Test taking and word list

To punctuate dialogue correctly, enclose in quotation marks the exact words said by the characters. Commas and periods always fall within the final quotation mark. Question marks and exclamation marks also fall within the quotation marks when they are part of the quotation. Otherwise, question marks and exclamation marks go outside the quotation marks.*Examples*: «Sissy Jupe, give me the Facts!» Did the gentleman say, «I will try you again»?»Hardened girl!» exclaimed Miss Scatcherd, «nothing can correct you …. » Copy given below passage, correctly punctuating the dialogue.
«Well, I asked impatiently, is not Mrs. Reed a hard-hearted, bad woman? «

If you intend to take the Duolingo English Test, be sure to read our top advice for getting the highest possible score! 

You’ll be asked to complete various exercises that will assess your speaking, reading, listening, and writing abilities. These tasks will be graded using the Duolingo scoring system, but in relation to IELTS and TOEFL scores.

You should be aware that vocabulary accounts for most of your overall score on the reading and speaking tests, so they must appreciate its significance. 

If you intend to get a good score, you should employ a variety of languages in these areas since the Duolingo English Test will be grading your vocabulary usage. 

In this article, we’ve put up a list of Duolingo English Test vocabulary terms that applicants may use in their preparation.

Duolingo English Test Vocabulary List


What is the Duolingo English Test?

The Duolingo English Exam is a unique and creative certified English language test that allows test takers to take the test from any location and at any time. On July 15, 2019, the latest edition of the Duolingo English Test was launched.

Unlike other popular English language exams like Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, and PTE, test takers do not need to go to a particular test center. 

After the test certificate is issued, it may be forwarded to any institution that accepts the Duolingo English Test certificate. The Duolingo English Test is now approved for admission at over 3,000 institutions across the globe.

The Duolingo English Test was created in response to student demand for admission to various colleges across the world. The exam is especially handy at uncertain periods like COVID-19 since it allows students to take the test anywhere without having to worry about getting to the test center.


Why is Vocabulary Important in the Duolingo English Test?

You should have a broad vocabulary in order to attain a competitive score since this will aid you in discussing and writing on a variety of subjects. If you are unable to employ the proper words correctly, this becomes a serious flaw that might lower your total score.

It’s all about the language’s words. As a result, knowing as many words as possible is preferable. After you’ve mastered more vocabulary, you’ll have no trouble understanding English.

Most will fail in the reading, writing, speaking, and listening areas because they do not understand the language.

As a consequence, learning how to extend your vocabulary is crucial. If you know the words, you will be able to precisely express your thoughts, sentiments, and emotions. You will have no problems.

So, how are you going to develop your vocabulary?

  • Read and listen: The majority of the vocabulary is learned via context. So, choose a program, magazine, podcast, book, or magazine in English that interests you. Avoid listening to or reading anything that does not pique your interest since it may cause you to get distracted.
  • Write down the following words: Make it a practice to write down any new or unusual terms you come across, understand their meanings, and learn how to use them in suitable situations.
  • Use Memory Techniques: It is not sufficient to merely learn new terms. It is also vital to remember them. As a result, you must continue to study the terms you have previously learned at regular intervals. Consider evaluating them in a week, seven days, three weeks, a month, or whenever is convenient for you.
  • Practice, practice, practice: When writing and speaking, you must employ the words that you have written down. As an outcome, keep a careful eye on your vocabulary.

How to Study for Duolingo English Test Vocabulary?

1. Look Up Any Words You Don’t Comprehend

To learn new terms, many people advocate reading publications, novels, and watching television programs. 

However, it is equally important to search up any academic terms that you are unfamiliar with. Many ignore difficult and unusual terms because they believe they will not be used in their daily lives or tests.

However, make it a practice to search up vocabulary terms that you are unfamiliar with, especially if they are difficult to read, write, or spell.

2. Keep a Notebook for Duolingo English Test Vocabulary and Look Up Words You Don’t Know

Keeping a notepad to record all new academic terms and their definitions may seem to be a bit of a cliche. It may, however, assist you in better comprehending those terms. 

Furthermore, you may utilize the book to study the written words when the test is approaching. That is a far better alternative than scrambling to locate new terms the night before the exam.

3. Experiment, But Don’t Go Overboard

So, whether you bring a notepad or download an app to learn new words, the only thing to do is to use the words in practice in real life. You may take on any issue or topic that was previously asked in the exam when it comes to speaking abilities. Then, for at least 2 minutes, attempt to talk about the issue using the new terminology you’ve learned.

Next, you must avoid exaggerating phrases in your Duolingo English Test Writing or Speaking since you may utilize a single advanced word. This is another great way to improve your vocabulary for the Duolingo English Test.

Most essential, avoid focusing too much on a single word by gathering a large number of similar sample phrases. Doing so, however, may be a waste of time since, if you want to learn, practicing the word a few times is sufficient.

4. Use Apps to Improve Your Vocabulary

Nowadays, everyone owns a smartphone, and there are a plethora of applications available on the play store/app store that may assist us in improving our language skills.

The reason we recommend using apps to boost your vocabulary for Duolingo English Test speaking is that you may use them in your free time and immediately acquire new vocabulary terms. 

  • 50+ Best Mobile Apps to Learn English
  • Best Apps to Learn English Vocabulary
  • Best Apps to Improve Your English Spelling

As a result, it may save a lot of time, and it doesn’t even need to be added to your schedule since learning from them takes less time.

5. Use YouTube to Help You Understand

We all use YouTube for enjoyment. So it should not be a surprise if a large number of apps provide English lessons on the site. 

Every such channel also discusses many academic vocabularies, including how to pronounce a word, as well as how to apply it in a sentence or phrase with examples.

It’s not simple to learn 2000 rich words that are crucial for your Duolingo English Test vocabulary. It’s possible that you’ll wind up remembering those words. In the end, it may be of little use if you acquire vocabulary but are unable to use them properly in writing or speech.

  • Best YouTube Channels to Learn English

6. Know What You’re Doing, But Don’t Memorize Everything

Words should be learned by heart and not memorized since a single word might have a variety of meanings. To put it simply, we may use the same word in different circumstances and have it imply different things at the end of the day.

The rationale is as simple as it seems: although learning a word is simple, the same word may not always have a single meaning. 

The simplest approach to grasp this is to be familiar with homophones, which are words that have similar spelling and sound but distinct meanings.

7. Go Through Newspapers

Reading is the most efficient way to gain new terms, and it will also help you improve your Duolingo English Test speaking abilities. You may read news/articles every day by subscribing to a newspaper, either online or offline.

While you’re reading them, make a note of any academic terms you’re unfamiliar with and pay close attention if you observe a word being used in a new manner. This will assist you with a variety of Duolingo English Test topics. Then, in your dictionary, look up the definition of the term and write it down in your notebook. 

