Ways to Increase your Band Score

If you want to increase your IELTS band score in vocabulary and impress the examiner you should try and vary your language when describing a chart, table or graph.

However, it is important to understand which words collocate and which don’t.

A good example is when describing change.

Describing changes 

You might clearly notice that there is a change on a graph or table, and you might be able to describe that change as going up or down. 

However, if you’re able to argue that that the ‘feature’ changed slightly or the ‘feature’ slightly changed, then you can demonstrate to the examiner that you have a good range of vocabulary that you can use correctly.

The chart I have provided shows an overall downward trend with minor fluctuations.

Being able to do this will raise your Band Score.

So I have collected for you the most commonly used adjectives and adverbs suitable for IELTS TASK 1.

I recommend that you regularly practice these in your writing, and if you want feedback you can use my Writing Correction Service for effective feedback.

Remember that you use adjectives with nouns and adverbs with verbs

Adj + Noun        

Example: There was a considerable increase. The increase was considerable.

Not: There was a considerably increase.

Adv + Verb 

Example: The amount of sales increased dramatically.

Not: The amount of sales increased dramatic.

Here are the example for you.

Adjectives and adverbs for degrees of change.

Note: the degree of change means how much change has happened.

Extensive Changes

Degree	Adjective	Adverb
	dramatic	dramatically
	considerable	considerably
	substantial	substantially
	enormous	Enormously
	tremendous	tremendously
	huge	N/a
	remarkable	remarkably

Moderate Changes

Degree	Adjective	Adverb
	noticeable	noticeably
	small	N/a
	minimal	minimally

Small Changes

Degree	Adjective	Adverb
	slight	slightly
	small	N/a
	minimal	minimally
	minor	N/a

Adjectives and adverbs for speed of change.

Note: the speed of change means how quickly change has happened.

Slow Changes

Speed	Adjective	Adverb
	steady	steadily
	gradual	gradually
	slow	slowly

Fast Changes

Speed	Adjective	Adverb
	quick	quickly
	sharp	sharply
	swift	swiftly
	rapid	rapidly
	steep	steeply

Unexpected Changes

Speed	Adjective	Adverb
	unexpected	unexpectedly
	sudden	suddenly
	abrupt	abruptly

Remember; to increase your IELTS band score in vocabulary, impress the examiner and try to vary your language when describing a chart, table or graph.

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education