5 tips to improve English vocabulary to achieve a high IELTS band score

Many individuals preparing for the IELTS exam frequently experience the challenge of mastering the extensive IELTS vocabulary. One of the primary hurdles to efficient IELTS preparation is insufficient vocabulary. To enhance English vocabulary is not a task that can be accomplished overnight; it involves a gradual process of practice and accumulation. To assist you in streamlining your IELTS preparation, PREP offers Preppies five straightforward and efficient tips to improve English vocabulary, aimed at achieving a high band score.

I. How should improve English vocabulary for the IELTS test?

Before delving into effective vocabulary learning methods, you need to understand how vocabulary is closely related to all aspects of the IELTS exam. Pay particular attention to the connection between grammar and pronunciation during the learning process. So, make sure to create a plan to combine vocabulary learning with grammar and pronunciation.

To expand vocabulary, you need to prepare a notebook and writing utensils such as pencils or pens. Then, create a personal vocabulary notebook. You can decorate the notebook to make it visually appealing and inspiring during the learning process. The next step, and also the most important one, is to choose suitable learning materials. The sources of materials can include:

• Main learning materials: textbooks and printed materials. You can print PDF versions of books and newspapers to read and learn vocabulary every day.
• Free materials from YouTube and online vocabulary learning websites on the internet.
• Dictionaries: Dictionaries are indispensable to build English vocabulary. Therefore, you can use printed dictionaries or online resources. Some online dictionary websites you shouldn't miss are Cambridge, Collins, Oxford, etc.

II. 5 Effective Tips to improve English vocabulary

To improve English vocabulary, memorizing and applying it flexibly is necessary, especially in the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections. But how can you effectively learn IELTS vocabulary?

First, you need to understand that IELTS vocabulary is extensive and includes various types of words. However, before starting, it's best to begin with simple words. Once you have a solid foundation, you can expand and improve your memorization skills.

Learning vocabulary doesn't mean solely learning that word. Additionally, you should learn other words associated with it to create a network of interconnected words. Remember the words systematically instead of memorizing them randomly.

1. Improve English vocabulary by neatly writing words in a notebook

"Neatly" here means that we divide and organize words according to topics instead of simply jotting them down in a notebook. This method helps us expand our vocabulary across different topics simultaneously. Additionally, having a well-organized vocabulary notebook will be more effective for learning vocabulary.

For example, I usually try to learn about 8 words per day and write them down in my notebook (everyone should balance the number of words learned per day according to their ability and avoid overwhelming themselves with too many words, as it may have a counterproductive effect). I write down the words by recording the meaning and pronunciation of the new word (I find new words in high-scoring Writing or Speaking samples), providing an example sentence, and highlighting the phrase containing the word I'm learning.

2. Review vocabulary after 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month

If your goal is to build your vocabulary, you need to develop the habit of reviewing words: review after 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. If you don't have time to spell vocabulary words as you did in school, at least reread the words you have collected. Doing so will make the most of the benefits of the sacred vocabulary notebook you have prepared. The more you read, the better you will remember the words in the long run.

Apply this effective IELTS vocabulary learning tip starting today to enhance your memorization skills!

3. Improve English vocabulary through playing Crosswords or Wordsearches

One of the ways to "learn while playing and play while learning" when studying IELTS vocabulary is to do word searches or crosswords. You can apply this method with a study partner. The process is not complicated: if you want to create crosswords or word searches to play with your partner, you can simply access the website https://crosswordlabs.com/ or https://thewordsearch.com/.

Additionally, you can also visit the website https://www.wordsearch365.com/ to play pre-made word searches categorized by topics (such as Food, Animals, etc.) with various difficulty levels. This is an interesting way to learn and helps you memorize vocabulary faster than just looking at books to learn IELTS vocabulary.

4. Use e-flashcards to improve your IELTS vocabulary

Learning IELTS vocabulary through flashcards is a popular method. However, preparing paper flashcards can be time-consuming and inconvenient, especially for working people.

Instead of traditional paper flashcards, we can create e-flashcards using the Quizlet app. Quizlet is one of the most widely used learning apps by students nowadays due to its convenience.

You just need to create a list of words you want to remember and provide their meanings. The system will generate flashcards for you to review. You can open the app to review vocabulary anytime, whether it's while waiting for a bus or an elevator. Additionally, you can share your Quizlet word list with your partner to supplement and review together.

5. Learn additional synonymous vocabulary for IELTS

You should learn synonyms of the words you already know to expand your vocabulary further. Synonymous words appear frequently in the IELTS test. Therefore, pay close attention to these words. Moreover, you can flexibly apply these words in the Speaking and Writing tasks to enhance your ability to score higher on the test.

III. Some common and popular topics to improve English vocabulary

Hopefully, you can improve English vocabulary more effectively with the sharing in this article. Wish you good studying, and if you have any questions, don't forget to comment below the article to receive support from PREP.