8. Invest in a Dictionary

Keeping a compact, pocket-sized dictionary with you is a typical approach to acquiring new terminology for the Duolingo English Test. 

If you don’t have time to acquire new vocabulary terms this way, now is the time to start. You may learn words from your dictionary in two ways.

To begin with, you may consult it whenever you come across a new term and look up its definition in the dictionary.

Second, you may begin memorizing the terms on the first page of the dictionary and work your way down to the final page.

You will be able to learn new terms every day in this manner. You may be able to read all of the terms in your dictionary in a few days or months, depending on how much time you dedicate each day. 

However, remember to learn a word passionately for optimal learning. If you don’t grasp a term, just leave it out since learning a word improperly is far worse.

9. Watch Videos and Listen to Audios

Listening to others use an unknown term is the most effective way to learn how to use it. As a result, you may watch news stations, programs, YouTube shows, English movies, chat shows, and group conversations, among other things. You may also listen to audio files like songs, podcasts, and radio stations.

Furthermore, you might decide to listen to or see the things that interest you so that you do not get bored and quit on your objective to acquire new words.

10. Study Idioms and Connectives

It would be useful to use connectives and idiomatic expressions while speaking and writing about a subject. It makes you more fluent and knowledgeable with the use of the language. 

However, make sure you just use them when necessary and don’t attempt to abuse them.


You must determine whether the word is a genuine English word or a created one in two questions on the Duolingo English exam. 

Because the words often resemble English terms, it is important to pay close attention to spelling. 

Because the words might sound similar to English terms, it’s also vital to practice listening.

A. Common Words 

1. Advertising

obsession fooled now free synergy
surging beware exclusive proven optimize
pioneering blinded scarce lucrative promise
unsurpassed alarming rare unbelievable profit
confidential devastating immediately bargain commission
bold heartbreaking instantly double quota
tempting hoax hurry affordable pitch
unconventional prison only convert leverage
astonishing revenge limited essential opportunity
epic risky impossible detailed actionable
explosive avoid miracle better learnings
secret scary temporary new viral
unusual backlash tested remarkable disruption
daring costly immediately professional holistic
imagine assault bonus best-selling innovative
discover frantic easy guaranteed seamless
create hazardous advanced unique robust
polarizing untested results improved granular
inspire impactful effective increase snackable
highest lifetime massive expert paradigm

2. Arts

absorbing boundless delicate meandering realistic
abstract brilliant dense mosaic-like refined
acclaimed candid detailed moving refreshing
accomplished ceramic infused mysterious remarkable
adroit characteristic inspirational mystical resourceful
aesthetic classic inspired narrative revealing
aesthetically  collectible instinctive organic disciplined
aggressive colorful intellectual original disruptive
appealing complementary intense paradoxical distinctive
artistic complex intensive passionate distinguished
astonishing conceptual interesting peaceful divine
atmospheric contemplative intuitive personal dreamlike
authentic contemporary inventive phenomenal dreamy
avant-garde controversial labyrinthine pictorial dynamic
award-winning conversational layered playful eclectic
awe-inspiring creative lifelike potent elevated
balanced daring literal profound elevating
baroque dazzling luminous provoking emergent
beautiful decorative lyrical pure emerging
bold thoughtful mature radiant emotional
enchanted exotic gorgeous saturated stimulating
energetic explosive graceful sculptural stirring
engaging expressive granular semi-abstract studied
engrossing extreme honest sensual stunning
enigmatic fascinating human serene sublime
epochal figural hyper-creative signature substantive
ethereal figurative imaginative simple supple
evocative fluid impassioned skilled surreal
exceptional freelance impeccable soft symbolic
touching fresh romantic sparse tactile
traditional unique visual spiritual talented
tranquil universal voyeuristic universal tasteful
unconventional unpredictable voyeuristic unpredictable textile
unexpected varied unforgettable varied provoking
unforgettable visionary unique visionary timeless

3. Body Language

action strong explain jerky boredom
body language nodded understand wisp fear
bow smooth communication nonverbal sadness
curtsy pointed unbelievable quick slouching
expression controlled squint pointing understanding
genuflection bowed excited fluid clenching
high sign effortless curious nod disgust
indication shook glare regimented surprise
intimation sway gaze frown wringing
kinesics patted kick smile handshake
mime bounce wave amplify posture
motion beckoned bang threatening perception
nod rhythm token disapproval respect
pantomime winked muscle anger listen
reminder stagger rock compassion shush
salute shrugged grind pursing twitch
shrug burst crossed drumming v-sign
sign hugged zip tapping snigger
sign language lull wink yawning avoidance
signal waved yank joy demeanor

4. Pandemic

epidemic plague bacteria contact tracing restricted
pest contagion comorbidity super-spreader shielding
murrain ailment conjunctivitis contagious spread
affection scourge coronavirus infectious symptoms
blight rife dysgeusia antigen surge
pervasive majority epidemiologists asymptomatic swab
common widespread hygiene antibody symptomatic
unanimous overall immunity case triage
pop household incidence cluster testing
everyday present disease cocooning clinical
contemporary preponderant morbidity transmission virologist
dominant usual mortality communicable vulnerable
characteristic well-known myalgia compromised omicron
communal illness pandemic contact delta
pestilence infection distancing containment frontliners
affliction prevailing plasma disinfectant sanitizer
curse popular prevalence diagnostics ventilators
prevalent infirmity quarantine influenza humidifier
general malady self-isolation immunization circuit breaker
universal sickness serology incubation protection
familiar public treatment infodemic unprecedented
current received vaccine lockdown syndrome
predominant ruling virus masks fatality
typical anosmia fomite wellbeing positive
shared antibodies outbreak respiratory negative

5. Clothes

abaya jumper swimsuits evening dress slacks
amoral jumpsuit tanktop evening gown sleeve
apparel long-sleeve top tee shirt garter-belt slip
apron lycra shorts tennis shorts handbag stockings
ascot tie overall three-piece suit hat sweater
attire pajamas tie headband swimsuits
balaclava pant trench-coat hoodie tracksuit
ball gown polo shirt tuxedo jacket trouser
bandanna poncho underpants jeans t-shirt
bathrobe pullover vest jumper turtle neck
belt raincoat waist-coat knickers undershirts
blazer running shorts windbreakers lace uniform
bomber jacket scarf apron ladieswear veil
bow-tie shirt bathrobe leggings wedding dress
cap shorts bikini lingerie zipper
cardigan singlet blouse maternity dress beanies
cargo pants ski-jacket boots mini-skirt cardigans
down jacket sleeveless-shirt boxers mittens down jacket
down vest socks bra panty down vest
gloves sportcoat braces purse earmuffs
hat suit cardigan robe fleece jackets
Hawaiian shirt sweatband coat saree gloves
jacket sweater collar scarf jackets
jeans sweatpant dress shorts jeans
jogging suit sweatshirt dungarees skirts long coat

