance, element, compound. For example: 'There are many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.'

Keyword(s):

CIRCUMSTANCE

(noun) Situation, event. For example: 'It should depend on the individual circumstances of the crime, as to whether the death penalty
is implemented.'

Keyword(s):

CITE

(verb) To quote as an authority or example; to use as an illustration or evidence. For example: 'It is important to cite the name of the
author you have used information from in academic writing for university.'

CIVIL

(adjective) Related to individuals and the general public. For example: 'Civil rights allow the right to privacy in most countries.'

CIVILISED

(adjective) Having a high state of culture, technology or society. Example: 'Many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the
Aztecs, were highly civilised.'

CLAIM

(noun) Something stated as fact, though not necessarily proven. Example: 'His claims have been ignored by the government'.

CLARIFY

(verb) Explain, make clear. For example: 'The instructions given on the examination paper were not clear so we asked the invigilator
to clarify what we had to do.'

Keyword(s):

CLASSIC

(adjective) Typical. For example: 'A classic example of discrimination is lower pay for women.'

CLASSIFY

(verb) To put into a group or category. Example: 'Humans are classified as mammals. Sharks are classified as fish'.

Keyword(s):

CODE

(noun) Rule, regulation. For example: 'Knowledge of the highway code is tested in the driving test in a theory exam.'

COHERENCE

(noun) Able to be understood. Example: 'An essay needs to show coherence; that is, a logical flow of ideas'. See also COHERENT

COHERENT
(adjective) Logical, reasoned. For example: 'In order to gain good marks it is important to write an essay which has good ideas and is
coherent.'

COHESION

(noun) Joining ideas together. Example: 'A good essay will be easy to understand because of its cohesion'

Keyword(s):

COINCIDE

(verb) Happen together, match, overlap. For example: 'The date for my IELTS exam coincided with my college exams so I did not have
enough time to study properly as I had too much to do.'

COLLAPSE

(verb) Give way, fail, come to nothing. For example: 'The ideas and proposal for the new business development collapsed when it
became clear that necessary funding was not available.'

COLLEAGUE

(noun) Co-worker. For example: 'Having supportive colleagues in the workplace is very important'

COLLOQUIAL

(adjective) Local and informal language. Example: 'Mate' means 'friend in many English speaking countries'.

SLANG (noun) Words used informally, often by particular groups.

Keyword(s):

COMBINATION

(noun) When two or more things are put together. Example: 'Some IELTS questions will require you to use a combination of skills and
abilities'.

COMFORTABLE

(adjective) Calm, relaxed, at ease. Example: 'It is important to show the examiner that you are comfortable speaking English during
your IELTS test'.

COMMENCE

(verb) Start, begin. For example: 'The new university semester commences on February 25th and all new students need to enroll the
week before.'

COMMENT

(verb) Say in passing, mention, point out. For example: 'My teacher commented that my English has improved a lot in the last two
months when I spoke with her the other day. '

COMMISSION

(verb) Appoint, authorise. For example: ' In many people’s opinion artworks commissioned by the Council, are an example of money
badly spent as there are more important projects to spend money on.'

COMMIT TO

(verb) Pledge. For example: 'Although the Government said, during the last election that it was committed to reducing crime rates
there has been an increase in violent crime in the last three years.'
COMMODITY

(noun) Product, good or service. For example: 'Electronic commodities such as computers and equipment have fallen dramatically in
price since their introduction to the market.'

COMMON

(adjective)

#1 - Similar, shared. Example: 'It is beneficial if husbands and wives have common interests'.

#2 - Usual, regularly occuring. Example: 'It is common for language learners to make grammar mistakes'.

COMMUNICATE

To give or exchange thoughts, ideas or opinions.

COMMUNITY

(noun) A group of people in society. For example: 'Over recent years local communities have become more concerned about increase
in crime in their areas.'

COMPARATIVE

(grammar term) The form of an adjective used for comparing. Example: tall > taller

COMPARISON

(noun) When something is compared to something else. Example: 'There have been comparisons made between the landscape of
New Zealand and Norway'.

Keyword(s):

COMPATIBLE

(adjective) Well-matched, like-minded. For example: 'It is important for employers to employ the most suitable person for a job and
that the employee’s personality is compatible with the position being offered.'

COMPENSATE

(verb) Balance, make up for. For example: 'Nowadays some parents try to compensate for having little time to spend with their
children by giving them too many material things such as toys and games.'

COMPILE

(verb) List, compose, record. For example: 'Before I go to the library I need to compile a list of information I need to look for while I
am there.'

COMPLAIN

(verb) To say that you are not satisfied or happy with something or someone. Example: 'The customer complained about the poor
service'.

(noun) = Complaint

Keyword(s):
COMPLEMENT

(verb) Add to, accompany. For example: 'Following a healthy diet and taking regular exercise complement each other well to create a
healthy lifestyle..'

COMPLEX

(adjective) Not simple, involved, difficult. For example: 'Arguments in support of, and against the death penalty need to be
considered carefully, as the subject is extremely complex.'

COMPLICATED

(adjective) Difficult, intricate. Example: 'Mathematics studied at university level is complicated'.

COMPONENT

(noun) Part, piece. For example: 'Tom has the ability to fix my computer but is unsure if he can find the correct components he needs
to sort out the problem.'

COMPOUND

(verb) Add to, increase (a negative situation). For example: 'Governments should invest more money into public health care as lack of
funds only compound the problem hospitals are facing.'

COMPREHENSIVE

(adjective) Wide-ranging, thorough. For example: 'Hospitals should provide comprehensive information booklets so that patients will
know what to expect when they have an operation.'

COMPRISE

(verb) Include, contain, thorough. For example: 'Australia comprises several states including the A.C.T. which contains Canberra.'

COMPULSORY

(adjective). Essential, must be done, no choice. Example: 'It is compulsory to have a passport when travelling overseas'.

CONCEIVE

(verb) Visualise, imagine, think of. For example: 'It is difficult for us to conceive the long term environmental impact of our actions
now. '

CONCENTRATE

(verb) Focus, think. For example: 'It is important to concentrate when revising for exams, study some where quietly and switch of all
distractions including radios and TV.'

CONCEPT

(noun) Idea, theory. For example: 'I am learning about Marketing concepts in my class this week, it is interesting to find out about so
many different theories.'

CONCESSION

(noun) An acknowledgment or admission that there are opinions different to your own. Example: 'It is important to add a concession
to your Task II essay to show that you can consider other opinions'.

Keyword(s):

CONCLUDE

(verb) End, finish, bring to a close. For example: 'Before concluding the meeting the CEO thanked us for attending and for our input.'

CONCRETE
(adjective). Real, not theoretical or abstract. Example: 'A concrete example'

(noun) A substance that is mixed with sand and water to create a solid material used in building.

CONCURRENT

(adjective) Same time, simultaneous. For example: 'The country’s army had no time to respond due to the concurrent attacks by sea,
land and air.'

CONDITIONAL CLAUSE

(grammar term) A sentence that has an 'if' statement - can be zero, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or mixed). Example: 'If students study hard, they
have a better chance of success'. (This is a zero conditional clause)

CONDUCT

(noun) Behaviour, ways, manner. For example: 'The high standard of conduct expected of children at the school is important in
helping them learn lessons for later in life.'

CONFER

(verb) Consult, discuss. For example: 'Education institutions should confer more with parents to discuss solutions to the growing
problem of children missing school.'

CONFIDENT

(adjective) Having no doubts; to be sure; being self-assured. Example: 'It is important to appear confident in an interview situation'.

CONFINE

(verb) Constrict, limit. For example: 'A number of countries are now confining cigarette smoking to outside areas only in public
places.'

CONFIRM

(verb) Check, verify. For example: 'It is shop owners' responsibility to confirm their customers are old enough to buy cigarettes by
asking them to provide identification.'

(noun) CONFIRMATION Example: 'A confirmation has been made for the booking next month'.

Keyword(s):

CONFLICTING

(adjective) Differing, opposite. For example: 'There are a number of conflicting opinions on whether technology has improved or
reduced quality of life.'

CONFORM

(verb) Fit in with, follow rules of conduct, match. For example: 'Younger people nowadays find it difficult to conform to the rules of
society.'

CONFRONTATIONAL

(adjective) The state of being argumentative or in opposition. Example: 'Some teenagers can become confrontational when talking to
their parents'.
CONFUSE

(verb) To mix up, to not understand correctly. Example: "It can be easy to confuse tenses in English grammar'.

Keyword(s):

CONNECT

(verb) To link, to join. Example: 'In English, you can connect ideas with linking words'.

Keyword(s):

CONSCRIPTION

(noun) Compulsory recruitment into the military. Example: 'Many countries still have conscription'.

CONSENT

To AGREE

CONSEQUENT

(adjective) Resulting, following. For example: 'A number of people were concerned about the change in government policy and the
consequent protests were no surprise.'

CONSIDER

(verb) Think carefully about. Example: 'You need to consider possible synonyms for keywords before scanning the reading passage for
the answer'.

Keyword(s):

CONSIDERABLE

(adjective) Large, sizeable, substantial. For example: 'A recent survey showed that a considerable number of parents have little
knowledge regarding the signs of drug use.'

CONSIST

(verb) Be made up of. For example: 'The main basis of his argument consisted of the facts and figures he had direct from the survey.'

Keyword(s):

CONSONANT

(noun). Letters in the alphabet that are not a,e,i,o or u.

Some words can begin with a vowel but have a consonant sound. Example: university (yoo-ni-ver-si-ty), uniform (yoo-ni-form).

See also VOWEL

Keyword(s):

CONSTANT

(adjective) Continual, endless. For example: 'There have been constant problems since the new policy has been introduced.'

CONSTITUENT PARTS

(noun phrase) Parts or ingredients that together make a whole. Example: 'There are many constituent parts to a car engine'.
CONSTITUTE

(verb) Comprise, make up, form. For example: 'The research I have collected constitutes a very good basis for my assignment.'

Keyword(s):

CONSTRAIN

(verb) Limit, restrict, hinder. For example: 'In order to constrain the increasing use of illegal drugs, stricter penalties should be
introduced.'

Keyword(s):

CONSTRUCT

(verb) Build, put together, make. For example: 'It is important to construct a solid argument for your essay and making notes
beforehand helps enormously.'

Keyword(s):

CONSULT

(verb) Ask, check with. For example: 'It is important for patients to consult their doctor before taking any additional medication.'

Keyword(s):

CONSUME

(verb)

1. to expend by use; use up. 'Cities consume a high percentage of a country's energy, due to the high populations living there.'

2. to eat or drink up; devour. 'Many people consume a great deal of junk food on a regular basis.'

3. to destroy, as by decomposition or burning: Fire consumed the forest.

4. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

5. to absorb; engross: consumed with curiosity.

Keyword(s):

CONTACT

(verb). Write to/speak to, get in touch with. Example: 'It is the school’s responsibility to contact parents of children they suspect are
taking drugs.'

CONTAIN

(verb) To include, to hold within. Example: 'The IELTS reading and listening tests both contain 40 questions.'

Keyword(s):
CONTEMPORARY

(adjective). Modern. Example: 'In my opinion contemporary novels are more interesting and true to life than classic literature.'

CONTEXT

(noun). Perspective, background. Example: 'A good essay will put all ideas and arguments into a clear context.'

CONTINENTS

Groups of countries; large masses of land. For example: Europe, Asia

CONTRACT

(noun). Written and signed agreement, legally binding document. Example: 'An employment contract protects the rights of both
employer and employee.'

CONTRADICT

(verb). Disagree with, challenge the view of, oppose. Example: 'The findings in the new research project contradict those from the
earlier survey.'

CONTRARY

(adjective). Opposite. Example: 'There are many contrary opinions to this view.'

CONTRARY (On the contrary)

(noun). Opposite. Example: 'Sensible exercise has no ill effects on the body; on the contrary it brings enormous benefits.'

CONTRAST

(noun). Difference, strong dissimilarity. Example: 'There is enormous contrast between the landscapes of the two countries.'

CONTRIBUTE

(verb). Add, give. Example: 'Older workers in the work force are important as they contribute their experience, wisdom and patience.'

CONTROVERSIAL

(adjective) Arguable, disputable, likely to cause disagreement. Example: 'The government's decision to reduce funding of public
healthcare was controversial.'

CONTROVERSY

(noun). Argument, disagreement. Example: 'A decision to fine parents of children who are not attending school would cause a huge
amount of controversy.'

