IELTS vocabulary: idioms for Speaking, phrases for Writing and connectors, with examples

IELTS marks vocabulary as lexical resource in Writing and Speaking. IELTS and IDP say idiomatic language counts in Speaking from Band 7, while IDP's essay advice is more cautious: idioms only if you understand them completely and they fit the topic, and avoid overused phrases and clichés. IDP also says to use linking words without overusing them.

IELTS marks vocabulary as lexical resource. IELTS defines it for Writing, and IDP says the Speaking test has four criteria that include it.

• Lexical resource assesses the range of vocabulary you have used, and how accurately and appropriately you use it.
• Examiners assess your performance against 4 criteria. Fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

For word lists by topic, see our IELTS vocabulary by topic page.

The advice differs sharply between the two skills. IELTS and IDP encourage idioms in Speaking. For an essay, IDP is more cautious, and its advice is not one rule.

IDP's Don't list for choosing essay vocabulary also names idioms.

Our reading: in Speaking, a few natural idioms show range. In an essay, stay with clear, precise, neutral language. Save the idioms and the contractions for speech and for an informal letter.

IELTS.org and IDP define the terms the same way.

• An idiom is a phrase or expression that generally has non-literal meaning - the meaning cannot be directly understood by reading each word.
• A phrasal verb is a compound verb where a verb is combined with an adverb or a preposition.
• Collocation refers to words that often go together naturally and are generally used in that order when speaking.

IELTS.org cautions against overusing them, and IDP adds that you should not repeat them.

• so be very careful not to overuse them and to make sure that the idiom matches the topic area you are speaking about. Also be careful not to use some that are overused, and sound forced.
• Here are some common idioms that can be used in IELTS Speaking but remember do not repeat them. IELTS examiners are listening for the variety of language and synonyms that you use. Focus on using a variety of language and synonyms.

The advice for learning is also the same.

The idioms below are ours, with our own examples. They are sorted by the situations in which people use them. They are not a list of what examiners expect. Choose a few that you can say naturally, and use each one once, at the right moment. Do not use any that you cannot say with confidence.

Study and work

Feelings and experiences

Daily life and money

Opinions and discussion answers

Phrasal verbs

IDP says that phrasal verbs often have idiomatic meaning, and that the preposition matters.

These sixteen are ours. Learn each with its example, because the preposition is part of the word.

Collocations

IDP says that using collocations makes your English sound more authentic and can improve your score. It gives these examples.

• Do an exam or take an exam (not make an exam) Bright idea Foot the bill Strong criticism Solve a problem Highly successful.

Our rule: each time you learn a new noun, look up the verbs and adjectives that usually go with it, and write them next to it. Make a decision, take a risk, reach a conclusion, raise a concern, draw attention to a problem: these are the units of English, not the single words.

Part of Speaking vocabulary is the language that connects ideas and shows how you feel. IDP says why.

It gives practical advice on thinking time and on fillers.

• There is no harm in taking a brief pause to think about what to say.
• That's an interesting question.
• I have never thought about that, but...
• That's a good point.
• Let me think about that for a minute.
• Avoid the following fillers: Like You know Umm... Ahh... Ehh... Well Yeah...
• Try to avoid meaningless fillers [um, er, ah, eh] as they show that you cannot find the words or language needed to discuss the topic. Also, avoid repetitive use of fillers that we generally overuse [yeah, like, you know].

Our table groups the phrases by what you are trying to do. Each example is one sentence you could say. We use contractions, because speech does.

IDP warns against two habits that wreck vocabulary in Speaking.

• You may want to impress the examiner with big and complex words in your Speaking test. But to be safe, avoid using words you are not familiar with.
• Don't memorise answers, especially in Part 1. Memorised language doesn't give the examiner an accurate measure of your English-language skills.

Our reading: a phrase you use five times becomes a filler. Rotate. Learn three or four ways to do each job in the table, and pick a different one each time.

IDP says there is no list of words you must use in Task 1. The vocabulary has to be related and appropriate to the task.

For letters, the style depends on the reader. IELTS and the British Council say so, and IDP says what changes.

