Academic Vocabulary on IELTS Listening and Reading

You’ll find academic passages in IELTS Reading, and these passages are full of academic vocabulary. This is true both for IELTS Academic Reading and IELTS General Training Reading. On either version of the exam, you’ll read educational nonfiction articles that deal with specific academic topics. This means you’ll need to know IELTS Reading words related to science, history, economics, and so on.

Similarly, on both tests, the IELTS Listening sections also touch on academic vocabulary, with educational talks and university-style lectures.

Conversational Vocabulary on IELTS Listening and Reading

On both versions of the IELTS exam, IELTS Listening words contain a lot of conversational vocabulary. You’ll hear people having business-related conversations, such as an exchange between a customer and a clerk at a store or someone making a phone call to a travel agent.

On the IELTS General Training exam, you see some conversational words in the Reading section, such as in short flyers and bulletins about public events, services, store refund policies, products for sale, and so on. These short written pieces are full of IELTS conversational vocabulary.

These kinds of IELTS texts contain the same kinds of words you’d use if you were actually talking to someone about events, services, shopping, or goods. Here are some real IELTS General Training passages from the official IELTS website:

• Bulletin about a recalled product
• Handbill for a group bicycling activity

IELTS Listening and Reading Words PDF

Extra Vocabulary Resources for IELTS Listening and Reading

Our IELTS vocabulary podcast series is a great resource for practicing your listening skills as well as learning new words!

For IELTS Listening and Reading word lists, check out the blog posts below. They contain common IELTS words, definitions, and examples in context for a variety of topics!

• IELTS Conversational Vocabulary: Information
• Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Family, Travel, and Work

A Final Word

IELTS Listening and Reading draws from a variety of sources that contain both academic and conversational vocabulary. Be sure to study both types in order to be well-prepared for the exam! To learn more about the vocabulary in other sections of the IELTS exam, plus some tips and tricks, check out:

• IELTS Speaking Vocabulary
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Language and Vocabulary Guide
• Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2
• How to Learn IELTS Vocabulary

What is IELTS vocabulary like? Before I give you an answer, there’s one thing you should remember: each section of the IELTS—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—has its own unique mix of vocabulary.

Still, these sections do have one thing in common: each part of the IELTS features either academic vocabulary, conversational vocabulary, or a combination of both. Download our FREE IELTS vocabulary PDF below, then read on to find the word lists and resources to help expand your IELTS vocabulary.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Click the links below to go to each section of our guide.

• Vocabulary by IELTS Topics (Academic and General)
• IELTS Vocabulary by Section
  • Writing Task 1 Vocabulary Lists
  • Writing Task 2 Vocabulary Lists
  • Speaking Vocabulary Lists
  • Listening and Reading Vocabulary Lists
• Free IELTS Vocabulary PDF
• Additional Vocabulary Resources (Books and Lists)
• The Takeaway

Vocabulary by IELTS Topics (Academic and General)

There are many different IELTS word lists out there, and each list has a different number of words. So, exactly how many words do you need to know for the IELTS? The answer is that you can’t know. There’s no exact number of words that is guaranteed to give you full mastery of vocabulary for the test. In general, the more words you know, the better. Check out these word lists with comic illustrations to start with some of the most important types of vocab!

• Magoosh Comics: IELTS Science Vocabulary
• Magoosh Comics: IELTS University Vocabulary
• Magoosh Comics: IELTS Conversational Vocabulary

Here is a helpful video we’ve made that introduces you to some common vocabulary words you’ll encounter.

IELTS Vocabulary by Section

IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary Lists

In IELTS Academic Writing, the vocabulary for Writing Task 1 is related to summarizing factual information. The task requires you to describe the contents of a detailed informational graph or chart. This means you need to write a factual, source-based essay. You’ll be required to use “reporting verbs,” or verbs that describe the way information is given. For example, you might say “the chart illustrates…” or “the graph presents…” or “the table demonstrates….” You’ll also need to use adjectives such as “approximately” or “gradually” to describe data, or changes to data over time.

Here are some great word lists and guides for Academic Writing Task 1:

• Useful Words for Writing an IELTS Graph Essay
• Process Diagram Vocabulary
• How to Describe an IELTS Map
• How to Describe an IELTS Bar Chart
• How to Describe an IELTS Pie Chart

In contrast, vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 1 on the General Training test is more informal and conversational. For General Training, the first Writing task involves personal and professional emails and letters.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary Lists

For both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, the second Writing task is the same. Writing Task 2 vocabulary should be appropriate for a short, university style essay.