CONVENE

(verb). Come together, assemble. Example: 'United Nations representatives will convene in Europe next month.'

CONVENTIONAL

(adjective) Following accepted customs and traditions. Example: 'In western countries, it is conventional for the bride to wear a white
dress on her wedding day.'

CONVERT

(verb). Change, alter from one use or purpose to another. Example: 'In many parts of the world forest land has been converted to
agricultural land and this has impacted on the environment.'

CONVINCE

(verb). Persuade, encourage another to believe a point of view. Example: 'It has been difficult to convince the general public of the
dangers related to this.'
COOPERATE

(verb) Work together. For example: 'It is important for Governments of different countries to cooperate together to find a solution to
global warming.'

COORDINATE

(verb) Organise, bring together. For example: 'The conference will require a huge amount of organisation so the company has
appointed an Events Manager to coordinate the project.'

CORE

(adjective) Central, main. For example: 'The company is involved in many different areas of business but its core business is computer
software.'

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

(noun phrase) Physical punishment. Example: 'Corporal punishment, such as caning, is now banned in many schools.'

CORPORATE

(adjective) Business or company related, commercial. For example: 'It is relatively easy to find out information at companies these
days as on the web there are numerous sites holding corporate information.'

CORRELATION

(noun) A connection or link between things. Example: 'There is a correlation between healthy living and lifespan'.

Keyword(s):

CORRESPOND

(verb) Match, match up to, relate to. For example: 'The findings from this research project correspond with those from earlier
studies.'

COUNTERPART

(noun) Equal, equivalent. Example: 'A prime minister is the counterpart of a president'.

COUPLE WITH

(verb) Combine, link, join. For example: 'Rising unemployment amongst graduates coupled with increasing costs to study at university
have resulted in the decreasing enrolments into university programmes.'

Keyword(s):

CREATE

(verb) Make, invent, produce, generate. For example: 'The arrival of the new factory has created a number of job opportunities for
local people.'

CREDIT

(noun) Praise, recognition, acclaim. For example: 'Nursing staff are often not given enough credit for the difficult job they perform.'

CRITERIA

(noun) Condition related to a situation. For example: 'The successful candidate for the job must meet all the criteria laid down in the
job description.'

CRUCIAL

(adjective) essential, necessary, vital. For example: 'It is crucial that governments provide good education opportunities for teenagers
to ensure a successful future for the country.'
CULPABLE

(noun) The state of being guilty of doing something. 'He is culpable for the damage his children caused.'

Keyword(s):

CULTURE

(noun) Society, traditon, customs, way of life. For example: 'It is an important education for people to experience different cultures as
it allows them the opportunity to better understand people from countries different to their own.'

CURE

(noun) Treatment, solution. Example: 'Many people are searching for a cure for the common cold'.

Keyword(s):

CURRENCY

(noun) Money, exchange. For example: 'Currency exchange in Europe is no longer an issue as the majority of countries use the Euro.'

CYCLE

(noun) Series, sequence. For example: 'Students may be required to describe a process for Task 1 of the writing exam, for example
the Water Cycle which describes the journey of water from land to sky and back again.'

DAMAGE

(verb) Destroy or break. Example: 'The tornado damaged a large number of houses'.

DATA

(noun) Statistics, figures, information. For example: 'The most accurate data available on a country’s population is probably found in
Census information collected every four years in a Government survey.'

DEADLINE

(noun) The time by which something must be done or completed. Example: 'The deadline for finishing the report is next Tuesday'.

DEATH PENALTY

When the punishment for a crime means you will be killed, this is the death penalty. See also: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

DEBATE

(noun) Discussion, argument. For example: 'Controversial subjects such as capital punishment often attract heated debate.'

DEBT

(noun) Something owed; needs to be repaid. Example: 'Many students amass a large debt while studying.'

DECADE

(noun) Ten year period. For example: 'Almost certainly violent crime has increased dramatically over the last decade.'

DECLINE

(noun) A weakening, a fall off, a drop off. For example: 'Fortunately, there has been a decline in the number of cigarette smokers over
recent years.'

DEDUCE

(verb) Figure out, reason, work out. For example: 'It can be deduced from the information given that the problem is likely to
continue.'
DEDUCTION

(noun) A conclusion drawn from evidence. Example: 'The deduction made was clearly logical.'

DEFINE

(verb) Identify, describe. For example: 'The main responsibilities of a job are defined in the job description.'

DEFINITE

(adjective) Certain, sure. For example: 'Scientists know that there are definite links between cigarette smoking and lung cancer,
though the causes of many other cancers as still unknown.'

DEMONSTRATE

(verb) To show. Example: 'It is important to demonstrate a range of accurate grammar in your IELTS essay'.

Keyword(s):

DENOTE

(verb) Indicate, stand for, identify. For example: 'Many road accidents are caused because drivers do not understand the Highway
Code and ignore road signs which denote the need for caution.'

DENY

(verb) Disallow, refuse. For example: 'The students were denied the right to longer holidays despite their protests.'

DEPRESS

(verb) Weaken, cause to drop. For example: 'The Government should take action in reducing inflation as many people are worried
that it will depress the economy even further.'

DERIVE

(verb) Arrive at (from reasoning). For example: 'This conclusion can logically be derived from the information given.'

DESCRIPTION

(noun) A statement that describes something. Example: 'For Task I writing, you may have to give a description of a diagram'.

DESIGN

(verb) Invent, create. For example: 'The Head of the Marketing Department has designed a new marketing strategy which will
hopefully bring more business to the company.'

DESPITE

(preposition) In spite of, even with. For example: 'Despite the Government’s efforts to increase safety of citizens, the level of crime
has continued to increase.'

DETECT

(verb) Form an inpression, find out, discover. For example: 'From the reaction of the staff, it was easy to detect that they were
unhappy with the new proposal.'

DETERIORATE

(verb) To get worse. For example: 'The situation has deteriorated'.

DETRACT FROM

(verb) reduce value or importance of something. Example: 'His negative comments detracted from the enjoyment of the evening'.

DEVIATE
(verb) Move away from, differ. For example: 'A large number of young people today like to deviate from the norm of their society.'

Keyword(s):

DEVICE

(noun) Machine, tool, gadget. For example: 'Electronic devices such as mobile phones have improved our ability to communicate'

Keyword(s):

DEVOTE

(verb) dedicate, give, alot. For example: 'It is important to devote adequate time to studying for an exam to ensure a good result.'

DIALOGUE

(noun) A conversation. Example: 'In Parts One and Three of the listening test, you will hear a dialogue between two or more people
and you will have to answer questions.'

DIFFERENTIATE

(verb) Tell apart, distinguish, see the difference between. For example: 'It is important for teachers to differentiate between the
different skills and abilities of their students to ensure they all get a good education.'

DIMENSION

(noun) Aspect, feature, factor. For example: 'The subject has many dimensions which must be taken into consideration when
formulating a rounded argument.'

DIMINISH

(verb). Reduce, weaken, detract from (authority, reputation, prestige, responsibility). Example: 'Many people are unhappy when laws
are introduced which seem to diminish parents’ responsibility for their own children.'

Keyword(s):

DIRECTION

(noun) Route, focus, aim. Example: 'The introduction of a report shows the direction and main ideas included in the body'.

DISADVANTAGED

Not having an equal situation to something or someone else; when something or someone has less than other people have.

DISCHARGE

(verb) 1. To fire a weapon. 'He discharged the gun'

(verb) 2. To release. let go. 'The patient was discharged from hospital this morning'.

Keyword(s):

DISCRETE

(adjective) Separate, disconnected. For example: 'The Council is made up of three discrete divisions and communication between
them is often difficult.'

DISCRIMINATE

(verb) Show prejudice. For example: 'Companies should not discriminate against older workers because of their age as their
knowledge, experience and maturity can be of great benefit to a business.'
DISMISS

(verb) Choose to ignore; decide something is unimportant. Example: 'The CEO dismissed the idea of higher wages for staff'.

Keyword(s):

DISORDER

(noun) Illness, syndrome. Example: 'Many learning disorders have now been identified.'

DISPARITY

(noun) A difference, something that is not similar. Example: 'There are disparities in economic stability in different regions'.

See also: INEQUALITY

Keyword(s):

DISPLACE

(verb) move or shift from usual position. For example: 'Due to the enormous damage to property a large number if people were
displaced due to the damage caused by earthquake.'

DISPLAY

(verb) show, present. For example: 'By law, motorists must display a current tax disc in the windscreen of their vehicle.'

DISPOSE OF

(verb) Get rid of, throw away. For example: 'It is our duty as citizens to dispose of rubbish responsibly.'

DISTINCT

(adjective) clear, defintie, noticeable. For example: 'The bar chart shows that there is a distinct variation in purchasing habits over the
period shown.'

DISTORT

(verb) Alter, warp, misrepresent. For example: 'The facts received were so distorted that it was difficult to know the truth of the
matter.'

DISTRIBUTE

(verb) Spread, give out. For example: 'It is the Council’s responsibility to distribute information leaflets on this topic to ensure that the
public are aware.'

Keyword(s):

DIVERSE

(adjective) Varied, including different types. For example: 'Cities such as London for example, are interesting as the population there
is made up of many cultures and is so diverse.'

DIVISION

(noun) Differences in standard between two or more things. Example: 'There are divisions in wealth between different areas of the
country'.

Keyword(s):

DOCUMENT
(noun) Report, file, paper. For example: 'A marriage certificate is an example of a legally-binding document.'

DOGMATIC

(adjective) Describing opinions or beliefs that are unproven but presented as facts. Example: 'It is important that you state your
opinions in an appropriate manner and are not dogmatic.'

DOMAIN

(noun) Area. sphere. For example: 'The domain of computer science involves many sub areas.'

DOMESTIC

(adjective) Within a country, internal, national. For example: 'A number of countries generate much higher income from business in
their international markets than from domestic sales.'

DOMINATE

(verb) Rule, control, lead, govern, overshadow. For example: 'Use of Microsoft products is so widespread it can be said that they
dominate the software industry.'

Keyword(s):

DRAFT

(verb) Draw up, prepare, plan. For example: 'I need to draft a proposal before the meeting next week.'

Keyword(s):

DRAMA

(noun) Crisis, commotion. For example: 'The proposed changes to the education system have caused quite a drama in the
newspapers recently.'

DRAMATIC

(adjective) Significant, large, major. "There was a dramatic rise in the cost of production."

DRAWBACK

(noun) a problem, a weakness. Example: 'One drawback of living in a foreign country is that you may not be able to communicate so
easily'.

Keyword(s):

DULL

(adjective) Not interesting; boring. Example: 'Some technical books can be very dull to read.'

DURATION

(noun) Period, length of time. For example: 'Exam candidates are not allowed to talk at all for the full duration of the exam.'

DYNAMIC

(adjective) Continually changing or progressing. For example: 'The IT industry is extremely dynamic with huge investment into
Research and Development. '

ECONOMY

(noun) Financial system, financial market. For example: 'The strength of the country’s economy has attracted the interest of foreign
investors.'

EDIT
(verb) Correct, alter, improve. For example: 'My lecturer has offered to edit the first part of my thesis to ensure I am writing
correctly.'

EFFECT

(noun) What happens; the result. Example: 'The effect of climate change is unpredictable.'

Keyword(s):

EFFECTIVE

(adjective) Efficient, successful, useful. Example: 'ILSNZ Online IELTS is an effective way to study'.

EFFICIENTLY

(adverb) Time saving; productively. Example: 'It is important to use your time in the IELTS test efficiently to get a good result'.

ELEMENT

(noun) Part, component, factor. For example: 'Certain elements of society are not contributing properly to the overall success of the
country.'

ELIMINATE

(verb) Get rid of, remove. For example: 'It is the Government’s responsibility to eliminate the problem of drug use in society.'

EMERGE

(verb) Appear, materialise, come to light. For example: 'Our medical knowledge improves almost daily and new cures for disease
continue to emerge.'

EMMIGRATION

(noun) To leave your home country to live in another place. See also IMMIGRATION.

Example: John is from England. He now lives in New Zealand. He has emmigrated from England and immigrated to New Zealand.

Keyword(s):

EMOTIVE

(adjective) Sensitive, affecting, stimulating emotion. Example: 'He gave a highly emotive speech.'

EMPHASIS

(noun) Importance, weight, stress. For example: 'There should be more emphasis on increasing the number of disabled people in the
workforce.'

