IELTS Vocabulary: Changes

Look at the pairs of sentences in 1-20 and choose a verb from the box which can be used
with both sentences. In some cases, the meaning of the verb may change slightly. Then use a
dictionary to find other objects which can be used with the verbs.

adapt adjust alter cure

demote disappear dissolve exchange

expand fade increase promote

reduce renew renovate replace

swell switch transform vary

1.a) We need to .................... these cars so disabled people can drive them.

1.b) The country found it hard to .................... to the new government.

2.a) If the trousers are too tight, take them back to the shop and ask them to .................... them.
2.b) He found it hard to .................... to living in a tropical country.

3.a) You must .................... the voltage or the system will blow up.

3.b) He decided to .................... his appearance by having plastic surgery.

4.a) Our bills will be less if we .................... from gas to electricity.

4.b) They had to .................... flights at Heathrow Airport.

5.a) You can't .................... the terms of the contract once it has been signed.

5.b) He wants to .................... his appearance.

6.a) It will help your digestion if you .................... your diet.

6.b) Prices of flats .................... from a few thousand to millions of pounds.

7.a) We need to .................... our pounds for dollars.

7.b) You can usually .................... goods which are faulty if you show the receipt.

8.a) We have had to .................... our sales force to cope with the extra demand.
8.b) Water will .................... when it is frozen.

9.a) The price of oil will .................... next year.

9.b) Most bosses refuse to .................... salaries when they are asked.

10.a) The management decided to .................... the company and sell the offices.

10.b) .................... the sugar in boiling water.
11.a) More and more people are moving to cities to .................... the population there.
11.b) The wasp sting caused his leg to .................... up.

12.a) The market for typewriters will probably .................... completely in the next few years.
12.b) The police are baffled by the increasing number of people who .................... each year.

13.a) The old contract ran out and we had to .................... it.

13.b) Many people argue that it's futile to .................... old hostilities.

14.a) They have received funds to .................... the old buildings.

14.b) We need to .................... the central heating as it is old and worn out.

15.a) The boss offered to .................... him from salesman to manager.

15.b) Our main aim is to .................... tourism in the country.

16.a) They wanted to .................... me from manager to salesperson.

16.b) If we .................... you, you will lose a large part of your salary.

17.a) If you wash it too much, the colour will .....................

17.b) We watched the islands .................... away into the distance.

18.a) The company decided to .................... the permanent staff with freelancers.

18.b) You must .................... the books on the shelf when you have finished with them.

19.a) The doctors were unable to .................... her the illness.

19.b) .................... meat in salt water for between three and five days.

20.a) Governments are trying to .................... pollution.

20.b) The best way to save money is to .................... the number of staff.
IELTS Vocabulary: Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

A lot of people find it difficult to write letters and often avoid doing so altogether.
Letter writing is a dying art.

Do you agree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Read the following essay. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with an expression
or word from the box below.

however

firstly

furthermore

such as

because of

particularly

as a result

in addition

consequently

because

nevertheless
It is true that many people struggle to produce letters and often avoid writing letters
completely. .................... I don't agree that this skill is gradually disappearing.
.................... let us consider the reasons why people find it so difficult to write. To begin with,
writing letters is less frequent nowadays thanks to modern technology. These days we are
much more likely to email someone than write a letter. .................... our business
communications have become more informal than in the past. .................... a less formal
style of writing is more acceptable. Other forms of modern communication ....................text
messaging have reduced our writing skills even further.
.................... I still feel that letter writing is an important skill to learn .................... there are
many parts of the world where it is very important to be formal. This is .................... true if
you are involved in international business. .................... globalisation, the business world is
becoming more and more international and it is not always possible to pick up the telephone
to talk to people. .................... I believe that letter writing will never die out completely. And,
even though these letters may be written on computers rather than by hand, we still need to
learn and practise this skill.

