IELTS Preparation
IELTS Vocabulary for Band 7+
Lexical Resource is one of the four criteria in both Writing and Speaking — a quarter of each score. This page explains what examiners actually reward, and the free PDF gives you topic-wise word lists with a model sentence for every entry.
- 8 topic-wise word lists
- A model sentence for every word
- Collocations, not just synonyms
- Free PDF, no sign-up
Why vocabulary decides your band
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing and Speaking score
Examiners are not counting words. They are looking for four things: less common items used where they belong, accurate word choice, natural collocations — words that native speakers actually put together — and topic relevance.
That is why paraphrasing matters so much. If you can restate the question in your own words, you avoid the repetition that pulls a score down, and you show range without reaching for words you cannot control. A rich vocabulary means having the right word for the context, not knowing the most words.
The eight topics worth learning first
IELTS Vocabulary
-
Society, work and study
- Environment and nature — sustainability, carbon footprint, conservation
- Education — curriculum, rote learning, vocational training
- Work and career — job security, work-life balance, remote working
- Society and culture — social mobility, diversity, urbanisation
-
Life, health and the wider world
- Technology — automation, digital literacy, screen time
- Health and lifestyle — sedentary lifestyle, life expectancy, healthcare access
- Art and culture — artistic expression, heritage, patronage
- Travel and tourism — destination, eco-tourism, seasonal demand
-
How each entry is built
- The word and its part of speech
- A plain-English definition
- A model sentence at band 7 level
- Usage tips for that topic in Writing and Speaking
-
A four-day cycle per topic
- Day 1: review the word list
- Day 2: use each word in your own sentences
- Day 3: apply them to a practice task
- Day 4: test yourself
- Fifteen minutes a day beats a weekend of cramming
Download the IELTS vocabulary guide
Topic-wise word lists for band 7+, each with a definition and a model sentence, plus usage tips per topic. Free, no sign-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much vocabulary do you need for IELTS band 7?
Band 7 in Lexical Resource does not ask for a huge word count. It asks for a sufficient range used with flexibility and precision, some less common vocabulary, and awareness of collocation. Forty to fifty well-understood words per common topic, used accurately, beats a thousand words you cannot place in a sentence.
Which topics should IELTS vocabulary cover?
The topics that recur in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3: environment and nature, education, technology, health and lifestyle, work and career, society and culture, art, and travel and tourism. The free vocabulary PDF on this page is organised along exactly those lines.
Do idioms help your IELTS score?
In Speaking, natural idiomatic language is part of the band 7 and above descriptors, so a few well-placed expressions help. In Writing, idioms usually hurt: academic writing wants precise, formal vocabulary and accurate collocations instead.
Is the IELTS vocabulary PDF free?
Yes. The topic-wise IELTS vocabulary guide on this page is free to download, with no sign-up. Each entry gives the word, its part of speech, a plain definition and a model sentence you can adapt.