EMPHASISE

(verb) To reinforce, to restate, to highlight. Example: 'When you write a conclusion to your essay, you should emphasise your main
argument.'

Keyword(s):

EMPIRICAL

(adjective) Observed, practical. For example: 'Empirical research is required to obtain confirmation that the theories are correct.'

ENABLE
(verb) Allow, make possible. For example: 'Government should subsidise entry fees to museums and art galleries to enable a higher
number of people to visit. '

ENCOUNTER

(verb) Come across, come in contact with, meet. Example: 'When travelling abroad tourists have the opportunity to encounter many
interesting people and learn a great deal about a different culture'.

Keyword(s):

ENCOURAGEMENT

(noun) Support, inspiration, confidence-building. Example: 'Students achieve better results with encouragement from parents and
teachers.'

ENERGY

(noun) Power, force, vigour. For example: 'A great deal of energy from members of the team will be required to ensure the success of
the new venture.'

ENFORCE

(verb) Make compulsory, insist on. For example: 'It is important for schools to enforce school rules strictly as students learn important
lessons which will be useful later in life.'

ENHANCE

(verb) Improve, add to. For example: 'Access to parks and gardens enhances the quality of life of city dwellers.'

ENORMOUS

(adjective) huge, massive, vast. For example: 'Industrial activity has an enormous impact on the environment.'

ENQUIRE

(verb) To find out about, to ask for information about. Example: 'For bus timetables, you need to enquire at the main office.'

Also spelled 'inquire'

Keyword(s):

ENROL

(verb) To join, to sign up. Example: 'New students have to enrol in the course before Monday'.

ENSURE

(verb) Make sure, make certain. For example: 'It is the duty of a parent to ensure that their child has access to a solid education'

ENTITLED

To have the right to claim something. For example: 'If you are not happy with your IELTS result, you are entitled to ask them to check
your exam again.'

ENTITY

(noun) Body, unit. For example: 'Although they are both Government organisations they are completely separate entities.'

ENVIRONMENT

(noun) Natural world, nature, ecosystem. For example: 'More people should use public transport due to the negative impact of cars
on the environment.'
EQUATE

(verb) Liken, compare, connect. For example: 'Society often equates old age with weakness and dependence.'

EQUIDISTANT

(adjective) Equal distance between things. Example: 'The school is equidistant from the railway station and the hospital - it only takes
5 minutes to walk to each place.'

EQUIP

(verb) Prepare, train, get (someone) ready. For example: 'It is important that the education received at school equips students with
skills they will require in the working world.'

EQUIPPED WITH

(adjective phrase) Having the required equipment or tools to do something. Example: 'A lot of holiday accommodation is equipped
with everything you need to cook a meal.'

EQUIVALENT

(adjective) Equal, the same, comparable. For example: '40 degrees celsius is equivalent to 104 degrees fahrenheit.'

ERODE

(verb) Wear away, wear down. For example: 'Valleys are formed when rivers erode away the land.'

ERROR

(noun) A mistake. Example: 'There are a number of common errors made by IELTS candidates'.

Keyword(s):

ESSENTIAL

(adjective) Something you must have or do. Example: Water is essential for survival.

ESTABLISH

(verb) Set up, start, begin. For example: 'The company is establishing a new arm of the business in Asia next year.'

ESTATE

(noun) Assets, property, wealth. For example: 'He has left his estate to his children and grandchild in the event of his death.'

ESTIMATE

(verb) Calculate approximately, assess. For example: 'It is estimated that the new building will cost around $6.5 million to build.'

ETHIC

(noun) Set of principles, moral values. For example: 'Companies can encourage a strong work ethic in their employees through fair
treatment and by offering favourable work conditions.'

Keyword(s):

ETHNIC

(adjective) of a particular group of people or culture. For example: 'London’s population is made up of many different ethnic groups..'

EVALUATE

(verb) Assess, appraise. For example: 'The company evaluates its performance by monitoring various aspects of the business
carefully.'

EVENTUAL
(adjective) Ultimate, final. For example: 'The organisation needs to increase its sales turnover or we can expect its eventual closure.'

EVIDENT

(adjective) Clear, obvious, apparent. For example: 'It is evident from the graph that 18-25 year olds were the biggest purchasers of
CDs in the period shown'

EVOLVE

(verb) Develop, grow, progress. For example: 'The small home-based business evolved into a major company over a period of five
years.'

EXACT

(adjective) Correct, accurate, precise. Example: 'For some IELTS reading questions, you need to answer using exact words from the
passage. You are not allowed to use your own words'.

EXCEED

(verb) Go beyond, surpass. For example: 'It is irresponsible for drivers to exceed the speed limit, particularly in areas around schools.'

EXCESSIVE

(adjective) Too much. Example: 'Excessive drinking is becoming a problem among teenagers in many countries.'

EXCLUDE

(verb) Keep out, leave out. For example: 'In extreme cases schools will often exclude students from school as punishment if they
continue to misbehave.'

EXEMPLARY

(adjective) Perfect. Example: 'The student was given an award for exemplary behaviour'.

EXHIBIT

(verb) Show, display. For example: 'He exhibits the talent to be a very good athlete one day.'

EXPAND

(verb) Grow, become larger. For example: 'The organisation has expanded its manufacturing operation since it won the Government
contract.'

Keyword(s):

EXPENDITURE

(noun) Spending, outgoings, expenses. Example: 'For the majority of families, the biggest monthly expenditure is on mortgage
repayments'.

EXPERT

(noun) Specialist. For example: 'Some experts claim that there is a link between violence in children and playing of violent video
games.'

EXPLANATION

(noun) A statement made to make something understandable. Example: 'My teacher gave a very good explanation of how to improve
my writing'.

Keyword(s):

EXPLICIT
(adjective) Open, graphic, uninhibited. For example: 'Many people believe that the pictures we see on the news nowadays of war and
suffering are much too explicit.'

EXPLOIT

(verb) Take advantage of, ill use. For example: 'Laws protecting workers are necessary to prevent some employers from exploiting
their rights.'

EXPORT

(verb) Sell overseas. For example: 'The country is very self-sufficient and exports significantly more produce than it needs to import. '

Keyword(s):

EXPOSE

(verb) Bring attention to, reveal publicly. For example: 'It is important for the media to have freedom to publish as often scandals are
exposed by their investigations.'

EXPOSE TO

(verb) Bring / come into contact with. Example: 'Skin needs to be protected when it is exposed to the sun'.

Keyword(s):

EXPRESS

(verb) To communicate, to say. Example: 'An increasing number of people are expressing concern regarding our impact on the
environment.'

EXTEND

(verb) To make bigger; to make longer. Example: 'You should try to extend your answers as much as possible without repeating
yourself in the IELTS speaking test.'

EXTENSION

(noun) Addition or something extra. Example: 'The student asked for an extension on their assignment as they couldn't finish on
time'.

EXTENSION QUESTION

(noun phrase) A question that asks for more detailed information on a topic you have already discussed. Example: 'Towards the end
of the IELTS speaking test, you wil be asked some extension questions related to the topic card you spoke about.'

EXTERNAL

(adjective) Outside. For example: 'The company will be audited by an external auditor next week.'

EXTRACT

(noun) A part/passage from a literary work or speech. For example: 'The author will read an extract from his latest book at the book
signing next week.'

FACILITATE

(verb) Help, aid, make easy. For example: 'Agreement and cooperation between the two Governments has helped to facilitate the
programme.'

FACILITIES

(noun) Amenities, services available. Example: 'The facilities at the new leisure centre are excellent.'
Keyword(s):

FACTOR

(noun) issue, feature, aspect, reason. For example: 'There are a number of factors which influence an increase in crime.'

Keyword(s):

FAMILIARITY

(noun) Sense of knowing something very well. Example: 'With familiarity, it becomes easier to have conversations in English'.

FEATURE

(noun) characteristic, trait, quality. For example: 'The computer programme has a number of features which are extremely user-
friendly.'

Keyword(s):

FEDERAL

(adjective) Centralised (related to Government). For example: 'The Federal Government of the U.S.A. controls laws and issues relating
to all States.'

FEE

(noun) Charge, payment. For example: 'Entry to the park used to be free but now visitors are asked to pay a small fee.'

Keyword(s):

FILE

(noun) Report, profile, record. For example: 'A CV and copy of qualifications are kept in the staff file of each employee.'

FINAL

(adjective) Last, ending. For example: 'The final point relating to this issue is the most significant'

FINANCE

(noun) Money, funding. For example: 'Hospitals in the public sector often have difficulty obtaining enough finance to provide quality
healthcare.'

FINITE

(adjective) Limited, set. For example: 'Fossil fuels, such as coal, are a finite resource and it is important to find an alternative before
supplies are used up completely.'

FIRST HAND

(adjective) From personal experience or from the original source. Example: 'Overseas volunteers get first hand experience of
problems some people face in poorer countries.'

FLEXIBLE

(adjective) Adaptable, open to change. For example: 'Hours worked by students in part-time jobs need to be flexible so they can take
time off if necessary for revision.'

FLOWCHART

(noun) A diagram showing the sequence of events. Example: 'The process was explained clearly by use of a flowchart'.

FLUCTUATE
(verb) Vary, change, rise and fall. For example: 'It can be seen from the graph that expenditure fluctuated from March to July, after
which it steadily increased.'

FLUENCY

(noun) A measure of how clear and connected your speech is. Example: 'He knows a lot of grammar, but has difficulty speaking - he
has very poor fluency'.

FOCUS

(verb) Direct attention towards a central, focal point. For example: 'The majority of people seem to agree that the Government
should focus on increasing job opportunities for school leavers.'

FORMAL

(adjective) Not casual. Example: 'A suit and tie are formal clothes'.

Compare to:

INFORMAL (casual). Example: 'Jeans are informal clothes'.

SEMI FORMAL (between casual and formal). Example: 'The dress code for the party is semi-formal. Suits and ties are not necessary,
but jeans are not permitted.'

Keyword(s):

FORMAT

(noun) Arrangement, layout, design. For example: 'I like the format of the new text book, it is clear and easy to follow.'

FORMULA

(noun) Method, recipe, blueprint. For example: 'Many movies these days are not based upon new ideas, simply new actors and
locations following an old formula.'

FORTHCOMING

(adjective) Approaching, coming soon, imminent. For example: 'The forthcoming election is likely to result in a change of
Government.'

FOUND

(verb) establish, set up. For example: 'The university has a long history and was founded in 1903.'

FOUNDATION

(noun) Base, basis. For example: 'My business diploma has provided a good foundation for my studies, now I hope to study a
Bachelor’s Degree.'

FRAMEWORK

(noun) Structure, basis. For example: 'The framework of the course includes all aspects of study which relate to my job.'

FRUSTRATING
(adjective) Annoying, irritating. Example: 'Learning a foreign language can be frustrating if there are not many opportunities to
practise.'

FULLY

(adverb) Completely, 100%. Example: 'I fully understand his point of view'.

FUNCTION

(verb) Purpose, meaning, role. For example: 'The main function of the department is quality control.'

FUND

(verb) Finance, support financially. For example: 'Many university students take on part-time work to help to fund their studies.'

FURTHERMORE

(adverb). Additionally, also. Example: 'Drug use is illegal and furthermore it is damaging to health.'

GENDER

(noun). Sex, male or female. Example: 'Women in the workplace are still sometimes discriminated against because of their gender.'

GENERAL

(adjective). Not particular or exact. Example: 'I have a general idea as to what I will be studying on my course, but no specific
information yet.'

GENERATE

(verb). Produce, cause. Example: 'It is hoped that the new advertising campaign will create enough interest to generate a huge
increase in sales.'

GENERATION

(noun). Age group, age bracket. Example: 'It is often difficult to understand the thinking of people of different generations'

GENERIC

(adjective) General, not specific. Example: 'Generic sales letters are less successful than those personalised for the receiver.'

GET SIDETRACKED

(Verb phrase) To lose focus. Example: 'When reading an IELTS passage for specific information, it is important not to get sidetracked
with small details.'

GLOBAL

(adjective). Worldwide. Example: 'Global awareness is increasing as more and more people travel and are able to experience different
countries firsthand.'

GLOSSARY

(noun) A list of words and explanations at the end of a text. Example: 'Some IELTS reading passages will have a short glossary at the
end'.

GOAL

(noun). Objective, aim. Example: 'The goal of the training programme is to improve communication within the team.'