6. Education

imperative foundation ornament rudder sophisticated
focused standard noteworthy talent determined
momentous competitive ingenious wise successful
higher education secondary education literacy co-education qualification
pace highly educated knowledge private diversity
informal education financial socially independent institution non-profit
scholarship schooling undergraduate formal education premise
academic sharp immense exoteric influence
student achieve communication grade kindergarten
preschool graduate valuable online education elementary education
curriculum essential devoted informal degree
attend medicine didactics pedagogics pedagogy
academic primary higher education higher learning enlightenment
campus principal coaching conditioning pedantry
curriculum professor development direction bookishness
degree revise edification enlightenment ignorance
economics science cultivation preparation illiteracy
engineering secondary guidance nurturance illiterateness
graduate seminar improvement culture comprehensive
lecture tutor edification reading subject

7. Environment

ambient poaching greenhouse landslide contaminant
atmosphere activists stratosphere natural contamination
backdrop aqueduct disaster ozone deforestation
background balance ecosystem poisonous disposable
climate biodegradable evaporation endangered species diversity
clime climate power research ecology
context coastal rainforest ecology ecosystem
element contaminated recycle aquifer emission
geography decay sludge atmosphere endangered
habitat emissions solar biodegradable energy
location endangered species biodiversity environment
microenvironment scientist surface carbon dioxide environmentalist
place erosion tectonic carbon monoxide erosion
position extinct tidal carcinogen extinct
situation famine toxic climate extinction
space fertilizer unleaded coal fossil fuel
status fossil untapped compost (noun) geothermal
condensation genetically wetlands compost (verb) solar
acid global wind conservation sustainable
industrial greenhouse pollute conservationist toxic
global warming herbicide ozone layer radiation toxic waste
green (adjective) landfill pesticide rain forest waste
greenhouse effect methane petroleum recycle wetland
groundwater nuclear energy pollutant renewable wildlife
habitat organic pollution smog windmill

8. Films

actor first-rate second-rate suspenseful extra
bloopers comical flawed sentimental sequel
director insightful violent low-budget screenplay
dubbing clever moronic dramatic stunt
flash-forward charming third-rate highly-charged genre
flashback charismatic juvenile fantasy nominated
outtakes enjoyable boring slow box office
premiere absorbing static picaresque star
prequel hilarious senseless oddball critic
producer uproarious distasteful romantic premiere
reel original ordinary satirical scene
rehearsal tender disgusting fast-moving part
scene synopsis intriguing disappointing frame
screenplay visual effects powerful bloody audition
scriptwriter voice over fascinating silly adventure
sequel pleasant tired unpretentious animation
sound effects surprising predictable legendary biography
stuntman dazzling stupid incredibly tiresome comedy
cameraman sensitive brutal big-budget detective
subtitles riveting confused wacky documentary
thought-provoking uninteresting imaginative weak drama
trite outdated animated horror fantasy
film dreadful romantic musical film noir
uneven bland science fiction mystery foreign
sepia cliché ridden silent propaganda historical

9. Food

chicken a la carte cafe deli eat
coffee a la mode cafeteria delicatessen eggs
drinks menu appetizer cake delicious entree
cola beef candle dessert fish
cold beverage cashier dine food
wine bill centerpiece diner fork
condiments bistro chair dining french fries
cook  bowl chef dish fruit
spill braised chicken dishwasher lemonade
spoon bread coffee doggie bag lettuce
vegan option breakfast cola dressing lunch
starters brunch cold ice main course
diner butter condiments ice cubes maitre d’
dining glass cook iced manager
cutlery gourmand cooked ingredients meal
steak gourmet course ketchup meat
eat grilled cream kitchen medium
fish eggs hamburger credit card knife menu
food headwaiter cutlery napkin milk
fork fries high tea utensils noodles mug
specials hors d’oeuvre cashier onion mustard
fruit hostess vegetables order waiter
glass hot ingredients party seafood
grilled dinner ketchup pasta seared
hamburger dish kitchen pepper server
pay dishwasher knife plate side order
headwaiter doggie bag lemonade platter staff
plate well-done booking pop tip
platter pasta cheeseburger manager silverware
high tea waitress lunch meal breakfast
hostess pepper main course set menu brunch
hot rare bill meat napkin
ice cubes saucer bistro mug reservation
sugar tomato boiled mustard soggy
order halal spicy menu beef
roasted dessert charge table barbeque 
vegetarian  soup pizza milk vinegar
salad special kosher chef beverage
soda spices medium appetizer bowl

10. People

comrade candidate A-list commoners depopulate
co-worker celebrity aristocracy commons unpeople
roommate chatterbox best crowd acquaintance
pen-pal citizen choice herd adversary
fair-weather  classmate corps d’elite hoi polloi agitator
acquaintance climber cream mass anarchist
buddy collector elect millions retiree
boyfriend connoisseur elite mob buddy
soul mate creator fat multitude bather
folks criminal flower plebeians brute
humanity customer pick plebs buyer
humankind cyclist pink populace burglar
public bourgeoisie pride public camper
species middle class upper crust rank and file deceased
world blood unwashed cattle defendant
community clan bourgeoisie proletariat delegate
society family middle class rabble demonstrator
crowd folks gentility rabblement diver
masses house gentlefolk stranger dreamer
mob kin gentry riffraff driver
populace kindred haute monde rout enemy
proletariat kinfolk nobility scum evacuee
rabble royalty patriciate wounded person expat
rabblement society peerage trash expert
riffraff inhabit quality listener idol
handyman juror member loser immigrant
hero
heroine
killer movie star pal internet user
hiker king
queen
murderer partner interpreter
historian knitter observer party animal plaintiff
hitch-hiker learner onlooker passenger player
homeless person lecturer opponent patient prisoner
housemate liar owner pedestrian protagonist
reader skater striker teammate protestor
recruit skier strikebreaker tenant vacationer
renter sleeper supporter thief vagabond
resident social climber survivor tourist veteran
revolutionary speaker suspect traitor victim
rioter spectator swimmer translator volunteer
roommate spy weight lifter traveler voter
runner walker whisperer winner witness

11. Plants

acorn cactus garden lamina stipule
agriculture calyx germinate lanceolate  stoma
alfalfa canopy ginkgo lateral bud style
alternate carpel grain lead scar succulents
angiosperm cleft leaf grass leaf sunlight
annual clover grove leaflet opposite 
anther composite  grow legume ovary
meristem compound  guard cell lily palm
autotroph cone gum lobed palmate
axil cork hardy margin parted leaf
auxiliary bud corm hastate meristem peduncle
bud corolla herb midrib perennial
bamboo crenate leaf horsetail monocot perfect flower
bark deciduous horticulture moss petal
bean dentate leaf hybrid nectar petiole
berry dicot imperfect  needle petrified wood
biennial embryo incomplete  netted phloem
blade emergents inflorescence node photosynthesis
blossom endosperm internode nut pinnate
botany entire ivy rachis pistil
bract epicotyl jungle rain forest pith
branch evergreen juniper reniform plumule
bromeliad fern kapok tree resin poison ivy
brush fertilizer kelp reticulate pollen
bud filament kudzu rings pollinate
bulb flora sap root prickle
bulbel flower sapling root cap pulse
bush foliage seaweed root hairs vegetable
shamrock forest seed root tip vegetation
shoot frond seed pod rootstock vein
shrub fruit seedling weed venation
simple leaf thorn sepal whorled vine
soil toothed sprout wood tuber
spine tree stalk woody xerophyte
spore tree fern trunk xylem yucca