What’s important here is that you are good at using written vocabulary in the right context. And we have specific vocabulary resources for specific Task 2 question types:

• Writing Task 2 Introduction and Vocabulary
• IELTS Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Vocabulary 
• Advanced Writing Task 2 Vocabulary to Achieve Band 9

IELTS Speaking Vocabulary Lists

Using IELTS Speaking vocabulary is a unique challenge, as you will be tested on your vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation during a short, in-person interview. Here are some sample vocabulary phrases you can use for IELTS Speaking:

• Useful IELTS Vocabulary and Phrases
• English Conversation Practice: Greeting Questions and Phrases
• 10 Conversation Topics for Adults Learning English

IELTS Listening and Reading Vocabulary Lists

It’s no secret that both the Academic and General Training IELTS Reading sections are full of academic vocabulary. However, General Training reading passages also contain some conversational vocabulary. Here are some conversational vocabulary examples for General Reading from the official IELTS website:

• Bulletin about a recalled product
• Handbill for a group bicycling activity

Likewise, on both tests, the IELTS Listening section contains both academic and conversational vocabulary. You’ll hear university-style lectures (academic) as well as conversations related to business (conversational).

Because the types of vocabulary you’ll encounter in Reading and Listening are so broad, we recommend using broader IELTS vocab resources to study for these sections, rather than anything specifically for one section. Learn more about the types of Listening and Reading vocabulary you’ll need to study in the linked post, or keep reading to get our FREE IELTS vocabulary PDF.

Free IELTS Vocabulary PDF

The Magoosh IELTS Vocabulary PDF is a great resource with vocabulary word lists and advice for each section of the IELTS. Did we mention it’s free? Click the button below to access the vocabulary PDF!

Additional Vocab Resources

Here are some other posts from our blog that cover IELTS vocabulary:

• How to Learn IELTS Vocabulary
• Words You Need to Know for IELTS

In addition to these, Magoosh IELTS offers free flashcards for over 600 common IELTS words. So what are you waiting for? Check out the Magoosh IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards online right now, or get on your phone and download our app for Android or Apple.

IELTS Vocabulary Books and Lists

As you look for the best IELTS books and resources, think about how these resources can help you build your vocabulary, directly or indirectly. Cambridge has made an especially good official IELTS vocabulary book, “Vocabulary for IELTS.” I own a copy of this book, and I highly recommend it.

Here are some IELTS vocabulary word lists to check out:

• Vocabulary.com’s IELTS vocabulary for 8 band page (and other IELTS word lists on their website)
• The Academic Word List, or AWL. Though it’s not IELTS-specific, it does cover all the kinds of academic words you’ll find on the test. The AWL features the academic vocabulary words that most often appear in university-level texts and lectures.

The Takeaway

IELTS vocab skills lead to exam success. There are many good resources, both here at Magoosh and in other places, that can help you learn IELTS vocabulary. And this article is a good resource in and of itself, so much that we recommend it as a supplement to our IELTS study schedules, especially the one-week IELTS study plan.

To truly master IELTS vocabulary, memorization exercises and flashcards are helpful. But there’s far more to vocabulary than just memorization. To really shine on the IELTS, make sure you are ready to not just recall vocabulary, but also to understand vocabulary in context. And of course, be prepared to fluently use IELTS English vocabulary in context, in your own writing and speech. Good luck!

Learning and remembering vocabulary plays an essential part in acquiring English language as well as passing standardized tests such as the IELTS. So, how do you learn English words and remember them? Here are five fun and effective tips on how to learn IELTS vocabulary.

How to Expand Your IELTS Vocabulary

If you want to expand your vocabulary for IELTS, you should start by doing IELTS practice questions. As you practice IELTS questions, ask yourself:

• How do you do with vocabulary?
• How many words do you not know?
• How does this affect your IELTS performance?

One quick way to get a feel for this is to take a full-length IELTS practice test. As you take an IELTS practice test, ask yourself: Can I understand all the necessary information in the recordings and the reading passages? Can I express my ideas in both written and spoken language effectively and accurately, by using various words?

Once you’ve taken a practice exam and have an idea of your current level of vocabulary, you can start to work to expand your vocabulary.

In addition to those basics, read on for five specific vocabulary-building methods that have worked well for many of our students.

Five Ways to Learn and Remember IELTS Vocabulary

1. Read and Listen

Learning new words through reading or listening is better than just memorizing words on wordbooks because they provide you with a meaningful context. Find the fields that you are most interested in and read news from BBC, CNN or New York Times. If you have time, try to read short English novels such as Pride and Prejudice, The Old Man and the Sea and Animal Farm. TV shows and videos are also good resources for picking up new words. Watch Ted Talks , open college courses and your favorite English shows with subtitles. Try to guess the meaning of new words you come across while reading or watching and then look them up in dictionaries.
 