GRADE

(noun). Score, mark. Example: 'It is important to answer the question correctly in order to achieve a high grade in the exam.'
GRAMMAR TENSE

(noun phrase) Structures used to show past, present or future. E.g. Present simple tense, past continuous tense.

GRAMMATICAL RANGE

(noun phrase) A variety of sentence structures and tenses. Example: 'It is important to demonstrate a wide grammatical range in the
IELTS test.'

GRAMMATICALLY

(Adverb) To do with grammar.

GRANT

(noun). Financial subsidy to offer support. Example: 'Government grants for higher education allow students from poorer families to
also gain a university education.'

GRATEFUL

(adjective) Thankful. Example: 'I am very grateful to my teacher as I learned a lot from him'.

GRATITUDE

(noun) A state of being thankful or grateful. Example: 'Guests often show their gratitude by bringing a small gift.'

GUARANTEE / WARRANTY

NOTE: 'Warranty' and 'guarantee' are very similar in meaning.

TO GUARANTEE (verb). Assure, make certain. Example: 'Many young people nowadays are deciding against going to university as they
think that a university degree will not guarantee them a job.'

A GUARANTEE / A WARRANTY (noun) An assurance that something is protected. Example: 'He got a three year guarantee with his
new television'.

A warranty is often a written document, whereas a guarantee can also be a spoken agreement.

Keyword(s):

GUIDELINE

(noun). Suggested rule to follow. Example: 'The Government has issued healthy eating guidelines to schools in an effort make school
meals healthier.'

Keyword(s):

HENCE

So, therefore, because. The government has increased taxes, hence many educated people are leaving for foreign countries to find
work.

HIERARCHY
(noun) A group of people or things arranged in order of rank or grade. Example: 'Most larger corporations have a management
hierarchy'.

Keyword(s):

HIGHLIGHT

(verb). Draw attention to, emphasise. Example: 'The increase in homeless people over recent years highlights the need for a better
social welfare system.'

Keyword(s):

HONOUR

(noun) Privilege. Example: 'It was an honour to meet the Queen'.

HORIZONTAL

(adjective) Parallel to level ground. Example: If you have backache, it is recommended that you remain horizontal in bed.

HUMANITARIAN

(adjective) Caring, civilised, kind. Example: 'Humanitarian organisations deliver food and supplies to poor communities all over the
world.'

HYPOTHESIS

(noun). Theory, assumption. Example: 'The research conducted so far indicates that the hypothesis is accurate.'

HYPOTHETICAL

(adjective) Theoretical, supposed. Example: 'The presentation he gave was based on a hypothetical situation.'

IDENTICAL

(adjective) Exactly the same. 'Identical twins share the same genetic make up'.

IDENTIFY

(verb) To tell the difference between; to recognise. Example: 'It is important to identify all parts of the graph before beginning to
write your Task I essay'.

Keyword(s):

IDEOLOGY

(noun) Belief system, values. Example: 'The ideology of left wing and right wing political parties is different in a number of ways'.

IGNORANT

(adjective) Unaware, lacking knowledge. 'Travelling abroad broadens our knowledge and allows us to become less ignorant about
other cultures.'

Keyword(s):

ILLUSTRATE

(verb). Demonstrate, give an example, show. Example: 'The example used in the lecture illustrated the theory we were being taught.'

ILLUSTRATION

(noun) A picture or diagram. Example: 'There is an illustration of the product on the box'.
IMAGE

(noun). Impression, idea, view. Example: 'The behaviour of a country’s citizens abroad influences the image of the country itself.'

IMAGINARY

(adjective) made up; unreal. Example: 'The characters in children's books are usually imaginary'.

IMMIGRATION

(noun) Moving into a country which is not your place of birth. See also EMMIGRATION

Example: John is from England. He now lives in New Zealand. He has emmigrated from England and immigrated to New Zealand.

Keyword(s):

IMPACT

Having an influence or effect on something.

Keyword(s):

IMPLEMENT

(verb) To put into action, to start. Example: 'The changes will be implemented immediately'.

IMPLICATION

(Noun) Consequence, related result. Example: 'The implications of abuse of drugs such as ecstasy are still unknown'.

Keyword(s):

IMPLICIT

(adjective) Not spoken but understood between two or more parties. Example: 'We have an implicit agreement not to talk about the
difficulty again. '

IMPLY

(verb) Suggest, say something indirectly. Example: 'Although my boss didn’t so say directly, he implied that my having a holiday then
would be inconvenient'.

Keyword(s):

IMPOSE

(verb) Make compulsory, force. Example: 'In some countries, penalties are imposed on families who have more than one child'.

Keyword(s):

IN-DEPTH

(adjective) Deeper, more detailed. Example: 'Market researchers often conduct in-depth interviews to find out specific and detailed
information. '

INADVISABLE

(adjective) Not recommended. Example: It is inadvisable to carry a lot of money in your wallet. It is better to keep it in a bank'.
INCENTIVE

(noun) Offering to encourage someone to do something. Example: 'Incentives such as lower tax rates could encourage companies to
expand their operations in rural areas'.

Keyword(s):

INCIDENCE

(noun) occurance, situation. example: 'There have been a number of incidences where children who have watched violent movies
have acted violently themselves'.

Keyword(s):

INCLINE

VERB:to have a tendency or interest in doing something

'He was inclined to accept their offer'.

NOUN: a slop or rising surface

INCOME

(noun) Money coming in (often for working). Example: 'It is important to have a job that gives a regular income'.

INCOMPLETE

(adjective) Not whole, not finished. Example: 'An essay is incomplete without a conclusion'.

INCONVENIENT

(adjective) Problematic, awkward, badly timed. Example: 'The meeting was inconvenient for everyone so the time was changed'.

(noun) INCONVENIENCE

Keyword(s):

INCORPORATE

(verb) Include, add in. Example: Some parents believe it is wrong for schools to incorporate a sex education programme into their
science classes.

Keyword(s):

INDEX

(noun) Contents list Example: The quickest way to search for content is to look in the index.

INDICATE

(verb) To show or suggest. Example: "He indicated that he was bored."

(noun = INDICATION) A sign showing or suggesting something.

Keyword(s):

INDIFFERENCE

(noun)The state of not having an opinion one way or another. Example: 'He showed his indifference clearly through his comment that
he didn't care who won the election'.

INDUSTRY

(noun) Manufacturing and processing. Example: 'The service sector is often bigger than the manufacturing industry in many
developed countries'.

Keyword(s):

INEQUALITY

(noun) A difference, something that is not equal. Example: "Even today, there are inequalities in the workplace for men and women'.

See also: DISPARITY

Keyword(s):

INEVITABLE

(adjective) Unavoidable, certain. For example: 'With advances in medical treatment, it is inevitable that the aging population will
grow.'

INFER

(verb) Assume, suppose, suggest. For example: 'The message received infers there will be trouble ahead.'

INFORM

(verb) To tell, to notify. Example: 'You should inform the police if you see a crime'.

INFORMAL

(adjective) Casual. Example: Example: 'Jeans are informal clothes'.

Compare to:

FORMAL (not casual). Example: 'A suit and tie are formal clothes'.

SEMI FORMAL (between casual and formal). Example: 'The dress code for the party is semi-formal. Suits and ties are not necessary,
but jeans are not permitted.'
Keyword(s):

INFRASTRUCTURE

(noun) Network, roads and rail. For example: 'Government investment in the public transport infrasturcture will help encourage more
people to use public transport.'

INFRINGEMENT

(noun) A violation, a breach, an act against something. Example: 'Some people believe that having to carry identification cards is an
infringement of our right to privacy.'

INHERENT

(adjective) Essential, intrinsic. Hard work and dedication are inherent to success.

INHIBIT

(verb) Hold back, prevent. For example: 'Excess criticism can inhibit a child's confidence to try new things.'

INITIAL

(adjective) First, preliminary, original. For example: 'My initial impressions of my new job were negative, though now I enjoy it.'

INITIATE

(verb) Start, begin, make the first move. For example: 'The Government should initiate a move towards more responsible recycling of
rubbish.'

INJURE

(verb) hurt, harm. For example: 'Insurance often does not cover individuals who injure themselves whilst taking part in dangerous
sports.'

INNOVATE

(verb) make something new, something up to date. For example: 'The company needs to innovate its image and products to attract
younger customers who currently think it is old fashioned.'

INPUT

(noun)Contribution of ideas, opinions, effort. For example: 'The CEO asked for my input at the meeting, which shows he values my
ideas.'

INSERT

(verb) Put in, include, add in. For example: 'Illustrations are often inserted into a text to make the information more interesting.'

INSIGHT

(noun) Understanding, knowledge of a situation. For example: 'World news reports allow people from developed countries an insight
into the suffering of people in the developing world'

INSPECT

(verb) Check, examine. For example: 'The landlord will come to inspect our apartment for damage before we move out next week'

INSTANCE

(noun) Situation, case, occasion. For example: 'In this instance you will not be required to pay, though there is usually a fee'

INSTITUTE

(noun) Institution, organization. For example: 'The institution, which is responsible for medical research, was founded in 1970.'

INSTRUCT
(verb) Command, order. For example: 'The company has instructed workers not to talk to the media about the problem'

INSTRUCTIONS

(noun) What you have to do. For example: His instructions were to deliver the package to Mr Jones.

INSURMOUNTABLE

(adjective) Cannot be solved or overcome. 'An insurmountable problem'

INTEGRAL

(adjective) Essential, central. For example: 'Useful learning outcomes are integral to a good education system'

INTEGRATE

(verb) Mix in, become part of, join together. For example: 'It is useful for immigrants to speak the language of the country they live if
they wish to integrate properly into the community.'

INTEGRITY

(noun) Having honesty, honour and reliability. For example: 'He is well respected and known for his integrity.'

INTELLIGENCE

(noun) Having intellect, cleverness. For example: 'A sound education will allow anyone to develop their intelligence'

INTERACT

(verb) The way people or things act and react to each other. Example: 'When children go to nursery school or kindergarten, they can
interact with others their own age'.

INTERCHANGE

(verb) Subsitute, use two things for the same purpose. Example: 'Native speakers of English interchange going to and the present
continuous to talk about future plans and arrangements'.

INTERFERE

(verb) Become too involved in something that does not concern you (often your help is not wanted). Example: 'Some teenagers
believe that their parents interfere too much in their decisions.'

(adjective) Interfering

Keyword(s):

INTERFERE WITH

(verb) To have an impact on, to disturb, to interrupt. Example: 'It is important your native language does not interfere with people's
ability to understand you when speaking English.'

INTERMEDIATE

(adjective) Mid-level. For example: 'Students with an intermediate level of English have problems getting a high IELTS result.'

INTERNAL

(adjective) Inside, within. 'Companies often conduct internal audits to be sure operations are running correctly'.

INTERPRET
(verb) Translate into another language. For example: 'The President's speech was interpreted into a number of languages.'

INTERPRETATION

(noun) Understanding, explanation. For example: 'The newspaper's interpretation of events was very different to the information I
saw on the news.'

INTERVAL

(noun) Gap, break. For example: 'The weather forecast says it will rain most of tomorrow but that there will be brief sunny intervals.'

INTERVENE

(verb) Get involved, interfere. For example:'The State should not intervene in the domestic affairs of its citizens'

INTRANSITIVE VERB

(noun) A verb that does not require an object. Example: live, die.

Unlike a transitive verb, it will not have a direct object receiving the action.

This type of verb is not commonly used in the passive. For example, it would be uncommon to say 'is died'

See also TRANSITIVE VERB

INTRINSIC

(adjective) essential, vital, fundamental. For example: 'Fair discipline procedures are intrinsic to the successful running of a school'

INVERSE

(adjective) Opposite; converse; opposing. Example: 'There is an inverse relationship when something increases as the other
decreases'.

INVERT

(verb) To switch around, to reverse, to change order. Example: 'It is possible to invert your sentence structure to show a wider range
of structures in your writing. There was an increase in sales last month could become Last month, there was an increase in sales.'

Keyword(s):

INVEST

(verb) put in, devote (time, effort, money). For example: 'Parents invest a great deal of time, energy and money into the raising of
their children.'

INVESTIGATE

(verb) Look into, probe. For example: 'The police are currently investigating the crime and hope to find the culprit soon.'

INVOLVE

(verb) include, comprise. For example: 'Setting up a new business involves a great deal of planning, risk and hard work.'

Keyword(s):

IRRELEVANT
(adjective) Not useful or connected to the subject. Example: 'You need to make sure that the points you include in your IELTS essay
are related to the question. Do not include any irrelevant points.'

