In the IELTS speaking and writing tests a wide vocabulary will help you, but only if you use the words correctly. If you use them incorrectly, you will lose marks. So practise new vocab and develop confidence with it.

When you learn new vocab, make sure that you note collocations too. For this group of words some collocations are:
be contrary, on the contrary, contrary to popular belief, recent convert, convert to, a happy couple, a couple of, present decade, throughout the decade, be definite, be definite about

Check the meanings of the words if you don’t already know them. Check the meanings of the various forms as sometimes they are different. You can check them at Time4english by clicking the words (http://www.time4english.com/aamain/lounge/awl.asp).

Vocabulary for IELTS – Academic Word List 75

Complete the sentences. Choose the correct word and then use the correct form of the word.

1. The 1960s was a wild ______________ in the west. (decade, convert)
2. Australia ______________ to a new currency in 1966. (convert, contrary)
3. Albert often takes the _______________ point of view. (decade, contrary)
4. We’ll be living in Tasmania _______________ . (definite, couple)
5. I’ll be with you in a ______________ of minutes. (couple, definite)

Answers (in the wrong order)
5. couple   3. contrary  2. converted   1. decade     4. indefinitely