To sun up, even though many people think writing letters is quite difficult, there are things
they can do to improve their writing skills if they find it too difficult. Personally, I believe that
if you want to make a good impression in any situation, then you need good writing skills.
IELTS Vocabulary: Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

In many parts of the world there is continuous coverage of sports on television.

Some people believe this discourages the young from taking part in any sport
themselves.

Discuss this view and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Read the following essay. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with an expression
from the box below.

By contrast,

it is also true that

In conclusion,

Moreover,

because

in spite of the fact that

it does not necessarily follow that

As well as this,

In my experience,

Therefore it would appear that

Nowadays, in most countries, there are numerous television channels to choose from and
these include non-stop broadcasting of sport.

.................... many people must be interested in watching sport throughout the day and night.
However, .................... watching sport makes people less keen on participating in it.
Teachers and parents may be concerned when they see teenagers spending time watching
sport on television and fear that they are not active enough. While there may be some
justification for this, .................... young people are often under pressure, for example to do
well in exams. They need to relax and give their minds and bodies a break.
.................... the young do not tend to watch sport rather than participating in it. The
teenagers in my neighbourhood regularly play football after school and at weekends they
play in matches or go to the tennis courts or the swimming pool. .................... they all support
various famous clubs and admire sports stars. These stars are their role models and
watching them on television encourages participation in sporting activities.................... the
young try to emulate the people they admire.
.................... I have observed that some older people spend their evenings and weekends in
front of the television, following sports such as international golf or motor
racing. .................... many of these are middle-aged men (it tends to be men) who spend
their days sitting at a desk in an office and who get very little exercise .................... they need
it more than most.
.................... although I accept that there are some people who may be discouraged from
participating in sport because they can watch it on television instead, in my view this does
not generally apply to the young.
IELTS Vocabulary: Expressions with time
Use a dictionary to check the meaning of the phrases in the box. Then complete
sentences 1-11 with the correct phrase.

by the time

time-consuming

took so long

spend time

at times

the right time

in time

take your time

save time

lose track of time

on time

from time to time

1) I am not in regular contact with him; I just send him an email .....................
2) Excuse me, do you have ....................? I have a job interview at 9 o’clock and I really
want to get there .....................
3) I prefer to shop online to avoid the crowds and .....................
4) He can get a bit bad-tempered .....................
5) .................... we get home this pizza will be cold!
6) I arrived just .................... to watch a spectacular sunset.
7) I ordered a book for my sister’s birthday, but it .................... to get delivered that it missed
her birthday.
8) Every time I go to the library, I ..................... Once, I stayed there for 6 hours!
9) Going to university is now very expensive, and looking for the right course can be
very .....................
10) If you get up very early, you can .................... getting ready and may even have enough
time to cook a proper breakfast.
11) After school, I would .................... with my family, rather than hanging out with friends.
IELTS Vocabulary: Contrast & comparison
Vocabulary Tip
When you learn new vocabulary, try to learn all the forms. For example: nation (noun), national
(adjective), nationally (adverb), nationalist (person), nationalise (verb)

Complete these sentences with the most appropriate word or expression from A, B or C.

1) The two machines .......... considerably. One has an electric motor, the other runs on oil.

A. differB. differentiateC. differential

2) The .......... in weather between the north and the south of the country is very noticeable.

A. comparisonB. contrastC. compare

3) Many people cannot .......... between lemon juice and lime juice.

A. differB. differentiateC. contrast

4) Children must be taught to .......... between right and wrong.

A. differB. contrastC. distinguish

5) There is a .......... between being interested in politics and joining a political party.

A. distinguishB. distinctiveC. distinction

6) Can you tell the .......... between a good boss and a bad one?

A. differenceB. differentiateC. contrast

7) The management must not .......... between male and female applicants.

A. differB. contrastC. discriminate

8) Asia covers a huge area. .......... Europe is very small.

A. By way of contrastB. By ways of comparingC. By similar means

9) The new model of car is very .......... to the old one.

A. sameB. similarC. common

10) Her political opinions are .......... to mine.

