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Vocabulary Development

Vocabulary is not just the vocabulary you know, but also how you are able to use it.

I’ve carefully examined the marking descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 and IELTS Speaking and LEXICAL RESOURCE is a feature of both parts.

Good Vocabulary

One criteria for a higher band is ‘skillfully uses uncommon lexical items‘ and another is ‘sufficient range of vocabulary to allow flexibility and precision‘.

You could easily impress the examiner and increase your IELTS Band in IELTS Writing by paraphrasing ideas and replacing some vocabulary with examples of synonyms.

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In IELTS Speaking you can do something similar, and in addition you can rephrase your own remarks.

However, it’s probably not a good idea to just to repeat every question the examiner gives.

From my experience, this would just annoy the examiner!

Read the following examples and consider how they second example is a paraphrase, uses synonyms effectively, or completely rephrases the first example.

High Level Vocabulary Examples

Singapore is an interesting mix of the modern and the traditional.

Suggested Answer

Singapore is a fascinating combination of both contemporary and the past.

Despite the extensive coverage in the popular media of the destruction of rainforests, little formal information is available about children’s ideas in this area.

Suggested Answer

There is a lack of documented research regarding children’s knowledge of rainforest destruction, in spite of the widespread coverage of the topic in the mainstream media.

Apple was successful because of its innovation in producing and marketing home computers.

Suggested Example

As an innovative company, Apple’s success was built on the production and sale of computers for the home retail market.

Higher Level Language

Consider the examples below and see how they second example is a paraphrase, uses synonyms effectively , or rephrases the first example.

Astute class submarines can dive to over 1,000 feet.

Suggested Answer

Particular nuclear powered submarines, such as the Astute class, can reach depths of over 300 metres

The American car industry has suffered because of cheaper foreign imports.

Suggested Answer

Cheaper imports by foreign manufacturers have led to a decline in the American motor industry.

Leaner Training

Can you rephrase the following sentences so the meaning is virtually the same and the sentence is coherent?

The idea that a drip-down economy benefits those at the bottom has been refuted.
The benefits of a university education are multiple for some sections of society.
There are a number of skills that can be developed through work experience which are not taught on university programmes.
The number of Asian students attending university in the UK has increased 10 fold over that last ten years.
Three issues are especially crucial to understanding the possible uses of the human genome.

Suggested Answers

The idea that a drip-down economy benefits those at the bottom has been refuted.

It has been argued that in a drip-down economy, wealth from the top earners of society does not reach those at the bottom.
The benefits of a university education are multiple for some sections of society.
For some parts of society, the value of a university education are numerous.
There are a number of skills that can be developed through work experience which are not taught on university programmes.
Although not taught in tertiary education, work experience develops a variety of skill sets.
The number of Asian students attending university in the UK has increased 10 fold over that last ten years.
Over the last decade, UK university attendance by East Asian students has multiplied by a factor of ten.
Three issues are especially crucial to understanding the possible uses of the human genome.
There are three important key areas that help aid understanding of probable use of the human genome.

I hope that you found this information useful and you have taken on board some of the tips.

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