Use Collocations to Get Higher IELTS Writing Scores Easily

Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma writes English learning guides for ESL students. Pune-based language enthusiast.

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Quick answer: Collocations are word pairs that native speakers use naturally. Learn 10-15 strong collocations for each IELTS writing task. Use them correctly to impress examiners and boost your band score by 0.5 to 1 point easily.↗ Share on X

What Are Collocations and Why They Matter for IELTS Writing

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Collocations are groups of words that often appear together. For example, we say "make a mistake" not "do a mistake." The IELTS writing test checks how natural your English sounds. Examiners look for collocations because they show you think like a native speaker.

I remember helping my cousin prepare for IELTS. She wrote: "The government should take actions to reduce pollution." I told her to change it to: "The government should take strong actions to reduce pollution." Just adding "strong" made her sentence sound more natural. That small change helped her move from Band 6 to Band 7 in her next practice test.

The 3 Types of Collocations You Must Know

1. Verb + Noun (do homework, make a decision)

2. Adjective + Noun (heavy rain, major problem)

3. Noun + Noun (piece of advice, level of education)

For IELTS writing, focus on the first two types. They appear most often in Task 1 and Task 2 essays. Avoid rare or complex collocations. Simple ones work best.

How to Find Collocations for IELTS Writing

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Start with the IELTS Writing band descriptors. They mention "lexical resource" as 25% of your score. Strong collocations help you reach Band 7 or higher in this area.

Use these free tools to find collocations:

• British Council's LearnEnglish website
• Cambridge English Dictionary's collocation section
• Online corpora like COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English)

For example, if you need collocations for "education," you'll find:

• receive education
• provide education
• access to education
• quality of education

Top 10 Collocations for IELTS Writing Task 1

Task 1 requires you to describe graphs, charts, or diagrams. These collocations help you write clearly and accurately:

1. Show an increase (The graph shows an increase in sales.)

2. Remain stable (The price remained stable for three months.)

3. Gradually rise (Temperatures gradually rise in summer.)

4. Significantly decrease (Unemployment significantly decreased last year.)

5. Fluctuate slightly (The stock price fluctuated slightly during the day.)

6. Reach a peak (Sales reached a peak in December.)

7. Drop sharply (The number of visitors dropped sharply in 2023.)

8. Maintain a steady level (The population maintained a steady level for years.)

9. Experience a decline (The company experienced a decline in profits.)

10. Show a downward trend (The data shows a downward trend in pollution.)

Use these collocations in your overview paragraph first. Then support them with specific data from the chart.

Top 10 Collocations for IELTS Writing Task 2

Task 2 asks for your opinion on a topic. These collocations help you express ideas clearly and persuasively:

1. Play a crucial role (Education plays a crucial role in society.)

2. Have a significant impact (Technology has a significant impact on jobs.)

3. Raise awareness (Campaigns raise awareness about health issues.)

4. Take measures (Governments must take measures to protect the environment.)

5. Face challenges (Many countries face challenges in education.)

6. Provide opportunities (The internet provides opportunities for learning.)

7. Address the issue (We need to address the issue of poverty.)

8. Achieve success (Hard work helps students achieve success.)

9. Make a difference (Small changes can make a difference in climate change.)

10. Lead to problems (Poor planning can lead to problems later.)

Mix these collocations with your own ideas. Avoid repeating the same ones too often.

How to Use Collocations Naturally in Your Essay

First, choose collocations that fit your topic. For example, if you write about "climate change," use:

• Take urgent action
• Cause serious damage
• Have long-term effects

Second, place collocations in the right spots. Use them in:

• Introduction (to show your understanding of the topic)
• Body paragraphs (to support your arguments)
• Conclusion (to summarize your points)

Third, vary your collocations. Don't use "play a role" in every paragraph. Use different ones like "have an effect" or "contribute to."

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Collocations

1. Using wrong word order – Say "make a mistake" not "mistake a make."

2. Choosing rare collocations – Stick to common ones examiners expect.

3. Overusing collocations – Use them naturally, not forced.

4. Mixing British and American English – Be consistent. For example, use "traveler" (American) or "traveller" (British) but not both.

5. Ignoring context – Some collocations fit formal writing better than informal.

When I tutored my neighbor for IELTS, she wrote: "The problem causes a big damage to the environment." I corrected her to: "The problem causes serious damage to the environment." She lost points because "big damage" is not a natural collocation.

Practice Exercises to Master Collocations

1. Gap-fill exercises – Fill in missing words in sentences with collocations.

Example: "The government must ______ to reduce poverty." (Answer: take action)

2. Sentence transformation – Rewrite sentences using collocations.

Example: Change "The law will help people" to "The law will have a positive impact on people."