IRRESPONSIBLE

(adjective) Not showing responsibility or maturity. Example: 'It is irresponsible to drive while under the influence of alcohol'.

See also RESPONSIBLE

ISOLATED

(adjective) Cut off, lonely, seperate. For example: 'University students can often feel isolated at first when they move to a new town
away from their friends and family.'

Keyword(s):

ISSUE

(noun) Subject, topic, matter. For example: 'The internet is a useful tool for keeping people informed of global issues.'

ITALICS

(noun) A style of writing in which the letters of the words lean to the right. This sentence is written in italics.

ITEM

(noun) Thing, article. For example: 'The packaging of a huge number of items on our weekly shopping list is unneccessary and
damaging to the environment.'

JOB

(noun) work, role. For example: 'Getting an interesting and well-paid job is the goal for most university graduates.'

Keyword(s):

JOURNAL

(noun) academic publication, academic paper, periodical. For example: 'Journals can sometimes be difficult to read as the language
used is very academic.'

Keyword(s):

JUSTIFY

(verb) Give good reason for, rationalise, excuse. For example: 'Governments should be made to justify the high salaries of politicians.'

Keyword(s):

KEEP IN TOUCH

To stay in communication with someone.

KEYWORDS

(noun) The main words in a sentence that express the main ideas. Example: 'In the reading test, you can find answers quickly and
efficiently by looking for keywords.'

L
LABEL

(verb) Mark, identify. For example: 'Unhealthy foods containing additives or with high fat or sugar content should be clearly labelled.'

(noun) A tag showing title or information. Example: 'In the IELTS test you should read any labels that are given on diagrams'.

Keyword(s):

LABOUR

(noun) work. For example: 'It is more beneficial to society to set up Labour Schemes for non-violent criminals rather than imprison
them.'

LACK

(verb) Not have something that is considered desirable or needed. Example: 'Many elderly people lack the ability to surf the internet.'

Keyword(s):

LAW

(noun) Decision made by a government; rule of a country. Example: 'The government has just passed a law making it illegal to use a
mobile phone while driving'.

Keyword(s):

LAYER

(noun) level, tier. For example: 'There are many layers to this problem.'

Keyword(s):

LECTURE

(noun) university lesson, class. For example: 'I often take a dictophone to my lectures as it can be difficult to understand all of the
information.'

Keyword(s):

LECTURER

(noun) Similar to a teacher but presenting more academic subjects, often to a large group of people

LEGAL

(adjective) Lawful, authorised by law. For example: 'The death penalty is still legal in a number of countries.'

LEGALISE

(verb) Make legal. Example: Some people believe that drugs such as cannabis should be legalised'.

Keyword(s):

LEGISLATE

(verb) Pass laws. For example: 'Many people believe that the Government legislates in private matters which do not concern it.'

Keyword(s):

LEGISLATION

(noun) Legal matters; law. Example: 'The government has introduced new legislation relating to schools.'
LESS ADVANTAGED

(comparative adjective) Referring to people who have less than average (commonly referring to money or opportunities). Example: 'It
is difficult for less advantaged families to be able to buy their own home'.

LEVY

(noun) tax. For example: 'Levies in the country are so high that for finacial reasons people are choosing to live abroad.'

Keyword(s):

LEXICAL

(adjective) Talking about vocabulary (words). For example: 'He has a good lexical ability - he knows a lot of words'

LIBERAL

(adjective) broad-minded, tolerant. For example: 'Some people believe society is too liberal and that we should return to more
traditional values.'

LICENCE

(noun) Having the necessary qualifications. Example: A driver's licence, a doctor's license

LIFE EXPECTANCY

(noun phrase) A prediction of the average time a person will live. Example: 'Life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the
world.'

LIKEWISE

(adverb) Similarly, in the same way. For example: 'Some people see no benefit in the arts and likewise have no interest in learning
more about them.'

LIMIT

(noun) A top or bottom point. For example: If you drink three bottles of beer, you are over the limit to be able to drive.

LIMITATIONS

(noun) Drawbacks, weak points, short comings. Example: 'Although the argument has some good points, there are also some
limitations.'

Keyword(s):

LIMITED

(adjective) Restricted, kept within a certain amount. Example: 'You have to answer some IELTS questions in a limited number of
words.'

LINK

(noun) Relationship, connection. For example: 'Experts now believe there is a link between diet and bad behaviour in children.'

(verb) To make a connection, to join.

Keyword(s):

LINKING WORD
(noun phrase) A word used to connect ideas. For example: and, yet, however.

LOCATE

(verb) Find. track down. For example: 'I could not locate the street on the map and had to ask for directions.'

LOGIC

(noun) Reason, sense, common sense. For example: 'The majority of people cannot see the logic behind the recent decision.'

LOGICAL

(adjective) Makes sense, is reasonable. Example: 'It is important to take a logical approach to the IELTS exam'.

(adverb: logically)

Keyword(s):

LOYAL

To be faithful to someone or something. Example: 'Dogs are very loyal pets'.

MAIN MESSAGE

(noun phrase). Central focus. Example: 'Paragraphs generally focus on a main message but also include supporting information'

MAINTAIN

(verb) Keep, sustain. For example: 'The company has maintained its position as market leader by selling high quality products at low
prices.'

MAJOR

(adjective) Huge, large. For example: 'Alcohol and drug abuse is a major problem in some parts of society.'

MANIPULATE

(adjective) Change, alter (for own benefit) . For example: 'Facts are often manipulated by the media to give news stories additional
interest.'

MANUAL

(adjective) Physical, labour-intensive, blue-collar. For example: 'Manual workers generally earn lower wages than skilled workers or
professionals.'

MARGIN

(Noun) Level. For example: 'It is important for companies to have a healthy profit margin.'

Marsh

An area of low land that is always soft and wet because there is nowhere for the water to flow away to.

MATCH

(verb) To fit together, to be equal. 'Some IELTS questions require you to match information with a speaker'.
Keyword(s):

MATERIALISTIC

(adjective) Motivated and finding pleasure in physical possessions and objects displaying wealth. Example: 'Many religions discourage
their followers from being overly materialistic'.

MATURE

(adjective) Responsible, stable through age and experience. For example: 'Younger staff benefit from interaction with older workers
as they learn from their mature outlook.'

MAXIMISE

(verb) expand, grow to full potential. For example: 'Most companies wish to maximise their profits.'

MECHANISM

(Noun) Physical or mental process. For example: 'Behaviour and thought mechanisms vary from people to people.'

Keyword(s):

MEDIA

(Noun) newspapers, TV, magazines etc. For example: 'It is important for the media to have freedom of speech.'

MEDIATE

(verb) Act as a go between, encourage discussion between two parties. For example: 'An independent advisor will mediate the talks
between the company and its workers.'

MEDICAL

(adjective) Related to medicine or health. For example: 'There are proven medical benefits to taking regular exercise and eating a
healthy diet.'

MEDIUM

(noun) Method, vehicle, channel, mode. For example: 'Email is nowadays the most popular medium for communication.'

MEMORISE

(verb) To remember something completely; to learn by rote (with the suggestion that it is not learned, just remembered). Example: 'It
is not a good idea to memorise essays for the IELTS test as the examiner will recognise that the work is not your own'.

Keyword(s):

MENTAL

(adjective) Related to the mind or psychological state. For example: 'Mental illness is often more difficult for others to understand
than physical sickness.'

MENTION

(verb) To talk about, to refer to. Example: 'The subject was first mentioned at last week's meeting.'

Keyword(s):

METHOD

(Noun) way of doing something, system. For example: 'Modern methods of teaching have replaced traditional methods in some
schools.'

MIGRATE

(verb) To move from one place to another or one country to another. See also EMIGRATION and IMMIGRATION
Keyword(s):

MILITARY

(Noun) Armed forces, army. For example: 'Food and medical supplies will be delivered to the area as part of the Military's rescus
operation.'

MINIMAL

(adjective) Smallest amount, minium amount. For example: 'The recent Government campaign has had minimal effect and can be
considerd a failure.'

MINIMISE

(Verb) Make as small as possible. For example: 'Parents should try to minimise the effect that divorce has on the their children.'

Keyword(s):

MINIMUM

(Noun) Smallest amount, least amount. For example: 'I can study the course in my own time, but it should take a minimum of 2
months to complete.'

MINISTRY

(Noun) Bureau, Department, Authority. For example: 'The Ministry of Health will release new healthy eating guidelines soon.'

MINOR

(Adjective) Small, not of great significance. For example: 'The minor issues on the agenda were not covered at the meeting as we ran
out of time.'

MODAL VERB

(noun phrase) An additional verb used with a main verb. Example: should, can, might, would, will.

Keyword(s):

MODE

(Noun) Type, method, style. For example: 'Bicycles are an environmentally-friendly mode of transport.'

MODIFY

(Verb) Adapt, adjust, change. For example: 'We often modify our behaviour and speech depending on who we are talking to.'

Keyword(s):

MONITOR

(Verb) Observe, check, supervise. For example: 'A baby's deveopment is carefully monitored particularly in the early stages of
growth.'

MORTGAGE

(noun) Bank loan for buying a house. Example: 'Mortgage interest rates have increased significantly over the years in many countries'.

MOTIVATED

(adjective) Full of energy and purpose; aiming for a goal. Example: 'It is important to keep motivated when studying, even when there
are difficulties.'

MOTIVE

(Noun) Reason, cause. For example: 'The main motive to work for most people is to earn money.'
MULTIPLE

(adjective) Many. Example: 'He had multiple injuries from the car crash'

MUTUAL

(adjective) Joint, shared, common. For example: 'Employment contracts betwwen employers and employees can be altered subject to
mutual agreement.'

Keyword(s):

MUTUALLY DEPENDENT

(adjective) When two things or people need or rely on each other.

NECESSITY

(noun) Something needed or required. Example: 'Water is a necessity for life.'

NEGATE

(verb) Cancel out, counteract. For example: 'The recent decision will negate all progress made before.'

Keyword(s):

NETWORK

(noun) Connection, set of connections. For example: 'A close network of friends is important to most people.'

NEUTRAL

(Adjective) Unbiased, not taking sides. For example: 'During the war, the country remained neutral.'

NEVERTHELESS

(Adverb) Nontheless, yet. For example: 'The project would be relatively inexpensive to set up, nevertheless it would be of great
benefit.'

NORM

(noun) standard, average. For example: 'It is no longer the norm in many cultures for the wife to stay at home full-time and look after
the children.'

NORMAL

(adjective) Usual, standard, typical. For example: 'Aerobic exercise is good for the heart because it raises the heartbeat above the
normal level.'

NOT APPLICABLE

(phrase) Not relevant; does not apply. Example: 'If questions on an application form are not relevant, then you can write N/A meaning
that it is not applicable to you.'

NOTION

(noun) Idea, concept. For example: 'The notion that one day people may live on other planets is almost impossible for us to visualise.'

NOUN

(grammar term) A noun is the part of speech that is used to name a person, place, or thing. Nouns can be countable (chair, table, car)
or uncountable (water, rice, air).
Keyword(s):

NUCLEAR

(adjective) Relating to atomic source. For example: 'A nuclear war would be devastating for the world and its population.'

NUMEROUS

(adjective) Lots, many. Example: 'There are numerous charities that collect money from donations'.

OBJECTIVE

(Noun) Aim, purpose. For example: 'The aims and objectives of the research project are found at the beginning of the report.'

OBLIGATION

(noun) No choice; need to do something. Example: 'It is the parents' obligation to take good care of their child.'

OBTAIN

(verb) To get. Example: 'Application forms can be obtained from the Admissions office'.

Keyword(s):

OBVIOUS

(adjective) Clear, evident. For example: 'The obvious solution to the problem of passive smoking is to ban cigarette smoking in public
places as some countries have already done.'

OCCUPY

(verb) Take up, absorb. For example: 'Marking and administration tasks occupy a large proportion of a teacher's time.'

OCCUR

(verb) take place, happen. For example: 'Problems in families often occur when communication breaks down.'

OFFENCE

(noun) an insult. Example: 'He took offence at her comment about his country.'

OMIT

(verb) To leave out, not to include. 'His name was omitted from the list'

Keyword(s):

on BEHALF

(preposition) For. For example: 'He thanked the guests for coming on my behalf as I had to leave early and couldn’t talk to everyone.'

OPEN-MINDED

(adjective) To be open to new ideas; tolerant. Example: 'When travelling overseas, it is important to be open-minded about other
cultures.'