2. Use Effective Dictionaries

As you all know, a dictionary is a must when learning new words. However, as there are tons of dictionaries in the world, you may wonder what kind of dictionary is best for you. I recommend using two dictionaries. One dictionary gives definitions and examples of a word in English and the other gives translation in your native language.

I also recommend using Merriam-Webster. It is a free online dictionary where you can find English definitions, examples, origins, and related words. It also provides a word per day and some word games on its website so that you can learn a word every day and check how strong your vocabulary is.
 

3. Make Frayer Four-Square Vocabulary Charts

Below is an example of the four-square chart.

Put the word in the center circle and write down definitions, home language translation, examples and non-examples in the four blanks. You can also replace any of them with pictures or key facts about the word. The point here is to understand the word more deeply so that you can remember it better. Besides, you can go over the words anytime and anywhere as the chart is easy to carry.
 

4. Arrange New Words Into Categories

Spend some time on arranging new learned words into categories on your notebook each week. For example, you can put adjectives describing a person’s personality, adjectives describing emotions and adjectives describing places into three different categories. It helps you to review what you have learned and make connections between the words so that you can stick them into long term memory better.
 

5. Use New Words in Conversation or Writing

Try to use new words in conversations with a partner. If you can’t find a partner, just create a possible situation and talk to yourself. It also helps when you use them in your writing. Think about the categories you arranged and use different words each time. Practice with these topics.

The best way to expand your vocabulary is to increase exposure to English, combine different memorization strategies, and practice using new words. Now, let’s talk about how to expand your vocabulary in preparation for the IELTS.

The Takeaway

Keep in mind: Expanding your vocabulary is not just remembering the spelling and translation of vocabulary lists. It is about learning meanings, functions, phrases, and more. Therefore, learning new words should be based on meaningful contexts. Check out these resources to get started with learning IELTS vocabulary!

• Free list of IELTS vocabulary words (PDF)
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Language and Vocabulary Guide
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary
• IELTS Speaking Vocabulary
• IELTS Listening and Reading Words: Academic vs. Conversational

When it comes to using IELTS vocabulary, the Speaking section deserves special attention. To begin with, IELTS Speaking vocabulary is a huge part of your Speaking score. In fact, “lexical resource,” meaning variety and range of vocabulary, makes up 25% of your IELTS Speaking score. So you need to develop a good range of high-level vocabulary.

But there’s more to learning Speaking vocabulary than just memorizing words and definitions. Let’s explore what makes this section unique and challenging compared to other parts of the IELTS.

For more on how this section is scored, see the official IELTS Speaking band descriptors PDF.

IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: A Little Academic, A Little Conversational

In IELTS Speaking Part 1 and IELTS Speaking Part 3, you need to actually use vocabulary in a live, ongoing conversation. You can’t pause to think of the right word, the way that you would in IELTS Writing. You are expected to respond immediately to vocabulary words you hear. You have little time to pause and think about what you’ve heard. This means you’ll need more than just passive listening or reading skills in conversational vocabulary.

Part 2 of IELTS Speaking is even more of a special case. This is the IELTS Speaking “long turn.” Here, you need to give a speech—2 to 3 minutes long—where you express a personal opinion about a social issue. This is similar to the kind of talk you might give in a university speech class. So you’ll need to know the vocabulary of formal speech, rather than conversation… and you’ll need to know some good academic transition words.

IELTS Vocabulary for Speaking: Parts 1 and 3

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you’ll have a fast-paced conversation about your personal experiences. In Part 3, you will again have an active, personal conversation. The difference is that in Part 3, you aren’t just giving basic facts about your personal life. In this final section of IELTS Speaking, you also reflect on your personal life. This means you state your opinions about personal experiences you’ve had, and describe how these experiences affected you.

The topics of discussion in IELTS Speaking Parts 1 and 3 vary, but there are several common topics. You can find example questions for these topics in Magoosh’s IELTS Speaking Topics PDF.

IELTS Vocabulary for Speaking: Part 2

IELTS Speaking Part 2 serves as a kind of “bridge” between Parts 1 and 3 of the IELTS interview. After giving basic personal facts in Part 1, Part 2 gives you a chance to reflect on your personal experiences in a longer speech.

The Part 1 and Part 3 vocabulary words are also potentially useful in IELTS Speaking Part 2. However, IELTS Speaking Part 2 requires you to use additional types of academic words. You’ll need your speech to be just a little bit more formal than usual.

Don’t worry—you don’t need to use the highly formal vocabulary you’d use in IELTS Writing. Your speech can still have a natural, informal tone, for the most part. But it is a good idea to use formal transition words.