12. Technology

access account activity administrative advantage
back up bandwidth banner basics benefit
cad cam camcorder camera capabilities
daemon data database debug decipher
e-mail edit educate effective efficiency
face book fax fiber optic field file
geek squad generate gif gradual graphics
hackers hand-held hard disk hard drive hardware
icons infiltrate information informative innovation
job join journalism journalist joystick
keep track of keyboard keypad keyword kind
landscape laptop laser layout learning
mainframe market material matrix measurement
navigate networks new newsgroup newspaper
obsession offline on line operate operating system
password performance personal phishing photography
quality quantity query questions queue
radio random ranking rate record
safety satellite save scan screen
tech technology technophobic telecom telemarketer
u tube uncover understanding unusual update
value variety various video video conference
warranty wave webmaster web page web site
animate reference history applications registry
blue tooth script input bookmarks search
capture television junk mail careers terminal
delivery user-id opportunity dependency user name
electronic virus popularity electronics vision
firewalls wireless listserv flexibility word

B. Prepositions 

In English, there are around 150 prepositions. When you consider the thousands of other terms, this is a pretty modest number (nouns, verbs, etc.). 

Prepositions are crucial terms. Individual prepositions are used more often than other terms. The prepositions of, to, and in are among the top 10 most frequently used terms in the English language. 

A list of 70 of the most popular one-word prepositions follows. There are several meanings for many of these prepositions. 

about above across after under
against along among around up to
at before behind between until
beyond but by concerning with
despite down during except up
following for from in within
including into like near upon
of off on onto without
out over past plus via
since throughout to towards through

C. Idioms

Idioms, proverbs, and phrases in English are common in daily conversation. They often appear in written and spoken English. You’ll need to learn the meaning and application of each idiom since they don’t always make sense literally. 

While this may appear to be taking a lot of effort, studying idioms is enjoyable, particularly when comparing English idioms to idioms in your own tongue.

Using common idioms and phrases may make your English seem more natural. The tables below list the idioms in order of their prevalence in American English. You may start by learning the most common English idioms since you’ll hear them a lot whether watching English movies or TV shows or visiting America. 

Relax when you’ve mastered things. These idioms are neither unusual nor obsolete, so you may use them with native English speakers from any English-speaking country.

Below are the commonly used idiomatic expressions:

Idiom Meaning Usage
A blessing in disguise an excellent thing that at first seemed to be a terrible one as a sentence component
A dime a dozen something usual as a sentence component
Beat around the bush Fail to express yourself because it is unpleasant. as a sentence component
Better late than never Arrive late rather than not at all on its own
Bite the bullet To finish something because it is inevitable as a sentence component
Break a leg Wish for success on its own
Call it a day Put down something you’re working on. as a sentence component
Cut somebody some slack Don’t be too harsh on yourself. as a sentence component
Cutting corners Performing a task in a substandard manner in order to save time or money as a sentence component
Easy does it Take it easy. on its own
Get out of hand Become uncontrollable as a sentence component
Get something out of your system So you can go on, do the thing you’ve been yearning to do. as a sentence component
Get your act together Work harder or go. on its own
Give someone the benefit of the doubt You should believe what someone says. as a sentence component
Go back to the drawing board Begin again as a sentence component
Hang in there Don’t quit on its own
Hit the sack Go to bed; have some sleep as a sentence component
It’s not rocket science It’s not difficult. on its own
Let someone off the hook to absolve someone of responsibility for a wrongdoing as a sentence component
To make a long story short Briefly describe things as a sentence component
Miss the boat It’s already too late. as a sentence component
No pain, no gain You must persevere to achieve your goals. on its own
On the ball Performing well as a sentence component
Pull someone’s leg to make a joke on someone as a sentence component
Pull yourself together Calm down on its own
So far, so good So far, everything is going nicely. on its own
Speak of the devil The man we were just discussing arrived! on its own
That’s the last straw Running out of patience on its own
The best of both worlds A perfect scenario as a sentence component
Time flies when you’re having fun When you’re having fun, you don’t notice how long anything lasts. on its own
To get bent out of shape to be irritable or annoyed as a sentence component
To make matters worse exacerbate an issue as a sentence component
Under the weather to become ill as a sentence component
Cross the bridge when we get there Let’s not discuss that issue right now. on its own
Wrap your head around something Comprehend something difficult as a sentence component
You can say that again That is correct, and I agree. on its own
Your guess is as good as mine I’m not sure. on its own

D. Collocations

Below are brief listings of frequent collocations to help you learn more about them. Collocations related to certain words may be found in several reputable learners’ dictionaries. 

Collocation dictionaries are also available, albeit they are harder to come by.

do make catch time
do your hair make a difference catch a thief run out of time
do your homework make a mess catch fire save time
do your best make money catch sight of spare time
do your hair make progress catch the flu spend some time
do someone a favor make room catch fire take your time
take pay come business
take a rest pay cash come early cease trading
take a seat pay interest come first chair a meeting
take a taxi pay the bill come into view close a deal
take an exam pay the price come last close a meeting
take notes pay your respects come late come to the point
get go save quantifiers
get a job go bankrupt go bankrupt a ball of string
get a shock go blind go blind a bunch of carrots
get angry go crazy go crazy a bar of chocolate
get divorced go dark go dark a cube of sugar
get drunk go deaf go deaf a bottle of water

E. Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is constructed by combining a regular verb with an adverb or a preposition to form a completely new verbal phrase. A phrasal verb’s meaning is frequently unconnected to the meanings of the words that make it up, so think of it as a completely new and independent term.

Phrasal verbs behave similarly to other verbs in terms of conjugation and placement when employed in a phrase. However, they do have particular constraints concerning word order, which we discuss further below. 

Phrasal verbs may be conjugated into any verb form. Therefore they can be used everywhere a regular verb can be.

Phrases Meaning
blow up burst
bring up bring up a subject or topic
call-off withdraw; revoke
do-over re-do a task or project
fill out sign or complete a form
fill up fill to the top
find out explore or uncover
give back return an object or a favor
hand in turn in or submit an assignment
hang up end the call
hold up postpone or prolong
leave out omit
look over inspect, verify
lookup scan the list
makeup make up a narrative or tell a fib
make out listen or comprehend
pick out decide or select
pick up lift something off something else
point out remove something from another
put away preserve or conserve
put off withhold
put on wear some clothing
read over browse or explore
set up to start, to organize
takedown jot down your thoughts

F. Descriptive Words

The most popular sort of descriptive word is adjectives. They show us how beautiful a sunset is or how acrobatic a cat is.

