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IELTS vocabulary and collocation explorer, by topic
Choose a topic, then see each word with a plain meaning, the partners it usually appears with and a model sentence. 90 words across 9 common IELTS topics, all searchable and copyable.
Choose a topic
Schools, universities, learning methods and skills.
curriculum (noun)
the subjects taught in a school or course
Collocations
- national curriculum
- core curriculum
- revise the curriculum
- broaden the curriculum
Example: Many parents want practical skills to be part of the school curriculum.
tuition (noun)
money paid for teaching, or the teaching itself
Collocations
- tuition fees
- free tuition
- private tuition
- pay for tuition
Example: Rising tuition fees put university out of reach for some families.
literacy (noun)
the ability to read and write
Collocations
- adult literacy
- literacy rate
- digital literacy
- improve literacy
Example: Digital literacy is now as important as reading and writing.
compulsory (adjective)
required by law or rule
Collocations
- compulsory education
- compulsory subject
- make it compulsory
- compulsory attendance
Example: Maths remains a compulsory subject until the age of sixteen.
vocational (adjective)
directly connected with the skills for a job
Collocations
- vocational training
- vocational course
- vocational skills
- vocational qualification
Example: Vocational training prepares students for skilled jobs.
enrol (verb)
to officially join a course or school
Collocations
- enrol on a course
- enrol at a university
- enrol in a programme
- enrol your child
Example: More mature students are choosing to enrol on evening courses.
peer pressure (phrase)
the influence of classmates or friends on how you behave
Collocations
- under peer pressure
- resist peer pressure
- peer pressure to
- yield to peer pressure
Example: Teenagers often act differently because of peer pressure.
distance learning (phrase)
studying from home with materials sent or shared online
Collocations
- distance learning course
- distance learning programme
- offer distance learning
- rely on distance learning
Example: Distance learning lets people study while they work.
academic performance (phrase)
how well a student does in their studies
Collocations
- improve academic performance
- poor academic performance
- affect academic performance
- boost academic performance
Example: Sleep has a clear effect on academic performance.
hands-on (adjective)
involving doing things yourself rather than only listening
Collocations
- hands-on experience
- hands-on learning
- hands-on approach
- hands-on training
Example: Hands-on experience helps students remember what they learn.
Topics covered
Education
Schools, universities, learning methods and skills.
curriculum, tuition, literacy, compulsory …
Environment
Pollution, climate, resources and conservation.
emissions, deforestation, renewable, biodiversity …
Technology
Computers, the internet, automation and everyday devices.
automation, obsolete, cutting-edge, addicted …
Health and lifestyle
Fitness, diet, medicine and public health.
sedentary, obesity, preventive, balanced diet …
Work and economy
Jobs, careers, business and the cost of living.
workforce, unemployment, salary, flexible …
Crime and law
Offences, punishment, prevention and justice.
offender, deterrent, rehabilitation, sentence …
Family and society
Families, communities, age groups and social change.
generation gap, extended family, upbringing, community …
Cities, transport and housing
Urban life, traffic, public services and rural areas.
congestion, public transport, urbanisation, overcrowded …
Media, advertising and culture
News, advertising, globalisation, tourism and traditions.
advertising, consumer, biased, mass media …
How to learn a collocation properly
- Learn the partner, not only the word. Write “reduce emissions”, not just “emissions”.
- Make a sentence about your own opinion. It is easier to remember a word you have used for something you care about.
- Check the grammar around it. Does the verb take an object? Is the noun countable? The example sentences show one correct pattern.
- Use it in a timed paragraph within a day, then again a week later.
Questions about topic vocabulary
What is a collocation?
A collocation is a pair or group of words that natural English uses together: we say heavy traffic and make a decision, not strong traffic or do a decision. Using the usual partner for a word makes your writing sound more natural.
Should I memorise these lists?
Not as lists. Pick two or three words, write your own sentence with each collocation, and check that the sentence is about a real idea. Forced vocabulary that does not fit the meaning usually reads worse than simple, accurate words.
Is this the official IELTS vocabulary list?
No. IELTS publishes no word list. This is a small set of topic words and collocations written for English Test Coach; it is a starting point, not a complete or official list.
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Use the words, then see how they work in context
Write a paragraph using a few collocations, then check it. The writing checker shows estimated Lexical Resource feedback and flags words that do not fit. Your first check needs no account.
All meanings, collocations and example sentences were written for this tool; none is copied from a dictionary, textbook or exam paper, so there is no third-party licence to cite. Collocations were chosen as common, natural combinations by the author. English Test Coach is independent of IELTS. For more word lists, see the vocabulary library.