OPPOSING

(adjective) Opposite point of view, against. Example: 'There are many opposing views on the subject of capital punishment'.

OPT

(verb) To choose. 'He opted to take a few extra days holiday'.

Keyword(s):
OPTION

(noun) Choice, alternative, opportunity. For example: 'There are several options available to him and he must choose the best.'

OPTIONAL

You do not have to have this; you have a choice

ORIENT

(verb) Adjust to, get used to. For example: 'The training week is designed so that new employees can orient themselves in the
workplace.'

OUTCOME

(noun) result, ending, conclusion. For example: 'People around the world are hoping for a peaceful outcome to the situation.'

OUTPUT

(noun) Production, yield. For example: 'The factory is operational seven days a week and has continual output.'

OVERALL

(adverb) Largely, in the main, mainly. For example: 'Although there were a few minor problems, overall the conference was a
success.'

OVERLAP

(verb) Coincide, have similarities. For example: 'There are several areas where to two departments' responsibilities overlap.'

OVERSEAS

(noun) abroad, in another country. For example: 'In some countries people are resorting to having operations overseas as medical
care there is cheaper.'

OVERSEE

(verb) To manage, supervise or control. Example: 'My manager is overseeing the project'.

OVERVIEW

(noun) A general idea, an outline. Example: 'He gave an overview of the situation at the meeting, but did not go into all of the details.'

PARADIGM

(noun) Example, model. For example: 'A paradigm to illustrate the situation follows.'

Keyword(s):

PARAGRAPH

(noun) Section of a text. For example: 'It is important to use paragraphs in essay writing as it is easier for the reader to follow the key
ideas.'

Keyword(s):

PARALLEL

(adjective) Similar, matching, equivalent. For example: 'It is important for couples to have parallel goals and beliefs in life.'

PARAMETER

(noun) limit, boundary. For example: 'The parameters of our knowledge are expanding all the time.'
Keyword(s):

PARAPHRASE

(verb) To write about something again in another form or other words.

PARTICIPATE

(verb) Take part in, join, join in. For example: 'Over 200 companies will participate in next week's exhibition.'

Keyword(s):

PARTICULARLY

(adverb) To a great degree; especially. Example: 'It is important to write clearly, particularly in your IELTS exam'.

PARTNER

(verb) Unite, connect, link up. For example: 'The two companies intend to partner together for the purpose of the project.'

Keyword(s):

PASSAGE

(noun) A piece of reading with more than one paragraph. Example: 'In the IELTS reading test, you have to answer questions about the
passages given'.

PASSIVE

(adjective) Not active, learnt through exposure not action. For example: 'We are influenced in a passive way by many factors in our
lives.'

PASSIVE TENSE

A grammar term for a sentence that changes the subject and object. For example: 'Someone has stolen my car' (active) becomes 'My
car has been stolen' (passive).

PATIENCE

(noun) Quality of being tolerant, understanding or calm. Example: 'When working with teenagers, it is necessary to have patience'.

PATIENT

(noun) Someone who is receiving medical care

(adjective) Tolerant, understanding, calm. For example: 'When training a dog, you need to be patient. Shouting at the animal will not
help.'

PENALISE

(verb) To punish, to give a penalty. Example: 'Students who hand in their assignments late are penalised by losing a percentage of
their marks'.

Keyword(s):

PENALTY

(noun) Punishment; fine; consequence. Example: 'The penalty for driving over the speed limit is strict in many countries.'

Keyword(s):

PERCEIVE
(verb) Understand, comprehend. For example: 'The attitudes of our parents influence the way in which we perceive the world.'

PERCENT

(noun) proportion out of a hundred (%). For example: 'According to the chart less than 8 percent of people never watch television.'

PERIOD

(noun) Phase, time. For example: 'While summer was very busy the company is now experiencing a quiet period.'

PERSPECTIVE

(noun) Point of view, outlook, perception. For example: 'It is important to consider the situation from more than one perspective.'

PHASE

(noun) Period of time, temporary period. For example: 'Many of us go through phases in our life when we have negative experiences.'

PHENOMENON

(noun) Occurence, happening. For example: 'As our understanding increases many previously unexplained phenomena can now be
understood.'

Phenomenon - single

Phenomena - plural

PHILOSOPHY

(noun) Viewpoint, way of life. For example: 'Many traditional business philosophies are still taught and useful today.'

PHYSICAL

(adjective) Bodily. For example: 'Physical beauty is often wrongly valued over personality in our society.'

PLURAL

(grammar term) More than one. Example: 'The plural of shoe is shoes.'

PLUS

(conjunction) More, added to. Example: Everything is half price plus they are giving away free accessories.

POINT OF VIEW

(noun phrase) An opinion . Example: 'It can sometimes be difficult to understand other peoples' points of view.'

Keyword(s):

POLICY

(noun) Rule, strategy, plan. For example: 'The change in immigration policy has resulted in more people immigrating to the country.'

POPULATION

The total number of people living in a place. For example: 'The population of Japan is over 120 million.'

PORTION

(noun) part, piece. For example: 'The company invests a significant portion of its profits into research and development.'
POSITIVE

(adjective) In support, not negative. For example: 'Customers' reaction to the new product has been positive and sales are expected
to increase..'

POTENTIAL

(noun) The full possible extent of ability or excellence. Example: 'The course allows trainees to perform in their job to their full
potential'

(adjective) Possible, probable, likely. For example: 'The idea has a lot of potential benefits if put into place carefully.'

POVERTY

(noun) The state of being poor (opposite=wealth) Example: 'A large proportion of the developing world lives in poverty.'

PRACTITIONER

A person with a professional skill. For example: 'A general practitioner or G.P. refers patients to specialist doctors when necessary

PRECEDE

(verb) come before, preface. For example: 'He preceded his presentation with a welcome speech.'

PRECISE

(adjective) Accurate, exact. For example: 'The information given at the meeting was very precise.'

PREDICT

(verb) Foretell, estimate. For example: 'Experts predict that house prices will continue to rise.'

PREDICTION

(noun) A guess, an estimation about the future. Example: 'The prediction that the world's population will rise is probably correct.'

Keyword(s):

PREDOMINANT

(adjective) Main, most common. For example: 'The predominant reason people commit crime is lack of money.'

PREFERENCE

(noun) A preferred choice; something you would rather have/do. Example: 'They are both good universities, but my preference would
be to study at the university in my hometown'.

PRELIMINARY

(adjective) Initial, first. For example: 'A preliminary hearing is often held before a major court case goes to trial.'

PREPOSITION

(noun) A part of grammar that tells you about place or time. Examples:

on the table

between the chairs

at 12 p.m.

Keyword(s):

PRESSURE

A force or a feeling that something has to be done.

PRESUME

(noun) Assume, suppose. For example: 'In many legal systems someone accused of commiting a crime is presumed innocent until
proven guilty.'

PREVIOUS

(adjective) Earlier, prior, before. For example: 'The research results are similar to and support those in the previous study.'

PRIMARILY

(adverb) Most importantly, firstly

PRIMARY

(adjective) Main, most important. For example: 'The primary cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to the sun.'

PRIME

(adjective) Major, key. For example: 'His experience and qualifications make him a prime candidate for promotion.'

PRINCIPAL

(noun) Head or boss of an operation (often a school). Example: 'The school will have a new Principal from next semester'.

PRINCIPLE

(noun) Idea, standard, belief. For example: 'The principle behind offering free university education is to give equal opportunities to
all.'

PRIOR

(adjective) Previous, earlier. For example: 'In the years prior to cheaper air travel, few people had the opportunity to experience
different countries and their cultures.'

PRIORITY

(noun) Factor of number one importance. For example: 'The main priority when parents divorce should be the well-being of the
children.'

PROCEED

(verb) Go forward, begin, carry on. 'Please proceed without me as I will be unable to attend the meeting'.

Keyword(s):

PROCESS

(verb) Procedure, way of doing something. For example: 'IELTS task 1 writing may involve describing a process, such as, for example,
whiskey-making.'

Keyword(s):

PROFESSIONAL
(adjective) Specialised, qualified, skilled or trained in a given area For example: 'The country needs to attract more professional
people into its workforce.'

(noun) Relating to people working in an educated field such as lawyers and accountants.

Keyword(s):

PROHIBIT

(verb) ban, do not allow by law. For example: 'Laws exist which prohibit the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to children.'

PROJECT

(Noun) An undertaking involving effort. For example: 'Improving public healthcare is a significant project for the Government.'

Keyword(s):

PROMOTE

(verb) Advertise, publicise An undertaking involving effort. For example: 'The government is currently promoting a scheme to
encourage people to exercise more.'

PROMOTION

(noun) A raise in your job position. Example: 'He was given a promotion from sales assistant to sales manager'

PROMPT

(noun) Something used to help organise and structure ideas. Example: 'Good public speakers write notes in the form of prompts to
help them give a speech.'

PROPORTION

(Noun) Amount, quantity, part. For example: 'A number of companies donate a proportion of their profits to charity every year.'

Keyword(s):

PROPOSED

(adjective) suggested, planned. Example: 'The proposed building was rejected because of the cost'.

(verb) PROPOSE To suggest, to plan

(noun) PROPOSAL A suggestion, a suggested plan

Keyword(s):

PROSPECT

(Noun) Opportunity, option, chance. For example: 'The computer industry offers a range of job prospects to qualified people.'

Keyword(s):

PROTOCOL
(Noun) Code of conduct, set of rules. For example: 'Employees of the company are expected to follow a strict protocol.'

Keyword(s):

PROVIDE

(verb) To give or offer. Example: 'IELTS students need to provide evidence and examples to support their opinions.'

Keyword(s):

PSYCHOLOGY

(Noun) Mental processes and behaviour, thoughts and emotions. For example: 'Human psychology is extremely complex.'

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Buses and trains for example.

PUBLICATION

(Noun) Printed work i.e. book, magazine, newspaper, journal. For example: 'The author's new publication is said to be his best.'

Keyword(s):

PUBLISH

(Verb) Make public, make known. For example: 'Not all facts are published and the General Public may not be aware of the dangers.'

PUNCTUAL

Not late / on time.

PURCHASE

(Verb) Buy. For example: 'Identification is often required in order to purchase alcohol.'

PURSUE

(Verb) Go in for, take up, engage in. For example: 'A number of teachers are becoming disillusioned with teaching and are pursuing
different careers.'

QUALIFYING WORD

(grammar term) A word that gives more information to the main subject. Example: 'Tokyo is a lot more crowded than Auckland'.

QUOTE

(Verb) Cite, refer to the words of another. For example: 'No more than two or three sentences should be directly quoted from
another author in academic writing.'

RADICAL

(Adjective) Drastic, major. For example: 'The new CEO has already made radical changes to the running of the company.'

RAISE MONEY

(phrase) To build funds (usually through charity). Example: 'The school is currently raising money to build a new sports hall'.

RANDOM

(Adjective) By chance, unsystematic. For example: 'Members of the public will be chosen at random to take part in the survey.'

RANGE
(Noun) Variety, choice, selection. For example: 'The university offers a wide range of choice to students interested in different aspects
of business.'

RARE

(adjective) Not common, very unusual. Example: 'It is rare to see a kiwi bird as they only come out at night and are easily frightened.'

RATIO

(Noun) Relative amount, proportion, fraction. For example: 'The ratio of men and women is unbalanced in a number of countries.'

RATIONAL

(Adjective) Sensible, logical, with reason. For example: 'It can be difficult to remain rational about emotional issues.'

REACT

(Verb) Act in response, respond. For example: 'People do not react well to criticism or blame.'

RECIPIENT

(noun) The person who receives something. Example: 'The recipient must sign their name when receiving a delivery'.

RECIPROCATE

(verb) To do something in return; to give back. Example: 'I helped him with his assignment, so he reciprocated by buying me dinner.'

RECITE

(verb) To speak from memory or from something written. Not a naturally conversation. Example: 'He had to recite the whole poem in
front of the class'.

RECOGNISE

(verb) To notice; to identify. Example: 'When listening to the IELTS recording, you may need to recognise the voices of specific
speakers.'

Keyword(s):

RECOMMEND

(verb) To advise or suggest as the best course of action. 'He recommended I visit the doctor'

RECOMMENDATION: (noun)

Keyword(s):

RECOVER

(verb) Get back, regain. For example: 'The Goverment is unlikely to recover its support after the recent failure.'