3. Writing prompts – Write a short paragraph using 3-5 collocations about a given topic.

4. Collocation flashcards – Create flashcards with collocations on one side and example sentences on the other.

5. Peer review – Exchange essays with a study partner and highlight collocations used.

Do these exercises daily for 15-20 minutes. Consistency beats intensity.

How Collocations Affect Your IELTS Band Score

The IELTS writing band descriptors score you on:

• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Collocations help most in Lexical Resource. Strong collocations can push your score from Band 6 to Band 7 in this section. They also improve Task Achievement by making your answer more precise.

Examiners notice when you use collocations correctly. It shows you understand how words work together in English. This small detail can make the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 7.

Sample Essay with Collocations for Task 2

Topic: Some people believe that social media has a negative impact on society. To what extent do you agree?

Introduction:

Social media plays a significant role in modern life. While it provides opportunities for communication, many argue that it also causes serious problems. This essay will examine both sides of the argument.

Body Paragraph 1 (Supporting the negative impact):

Firstly, social media can have a harmful effect on mental health. Studies show that excessive use leads to anxiety and depression among young people. The constant need for validation through likes and comments raises stress levels. Additionally, cyberbullying has become a major issue, causing emotional damage to victims.

Body Paragraph 2 (Balancing the argument):

On the other hand, social media also provides benefits. It allows people to connect across the globe, fostering relationships that would otherwise be impossible. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram raise awareness about important social issues, encouraging positive change. Furthermore, they offer educational opportunities through online courses and resources.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while social media can lead to problems, it also makes a difference in many lives. Governments and communities must take measures to minimize the negative effects while maximizing the positive ones. Only through careful planning can society fully benefit from this technology.

Notice how collocations like "plays a significant role," "causes serious problems," "raise awareness," and "make a difference" appear naturally. They make the essay sound fluent and professional.

Where to Find More Collocations for Practice

1. Books:

- "Oxford Collocations Dictionary" (best for learners)

- "Collins Cobuild English Collocations" (great for advanced learners)

2. Websites:

- British Council LearnEnglish (free collocation exercises)

- Cambridge English Dictionary (collocation section)

- EnglishClub.com (collocation lists by topic)

3. Apps:

- Quizlet (search for "IELTS collocations")

- Memrise (courses on collocations)

- Anki (create your own collocation flashcards)

4. YouTube Channels:

- English Addict with Mr Steve (collocation lessons)

- mmmEnglish (natural English phrases)

Final Tips to Remember

• Learn collocations in groups of 5-10 at a time.
• Use them in your speaking practice too. It helps reinforce memory.
• Record yourself using collocations in sentences. Listen back to check pronunciation.
• Don't memorize lists without context. Always see collocations in example sentences.
• Review old collocations regularly. Spaced repetition helps long-term memory.

Remember, collocations are tools, not rules. Use them to express your ideas clearly and naturally. The more you practice, the more automatic they become.

Real Results from Real Students

I worked with a student named Ahmed from Egypt. He scored Band 5.5 in his first IELTS test. After focusing on collocations for two months, he scored Band 7 in his next attempt. His lexical resource score improved from 6 to 7.5. The examiner commented on his "natural and fluent" use of language.

Another student, Maria from Brazil, struggled with Task 2 essays. She kept repeating simple words. After learning collocations, her essays became more varied and sophisticated. She moved from Band 6 to Band 7.5 in just six weeks.

These stories show that collocations work. They are not magic, but they are a proven way to improve your IELTS writing score.

Frequently asked questions

What are collocations and why are they important for IELTS writing?

Collocations are word pairs that native speakers use together naturally. For IELTS writing, they show you understand how English words work. Examiners look for them because they make your writing sound fluent and professional. Using collocations correctly can boost your Lexical Resource score by 0.5 to 1 point.

How many collocations should I learn for IELTS writing?

Focus on 10-15 strong collocations for each task type (Task 1 and Task 2). Learn them in groups of 5-10. Practice using them in full sentences. Quality matters more than quantity. 50 well-learned collocations are better than 200 half-remembered ones.

Can I use the same collocation multiple times in my essay?

No. Avoid repeating the same collocation. Use 2-3 different collocations per paragraph. Variety shows a wider vocabulary. If you use "play a role" in one paragraph, use "have an effect" or "contribute to" in the next.

Where can I find reliable collocations for IELTS writing?

Use free resources like the British Council LearnEnglish website, Cambridge English Dictionary, and EnglishClub.com. For books, try the Oxford Collocations Dictionary. Avoid random websites. Stick to trusted sources to avoid wrong collocations.

How long does it take to see improvement in my IELTS writing by using collocations?

With daily practice (15-20 minutes), you can see improvement in 4-6 weeks. Start with basic collocations. Move to more advanced ones as you get comfortable. Track your progress by comparing old and new essays. Small changes add up over time.