Because you are talking “solo,” without any replies from your interviewer, strong transition words are important. They help your interviewer understand your ideas, even though he or she cannot stop you to ask for clarification or extra information. In our IELTS Vocabulary PDF, you can find a list of formal transition words for the Speaking long turn.

Additional IELTS Speaking Vocabulary Resources

Ready to work on your IELTS speaking vocabulary? Check out these resources to get started:

• The Complete Guide to IELTS Speaking, to learn everything you need to know about the Speaking section.
• High-Level Words for IELTS Speaking, for skills-building advice.
• Magoosh IELTS Vocabulary PDF, for a comprehensive IELTS vocabulary word list.
• Top Ten IELTS Speaking Tips. This is not specifically a vocabulary resource, but these strategies are a powerful tool to help you apply all of your Speaking skills, including vocabulary.

To continue your IELTS vocabulary journey in other sections, check out our free guides to IELTS Listening and Reading words, IELTS Writing Task 1 vocabulary, and IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary.

Learning idioms in English is a necessary and important step toward becoming fluent. Native speakers use idioms, sayings, expressions, and proverbs all the time in their English vocabulary. Without knowing their true meaning, a non-native speaker might feel left in the dark. Thankfully, some easier idioms have context clues that point to their underlying message.

In order to better understand idioms and their importance in your IELTS vocabulary journey, let’s take a look at 30 common idioms that you are likely to encounter in English. This list will be divided into easy, intermediate, and difficult idioms. Additionally, we will provide sample sentences so that you can start using these phrases in your own conversations!

What exactly are idioms in English?

Idioms in English are phrases with an established meaning that differs from the literal meaning of the words. Much like metaphors, idioms use terms and imagery that are seemingly unrelated to their intended meaning. However, metaphors differ somewhat from English idioms; idioms are phrases that are commonly known and used by English speakers, which is not necessarily the case with metaphors.

To get a better idea of what English idioms are like, check out this video with some examples of idioms used at work.

10 Easy English Idioms with Example Sentences

These idioms are easy because it is possible to extract their meaning without a definition. Additionally, these phrases use relatively simple vocabulary that is easy to remember. So, here are 10 easy English idioms, their meanings, and example sentences:

10 Intermediate English Idioms with Example Sentences

These English idioms are a little more difficult because they use more complex vocabulary. In some cases, you may not be able to figure out what they mean without further explanation or context. So, here are 10 intermediate English idioms, their meanings, and example sentences:

10 Advanced Idioms in English with Example Sentences

These idioms are difficult because they provide little or no context related to their meaning. Without a definition, it would almost be impossible to figure out what they mean. So, here are 10 difficult English idioms, their meanings, and example sentences:

There you have it! These are 30 English idioms to help you advance your speaking vocabulary for IELTS and beyond.

When it comes to IELTS writing task 1, 25% of your marks are for the range of words you use. That means IELTS graph vocabulary is a very important component to review as you prepare for the Writing Task 1. You can start by checking out this IELTS writing task 1 vocabulary guide. And below, I’ll provide an overview of words and useful phrases to incorporate into your writing so that you can get top marks on the lexical resource category and a high band score overall. Basically, the better your IELTS writing chart vocabulary, the higher score you’ll get. It’s not hard, but there is a clear formula to doing well.

How to Use IELTS Graph Vocabulary in Writing Task 1

Because IELTS writing task 1 involves describing a graph or chart of some type, it will help to have a handle on IELTS writing chart vocabulary — words and phrases that help you write about the information on the chart or graph.

How are graphs described in IELTS? Let’s walk through the best vocabulary for the task, step by step.

1. Start With Introduction Phrases

Often ESL students start their essay with ‘The graph shows…’. While this is fine, the verb ‘shows’ could be replaced by a more exciting and high-level vocabulary word. Here are four different prompts to start your essay:

• The graph illustrates the trends in…
• The graph reveals information about the changes in…
• The graph provides the differences between…
• The graph presents how X has changed over a period of…

• DO NOT write the word below or above in your introduction. i.e. The graph above/below shows…

2. Add Suitable Adverbs

Adverbs help express a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, and degree, and can greatly add some color and interest to your writing as well as show off your range of vocabulary. Unlike adjectives (which describe nouns), adverbs describe verbs, or actions. Here’s a great list of adverbs to use:

3. Use Appropriate Synonyms

Again using a variety of nouns and verbs for words like rise and fall will help increase your overall score. Here are some suggestions:

4. Add Time Phrases

Below are some excellent time phrases with sentence examples:

Using IELTS Graph Vocabulary in a Model Essay

Look at the sample IELTS writing Task 1 graphs on the British Council website. Below is my model answer with useful words in bold:

The bar charts illustrate the trends in computer ownership, with a further classification by level of education, from 2002 to 2010.