A list of adjective examples may be found here.

acrobatic weathered freckle-faced self-centered alive
adorable lanky hard-hearted short-tempered ancient
adventurous lazy tattered high-heeled bumpy
brave limp hard-nosed sure-footed busy
bright luxurious verdant ice-cold combative
brilliant mediocre heavy-handed thin-skinned cotton
concrete mellow sophisticated left-handed dangerous
conventional miserable baby-faced tight-fisted dusty
delirious nocturnal stunning life-giving elderly
foolhardy ordinary bow-legged adaptable expensive
gregarious organic thorny long-legged graceful
grim ornate responsible active granite
handsome powerless broken-hearted long-winded handsome
handy practical sensible;e agreeable hollow
intelligent precious bull-headed next-door lazy
intrepid questionable optimistic encouraging low
joyful quirky candy-stripped pigeon-toed massive
jubilant radiant trustworthy curious melodic
keen rustic four-sided red-blooded minuscule
kooky sly immature diplomatic new

G. Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms are words that have the equivalent or almost the same meaning as another term. 

Antonyms are words that have the same meaning as one another but have the opposite connotation. 

Selecting the appropriate synonym improves the quality of your work. Learning frequent antonyms improves your language skills and broadens your vocabulary.

Word Synonym Antonym
answer respond ask
bad evil good
beautiful handsome ugly
begin start finish
big huge small
clever smart dumb
cold cool hot
come arrive leave
correct right wrong
dangerous risky safe
easy simple difficult
fair just unfair
fast quick slow
fat chubby skinny
friend pal enemy
happy glad sad
hard difficult easy
love like hate
quiet silent noisy
repair fix demolish
show hide display
stay exit leave
true authentic false

H. Commonly Confused Words

Some words have the same appearance, while others have the same sound. It might be difficult to tell the difference between these related terms. 

In this handout, we’ve included definitions for some of the most typically misunderstood word pairings, as well as phrases that demonstrate them in context. 

These are the top ten most perplexing word pairings, as determined by us, are listed below in alphabetical order:

accept vs. except
  • Accept refers to receiving or agreeing to something, while except refers to excluding something.
dessert vs. desert
  • Dessert is a sweet food, but the desert is a hot, arid environment that is often strewn with sand.
there vs. their
  • When we speak about where something is, we utilize ‘there’ the adverb of location.
  • When we speak about something that belongs to a group of individuals, we use ‘their’ as a possessive pronoun.
principle vs. principal
  • Principal or principle are two different words for the same thing.
  • Principles are fundamental views, values, or facts, while principal refers to the leader of a school or the most important object.
advice vs. advise
  • Because counsel is both a noun and a verb, you may advise someone by providing them sound advice.
borrow vs. lend
  • Borrowing is the act of receiving something as a loan, while lending is the act of giving something as a loan.
despite vs. although
  • These words have the equal meaning but are used in various ways.
  • However, it is frequently followed by an entire phrase, while despite is usually followed by a gerund or a word.
personnel vs. personal
  • Your personal information includes your name, age, and country, while personnel refers to a company’s workers.
assure vs. ensure
  • Assuring someone implies removing their doubts or reassuring them while ensuring something means ensuring that it occurs.
affect vs. effect
  • The verb affect is a noun, whereas the noun effect is a verb.

I. Transition Words

Constructing effective transitions typically requires identifying words or phrases that express to the reader the logical links you wish to convey. This table should help you discover these words or phrases. 

If you need help identifying a word, phrase, or sentence to act as a transition, consult the table. 

Look in the table’s left column for the logical connection you want to communicate. Then seek words or sentences that illustrate this logical connection in the table’s right column.

Remember that each of these words or phrases may indicate something different. A dictionary or writer’s guide may help you decipher a term or phrase.

To emphasize
  • undoubtedly
  • unquestionably
  • obviously
  • particularly
  • in particular
  • especially
  • clearly
  • importantly
  • absolutely
  • definitely
  • without a doubt
  • indeed
  • it should be noted
To add detail
  • along with
  • apart from this
  • moreover
  • furthermore
  • also
  • too
  • as well as that
  • in addition
  • besides
  • not only…
  • but also
  • in addition to this
  • additionally
  • an additional
To show contrast
  • unlike
  • nevertheless
  • on the other hand
  • nonetheless
  • despite
  • in spite of
  • in contrast to
  • contrary to
  • whereas
  • alternatively
  • conversely
  • even so
  • differing from
To show order
  • following
  • at this time
  • previously
  • first
  • firstly
  • second
  • secondly
  • third
  • thirdly
  • subsequently
  • above all
  • before
  • last but not the least
  • first and foremost
To show cause and effect
  • because
  • meanwhile
  • for
  • so
  • thus
  • therefore
  • hence
  • henceforth
  • owing to
  • as a result of
To compare
  • Similarly
  • as with
  • the same
  • in the same way
  • likewise
  • like
  • of contrast
  • despite this
  • in comparison
  • in contrast
  • even though
To express opinion
  • I think…
  • I believe…
  • I feel…
  • In my opinion…
  • In my view…
  • As far as I know…
  • It seems likely…
  • It seems to me…
  • In my experience…
  • I believe that…
  • As for me, I think…
To illustrate
  • for example
  • such as
  • for instance
  • in other words
  • an instance
  • as revealed by
  • to show that
  • in the case of

  • How to Speak English Without Grammar Mistakes

Final Thoughts

Learn new words slowly. Be patient and keep working on your vocabulary. An average individual can learn 5-10 words every day. But it’s better to learn five correctly than 10.

Remember:

  • You will undoubtedly make errors.
  • The Duolingo English Test isn’t looking for flawless performance.
  • They’re interested in what you can do well, not what you haven’t mastered completely.
  • Your coherence will be at stake if you use terminology wrongly, and you may lose points as a result.
  • Make the most of what you already know.

Additional FAQs – Duolingo English Test Vocabulary

Is there a Duolingo English Test vocabulary test?

No, the Duolingo English Test does not have a vocabulary exam. A large vocabulary, on the other hand, may help you do well in the test.

To prepare for the DET test, you may use our collection of vocabulary terms. (They are all listed in this article below).

Is the Duolingo English Test a valid measure of English proficiency?

The Duolingo English Test is dependable and safe thanks to Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence technologies. 

The test-taker must follow the recommendations and obey specific regulations, such as leaving the face exposed, not using any suspicious things while taking the exam, and not communicating with a second person while taking the test, among others. 

For the purpose of authentication, the ID and pictures are taken remotely.