RECTIFY

(verb) To fix a problem or situation that was not working. Example: 'In order to rectify the problem of poor diets, many schools now
have a healthy eating plan'.

REFER TO

(verb) Check, look at. Example: 'When sitting your IELTS test, it is important to refer to the plan you have made as you are writing'.

REFERENCE

(noun) A mention of. Example: 'In the reading test, look for references to the keywords in the question'.
Keyword(s):

REFERENCE WORD

(noun phrase) Use of a pronoun (he, she, it for example) to refer to a noun mentioned before. Example: 'Dr Barton was responsible
for the project, although he did not complete all of the research.'

REFINE

(verb) Improve, make better. For example: 'The company needs to refine its production process as a number of problems have been
identified.'

REGIME

(noun) System or routine. For example: 'When trying to lose weight it can be difficult to stick to a strict exercise regime.'

REGION

(noun) Area, district. For example: 'The entire region suffered damage in the recent earthquake.'

REGISTER

(noun) Language used in a specific situation. For example: 'Formal register is required for academic writing.'

REGULATE

(verb) Control, monitor. For example: 'Introduction of the new examination system will be regulated by the Ministry of Education.'

REGULATION

(noun) A rule or code that must be followed. Example: 'The council has recently changed the regulations about working dogs'.

REHABILITATION

(noun) Support and help to recover (physical, emotional or mental). Example: 'The rehabilitation centre helps many patients to get
better'.

REINFORCE

(verb) Strengthen, give more force to. For example: 'New information has reinforced our original ideas.'

REITERATE

(verb) To say again, to repeat (often using different vocabulary). Example: 'The President reiterated the importance of environmental
protection.'

Keyword(s):

REJECT

(verb) Refuse, discard, throw out, dismiss. For example: 'Visa applications can be rejected on the basis of a criminal record.'

RELATE TO

(verb) Have a connection with. Example: 'Supernova' and 'star' are words that relate to astronomy'.

RELATIONSHIP

(noun) A connection. Example: 'There is a relationship between good health and exercise'.

RELATIVE CLAUSE

(noun) A grammar term for a sentence that commonly uses that, who or which to add more information. For example: 'London,
which is the capital of England, is situated near a river' or 'The man who lives next door is a doctor'.
RELAX

(verb) Lighten up, loosen up, calm down. For example: 'Many people use alcohol as a way to relax in social situations.'

RELEASE

(verb) Set free. For example: 'Early release of prisoners into society could be dangerous.'

RELEVANT

(Adjective) Related to the point in question. For example: 'His input at the meeting was very relevant to the problem at hand.'

RELIANT

Being dependent or needing something.

RELOCATE

(verb) Move to a different place. Example: 'The promotion involves having to relocate to another city'.

RELY ON

(verb) Depend on, count on. For example: 'Many people rely on television as their main form of entertainment.'

REMOVE

(verb) Eliminate, do away with, get rid of. For example: 'Since barriers to trade have been removed the country's export industry has
grown dramatically.'

RENT

(noun) Money spent on accommodation which is paid to the landlord of the property. Example: 'Rents are often very high in capital
cities'.

REPAYMENT

(noun) Money returned to the lender (often in installments). Example: 'Many people make repayments to the bank on a monthly
basis for private loans'.

Keyword(s):

REPERCUSSION

(noun) Consequence, effect, impact. Example: 'Many families are feeling the repercussion of higher taxes'.

REPETITION

(noun) duplication; something repeated. Example: 'It is important to avoid repetition in IELTS writing by using a range of vocabulary'.

REPETITIVE

(adjective) Describing something that repeats. Example: 'Some jobs are boring because they are repetitive - the same thing happens
every day'.

REPHRASE

(verb) To give the same information in a different way. Example: 'In IELTS writing, try not to copy words from the title. Try to rephrase
as much as possible.'

REPLY

(verb) To answer, to respond. Example: 'It is polite to reply if someone asks you a question'.

(noun) An answer or response.

REQUEST

(verb) To ask, to enquire. Example: 'My boss has requested that I work late all next week.'

(noun) An enquiry, something that has been asked for.

REQUIRE

(verb) Need, need to have. For example: 'Visitors to the country are required to hold a valid visa.'

REQUIRED

Something you have to have; something that is needed.

RESEARCH

(noun) Investigation or study into a given area or topic. For example: 'Most post-graduate programmes are research-based.'

RESENTMENT

(noun) A feeling of anger or bitterness. For example: 'Unfair treatment can cause resentment'.

RESERVATIONS

(noun) Doubts, concerns. Example: 'Many parents have reservations about allowing young children to have mobile phones because of
the potential risks'.

Keyword(s):

RESIDE

(verb) Live. For example: 'It is necessary to reside in the country for two years before applying for citizenship.'

RESOLVE

(verb) Solve, put an end to, settle. For example: 'Schools and parents should work together to resolve the problem.'

Keyword(s):

RESOURCE

(noun) Something useful or helpful. For example: 'The university library has a number of useful resources for academic writing.'

Keyword(s):

RESPECTED

(adjective) highly thought of, considered important and influential. Example: "The owner of the company is highly respected by his
employees.'

RESPOND

(verb) Reply, answer. For example: 'It is important that companies respond to customer complaints quickly and efficiently.'

RESPONSE

(noun) An answer, a reply. Example: 'You should always try to use a range of vocabulary and structures in your responses in the IELTS
speaking and writing tests.'

RESPONSIBLE
(adjective) Reliable; dependable. Example: 'He is very responsible, despite being very young'.

See also IRRESPONSIBLE

RESTORE

(verb) Bring back. For example: 'The good results from my last test have restored my confidence after a series of failures.'

RESTRICT

(verb) Control, limit. For example: 'The internet makes it difficult for parents to restrict the type of information their children are
exposed to.'

RETAIN

(verb) Maintain, keep. For example: 'It is difficult to retain a foreign language without regular practice.'

RETIRE

(verb) To stop work permanently (often at the age of around 60). Example: 'More and more people are choosing to retire overseas.'

Keyword(s):

REVEAL

(verb) Make something known. For example: 'The Government will reveal its new Budget in April.'

REVENUE

(noun) Financial income or return. For example: 'Many people rely on revenue from investments as their retirement fund.'

REVERSE

(verb) Turn backward. For example: 'The Government has reversed its decision due to enormous public protest.'

REVISE

(verb) Study information for an exam, go back over information already learned. For example: 'Classes finish two weeks before
examinations start so there will be plenty of time to revise .'

REVOLUTION

(noun) Sudden and enormous change or development. For example: 'The IT revolution has improved the efficiency of businesses.'

REWARD

(noun) Prize or payment for something done. Example: 'There was a reward offered for any information about the crime'.

RHETORICAL

(adjective) A writing style where the writer asks a question which either does not need an answer or the writer answers himself or
herself. For example: "Who can make a difference? You can!". Rhetorical questions are not considered good academic style.

RIGID

(adjective) Not flexible, strictly maintained. For example: 'Soldiers in the army are required to follow rigid rules and regulations.'

ROLE

Job or position. For example: 'He is taking the role of the Managing Director'

ROLE MODEL
(noun) A perfect example of behaviour to someone. Example: 'Parents should act as role models for their children'.

ROUTE

(noun) Way, direction of reaching something. For example: 'A sound education offers a solid route to success.'

SCENARIO

(noun) Situation, circumstance. For example: 'Several scenarios could occur as a result if this change.'

SCHEDULE

(noun) Plan, timetable, programme. For example: 'He will be on a very busy schedule during his business trip and will have very little
free time.'

SCHEME

(noun) Plan, idea, project. For example: 'Many schools offer work experience schemes to give students the opportunity to experience
the workplace.'

SCOPE

(noun) Range, capacity, extent. For example: 'The full scope of the damage caused by the earthquake is still unknown.'

SECTION

(noun) part, division. For example: 'Business reports are broken down into sections to allow readers to find information more quickly.'

SECTOR

(noun) Segment, subdivision. For example: 'There is generally a shortage of workers in the healthcare sector.'

Occupational sector relates to different categories of job. Example: 'Salaries are often high for people working in the professional
sector'.

Keyword(s):

SECURE

(adjective) Safe, protected. For example: 'Since the company is experiencing financial problems a large number of jobs may no longer
be secure.'

SEEK

(verb) Look for, search for, try to find. For example: 'Most people seek happiness in their lives.'

SELECT

(verb) Choose, pick. For example: 'The new team for the next Olympic Games will be selected soon.'

SEMI-FORMAL

(adjective) Between casual and formal. Example: 'The dress code for the party is semi-formal. Suits and ties are not necessary, but
jeans are not permitted.'
Compare to:

INFORMAL (casual). Example: 'Jeans are informal clothes'.

FORMAL (not casual). Example: 'A suit and tie are formal clothes'.

Keyword(s):

SENIOR

(adjective). Older, more respected, higher ranked. Example: 'New employees can get useful guidance from senior staff'.

SENSITIVE

(adjective) Delicate. Example: 'Topics that may cause offence to some people are sensitive issues.'

SENTENCE

(noun) The penalty given for a crime. The judge gave him a long prison sentence for the crime.

(verb) To punish someone for a crime. For example: 'He was sentenced to 2 years in prison for the robbery'.

Keyword(s):

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

(noun phrase) Something important but not because of money but because of emotional importance or attachment. Example: 'The
necklace I had from my grandmother is not worth much money but it has great sentimental value to me'.

SEQUENCE

(noun) Order, series, progression. For example: 'An unfortunate sequence of events led to the closure of the factory.'

SEQUENCING WORD

(noun phrase) Words showing order of how something happens/happened. E.g. then, after that, following

SERIES

(noun) String, chain, run. For example: 'The company has received a series of complaints about its customer service.'

SHIFT

(noun) Move, swing, change (towards or away from a pattern of behaviour). For example: 'Increased health awareness has resulted in
a shift away from fatty foods.'

SHORT-SIGHTED

(adjective) Unable to see future consequences; unable to think over the long term. Example: 'Many people think it is short-sighted
not to take care of the environment'.

SIGNIFICANT

(adjective) Major, large, big. For example: 'The graph shows a significant decrease in numbers of smokers.'

(adverb = significantly)
Keyword(s):

SIMILAR

(adjective) Alike, almost the same, related, comparable. For example: 'We often have similar opinions and perceptions as our
parents.'

SIMILARITY

(noun) Being the same or similar to something/someone else. Example: 'I think there are many similarities between here and my
hometown. For example, the weather is about the same'.

SIMULATE

(verb) Copy, replicate, imitate. For example: 'Car manufacturers often simulate accidents in quality checks to assess the safety of their
vehicles.'

SITE

(noun) Location. For example: 'The site for the new school has now been decided and building will commence soon.'

SLIGHTLY

(adverb) A little, not much. Example: 'The lecturer said my coursework was slightly improved but I still needed to work harder.'

SOLE

(adjective) Only, one and only, singular. For example: 'Many people believe that human impact is the sole cause of global warming.'

SOMEWHAT

(adjective) rather, fairly, to some extent. For example: 'The topic is somewhat controversial.'

SOURCE

(noun) Resource, supply. For example: 'The internet is a useful source of information.'

SPECIFIC

(adjective) Particular or exact. Example: 'It is important to give some specific examples in your writing test.'

SPECIFY

(verb) Detail, identify, give clear information. For example: 'The instructions specified clearly what we had to do.'

SPECULATE

(verb) To make a guess, prediction, estimation. 'He speculated that Italy would win the competition'.

SPECULATION: (noun)

Keyword(s):

SPHERE

(noun) Area, field. For example: 'There are many opportunities in the sphere of business at the moment.'

SPLIT

(adjective) Separated, divided, not united. Example: 'Opinion on this controversial issue is split'.

SPONSORSHIP
(noun) Financial supporting; funding. Example: 'Some forms of the arts, such as ballet, require government sponsorship in order to
continue.'

STABLE

(adjective) Steady, secure. For example: 'The economy is currently very stable and consumer expenditure is high .'

STARVATION

(noun) Hunger which could lead to death. Example: 'Starvation is still common in some regions of the world.'

STATE

(verb) To make clear, to say something firmly. Example: 'The terms of the refund policy were stated on the ticket'.

Keyword(s):

STATEMENT

(noun). A sentence showing opinion or fact. Example: 'Some IELTS writing tasks give you a statement and then ask your opinion
about it.'

STATISTIC

(noun) Numerical data. For example: 'Statistics show that more men than women smoke.'

Keyword(s):

STATIVE VERB

(noun phrase) A verb which describes a feeling, emotion, or state. Example: love, hate, believe, think, own.

