Why Collocations Are the “Invisible” Band Booster

If you say “make a big change,” an examiner understands you. But if you write “implement a significant change,” you demonstrate academic sophistication. Collocations remove the “awkward” feel of a non-native essay. To understand the official assessment criteria for lexical resource, review the guidelines on the official IELTS website.

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The Top 30 IELTS Writing Collocations (Categorized)

1. Government & Social Issues

• Implement measures: The government must implement measures to combat poverty.

• Pose a threat: Global warming poses a significant threat to coastal cities.

• Allocate resources: It is vital to allocate resources towards public healthcare.

• Enact legislation: The authorities should enact legislation to ban single-use plastics.

• Address inequality: We must address inequality to ensure social stability.

• Exert an influence: The media exerts a powerful influence on teenagers.

2. Technology & Innovation

• Rapid advancement: We are witnessing rapid advancement in artificial intelligence.

• Widespread adoption: The widespread adoption of smartphones has changed communication.

• Seamless integration: The seamless integration of technology into education is beneficial.

• Cutting-edge technology: Schools should invest in cutting-edge technology.

• Bridge the digital divide: Governments must work to bridge the digital divide.

3. Education & Career

• Broaden horizons: Traveling can broaden horizons more than textbooks.

• Foster creativity: Art classes foster creativity in young children.

• Pursue higher education: Students often pursue higher education to improve prospects.

• Climb the career ladder: Many prioritize climbing the career ladder over work-life balance.

• Hands-on experience: Nothing beats hands-on experience in a professional environment.

4. Environment & Sustainability

• Combat climate change: Nations must unite to combat climate change.

• Irreversible damage: Industrial pollution causes irreversible damage to ecosystems.

• Sustainable practices: Companies should adopt sustainable practices.

• Deplete natural resources: Overconsumption will eventually deplete natural resources.

• Ecological balance: Protecting wildlife is essential to maintain ecological balance.

5. Academic Precision (General)

• Reach a conclusion: After analyzing data, we can reach a conclusion.

• Raise valid concerns: Critics raise valid concerns about modern surveillance.

• Profound impact: Technology has had a profound impact on our lives.

• Highly effective: This is a highly effective strategy for learning.

• Draw a comparison: It is interesting to draw a comparison between the two eras.

• Generate revenue: Such projects help the city generate revenue.

• Alleviate symptoms: This policy aims to alleviate the symptoms of unemployment.

• Bolster the economy: Tourism helps bolster the local economy.

• Curb inflation: The bank must act to curb inflation immediately.