What is the Degree of Difficulty of the Duolingo English Test Questions?

The Duolingo English Test has questions ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, with each question becoming more difficult as candidates reply. 

Several types of questions are asked in each subject, such as listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Some questions are difficult to answer, while others are straightforward.

What Kinds of Questions are Asked in the Duolingo English Test’s Interview Section?

The Duolingo English Test’s interview section is used to assess the candidate’s English speaking abilities. You’ll be asked to talk about a subject in this section of the exam. 

For at least 30 seconds, the test-taker must talk on a specific subject. When taking this part of the exam, the candidate’s voice must be clear, and he or she must adhere to the guidelines set out by the speaking section.

Is the Duolingo English Test’s Speaking Component Performed Separately?

The whole Duolingo English Test is completed in about an hour on the same day. The speaking element of the Duolingo English Test referred to as the interview, is covered in the second half of the test. 

This component is equally significant since it evaluates the candidate’s speaking abilities.

The standardized testing season will be here before you know it.  Whether this time of year excites you or frightens you, it’s time to prepare your students for the big test. Teaching them test-taking vocabulary can really help. Not only will your students perform better on the text, they will also gain confidence in their abilities to understand and respond to difficult questions. Read on for some fun and effective strategies to try with your students. 

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Why Test-Taking Vocabulary Matters

When taking a standardized test, there are three things your student must be able to do.

  1. know the content.
  2. understand what the question is asking them to do.
  3.  answer the question correctly.

If they struggle in one of these areas, their chance of being successful on the assessment drops big time.

It’s easier to explain this concept with examples, so here are a few pulled from the Mighty Words Task Cards Set in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

  • What should you do if you are asked to explain why a day on earth is 24 hours long?

  • Formulate a plan to earn some extra money.

  • Can a baby panda survive without its mother?  Support your answer with evidence from the text.

The words in bold are test-taking vocabulary words.  They are examples of words frequently used in test questions as well as critical thinking activities. Understanding the meaning of these words will cut down on mistakes, as long as your students have the content knowledge.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Students are often intimidated by the pressure of testing season.  That’s why building their knowledge of test-taking vocabulary in an enjoyable way is their best bet for giving them the confidence they need on test day.

Task Cards to The Rescue

Teachers and students alike are fans of task cards. Students enjoy them because they are usually more fun and less intimidating than traditional worksheet activities. Teachers love them because limited preparation is required, and there are countless ways to use them in classroom lessons.

Here are five ways to teach-test taking vocabulary with task cards that will be a hit for you and your kiddos.

Match-Up

Give your students a variety of cards with words that are similar to the test-taking vocabulary words.  Their goal will be to match the related word with the correct task card.  You can find a list of related words for each test-taking vocabulary word here.

For example, a task card with the word “trace” would be related to sequence, order, outline, and organize.

When students make the connection between the test-taking vocabulary word and similar words, they will grow know what to do when they encounter them on the test as well as in other situations.

Complete the activity individually, as a small group, whole group, or in centers, though I recommend allowing students to work collaboratively to encourage discussion.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Task Card Jeopardy

Everybody loves Jeopardy.  Add task cards and test prep to the mix and it’s a recipe for a great lesson.

Start with a digital Jeopardy board or a low tech version using a pocket chart, and split the class into two to four teams.  Then, sort the task cards based on subject and difficulty. You know how the game goes.  Students earn points based on the value of the question.

Jeopardy provides them with the opportunity to practice answering questions collaboratively while you formatively assess their understanding.

This activity can be done in small groups or as a whole class review.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Bell-Ringer/Exit-Ticket Activity

When students arrive at school, before they leave for the day or as they’re finishing an assignment, you can give them a task card to complete.  Use this activity to assess comprehension quickly. Do this activity with the whole class by displaying the task card with your document camera.

Complete this activity individually so you can gauge an understanding of each students’ ability level.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Cooperative Learning Structure

Whether your class uses Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures, or other cooperative learning formats, giving students structured group work to encourage collaboration is a great way to use your task cards when practicing test-taking vocabulary skills.

One activity you can try is Quiz-Quiz-Trade

  1. Give each student a task card.
  2. Students walk around the room while holding their task card.
  3. You yell “pair” and students find the person closest to them to be their partner.
  4. Each student reads their card, and their partner answers, then vice versa.
  5. Students switch cards with their partner and steps 2-5 repeat until time is up.

Would you like more details about the structure of this activity? I wrote a separate blog post all about it. 

This activity gives students the opportunity to practice answering many different questions while moving around and collaborating with their classmates.

While they are working, you can circle the room and listen to their conversations as you take anecdotal notes.

You should complete this activity as a whole group.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Line Up Review

As students get in line to go to lunch, resource, home, etc., put up one task card on the board or read it aloud.  Give each student an index card so they can write their answer to the problem. As they get in line, they should show you their response.

This provides you with a quick understanding of who needs additional support and who knows the test-taking vocabulary.  You can then differentiate your review based on the responses you receive.

You can complete this activity with your entire class or with a small group of students who need continued practice with a particular type of question.

Standardized testing comes around every spring, and every year, teachers look for effective strategies for preparing their students for the tests. This blog post shares fun and effective ways to teach test-taking vocabulary, which is an important skill for students! Hint: Task cards are a big help! Click through to read this post for elementary teachers.

Bonus Tip

You can use the Mighty Words Poster and Reference Cards to choose a word of the day.  Each day, pick a new test-taking vocabulary word and use it in various subjects.

Here’s an example using the word “contrast.”

  • Contrast how to find the area of a square and a triangle.

  • Read both passages and contrast the characteristics of the main characters.

  • Contrast the reasons for World War I and The Civil War.

  • How can you contrast the life cycle of a butterfly and a tree?

Using the word across different subjects is a great way to continually provide your students with the practice needed to grow their vocabulary and build their confidence.

Now, do you feel more prepared to tackle test-taking vocabulary prep?

You can get the task cards and the test prep posters mentioned in this post here and here.  Or, if you’re a true task card fan, you can grab the money-saving bundle.

How will you use task cards in your classroom during test prep season?

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Test Prep Vocabulary Lists:

Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 1

Whether you’re hoping to improve your comprehension of reading assignments or simply looking to increase your word knowledge, our lists of essential, high-frequency words will put you on the path to vocabulary success. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8, List 9, List 10

10 Words

Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1

Whether you’re preparing for a standardized test, hoping to improve your comprehension of reading assignments, or simply looking to increase your word knowledge, our lists of essential, high-frequency words will put you on the path to vocabulary success. Here are links to our lists in this collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4

25 Words

ASVAB Word Knowledge

The Word Knowledge section of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a vocabulary test that assesses word meanings, synonyms, and antonyms in a multiple-choice format. Practicing this list on Vocabulary.com will expand your word knowledge and hone your test-taking skills via a variety of contexts and question types.