See also ACTIVE VERB

STATUS

(noun) Position, recognition, importance. For example: 'Many people seek promotion not just for financial gain but also for status.'

STRAIGHTFORWARD

(adjective) Direct, simple, clear. Example: 'Some answers in the IELTS test are straightforward. Others are more difficult.'

STRATEGY

(noun) Plan, tactic. For example: 'Different people find that different study strategies work best for them.'

STRESS

(noun) Pressure, anxiety, nervous tension. For example: 'A large number of school teachers suffer from stress due to their job.'

STRESSFUL

(adjective) Causing worry and concern. Example: 'Buying a new house can be very stressful'.

STRIKE

(noun) An industrial protest where people stop working. Example: 'The Teacher's Union is organising a strike to protest about low
pay.'

Keyword(s):

STRIKING
(adjective) Clear, obvious, notable. Example: 'Tigers have very striking orange and black markings on their coats'.

STRUCTURE

(noun) The way in which parts are arranged or put together. Example: 'A good essay should have a clear structure'.

(verb) To arrange something into clear parts or order. Example: 'It is important to structure your answer clearly in the IELTS test'.

Keyword(s):

STYLE

(noun) Method, approach, way, manner. For example: 'The majority of workers are unhappy with the new boss and his management
style.'

SUBHEADING

(noun) A heading under the main heading showing a sub section. Example:

SUBMIT

(verb) Present, give in, put forward. For example: 'University assignments need to be submitted by due date or a penalty will apply.'

SUBORDINATE

(noun) Someone subject to authority and control of another. For example: 'A good manager should support and motivate his
subordinates.'

SUBSEQUENT

(adverb) Following, consequent. For example: 'The problem was already out of hand and subsequent events have made it even
worse.'

SUBSIDY

(noun) Financial assistance, grant, funding. For example: 'Subsidies are available to businesses who meet the application criteria.'

SUBSTITUTE

(noun) Something which replaces or takes the place of something else. For example: 'Substitute teachers take over classes
temporarily when permanent staff are away from work.'

SUCCESSOR

(noun) A person who replaces another in a specific role. For example: 'The president's successor is yet to be decided.'

SUFFER

(verb) Endure, bear (negative experience or situation). Example: 'Students suffer because of poor funding in education.'

Keyword(s):

SUFFICIENT

(adjective) Enough, adequate. For example: 'It is a basic human right to have sufficient food to eat, warm housing and clothing.'

SUITABLE

(adjective) well matched, appropriate. Example: 'He is very suitable for the position as he has all the skills required'.
Antonym: unsuitable (not well matched, inappropriate)

Keyword(s):

SUM

(noun) Figure, amount. For example: 'A huge sum of money will be required from the Government to fund improvements in the area.'

SUMMARY

(noun) Outline, review of main facts. For example: 'In summary, it can be seen that the following advantages and disadvantages exist.'

SUPERIOR

(adjective) Better than, above. Example: 'Some people believe that BMWs are superior cars'.

ALSO MEANS:

(adjective) More senior, important. Example: 'Mr Jones is my immediate superior at work - he's quite a good boss'.

SUPERLATIVE

(grammar term) The form of an adjective used for comparing something against two or more things. Example: Tall > the tallest

SUPPLEMENT

(verb) Add to, enhance, extend. For example: 'The Government often supplements the income of mothers returning to work in part-
time jobs.'

SUPPORT

(verb) To back up, to make an argument stronger / believable. Example: 'It is important to support your arguments with examples in
the IELTS writing test'.

Keyword(s):

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

(noun phrase). Additional details. Example: 'Paragraphs generally focus on a main message but also include supporting information'

SURNAME

(noun) A person's family name.

SURVEY

(noun) Study, investigation, analysis. For example: 'The results of the survey will be published ina report.'

SURVIVE

(verb) Continue to exist, stay alive, live on. For example: 'Cheaper imports from abroad make it difficult for many companies to
survive.'

SUSPEND
(verb) bar from a privilege, exclude for a period of time. For example: 'Children who misbehave at school are often suspended from
class as punishment.'

SUSTAIN

(verb) Maintain, keep up. For example: 'Advertising is an important tool for sustaining sales of an older product.'

SYMBOL

(noun) Sign, representation, icon. For example: 'Expensive cars are a symbol of wealth.'

SYNONYM

(noun) A word that has the same meaning as another. Example happy/joyful, sad/depressed.

TARGET

(noun) Object for attack or criticism. For example: 'Motorists who speed near schools are the target of the Police's latest saftey
campaign.'

TASK

(noun) Job, chore, duty. For example: 'Passing of the course involves successful completion of a number of tasks.'

TEAM

(noun) Group of people working together for the same aim. For example: 'The department is made up of a team of twenty workers.'

TECHNICAL

(adjective) Specialised, technological. For example: 'The process is really very straight-forward and not at all technical.'

TECHNIQUE

(noun) Method, skill, system. For example: 'It is a matter of practising and learning the correct technique.'

TECHNOLOGY

(noun) Electronic/digital know-how. For example: 'We know have the technology to do many things we once thought impossible.'

TEMPORARY

(adjective) Short-term, not permanent. For example: 'Temporary shelters were set up until people were able to return to their own
homes.'

TEMPTATION

(noun) Something that seems attractive; motivates someone to act in a certain way. Example: 'The temptation to socialise can cause
students to neglect their studies.'

TENSE

(adjective) Anxious, worried, stressed. For example: ' It is quite common to feel tense before an important exam.'

TERMINATE

(verb) End, finish, cease. For example: 'The contract may be terminated with one month's notice period.'

TEXT

(noun) Book or part of a book, passage. For example: 'In the IELTS reading exam it is useful to underline key words in the text.'

THEME

(noun) Subject, topic. For example: 'Common themes for the IELTS test are society, health, education and technology.'
THEORY

(noun) Idea, concept. For example: 'The theories learned at university provide background knowledge for use in the business world.'

THEREBY

(adverb) In that way, By this means, In doing so. For example: 'More investment should be put into rural areas thereby increasing
employment opportunities there.'

THESIS

(noun) Academic research project. For example: 'A university professor will be appointed to each student to supervise the writing of
their thesis.'

TITLE

(noun) Showing a person's status (e.g. Mr, Mrs, Dr, Sir, Professor, etc)

(noun) A heading or name given to something (e.g. the title of a book, the title of a movie)

TO BE INCLINED

(verb) To prefer to do something; to lean towards and action or idea. 'More pople will be inclined to protect the environment, if it is
made easier for them to do so.'

Keyword(s):

TOLERATE

(verb) To accept, to allow to happen. Example: 'Too many parents tolerate bad behaviour from their children'.

Keyword(s):

TOPIC

(noun) Subject, focus. For example: 'Topics for IELTS writing exams are often related to social issues.'

TRACE

(verb) Track, locate, discover. For example: 'It is difficult to trace calls made from mobile phones.'

TRADESPEOPLE

(noun) People that are employed in a skilled trade such as carpenters, plumbers or electricians.

TRADITION

(noun) Custom, practice followed for some time. For example: 'Many important traditions are rejected or forgotton by modern
society.'

TRANSFER

(verb) To move from one place to another or from one type to another. Example: 'In the IELTS reading test, candidates have to
complete the test and transfer their answer to the answer paper in 60 minutes'.

Keyword(s):

TRANSFORM

(verb) Dramatically change appearance of. For example: 'Landfill areas can be transformed into beautiful park areas which can be
enjoyed by the public.'
TRANSITION

(noun) Conversion, changeover. For example: 'It can be difficult for people to make the transition from working all day to a quieter
life when they retire.'

TRANSITIVE VERB

(noun) A verb that requires an object. Example: write, eat

For example:

INCOMPLETE: The committee named.

COMPLETE:The committee named a new chairperson.

See also INTRANSITIVE VERB

TRANSMIT

(verb) Spread, pass on. For example: 'On rare occasions infections have been transmitted through blood transfusions.'

TRANSPORT

(noun) Form of vehicle used to get from one place to another. For example: 'Free public transport should be available to retired
people.'

TREND

(noun) General direction or pattern of behaviour. Example: 'There has been an increasing trend towards having smaller families'.

Keyword(s):

TRIGGER

(verb) Set off, cause to start. For example: 'The recent policy change has triggered a great deal of protest.'

TURN DOWN

(phrasal verb) To reject or refuse. Example: 'I turned down the job offer because the salary was too low'.

ULTIMATE

(adjective) Of the greatest size or significance. For example: 'Finding a solution to this problem is of ultimate importance.'

UNDERLIE

(verb) Be the basis of. For example: 'There are several reasons which underlie the changes.'

UNDERMINE

(verb) To weaken, to cause to collapse. Example: 'You can undermine an opposing point of view by identifying its weaknesses'.

UNDERPRIVILEGED

(adjective) Not having an acceptable standard of living. Example: 'Many charities provide toys for underprivileged children'.
UNDERTAKE

(verb) Commit to, take on. For example: 'At a wedding ceremony the bride and groom undertake to support each other for the rest of
their lives.'

UNIFORM

(adjective) The same, equal, very similar. Example: 'Fast food chains attempt to offer a uniform standard of service across all their
sites.'

(noun) A specific set of clothes for a job. For example: a nurse's uniform, a soldier's uniform

UNIQUE

(adjective) Only one of its kind, special. For example: 'The company says that it offers unique work opportunities to its employees.'

UNITY

(noun) Agreement, harmony. For example: 'It is important there is unity of purpose in order to solve this problem.'

UNSCRUPULOUS

(adjective) Without principles, morals or ethics. Example: 'It is unscrupulous for companies to exploit child labour.' See ETHICS.

UTILISE

(verb) Use, use up. For example: 'Energy-saving light bulbs utilise less electricity than regular ones.'

VALID

(adjective) Legitimate, justifiable. For example: 'Being late is not a valid excuse for speeding.'

VARIATION

(noun) Alternative, different version of something. Example: 'There are many variations of multiple choice questions in the IELTS test -
short answer, long answer etc...'

Keyword(s):

VARY

(verb) differ, show differences. For example: 'Opinions vary on this subject.'

VEHICLE

(noun) motorised form of transport. For example: 'It is irresponsible and dangerous to be in charge of a vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol.'

VERB

A verb is an action word. Example: run, expect, hope, demand

Keyword(s):

VERSION

(noun) Form, type, style, variety. For example: 'The new version of the computer software has many more functions than the old
one.'

VERTICAL
(adjective) At 90 degrees, straight up. Example: Unlike aeroplanes, helicopters can do a vertical take off.

VIA

(preposition) Through, by means of. For example: 'We can now access all kinds of information quickly and easily via the internet.'

VIOLATE

(verb) Disturb, intrude on. For example: 'It is unacceptable where a situation violates our human rights.'

VIOLENCE

(noun) Physical harm to another person. Example: 'Violence at football matches is, unfortunately, a common sight.'

VISIBLE

(adjective) Apparent, obvious, able to be seen. For example: 'There have been no visible benefits to the change in policy.'

VISUAL

(adjective) Able to be seen by the eye. For example: 'Visual aids help to make a presentation more interesting to the audience.'

VOLUME

(noun) Quantity, amount. For example: 'The volume of water that we waste every day is enormous.'

VOLUNTARY

(adjective) Unpaid, charitable. For example: 'A significant amount of assistance given in third world countries is given by voluntary
workers.'

VOLUNTEER

(noun) a person works for free out of choice. Example: 'Many volunteers help at the homeless shelter.'

Keyword(s):

VOWEL

(noun) The letters a,e,i,o and u.

Some words can begin with a vowel sound even though the first letter is a consonant. Example: hour, honour.

See also CONSONANT

VULNERABLE

(adjective) Defenceless, helpless, at risk. Example: 'Older people are more vulnerable to ill health caused by cold weather'.

WEALTHY

(adjective) Having a lot of something (commonly money) Example: 'Bill Gates is a very wealthy man'.

WELFARE

(noun) Well-being. For example: 'As a society we should be responsible for the welfare of the elderly.'

WHEREAS
(conjunction) While, but. For example: 'Promotion for women at work is even now sometimes difficult, whereas men often have
more opportunities and earn higher wages .'

WIDESPREAD

(adjective) Very common, all around. For example: 'Death from treatable diseases is widespread in the developing world.'

WORTHWHILE

(adjective) Has value and purpose. Example: 'I thought that studying the course was worthwhile as I learned a lot.'