Why These 80 Words Matter

IELTS Academic uses a specific register of vocabulary. The words below come from Coxhead’s Academic Word List (AWL) — words that appear in academic texts across almost every field and repeatedly across all IELTS sections.

Learning Strategy

Do not learn these as a list. Learn each word in context: with a sentence showing how it is used, and with its common collocations (words it naturally goes with).

High-Frequency Words by Category

Cause and Effect

  • attribute (to) — The decline is attributed to rising costs.
  • consequently — Funding was cut; consequently, the project failed.
  • generate — This policy generated significant controversy.
  • result in — Overfishing has resulted in declining stocks.
  • lead to — Urbanisation leads to increased demand for housing.

Analysis and Argument

  • analyse — Researchers analysed data from 50 countries.
  • assess — The study assesses the impact of climate change.
  • indicate — Figures indicate a steady improvement.
  • demonstrate — This demonstrates the need for reform.
  • suggest — Evidence suggests a correlation exists.

Comparison and Contrast

  • whereas — Men prefer X, whereas women prefer Y.
  • nevertheless — The risks are high; nevertheless, the benefits outweigh them.
  • in contrast — In contrast to urban areas, rural regions saw growth.
  • conversely — Rising income increases spending; conversely, poverty reduces it.
  • despite — Despite the challenges, progress was made.

Increase and Decrease

  • significant — There was a significant rise in applications.
  • decline — Output declined sharply during the recession.
  • fluctuate — Prices fluctuated throughout the year.
  • substantial — A substantial proportion of respondents disagreed.
  • minimal — The effect on employment was minimal.
Collocation Is Everything

Do not just learn “significant” in isolation. Learn it with its partners: a significant increase/decline/proportion/number/impact. Using correct collocations is what separates Band 6 vocabulary from Band 7+ vocabulary.

Words Often Confused in IELTS

Confused Pair Correct Use
affect / effect The policy affects behaviour. The effect is positive.
data is / data are Both are used — data are is more formal/academic
less / fewer fewer with countable nouns (fewer people), less with uncountable (less time)
rise / raise prices rise (intransitive); governments raise taxes (transitive)
amount / number number for countable (number of students), amount for uncountable (amount of research)
Do Not Force Vocabulary

Using an advanced word incorrectly is worse than using a simple word correctly. Examiners assess appropriate vocabulary use — not just the most complex words available.

Learning Tip: The Three-Column Method

For each new word, write three columns in your notebook:

  1. The word + its part of speech
  2. An example sentence from an IELTS text
  3. Three common collocations
The 15-Minute Rule

Review vocabulary for 15 minutes every day, even when you are not studying. Use flashcard apps (Anki, Quizlet) during commutes. Distributed practice builds retention far better than cramming.