• The style of writing that you use depends on who you are asked to write to and how well you are supposed to know them.
• Make sure the tone of your letter is correct. The way we would write a letter to our manager at work and a friend is different. Make sure you have identified the formality of the letter (e.g. formal/semi-formal/informal) and respond appropriately.
• Can include contractions (e.g. can’t) and more direct speech.
• And finally, remember that the greeting and the closing salutation of an IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 letter needs to match the style.

Our phrase bank for General Training letters is below, one column for a formal or semi-formal letter and one for a friendly one. The wording is ours. Use these as models, not as a script. Fit each one to the situation.

Essay phrases

IDP's Don't list for essays includes the first item below, and its Step 6 gives the second.

• Don't use contractions (can’t, doesn’t)
• Don’t use any memorised language, phrases or examples throughout your essay. They are easy for examiners to spot and don’t demonstrate your ability to write fluently.

These phrases are ours. They are neutral and flexible. Use each one only where it fits the question. Do not carry a ready-made essay into the exam.

Linking words are called cohesive devices in the descriptors. IELTS defines the criterion.

IDP's descriptors show what the examiners notice, from the middle bands to the high ones. Misuse and overuse are named.

• There may be limited/overuse of cohesive devices with some inaccuracy.
• Cohesive devices are used to some good effect but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical due to misuse, overuse or omission.
• A range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used flexibly but with some inaccuracies or some over/under use.
• Information and ideas are logically sequenced, and cohesion is well managed.

IDP's advice on linking words in an essay is short.

• Use a range of linking words and phrases, but don’t overuse them.
• Use adverbial phrases, rather than single basic linkers.
• Use referencing and substitution to avoid repetition (this/them/the issue/the problem)
• Overuse basic linking words like firstly (instead, try using ‘The first reason for/ The primary reason for this’)
• Start every sentence with a linking device.

So the aim is a small range used accurately, with the link often inside the sentence, and with reference words to avoid repeating yourself. This table is ours. It shows each connector with the grammar that goes with it.

Reference and substitution

IDP names reference and substitution in both the descriptors and the advice. These are the commonest ways, in our own examples.

Five connector mistakes to fix first

1. Starting every sentence with a linker. Put some of them in the middle, after the subject, between commas: Some people believe, however, that...
2. Using firstly, secondly and thirdly in every essay. Try The main reason for this is... and Another reason is...
3. Joining two sentences with however and a comma only. Use a full stop or a semicolon before however.
4. Writing despite of, or although followed by a noun. Say despite the cost, or although the cost is high.
5. Stacking two linkers: but however, and moreover. One is enough.

Phrases only help if they come out naturally. This routine is ours and takes about twenty minutes a day.

1. Choose two or three phrases for the day from one of the tables. Not more.
2. Say each one in a sentence about your own life, out loud, three times, changing the details each time.
3. Write one short paragraph, a letter opening or an essay paragraph, that uses the phrases where they fit.
4. Next day, record a one-minute answer to a Speaking question and check whether you used yesterday's phrases without being asked.
5. At the end of the week, review the week's phrases and throw out any that still feel odd in your mouth. Keep the rest.

The British Council says to group new vocabulary into related subjects and not make long lists of unrelated words. It also says that memorising a long list is not enough.

• Another useful tip is to group new vocabulary into related subjects (such as sports) to learn together, rather than making long lists of unrelated words.
• As this video explains, it’s not enough for you to simply memorise a long list of words; you must also use vocabulary effectively.

We did not find a fixed IELTS vocabulary list, or a vocabulary PDF, on the owners' pages that we read. IDP and the British Council teach you how to build vocabulary, with mind maps, collocations and synonyms, not a list to memorise. Cambridge sells a vocabulary book, and its catalogue says this.

The catalogue lists that book at C1 to C2 (CEFR), which is a high level. We do not host a PDF either. This page is plain text, so you can print it or save it from your browser as a PDF. For word lists by topic, see IELTS vocabulary by topic. For books and free preparation, see IELTS General Training books and preparation. For model letters and essays that use these phrases, see IELTS letter and essay samples. To see where IELTS scores sit on Canada's language levels, see IELTS to CLB. This page is general test preparation, not immigration advice.

Common questions