IELTS Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test for Vocabulary and Topic Awareness

Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered

I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list as I find IELTS worthy reading articles.

Daily chart - The stark relationship between income inequality and crime | Graphic detail | The Economist

Both theory and data suggest that if you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it

This is one of the many articles I’ve found which, from experience, I know feature heavily in the Reading and Writing IELTS test. You won’t find questions in the IELTS test directly related to these articles, but but if you want to give yourself a better chance, read around them to improve your exam performance response and vocabulary.

Why should I invest time in reading for IELTS

Having an awareness of IELTS topic areas indicates in your writing and speaking that your opinions are relevant.

Just by being prepared means that you are better positioned to give an opinion on any number of popular topic areas.

This is especially the case in writing. The ability to generate ideas under the pressure of the exam is usually down to a lack of knowledge around the key topic areas, while having topic awareness in IELTS speaking will just make the exam seem so much easier.

Common IELTS Topics

Searching for IELTS worthy reading and listening articles is not easy.

It’s important to read articles that follow basic academic patterns and use vocabulary and grammar which is useful for IELTS improvements.

The articles I have linked to feature the most common general topic areas I have seen in IELTS reading, writing and listening.

Using some of these resources is not only good for increasing vocabulary levels, reading comprehension and speed, but will help provide a foundation of ideas important for topic awareness and idea generation.

If you want a list of the main topic areas and the subheadings, you can find out more here but below are new the new links I am creating for ‘Reading’. I recommend you identify areas you’re not familiar with and flick through some of the topics postings below.

Choose a few to read or listen to and if your vocabulary is a weak spot, note down words and phrases you can reuse in the future.

Vocabulary and topic awareness are just as important as exam techniques!

Reading as an IELTS topic

Climate change is not a key cause of conflict, finds new study

We looked at ten countries in East Africa and found poverty and politics were much more important drivers of conflict and displacement than climate change.