Over the period, it can be observed that there was a significant surge in the percentage of the population that owned a computer. In the year 2002, only about 58% of the population owned a computer, whereas by 2010, this gradually increased to where over three-quarters of individuals had a home computer.

Looking at the information by level of education reveals that higher levels of education correspond to higher levels of computer ownership in both of those years. In 2002, a significantly low percentage of the population who did not finish high school had a computer, but this figure skyrocketed by 2010, going from 15% to over 40%. There were also dramatic climbs, of approximately 30 percentage points, for those with a high school diploma or an unfinished college education (reaching 65% and 85%, respectively, in 2010).

To conclude, during the last decade, there has been a substantial growth in computer ownership across all educational levels.

Other IELTS Graph Vocabulary Resources

Keep in mind that IELTS writing task 1 may contain one of several different types of infographic: a bar chart, pie chart, line graph, diagram, etc. Regardless of the type, you’ll want to have a good handle on IELTS writing chart vocabulary.

For more specific guides to the different kinds of graphs, charts, and graphics you may find on IELTS writing task 1, check out the following resources:

• How to Describe a Bar Chart
• How to Describe a Pie Chart
• How to Describe a Map
• How to Describe a Process Diagram

You can also check out Magoosh’s IELTS linking words PDF for transitions between ideas. Hopefully you’ll start to incorporate some of these key words and phrases, as well as the above suggestions, in your IELTS Task 1 Writing. If you still don’t feel comfortable doing so, consider dedicating more time to your IELTS studies with Magoosh’s fun, engaging IELTS prep for extra practice.

Below, I’m going to walk you through the five steps to writing top-scored IELTS map essays:

1. Master the basic vocabulary
2. Understand the objectives of the task
3. Fully describe the items on the map
4. Describe the way elements of the map change (an IELTS Writing map is two part, showing how a place changes)
5. Combine all of these skills into a full essay

A full walkthrough of Writing Task 1 maps, including a model essay, can be seen in Eliot’s video above. (You can watch the video now, or check it out later after reading this guide!)

IELTS Map Vocabulary

Before we look at the finer parts of how to write about an IELTS map, let’s think about the basic features of these maps and the IELTS map vocabulary used to describe them. In a nutshell, most IELTS maps will show a large location with buildings and other specific types of areas and locations. And typically, there will actually be two maps: a before and after map. With that in mind, there are three major important categories of vocabulary for describing such maps. For each of the three categories below, I’ve given a partial list of the kids of words you might use. This should give you a general idea, and I would encourage you to think up additional similar words on your own.

Words that Describe the Places

NOUNS:

• building
• housing
• business
• region
• forest
• river
• lake
• entrance
• exit
• road
• bridge
• complex
• district
• facility

ADJECTIVES:

• larger
• smaller
• longer
• shorter
• urban
• rural
• crowded
• broad
• narrow

Words that Describe the Locations of Places

COMPASS WORDS:

• north
• east
• south
• west
• northeast
• southwest
• etc…
• NOTE: Even if a compass does not appear on a map, you can assume that up is north, down is south, left is west, and right is east

DIRECTIONAL WORDS AND PREPOSITIONS:

• left
• right
• above
• below
• inside
• around
• adjacent
• near
• opposite
• across from

Words that Describe Actions and Change

• built
• constructed
• replaced
• extended
• removed
• expanded
• demolished
• renovated
• newly
• mostly
• significant
• substantial

How to Write About an IELTS Map

How to write a map essay in IELTS involves a simple 5 step process:

1. Get Fluent in Basic IELTS Map Vocabulary

Develop your skills and knowledge for words that describe places, where places are located in relation to each other, and how places change in IELTS Writing maps. The lists I’ve provided are a great place to start.

2. Understand The Objectives

To tackle the challenge of describing a map for the exam, you must understand the objectives of the task at hand. Importantly, while 75% of your score represents your linguistic performance (coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammar), 25% depends on your achievement of the task.

Earning a high band score for task 1 completion is awarded for a “clear overview of main trends, differences, or stages.” If a clear overview cannot be achieved, you must minimally highlight the key features related to the prompt.

With this in mind, check out the image below:

If we want to consider key features or trends, it wouldn’t be enough to say that there are rides, recreational areas, and places where goods can be purchased. This doesn’t provide any overviews; it simply lists elements. Noting patterns and overall “trends” requires looking at the bigger picture, not isolated elements. An overview might point out instead that rides and tours tend to be farther from the parking area (i.e. the roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and magic castle), and that places where visitors can rest are closer to the theme park entrance (i.e. the food court and the playground/picnic area).