100 Words

The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1

How can you perform well on the reading section of the SAT if you don’t fully understand the language being used in the directions and in the questions? Learn this list of 25 words that are based on our analysis of the words likely to appear in question stems, answer options, and test directions. Following our Roadmap to the SAT? Head back to see what else you should be learning this week.

25 Words

The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1

On the SAT, all of the Reading Test questions are multiple choice and are based on reading passages that may be taken from literature, science, the social sciences, or a U.S. founding document (or a text inspired by such a document). Many of the reading comprehension questions meant to assess a student’s understanding of those passages will require students to choose words that best describe the writer’s tone or point of view, words like the 25 words you see on this list. Learn them here so when you see them in an SAT answer choice, you’ll know what they mean! Following our Roadmap to the SAT? Head back to see what else you should be learning this week.

25 Words

The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1

Context is king — that’s the lesson you need to internalize as you begin preparing for the vocabulary questions on the SAT. We have identified this pool of 200 words that cut across the disciplines and lend themselves well to context-dependent interpretation. As you learn this list on Vocabulary.com, you will have to rely on context clues in order to determine each word’s meaning in particular sentences. This is the same type of thinking you will need to develop in order to succeed on the SAT! Following our Roadmap to the SAT? Head back to see what else you should be learning this week.

25 Words

PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)

Before you can answer a question on the PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy section, you first need to know what the question is asking. Learn this list of 70 words that we extracted from a PARCC practice test’s directions, question stems, and answer options.

70 Words

PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)

Before you can answer a question on the PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy section, you first need to know what the question is asking. Learn this list of 45 words that we extracted from a PARCC practice test’s directions, question stems, and answer options.

45 Words

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

Here are 68 Tier 2 words that are likely to be found on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) ELA exams for 6th — 11th grades. These words may show up in the reading passages, but you are more likely to encounter them in the test questions and possible answers.

68 Words

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

American Heritage Dictionaries normally feature about 70,000 entries. From that multitude, the editors have chosen 100 words that are neither obscure nor outlandish that could give middle schoolers more aplomb and aptitude in their verbal encounters. If you’re not sure whether that is something you need, study this list. Words selected by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionaries. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

100 Words

100 SAT Words Beginning with «A»

What better way to prepare for the sentence completion and passage-based questions on the SAT than to commit yourself to completing our alphabetically organized SAT lists? Find lists of SAT words organized by every letter of the alphabet here: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K & L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W, X, Y & Z.

100 Words

30 GRE Words Beginning with «A»

Find lists of GRE words organized by the letters of the alphabet here: A, B and C, D, E and F, G and H, I, K -O, P, Q, R & S, T, U, V, and W.

30 Words

AP English Lit exam terms

If you are gearing up to take the Advanced Placement English Literature exam, you better be able to distinguish between your elegies and your allegories! This list will help.

38 Words

NAEP Test Words

Words included in the 2009 and 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests of fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade vocabulary. Read about the test here.

45 Words

100 Top «SAT» Words

Looking to build your vocabulary? Then practice this list of 100 «top words» — the kind that used to be tested on the SAT before 2016. If you’re a high school student prepping for the SAT, check out Vocabulary.com’s Roadmap to the SAT, which focuses on the vocabulary you’ll need to ace today’s SAT test.

100 Words

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

The top 1,000 vocabulary words have been carefully chosen to represent difficult but common words that appear in everyday academic and business writing. These words are also the most likely to appear on the SAT, ACT, GRE, and ToEFL. To create this list, we started with the words that give our users the most trouble and then ranked them by how frequently they appear in our corpus of billions of words from edited sources. If you only have time to study one list of words, this is the list.

1000 Words

Media Literacy

The word list captures essential words in «Media Literacy» from Curriculum 21. As you watch these videos, think in terms of the use of images, music, spoken word and the author’s decisions in crafting these texts. Who is the intended audience? How do the choices made by the writer/author impact the intended audiences? Amazing is Unity Science and music Our place in the cosmos

71 Words

6th Grade Language Arts Vocab from Common Core State Standards

In grades 6 – 8, students are ready for new levels of intellectual challenge. If they have followed the Common Core Curriculum Maps up to this point, they should have a strong background in mythology, folktales, and fables from around the world; classic and contemporary fiction and poetry; and literary nonfiction related to historical and select scientific topics. They should be able to write a short paper in which they articulate a central idea and support it with examples from texts. www.commoncore.org Curriculum Map for 6th Grade

36 Words

GED: The Language of the Test, List 4

These words are likely to appear in question stems, answer options, and test directions on the GED Test. Master these important terms to ensure you understand the language of the test.

25 Words

GED: The Language of the Test, List 3

These words are likely to appear in question stems, answer options, and test directions on the GED Test. Master these important terms to ensure you understand the language of the test.

25 Words

International English Language Testing System is a widely accepted English proficiency test taken by students intending to pursue foreign education or employment abroad. The test assesses the candidate’s ability to communicate in English and is based on four parameters: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

For IELTS, it’s crucial to employ a variety of vocabulary with flexibility because the examiner will be looking for it in all the sections. Additionally, you need to read well in order to comprehend the texts because they will contain many challenging vocabulary.

To get a band 7 or higher on the IELTS, having a strong vocabulary is crucial. Here we have compiled a list of IELTS vocabulary words that candidates can utilise for their preparation. 

Topic-wise List for IELTS Vocabulary

Candidates should have a wide range of vocabulary as that will help them to discuss various topics. If one is unable to appropriately use the correct words, then this becomes a major drawback and can hamper the overall score as well. 

Want to improve your IELTS speaking score?

Speak like a native and boost your IELTS score – Join our speaking course today!

IELTS Vocabulary 2023: The Best List of Vocabulary Words for IELTS

We have identified the latest and most popular topics that have been used in IELTS exam. In the list below, you will find topic-wise IELTS vocabulary words with their meaning and usage next to them for better understanding. 

  • Advertisement 
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Environment
  • Fashion
  • Personality
  • Covid-19 
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Food

Phrasal Verb for IELTS vocabulary

Phrasal verb consists of two or three words from different grammatical groups. When all of them are combined, a different meaning is put forward and hence must be used according to the context. Besides, phrasal verbs belong to the IELTS vocabulary list and candidates can make use of them to demonstrate their command over the English language.

