IELTS Training: Using Collocations to Boost Your IELTS Score

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Collocations to increase world power for IELTS writing test.

It is noticed that IELTS learners often face difficulties when it comes to collocations which can be defined as the natural combination of words or the correct arrangement of words in a sentence. With regard to the IELTS Writing Task 2, IELTS test takers should make the most of collocations to ace the IELTS Writing test. This means IELTS learners shouldn’t learn individual words by themselves and should focus on what other words they are used with.  The very first article about collocations on this website will equip you with 20 useful collocations to build up your vocabulary & maximize your IELTS score. It is widely acknowledged that collocations play an important role in second language learning, particularly at the intermediate and advanced levels. Collocations enhance improvement of learners’ oral communication, listening comprehension, and reading speed, and that teaching collocation enables learners to be aware of language chunks used by native speakers in speech and writing. Here are 20 collocations that you can use to improve your essay in IELTS Writing Task 2 1-To play/have a(n) important/key/vital/crucial role in (doing) sth:  to play an important part in sth
  • University education plays a crucial role in improving the quality of human workforce.
2-To make significant/substantial/valuable/ great/outstanding contribution to sth
  • The medical advances have made outstanding contributions to the public’s health care.
3-To solve the problem
  • Whoever created this problem should solve it.
4-To be key factors influencing something
  • The number of the vehicles used is the key factors influencing pollution.
5-To reap the benefits (of sth) – gain benefit from something/ make the most of something
  • The customers reap the benefits of globalization.
6- To be a contributing factor:  to be one of the main causes of sth
  • The vaccination program has been a contributing factor in the improvement of health standards.
7-To contribute to sth
  • Alcohol contributes to 100,000 deaths a year in the US.
8-To gain/derive benefit (from sth)
  • Many students derived enormous benefit from the course.
9-To have a right to do sth = to be entitled to do sth
  • Everyone should have the right to freedom of expression.
  • Full-time employees are entitled to receive health insurance.
10-To benefit greatly/enormously/considerably … from sth
  • Many thousands have benefited considerably from the new treatment.
11-To have/enjoy/achieve a huge/great success in doing sth
  • We want all our students to achieve a huge success in the exam
12- To launch a full-scale investigation into sth
  • The authorities are planning to launch a full-scale investigation into the crash.
13- To meet the need of/demand
  • The charity exists to meet the needs of elderly people.
14-To fulfil a role/duty/function/ an aim/a goal/an objective/dream/ambition/hope
  • Visiting Disneyland has fulfilled a boyhood dream.
15-To fulfil a requirement/condition/obligation
  • Britain was accused of failing to fulfill its obligation under the EU Treaty.
16-To fulfil a promise/pledge = to keep a promise
  • I’d like to see him fulfill his promise to reorganize the army.
17-To satisfy sb’s needs/demands/desires/requirements
  • The program is designed to satisfy the needs of adult learners.
18-To have/gain knowledge/understanding of sth
  • The need to gain knowledge about birth control.
19- To have/make common cause (with/against)
  • S officials expect other Western governments to make common cause with them over the arrests.
20- To cause somebody to do something
  • What caused you to change your mind ?

Using Collocations to Boost Your IELTS Score

The correct use of collocations is an essential part of improving your English level and boosting your IELTS score. Using collocations correctly allows you to write and speak more like a native speaker and they are also one of the things that examiners look out for when marking your tests. Learning new words as part of a collocation is a much more effective way of improving our vocabulary than simply learning single words by themselves. Collocations are two or more words that naturally go together. They sound ‘correct’ to a native speaker. Using other combinations that do not form natural collocations might sound ‘incorrect’.

Examples

We could describe a night out as ‘great fun’, but we would not describe it as ‘big fun’. Similarly, we could describe the rain as being ‘heavy’, but we would not say that it is ‘weighty’ or ‘big’ rain. There are many different types of collocations that you should be aware of. Below are the main ones and some examples. Please note that this is not a list of collocations that you should use in your test, just some examples to help you understand what collocations are.

Adverb + Adjective

It’s vitally important to learn collocations.

Using Collocations to Boost Your IELTS Score

The correct use of collocations is an essential part of improving your English level and boosting your IELTS score. Using collocations correctly allows you to write and speak more like a native speaker and they are also one of the things that examiners look out for when marking your tests. Learning new words as part of a collocation is a much more effective way of improving our vocabulary than simply learning single words by themselves. Collocations are two or more words that naturally go together. They sound ‘correct’ to a native speaker. Using other combinations that do not form natural collocations might sound ‘incorrect’.

Examples

We could describe a night out as ‘great fun’, but we would not describe it as ‘big fun’. Similarly, we could describe the rain as being ‘heavy’, but we would not say that it is ‘weighty’ or ‘big’ rain. There are many different types of collocations that you should be aware of. Below are the main ones and some examples. Please note that this is not a list of collocations that you should use in your test, just some examples to help you understand what collocations are.

Adverb + Adjective

It’s vitally important to learn collocations. I’m terribly sorry to bother you. The baby was fast asleep. It would be utterly stupid not to learn collocations. I’m completely satisfied with his explanation. Note that the adverb can often be replaced with the simpler words ‘very’ or ‘really’. Try to avoid these and use a more advanced collocation, like the ones above.

Adjective + Noun

There’s been heavy rain all day in Ireland. There’s  a strong chance I’ll get a high score. I’m under severe pressure to get the job finished this week. It’s been a hard day at the office. The patient was in excruciating pain when they arrived.

Noun + Noun

I experience a surge of anger when I saw what he’d done. We gave her a round of applause after the speech. I normally just drink a pint of beer when I go out.

Noun + Verb

A lion roars, they do not shout. The children played as the snow began to fall. The price of heating oil falls as temperatures rise.

Verb + Noun

Will someone please answer the phone? Click on the link below to send me an email. You can arrange an appointment with the doctor online.

How Can Collocations Improve My IELTS Score?

IELTS examiners will be listening out for effective use of collocations when you are doing your speaking test. They will also look for good use of them in your writing test. In short, appropriate and accurate use of them will help boost your score. Does that mean that you should learn a long list of them? NO! Instead, you should make collocations part of your vocabulary building process. When you learn a new word, you should find out which words it collocates with. A quick Google search will help you find all the main collocations easily. You can then write down example sentences containing the collocations. This will help you remember the word more effectively, so you will be broadening your vocabulary and this will help you in all parts of the test.

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