IELTS Vocabulary by Topic: Collocations for the 8 Most Common Themes

Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing and Speaking score. Examiners reward collocations, words that naturally go together, much more than rare or "impressive" single words. Here are useful collocations for the themes that come up most often.

Education

• tertiary / higher education, vocational training, a well-rounded education
• drop out of school, bridge the gap between theory and practice
• rote learning vs critical thinking skills
• tuition fees, student debt, academic performance

Many argue that rote learning leaves students poorly equipped for jobs that demand critical thinking skills.

Environment

• tackle / combat climate change, reduce carbon emissions
• renewable energy sources, fossil fuels, a carbon footprint
• deforestation, loss of biodiversity, extreme weather events
• raise awareness of, take drastic measures

Technology

• technological advances, the digital divide, cutting-edge technology
• screen time, social media platforms, online privacy
• automate tasks, become obsolete, a double-edged sword

Health

• a sedentary lifestyle, a balanced diet, regular physical activity
• obesity rates, life expectancy, preventive healthcare
• put a strain on the healthcare system, mental well-being

Work and economy

• job security, work-life balance, career prospects
• the unemployment rate, a skills shortage, the gig economy
• boost the economy, a competitive salary, remote / hybrid working

Cities and transport

• urban sprawl, traffic congestion, public transport networks
• affordable housing, the cost of living, green spaces
• ease congestion, invest in infrastructure

Government and society

• allocate funding to, impose a tax on, introduce legislation
• public services, a welfare system, social inequality
• the government has a responsibility to…

Crime

• commit a crime, crime rates, a deterrent
• rehabilitate offenders, a custodial sentence, reoffend
• community service, law enforcement

Topic vocabulary in action

Here is how a band 7+ candidate might use environment collocations naturally in a Task 2 body paragraph:

One of the most effective ways to tackle climate change is to accelerate the shift towards renewable energy sources. Countries such as Denmark now generate a large share of their electricity from wind power, which has allowed them to reduce carbon emissions without harming economic growth. If other governments allocated more funding to similar projects, the world would become far less dependent on fossil fuels.

Notice that the collocations are spread across the paragraph and support the argument. They are not decoration.

And in Speaking Part 3, on technology:

I think smartphones are a bit of a double-edged sword, really. They've made information incredibly accessible, but a lot of parents are worried about screen time, and there's the whole question of online privacy, which most people don't think about until something goes wrong.

Quick self-test

Complete each phrase with one word, then check the answers below.

1. ______ a crime
2. a ______ lifestyle (inactive)
3. ______ the gap between rich and poor
4. ______ awareness of an issue
5. traffic ______
6. ______ funding to a project

Answers: 1. commit 2. sedentary 3. bridge / narrow 4. raise 5. congestion 6. allocate

How to learn collocations so you actually use them

1. Learn phrases, not single words. Write "reduce carbon emissions", not "emission = gas released".
2. Make your own example sentence about something you care about.
3. Review with spaced repetition. Our vocabulary flashcards show difficult words more often.
4. Use them in output. Write one Task 2 paragraph or speak for one minute per topic each week.

Avoid forcing a rare word into a sentence where it does not fit. Examiners give credit for precise, natural use, not for difficulty.