A. sameB. exactlyC. identical

11) Some political parties have such similar manifestos that they are difficult to ...........

A. tell apartB. say apartC. speak apart

12) My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot ...........

A. in similarB. in particularC. in common

13) There seems to be a large .......... between the number of people employed in service industries, and
those employed in the primary sector.

A. discriminateB. discretionC. discrepancy

14) British and Australian people share the same language, but in other respects they are as different
as ...........

A. cats and dogsB. chalk and cheeseC. salt and pepper

15) Britain's economy is largely based on its industry, .......... a few hundred years ago it was an agrarian
country.

A. whereforeB. whereasC. whereby

IELTS Vocabulary: Presenting an argument
Read the text below, in which somebody is trying to decide whether to go straight to
university from school, or spend a year travelling around the world. Put their argument into
the correct order. The first one and last one have been done for you.

A) I'm ready in two minds about what to do when I leave school. Should I go straight to university or
should I spend a year travelling around the world? (1)

B) It is often said that knowledge is the key to power, and I cannot disagree with this.

C) On the one hand, I would experience lots of different cultures.

D) Unfortunately, another point is that if I spent a year travelling I would need a lot of money.

E) And I'm not alone in this opinion. Many consider a sound career and a good salary to be an important
goal.

F) However, it could be argued that I would also meet lots of interesting people while I was travelling.

G) Secondly, if I go straight to university, I'll learn so many things that will help me in my future life.

H) First of all, there are so many benefits of going straight to university.

I) But I believe that it would be easy to make a bit while I was travelling, giving English lessons or working
in hotels and shops.

J) Moreover, I'll be able to take part in the social activities that the university offers, and meet lots of new
friends who share the same interests.

K) The most important point is that the sooner I get my qualifications, the quicker I'll get a job and start
earning.

L) Nevertheless, these inconveniences would be an inevitable part of travelling and would be greatly
outweighed by the other advantages.

M) In my opinion, starting work and making money is one of the most important things in life.

N) On the other hand, I could end up suffering from culture shock, homesickness and some strange
tropical diseases.

O) Furthermore, if I spent a year travelling, I would learn more about the world.

P) All right, I've made my mind up. Now, where's my nearest travel agency? (16)
Vocabulary Tip
When you are asked to present an argument, you should always look at it from two sides, giving reasons
why you agree and disagree before reaching a conclusion.

Other words and expressions which you might find useful include:
I believe that / despite this / in spite of this / also / thirdly / I think / finally / in conclusion / nonetheless /
admittedly / on the contrary / at any rate / notwithstanding / for all that / even if.

Using the key words and expressions from the last exercise, present an argument for one of
the following issues:

1) A government's main priority is to provide education for its people.

2) The only way to save the environment is for governments to impose strict quotas on the energy we use
(for example, by restricting car ownership, limiting the water we use).

3) Satisfaction in your job is more important than the money you earn.

4) Living in a town or city is better than living in the countryside.

5) It is our responsibility to help or look after those less fortunate than ourselves (for example, the
homeless, the mentally ill).
IELTS Vocabulary: How something works
A. Look at these sentences and decide which object is being described in each one. Use the
words in bold to help you. You will find the objects hidden in the word grid at the bottom of
the page.

1. The most important part of this object is a strip of two different metals, one on top of the other. As
they heat up, both metals expand, but one does it faster than the other. The strip bends and
connects with a switch, which turns off the power supply. When the strip cools down, the
metals contract and the switch is disconnected. (1 word)

2. This object has several component parts, most of which are made of plastic. A disc inserted into the
object spins quickly. At the same time a thin beam of light strikes the disc and converts digital symbols
into sounds. These sounds can be increased or decreased in volume by means of a button or dial.(3
words)

3. Liquid and gas are compressed in a hard metal tube. This can be released by pushing or
squeezing a button which opens a valve. When the liquid-gas combination leaves the tube and is mixed
with oxygen, it rapidly expands. (1 word)