But you probably won’t be given an image and simply told, “describe it.” Instead, you will be given a specific task, and you will use the information in the image to complete it. For example, for the image above, a the full task is actually to describe the key features and differences between the current layout of the theme park, and the way the theme park will look after some planned future changes.

3. Go Beyond Naming

Ultimately, your task requires more than mere description. While nouns are obviously important (for naming various structures and natural elements and their basic positions on the map), task completion involves more than listing items. Describing trends, differences, or stages requires noting the relationship among elements and between images for comparison. Remember, there’s far more to IELTS Writing Task 1 vocabulary than just the names of things.

Imagine that your task is to examine before and after illustrations of a neighborhood over the course of a century.

For this task, it is clearly not enough to name what is new. Don’t just describe what’s there, describe the relationship between what’s there.

For example, do not simply say “there is an office complex that wasn’t there before.” What relationship does this have to the big picture?  Remember, you must be able to provide an overview.

4. Describe the Changes Between the Two Maps

But, wait! Your overview shouldn’t just mention elements and their relationship to one another. How are the elements that you’re describing relevant to the prompt? What changes have been made? We must connect these observations to the before and after context, reflecting change:

• The cannery along the northwest side of Oak Avenue was replaced by an office complex.
• The main road is connected to side roads that are closer to the lake and river. In the second map, the road that ended near the river now goes over the river via bridge.
• There is a petrol station on the other side of the road from the Yang Office Complex, where the elementary school had been on the older map.
• The main road currently has two shops, where previously there had been just one shop. These shops sit between the more recently constructed apartment buildings and an expanded set of homes.
• The smaller elementary school on the north side of Miller’s Lake was expanded and moved to the east side of the lake.

Now that’s more like it! Always remember that the IELTS Writing Task 1 map comparison between the old and new features is very important.

5. Put These Skills Together into a Full Essay

At this point, you’ve mastered the basic vocabulary, made your descriptions of the places on the map more detailed, and learned to describe change between two maps. Of course, these are just a few of many ways you could describe the map above. Your final step is to apply all this knowledge to map essays of your own creation. Try writing your own essay about the map above, or create an essay based on our full set of IELTS Writing Task 1 practice questions. That set includes a link to the full model IELTS Writing Task 2 essay based on the map above.

Final Takeaways For Using IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary

Main takeaways for using IELTS map vocabulary to compare and describe an IELTS map:

1. Remember that the examiner is looking for an overview with main points, not an exhaustive list of elements.
   (Notice, for example that I didn’t precisely quantify housing units, describe exact comparative distances, or give the exact names of every location.)
2. Think of the big picture. Rather than focusing on what’s there, think about how they’re related to the overall developments.
3. Don’t forget your primary task – What changes have been made? What occurred, resulting in the differences you see?

Check out more helpful articles on the use of IELTS Writing Task 1 map vocabulary (and this bonus IELTS Video!) on preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1:

• How to Describe an IELTS Academic Pie Chart
• How to Describe an IELTS Academic Bar Chart
• How to Prepare for Academic IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s ok! In this piece, we’ll provide an overview of how to describe a typical IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart. We also suggest taking a look at resources in this piece on useful words for writing an IELTS Graph Essay

Table of Contents

• What will you see in an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram?
• How to Write About an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart
• How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart
• A Final Word on Describing IELTS Academic Bar Charts

What will you see in an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram?

A bar chart uses either horizontal or vertical bars to show comparisons among two or more categories. The bar chart has two main features: an X-axis and a Y-axis. One axis of the chart shows the specific categories being compared, and the other axis of the graph shows a given value (usually a percentage or a dollar amount).

How to Write About an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart

To effectively write about an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart, follow these tips.

1. Start by Reading the Title

First and foremost, you should read the title. Often, I have students report on the essay in an inverted order because they didn’t read the bar chart title.

For example, an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart that I give students has the chart title “Expected City Visits by Country of Origin for 2018.” Yet I often get sample sentences back that read: “It is predicted that people from France will be the most likely to visit the United States in 2018.” The correct answer should be “It is predicted that Americans will choose France as their favorite city to visit in 2018.”

2. Look at the Time Frame

Look at the given period of time covered in the chart. Are you looking at a specific year? Are there multiple years being compared? Are we talking about something in the future? This will determine your grammar and style to some extent. For example, whether you need to use past tense language, the language of change, or future tense language when discussing your data.

3. Decide What You Are Comparing

What titles are given to the Y- and X-axis? This important information will form the language that you will use in the essay and the corresponding synonyms you should also use.