Before that, the candidate must try to understand the meaning of the phrasal verb as the wrong usage can reduce the band score.  Here is the list of phrasal verbs that the candidate can use: 

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
Quarrel with Dispute or disagree with
something
I am not quarrelling with their idea, but
I think there are other possibilities.
Romp in Win easily In the first race, the favorite romped in.
Salt away Save money She’s making a lot of money, but salts it
away rather than spending it.
Venture forth Leave somewhere safe or
comfortable
If the storm has finished, we could venture
forth.
Stick with Not change something We’d better stick with our original idea.
Tee off Start or launch an event The new project will tee off next month.
Go by The passing of time Ten years went by before we saw each other
again
Kick back Relax Rather than go out tonight, we plan to kick
back and watch television
Limber up for Prepare for something that
will require a great effort
They are limbering up for the end of the
financial year.
Measure against Evaluate or judge by
comparison
The work doesn’t look good if you measure
it against what our competitors have done.
Pass over Ignore, refuse to discuss Let’s pass over what they said and get on.
Peel away From Leave a group by
moving in a different
direction.
They peeled away from the crowd and
went down a side road

Idioms for IELTS Vocabulary

IELTS speaking section is another challenging area for many. However, it is in this section that the candidates can show their fluency, pronunciation and vocabulary of the language.

Idioms in this section help in expressing our ideas more clearly and make them sound rather natural. But, candidates must not use idioms without understanding their meaning, as that will lead to a deduction in marks. Hence, it is advisable that candidates use it in tasks only when they’re confident about its meaning and context.

We have compiled a list of common idioms for IELTS vocabulary that can be used in the speaking section. Remember when used properly they will lead to a great band score. 

  • To be on the top of the world 
  • To be on cloud nine 
  • If my memory serves me well 
  • Over the moon 
  • Once in a blue moon 
  • Piece of cake 
  • A drop in the ocean 
  • To be like a dog with two tails 
  • It makes my blood boil 
  • Change one’s mind 
  • Call it a day 
  • Put all your eggs in one basket 
  • Blessing in disguise 
  • Actions speak louder than words 
  • I hit the ceiling 
  • Fresh as a daisy
  • Couch potato
  • Full of beans   
  • A bad egg
  • Eager beaver

Collocations for IELTS Vocabulary

Collocations can be understood as the proper arrangement of words in a sentence or the combination of words that appear natural. They can be paired in this manner: 

  1. Verb & noun 
  2. Verb & adverb 
  3. Adverb & adjective 
  4. Adjective & noun 
  5. Noun & noun 

For easier understanding, some examples are listed below: 

  • Make someone’s bed
  • I have a preference for continental cuisine
  • I prefer reading
  • Parents can assist their children with financial responsibility
  • I have to take the test if I want to take the course 

The speaking module tests the candidate’s ability to communicate fluently in English. However, this means that the student must be able to pronounce the words correctly without much hesitation. But that is not all, they must have a grasp over their vocabulary and use it when and where it is required as that can provide them with a good score. 

Here is a comprehensive list of IELTS vocabulary words

IELTS Vocabulary list

To achieve a band score of 9 in the speaking section is a dream for many. Indian students specially struggle in this section.

For detailed content on how to prepare for the IELTS speaking section, you can read:

Band 8 Sample Answer

IELTS Speaking Tips

How to Improve Speaking Section Score

For specific content on cue cards, task type samples and latest topics, visit:

IELTS Speaking Part 1

latest Speaking Topics

IELTS Cue Cards

Reading and Writing : IELTS vocabulary list

Most candidates lose out marks as they do not use synonyms in the reading and writing section. Here is a list of popular words and their synonyms to help you expand your IELTS vocabulary for the reading and writing sections:

Words  Synonyms 
Amazing  Incredible 
Answer  Respond 
Awful  Bad 
Beautiful  Pretty 
Begin  Start 
Come  Arrive 
Cool  Frosty 
Dangerous  Risky 
Decide  Settle 
Definite  Certain 
Delicious  Savoury 
Wrong  Mistaken 
Tell  Narrate, Inform 
Show  Display, Exhibit 
New  Recent, current 
Neat  Clean 
Interesting  Intriguing 
Important  Vital, crucial 
Help  Assist 
Happy  Content 
Famous  Well-known 
Funny  Amusing 
Place  Procedure 

You can also check out IELTS courses by LeapScholar for a detailed guide on the IELTS Reading Section to get help on reading tips & strategy. Also, get access to guidance from the best IELTS tutors, attend mock tests, and get all sample materials to practise your IELTS vocabulary for reading section.

Tips to prepare for IELTS Vocabulary 

Candidates should follow these tips diligently while preparing for their IELTS exam. At the end of the day, attaining a good score is the stepping stone towards pursuing their dream of studying abroad. 

  • Read, listen and converse in English. 

Candidates should read English newspapers and get into the habit of reading. While reading, if they find any new word, they should note it down and look for its meaning. 

Vocabulary for IELTS

  • Practice 

Practice makes a man perfect and hence is the key to nailing a good score. Whether it’s reading, writing, speaking or listening, practising each of these sections is necessary. 

  • Use YouTube 

Candidates should use YouTube to understand how academic words are pronounced. They can also watch English shows to learn new vocabulary. 

  • Avoid memorising in all circumstances

Memorising words is an activity that should be avoided as the meaning of words change according to their context. 

Besides the list of IELTS vocabulary words, candidates can also make use of audio and videos as this can amp up the preparation process. Following the syllabus for each section is also essential. 

Are you looking for a professional coaching for IELTS? 

IELTS Prep app by Leap Scholar is a one-stop solution for your study abroad dream. You can access specially crafted lessons by experts accredited by IDP, British Council, and Cambridge. About 1M + students have trusted us with their IELTS prep journey. Join us, download our IELTS prep app and get access to the best resources!

Frequently Asked Questions 

  • Is there any IELTS vocabulary test ? 

    No, there is no vocabulary test in IELTS. However, a wide range of vocabulary can help score well in the exam. Candidates can follow our list of vocabulary words for IELTS to prepare for the exam. 

  • Is 7.5 a good score? 

    This score shows that the candidate has a good command of their English language. Most universities across the globe accept this score.

  • Is IELTS vocabulary important ?

    Yes, Vocabulary is important as it covers up to 25% of the total score in IELTS. It is the only topic common for both the Speaking and Writing sections. 

  • How can to enrich your IELTS vocabulary?

    Some of the hacks to improve IELTS vocabulary is reading newspaper, watching English movies with subtitles, writing daily diary and making notes of new words and phrases.

  • Is it necessary to use complex words for IELTS ?

    No. There is no rule that using difficult words will help you score well. It is advisable that you should focus on the usage and meaning. Using difficult words is an add-on and if you don’t know it’s best not to use them.

  • Why is it important to improve vocabulary for IELTS?

    Yes. Vocabulary is your foundation. Vocabulary makes up to 25% of your total mark in the IELTS Writing and Speaking tests. Without a strong vocabulary, it is difficult to have an efficient conversation or write a good content piece. And when you move out to an English-speaking country, it is ideal to build a strong vocabulary.

  • What is the best way to memorise IELTS vocabulary words easily?

    The best way to memorise vocabulary is by using mnemonics. These are mental shortcuts that help you remember more complex concepts or words. For example, you can create connection between words. The longer you think about acronyms or the connection the better will you remember the words that are associated with it.

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