4. This object is mainly made of aluminium. As it moves forward, air flows over two horizontal sections.

As it accelerates, a vacuum is formed over the horizontal sections and the object is pulled into the air by
the force of this vacuum. (1 word)

5. This object consists of two main parts; one is made mainly of plastic and metal, the other is made
mainly of glass. Light enters the glass section and a small door in the device opens up when a button
is pressed. At the same time, a smaller window called an aperture adjusts itself to control the amount of
light. The light is then absorbed by a sheet of plastic coated in a special chemical. An image
is formed and this can then be processed and developed into a two-dimensional paper-based object. (1
word)

6. A sharp blade inside a plastic container rotates very quickly. It chops or grinds anything it touches,

which we can then use to produce soup, sauces and dressing. (2 words)

7. This is a very simple object which originated in China. A small piece of paper is lit with a match.
It burns away until the flame ignites the chemical compound inside a cardboard tube. The result is a
display of light and colour. (1 word)
B. There are nine more objects hidden in the grid. Choose four of them and write a brief
description of how they work, using the bold words and expressions above.

Q C A R E N G I N E W E R T T Y U
A S D F G H J K L Z X C V B O N M
B A L L P O I N T P E N A Q A C W
Q W E R F O O D P R O C E S S O R
B T Y U I O P A S D F G R K T M J
I A M N B K E T T L E V O C E P T
C E C X Z L K J H G F D S S R U H
Y R S A P O I U Y T R E O E W T E
C O M P A C T D I S C P L A Y E R
L P L K J H G F D S A Q W E R R M
E L I G H T B U L B M N B V C X O
C A M E R A I F I R E W O R K U S
L N K J H G F D S A Q W E R T Y T
T E L E V I S I O N T Y U I O P A
M I C R O W A V E O V E N N G E T
Writing the Essay - The Introduction
In many ways, your conclusion and introduction are very similar in that they both state your
opinion. The introduction is probably the shortest section of a Task 2 essay.

It might contain:

- a restatement of the question

- your opinion
- what and how you are going to discuss the question
When you write your introduction DO NOT:
- copy the question word for word
- give a lot of background information

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

A government’s role is only to provide defence capability and urban infrastructure

(roads, water supplies, etc.). All other services (education, health, social security)
should be provided by private groups or individuals in the community.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

 Sample answer
Governments can only provide a limited range of services for citizens. Certain types of
services, however, must be provided by governments, whereas both governments and
private groups or individuals can share the responsibility to provide other services.

A government must provide those services which are essential to a country. These include
defence capabilities and-social security. Private enterprise and the profit motive should not
form part of these essential services. On the other hand, some services could be provided
by either governments or private groups or both. Education and health care are examples of
such services. A government must provide at least a basic level of education and health
care so all citizens can have access to them. Private enterprise, though, could also provide
services in these areas for those who wish to pay for them.

Urban infrastructure is another area where governments and private groups or individuals
can share responsibility. Governments must build and maintain a system of roads, but toll
roads can be built and road maintenance carried out by private contractors. Similarly, other
infrastructure, such as water or electricity supply, can be operated by private companies.

To sum up, there are some services, such as defence and social security, which must be
provided by government. Other services, for example water supply or education, could be
provided by both government and private enterprise. Consequently, it is not true to say that
a government’s role is only to provide some services while others should be provided by the
private sector. In fact, both government and private groups can share in the provision of
most services.
Social media is becoming increasingly popular amongst all age groups. However,
sharing personal information on social media websites does have risks.

Do you think that the advantages of social media outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Exam Tip

At first 250 may seem like a lot of words, but if you break the answer down into the
paragraphs then it will seem easier: Introduction and concluding paragraph about 50 words
each. The two main body paragraphs 100 words each. Each of these paragraphs has to
include at least 2 ideas (3 is better), as well as reasons for your ideas and an example to
support one of them.

 Sample answer
Since the invention of social media, many people have been better able to connect with
each other and also to keep up to date with the lives of their friends, families, co-workers
and even celebrities, to such a degree which was previously impossible.