For example, the bar chart above compares the gross earnings of fiction books in five categories (Young Adults, Classics, Mystery, Romance and Sci-Fi and Fantasy) between 2006 and 2010. (Incidentally, this sentence is exactly what you would say for your introduction!)

How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart

Now that you know what the IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart is about, these are the vital elements to include in your essay:

• Start with an introduction. The introduction explains what the chart is about, and gives an overview of the main points. Make sure you include one! Your introduction can be short, but it must be there. If you’ve spent time examining the chart this should be easy to write.

• Look for the key data and make sure that you are comparing and contrasting the data, NOT just listing the data from one section to the next. If you just write about what happened to X, what happened to Y, and what happened to Z, without showing any relationship between them, you will not get a high score.

• In the second paragraph and beyond, make sure that you show the connection between the pie charts and the graph or bar chart rather than just listing the data from each separately. Focus on similarities and differences (and highlight them using linking words!).

  To do this, you will need to look for similarities and differences when you first analyze the chart and you will need to decide what can logically be put together or not. This means that you don’t have to describe everything that you see in the bar chart, just the key points!

  For example, for the above chart, you might say: It is interesting to note that Romance novels earned the most income each year between 2006 and 2010 with sales ranging from $70,000 to $115,000. In contrast, Sci Fi and Fantasy novels were the poorest revenue generators of the five categories earning only $20,000 at its highest point in 2007 and a mere $10,000 at its lowest point in 2009.

• Group the data together so that you have a well-organized and coherent answer. It is a good idea to divide your answer into two or three paragraphs so it is well organized. To do this, you should group similar ideas together into paragraphs or sections. Cohesion and coherence are key!

• Use a wide variety of sentence structures. Include complex sentences and simple sentences.

• It is equally important to use appropriate transitions between describing each data point.

• Always provide a short summary conclusion of what you included in your essay. One line is enough here. For example, It can be seen from the chart that overall, 2007 was the best year for book sales in all five categories.

• Finally, make sure that your word count is 150.

A Final Word on Describing IELTS Academic Bar Charts

Overall, describing a an IELTS academic bar chart is a pretty straightforward task on your exam. Remember that in order to write well about a bar chart, you’ll want to be very clear on the relationship being expressed in it, so be careful not to rush past this step.

That said, you won’t want to spend more than about 20 minutes on IELTS writing task 1, so save most of your time for essay writing.

We hope we answered all of your IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram and bar chart questions! For more advice, we recommend taking a look at this IELTS writing task 1 vocab guide.

Good luck on your IELTS writing test!

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this piece, we’ll give you an overview of how to describe an IELTS writing task pie chart, some specific IELTS writing pie chart tips, and some IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. These strategies will help you score high on IELTS writing task 1 and earn a high band score overall.

We also recommend that you take a look the IELTS graph vocabulary guide, which covers useful language for IELTS writing task 1, including appropriate words and phrases.

How do pie charts work in IELTS Writing Taks 1?

A pie chart is a type of graph in which a circle is divided into sections, where each section represents a proportion of the whole. The various sections add up to 100%.

Sometimes you will see the pie charts illustrated as above, without any percentage marks. When this happens, you will need to approximate the amount. I like to think of the pie chart like a clock and imagine that the part where each section ends corresponds to the minute hand of the clock.

For example, in the pie chart above, you can imagine that the long hand falls on the 20-minute mark between “bus” and “walk,” which is a third of an hour. Therefore, the percentage of bus travel would be 33%. Likewise, the percentage of walking travel makes up the rest of the time before the clock hand reaches the 30-minute mark, so through some simple math, we can see that the walking travel is roughly 17%.

Rarely will you have just one pie chart. You will usually be presented with two or more pie charts or you might have both a pie chart and a graph that are related that need to be compared and contrasted. In each, though, there will be the following language: “Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.”

Step-by-Step: How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart

1. First, take a few minutes to read the pie chart’s heading and data labels. Do the same with the graph if there is one. Make sure you know what the information is about and what specific details are included. This will be critical to answering the IELTS pie chart question effectively.

    

2. When you write your introduction, or overview paragraph, show that you are looking at the IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart with the relevant language (i.e. From the pie chart, it is clear/obvious/evident that…).

    

3. In the second paragraph and beyond, make sure that you show the connection between the pie charts and the graph or bar chart rather than just listing the data from each separately. Focusing on similarities and differences is the logical way to crate a good essay structure.

    

4. Try to relate a particular item in the IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart to an aspect of the graph/chart by using language such as is related, is connected to, has an effect on.

    

5. Choose the most important points to write about first. Usually, these will be the largest pie slices. Items such as ‘other’ are usually less important and account for small amounts, so can be left until the end or excluded if you don’t have enough time or word count.

