Are you looking to improve your IELTS score? Or do you just need some tips on how to study vocabulary for the IELTS? Either way, you’re in the right place!

In order to understand a text the reader needs to comprehend between 95-98 percent of the words in it. Basically, vocabulary is extremely important not only for doing well on the IELTS, but also for general language comprehension. Below are some suggestions on how to prepare for the vocabulary section of the IELTS.

Thoughts before words

IELTS is a test of your communication skills in English. Obviously, you need a good vocabulary to communicate, but communication depends primarily on ideas, not words. Words express your ideas. So, you need to make sure to put ideas before words. Spend more time thinking and planning. Practice writing regularly and learn the words and phrases you need, when you need them.

Possible vocabulary errors

There are four vocabulary errors you can make on the IELTS.

1) You use the wrong word or phrase

2) You use an incorrect collocation (i.e. using “make” and “do” incorrectly. “They did some changes” is incorrect. “They made some changes” is correct).

3) You spell a word incorrectly

4) You form a word incorrectly

A word formation error is when you’ve chosen the correct basic word, but the word form is incorrect. For example, if you use a noun instead of a verb or an adverb instead of an adjective. (i.e. “The river contained danger levels of toxins” is incorrect. “The river contained dangerous levels of toxins” is correct).

Identify error patterns

Look for your error patterns when you write and put them in four categories (choice of words, collocation, spelling or word formation). Please note: if you make multiple mistakes, then you won’t notice many of the mistakes you’re making. In this case, you probably need feedback from a professional teacher to help you find your error patterns.

So, how do you improve your vocabulary?

1) Track and review your vocabulary errors (this was mentioned in the previous section).

2) Read regularly and about different topics. Learn as much as you can from different authors and sources.

3) Write on a regular basis. Write practice answers and if possible, get feedback from a teacher.

4) Learn vocabulary in phrases and sentences. Like many of you have probably already heard before, it’s more effective learn a word in context, as opposed to trying to learn individual words.