However, social media has its risks. As people of all ages have access to social media,
children can be exposed to adult content, and are themselves vulnerable to be approached
by strangers with unknown intentions. Even if children are sure of who they're talking to on
social media, social media's issues are not completely eliminated. Cyber bullying is
frequently reported in the news, and occurs on social media between children and
schoolchildren. This is problematic, as it means even when children are at home, remote
from their bullies they can still be bullied when they're inside their own homes.

Social media can be problematic for adults, too. People often feel comfortable posting
things on social media that they wouldn't say in real life. This can indirectly cause a bad
impression on other people, and if employers judge the nature of the content prospective
employees post on social media to be inappropriate, it can affect their chances of attaining
or keeping jobs.

As long as people are aware of the risks of using social media, and are careful to post only
respectful and respectable content, then the advantages of social media far outweigh the
disadvantages, and children and adults alike should be allowed to benefit from such
technology.

(250 words)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Each year, the crime rate increases.

What are the causes of crime and what could be done to prevent this rise in criminal
activity?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Test Tip
Good writers often consider other arguments that are different, before presenting their own
views. For example:
 
Although some people would like to have a lot of children (concession), 
the cost of raising them has to be considered first (writer’s view) 

The following expressions are useful when making concessions:

While/Although… 
It could be argued that … 
Despite the fact that … 
Admittedly / Certainly … but/ However … 
Even though … 
It may be true that …

 Sample answer
Crime is an issue of increasing concern around the world, and more money than ever
before is being spent on the detection and punishment of criminal activity. The reasons why
people commit crime are countless, but drugs and alcohol, social problems and poverty play
a major role. To solve these problems, governments can either focus on draconian
punishments, or improve employment opportunities, invest in good housing projects and
tackle drug and alcohol abuse.

One of the main causes of criminality is the use, sale and trafficking of narcotics. For
example, the sale of drugs is organised by armed criminal gangs who illegally traffic drugs
and control their business with extreme violence. Drug-related crime does not end there;
drug users often steal to fund theft habit, resulting in further acts of petty crime. The social
problems connected with crime are said to be the result of single-parent families, absent
role models and bad living conditions. The children from these broken families often
become criminals because they feel alienated from society. Poverty is also a reason behind
crime. When unskilled jobs pay so little and prices are so high, it's easy to see why some
turn to crime for an income.

Crime can, of course, be dealt with by toughening criminal laws and introducing longer
custodial sentences for persistent criminals, but some of the best ways to deal with crime
may be to deal with the social causes. Increasing employment opportunities in poorer areas
would improve living standards, which would mean access to affordable housing and
education. Government funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes would help
reduce dependency on stimulants and the need for the criminal activity that surrounds them.

In conclusion, crime is a major issue, but cracking down on offenders with a harsh penal
system is not the only way. These problems can be solved through the government
providing jobs and funding which should raise living standards and dramatically reduce
crime levels.

(323 words)
Write about the following topic:

Modern communications mean that it’s no longer necessary to write letters.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Test Tip
Your ideas will form the basis of your argument and they need to be expressed clearly and
appropriately.

Here are some expressions to help you present ideas. 

I would argue/say/agree that … 

In my view/opinion It seems (to me) that … 
I tend to think that/ I feel that … 
As far as I am concerned … 
Some/Most people argue/think/say that … 
It is understood that … 
It is generally accepted that … 
There is a tendency to believe that … 
One of the main arguments in favour of / against …

 Sample answer
In years gone by, before the age of the telegraph or telephone, letter writing was the main
means of communication for most people. Since then we have developed faster and more
direct ways of contacting people, and personal mail has become relatively rare.

It is true that in many cases where our parents would have written a letter, we prefer to pick
up the phone, to email or even to text instead. These are perfectly suitable ways of inviting
friends to call round or exchanging news with a family member, for example, and they have
the advantage that the communication is immediate and we can receive a reply very
quickly. In business, too, fax and email are extremely useful.