    

6. As with any Task 1, it is important to vary your language and sentence structures. You should not keep repeating the same words and phrases but instead use a good range of IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. The key language when you write about pie charts is proportions and percentages. Common phrases to see are “the proportion of…” or “the percentage of…”. Other phrases can include: a large number, a small minority, less than a fifth…

    

7. Avoid drawing conclusions and stating opinions about information that is not in the charts. If you think that the bus travel is higher than car travel because you think the graph is representing a metropolitan city, it doesn’t matter. If it isn’t included in the data, do not mention it!

    

8. Think about what tense you will use to write your essay. Often your essay will be given a date in the past, so be sure to use the past tense instead of present tense when writing in these cases. If you can, try to vary your sentences between short and complex sentences. And of course, by mindful of your grammar.

    

9. Finally, remember that practice makes perfect. Use Magoosh IELTS prep lessons to not only improve your bar and pie chart descriptions, but to help increase your score across the test.

A Final Word on Describing IELTS Pie Charts

Remember that the in order to discuss a pie chart correctly, you will need to understand what exactly the graph shows. Make sure not to rush through reviewing the chart thoroughly, but also remember that you should only take about 20 minutes total on this IELTS writing task 1.

IELTS writing task 1 is short and straightforward, but a huge key to scoring well on the IELTS exam is having a good understanding of IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. We hope this has been a helpful tutorial for this IELTS academic task!

Good luck!

On IELTS Writing Task 1, you’ll need to describe a graphic. Sometimes, this can be a type of chart. Other times, it will be a process diagram. So how do you know what process diagram vocabulary IELTS examiners are looking for? That’s where Magoosh comes in!

In this post, we’ll look at words and phrases you can use to describe processes on IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. (And for additional tips on IELTS vocabulary, check out our collection of the best IELTS Writing tips and Task 1 Language and Vocabulary guide!)

What is a Process Diagram on the IELTS?

A process diagram is an illustration that shows you how something is done. It could be anything from the creation of a product to the recycling cycle (as in this IELTS Task 1 process example!)

Generally, you’ll find two types of process questions. The first is a manufacturing process: something that humans do. The second is a natural process: something that occurs in nature.

Within your essay, you won’t need to come up with deep insights or hypotheses about the diagram that you’re looking at. Instead, you’ll simply need to follow the prompt, describing what you see. This can be surprisingly complex, so practice is crucial.

No matter what type of process the prompt asks you to write about, you can use the same kinds of process vocabulary IELTS words and phrases in your response!

Process Diagram Vocabulary for IELTS

Words to Describe the Type of Diagram

Verbs

• Creates
• Produces
• Makes
• Distributes
• Moves

Adjectives

• Natural
• Human-produced
• Man-made
• Cyclical
• Linear
• step(s)

Process Vocabulary IELTS Examples

This diagram illustrates the man-made process that a company uses to distribute natural gas to consumers. Overall, this seven-step, linear process illustrates which types of consumers the company prioritizes.

This diagram depicts the natural hydrological cycle process by which water moves through the environment. This cyclical process involves steps, such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Words to Describe the Steps in the Process

Adverbs

• First/firstly
• Second/secondly
• After/afterwards/once
• Next
• Later
• Following
• Subsequently
• Finally/lastly
• During
• While
• Meanwhile

Nouns

• Step
• Stage
• Phrase

Process Diagram Vocabulary IELTS Examples

First, the product begins in the design stage. Following this, prototyping and 3D printing occur. Next, the product moves to the production stage.

In the first step of this process, three things happen simultaneously. Light, water and carbon dioxide all enter the chloroplast. Once this has happened, the water enters the thylakoid and carbon dioxide becomes part of the Calvin cycle in the second step. Subsequently, in the third step, the chloroplast produces oxygen and sugar.

Words to Describe a Cycle or Repetition

Nouns

• Cycle
• Repetition
• Repeats
• Loops
• Continues indefinitely
• Recurs

Adjectives

• Cyclical
• Repetitious

Process Vocabulary IELTS Examples

This cyclical process technically begins when a new product is produced, though it can continue to loop indefinitely.

While the linear process is technically complete after Delivery (Step 7), the diagram depicts this as a repetitious, or cyclical, process. This is likely because the need for additional goods will recur, and so the cycle of the delivery process could theoretically continue indefinitely.

Verbs to Know for Describing a Process

• Begins
• Continues
• Follows
• Ends
• Repeats

Process Vocabulary IELTS Examples

The rock cycle process begins with weathering and erosion. It then continues with transport and deposition. The process ends with melting rock in magma.

Clarification follows the pressing stage. The cycle then ends as the wine is bottled and shipped.