Lexical Resource (LR) criterion weighs 25% of the total score in IELTS Writing; thus, vocabulary building is crucial if one wishes to score high. A good vocabulary is not only the number of words one knows, but also how well the candidate can utilise a broad variety of vocabulary with accuracy and versatility.
To progress from Band 6 to Band 7 or higher, writers are required to show control over less frequent lexical items, utilise advanced collocations, and show precision in word selection and form, thus raising the general standard and richness of the argument or report.
Precision and Appropriacy in Word Choice
High-scoring essays replace common, generalised vocabulary with precise, less common terminology. For instance, instead of using the verb "to increase," a Band 8 writer might employ
"to surge," "to escalate," or
"to proliferate," depending on the context and magnitude of the change. Crucially, these advanced terms must be used accurately, especially regarding collocations—words that naturally pair together. Errors in collocation (e.g., "commit a high risk" instead of "pose a high risk") severely compromise fluency and lower the score.2 Statistics consistently show that Band 5 and 6 scripts frequently rely on repetitive, general academic vocabulary, while Band 7 and 8 scripts effectively deploy a wide range of vocabulary with minimal error, particularly utilising complex noun phrases and adjectival constructions.
Strategic Use of Formal Phrasing
While IELTS Task 2 permits some flexibility in style, the overall register must remain formal and academic. Candidates should reserve idioms and phrasal verbs for instances where they enhance meaning without sounding colloquial or informal. For example, using "put forward" (to propose) is generally acceptable, but overly casual idioms should be avoided entirely. The primary focus must be on word formation and grammatical range. Mistakes involving different word classes—such as confusing the noun
"significance" with the adjective
"significant," or the adverb
"significantly"—are common pitfalls that prevent scripts from reaching Band 7. Mastery of suffixes and prefixes to shift word forms precisely is a hallmark of sophisticated writing.
Developing Topic-Specific Vocabulary
To demonstrate range and depth, candidates must cultivate a repertoire of vocabulary specific to recurrent IELTS themes, such as technology, environment, globalisation, and education. When discussing environmental issues, for example, using terms like
"ecological footprint," "sustainable practices," and
"carbon sequestration" is far more impressive than repeating "pollution" or "nature." This thematic vocabulary is not simply a list of difficult words; it consists of the specialised language used in high-level academic discourse. Systematic learning of these terms allows the writer to address the prompt's nuances accurately and confidently, which directly contributes to the Task Response score as well as the Lexical Resource score.
Practice and Application
Developing sophisticated lexical resources requires hard work and practice beyond mere memorisation. Candidates should engage in reading good sources like scholarly journals, good-quality newspapers, and well-written non-fiction prose. Where new words are met, one should note down the word, its grammatical category, its meaning, and above all, a few instances of its proper use in context. For application to actual writing, authors should try deliberately to incorporate three or four new, more unusual lexical items or elaborate collocations in each practice essay. This careful use, reinforced by intense self-proofreading to remove faults in formality and word shape, guarantees that the writer develops the flexibility and precision required for a Band 7 or higher in Lexical Resource.