However, in my opinion there are times when there is no alternative to a letter. Letters are
generally more formal and carefully composed than emails. This makes them more suitable
for occasions when they are likely to be kept and re-read, perhaps several times, by the
recipient, as with formal letters of thanks or sympathy. In addition, letters provide a written
record, unlike telephone calls, so they are also a better way of setting out an important or
complex argument, as in official complaints or legal matters.

In conclusion, I would definitely agree that there are fewer times when we need to write
letters than in the past. On the other hand, I feel there are still some important occasions
when a letter is the most appropriate form of communication.

(248 words)

Write about the following topic:

Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We
know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of
them in private situations.

Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about
people?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip
Structuring an essay is an important part of writing for IELTS. For a Task 2 essay, use a standard essay
structure consisting of separate paragraphs: an introduction (one paragraph), followed by the
main body of the essay (two or three paragraphs), then a conclusion (one paragraph).

There are various connectors that are typically used for conclusions. The first one on the list is the most
unimaginative, and it is better to think of a more interesting one if you can.

In conclusion, finally,  therefore,  consequently,  clearly, it is clear, on the whole,  in other

words, generally speaking

You cannot score above Band 5 if you do not use any paragraph. You cannot score above Band 6 if your
paragraphs do not have a clear central topic.

Model answer

Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to be
entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous people in
magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include stories like
these which are neither informative nor useful.
In my opinion, this type of gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several
reasons. Firstly, for example, the fact that Princess Diana is going out with a sportsman is not important
news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their
public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about Princess Diana it should be
about her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition,
journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumours. One should be able to rely
on newspapers for the actual truth.

Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. But I feel it is more acceptable for them to contain
some features about famous personalities. In addition to being popular reading, these stories often benefit
the stars by giving free publicity to them, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe that
magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract people to
buy the magazine. Sensational stories, such as these, cause great unhappiness to the people concerned.

In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some
articles on people's private lives.

(268 words)

Write about the following topic:

Some people feel that certain workers like nurses, doctors and teachers are undervalued and
should be paid more, especially when other people like film actors or company bosses are paid
huge sums of money that are out of proportion to the importance of the work that they do.

-How far do you agree?

-What criteria should be used to decide how much people are paid?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples
and relevant evidence.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Tips
1) It is essential that you plan your essay before actually beginning to write your answer. Some students
may want to begin writing immediately as they are afraid that they will run out of time. This will not allow
them to produce a well-organised essay.

2) There is more weight to Task 2 when calculating your overall writing score, so time management is
important.

3) You should introduce the issue in your introduction, but avoid copying directly from the prompt. Rather,
you should paraphrase the question using your own words.
4) If you write less than 250 words for Task 2, you will be penalized in the Task Response criteria.

Model answer

Nobody can deny that there are certain professionals like nurses, doctors and teachers who are essential
to the fabric of society, and who should therefore be rewarded accordingly. However, this is seldom the
case. When we look at the salaries and fees commanded by certain film stars and actresses and people
who run large companies, this does not seem fair.

First of all, not all film stars earn huge sums of money. In fact, at any one time in the UK, for example,
roughly 80 per cent of actors are out of work and on top of that the number who are paid so-called
‘telephone number fees’ is even smaller. One must also remember that the career of many actors is very
short and that therefore the money they earn has to be spread over many years. The same applies to
company bosses.

Stating a set of criteria as to how much people should be paid is not easy. The idea of performance-
related pay is very much in vogue at the moment. Rewarding people according to qualifications has long
been used as a yardstick for paying people, but it is not a consistently good measure. Another is years of
relevant experience, but there are many cases where a younger person can perform a task better than
someone with lots of experience.

Whatever criteria are used to assess salaries, an on-going cycle will develop. This will create pressure in
other areas. This considered, generally I feel that certain key professionals should have their salaries
assessed by independent review bodies on an on-going basis so that they do not fall behind.

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