English Vocabulary & Language
40 flashcards
~20 min
IELTS & TOEFL High-Score Vocabulary
Achieve your target IELTS Band 7+ or TOEFL 100+ score with this high-impact vocabulary flashcard deck. Vocabulary is one of the most heavily weighted components in IELTS Writing, Speaking, and Reading — and TOEFL Reading and Writing sections. Examiners specifi...
About this deck
Achieve your target IELTS Band 7+ or TOEFL 100+ score with this high-impact vocabulary flashcard deck. Vocabulary is one of the most heavily weighted components in IELTS Writing, Speaking, and Reading — and TOEFL Reading and Writing sections. Examiners specifically award higher scores for a wide range of sophisticated, precise vocabulary used accurately and naturally. This deck covers 40 powerful academic words and phrases that appear frequently in IELTS and TOEFL tasks, organized with their definitions, collocations (the words they naturally pair with), and example sentences in the context of essay writing. All words are drawn from the Academic Word List (AWL) and published IELTS preparation materials.
Ready to test yourself?
Flip through all 40 cards in interactive study mode.
All flashcards
Click any question to reveal the answer.
To increase rapidly in number; to spread or multiply quickly. "Social media platforms have proliferated dramatically over the past decade." Collocates with: rapidly, widely, increasingly.
To make a problem or negative situation worse. "The lack of investment has exacerbated the housing crisis." Near-synonym: aggravate, intensify, compound.
To reduce or lessen pain, suffering, or a problem. "Government subsidies can help alleviate poverty in rural communities." Near-synonym: mitigate, ease, relieve.
Certain to happen; impossible to avoid. "With rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events seem inevitable." Collocates: almost, arguably, seemingly, apparently.
Large in size, value, or importance. "There is substantial evidence to suggest that diet affects mental health." Replaces: big, large, a lot of.
Causing harm or damage; having a negative effect. "Excessive screen time can be detrimental to children's social development." Collocates: detrimental to (always followed by "to").
Mainly; for the most part. "The workforce is predominantly composed of graduates under 30." Replaces: mostly, mainly, largely.
Used to suggest that a claim can be supported with reasons, even if not everyone agrees. "This is arguably the most significant scientific discovery of the century." Softens strong statements.
As a result; therefore. "The factory was closed; consequently, hundreds of workers lost their jobs." Used to show cause-and-effect.
Despite what has just been said; in spite of this. "The task was difficult. Nonetheless, the team delivered excellent results." Introduces a concession then a counter-argument.
More important than anything else; supreme. "The safety of passengers is of paramount importance." Replaces: most important, top priority.
A great difference or inequality between things. "There is a growing disparity between the wages of executives and frontline workers." Collocates: significant, growing, stark disparity.
To make a process easier; to help bring about. "Technology facilitates communication across vast distances." Replaces: help, make easier, support.
To succeed in achieving something, especially after effort. "Many young people struggle to attain a university degree due to financial constraints." Replaces: achieve, reach, accomplish.
A fact, occurrence, or event — often unusual or remarkable. "Climate migration is a growing global phenomenon." Note: "phenomena" is the plural — never say "a phenomena."
Widespread; common in a particular area or group. "Obesity has become increasingly prevalent in developed nations." Replaces: common, widespread, frequent.
To gradually weaken or damage something. "Corruption undermines public trust in the government." Replaces: damage, weaken, erode.
To assert strongly; to argue or claim. "Some economists contend that a universal basic income would reduce poverty." Used to introduce arguments without stating they are true.
Real and concrete; capable of being touched or clearly seen. "The policy has produced tangible benefits for local communities." Opposite: intangible.
Not fair or just; unfair in distribution. "The current tax system is inequitable — it disproportionately burdens lower-income households." Replaces: unfair, unjust.
Able to be maintained over a long period without causing harm. "Economic growth must be sustainable if future generations are to prosper." Collocates: sustainable development, sustainable solution.
Relating to the structure and statistics of a population. "The ageing demographic poses significant challenges to pension systems." (noun or adjective).
(verb) To publicly support or recommend. (noun) A person who supports a cause. "Many scientists advocate for stricter carbon emissions regulations."
The great size or extent of something; the importance of something. "The magnitude of the climate crisis demands immediate global action." Collocates: of great magnitude, the magnitude of the problem.
General agreement among a group of people. "There is a growing scientific consensus that human activity is driving climate change." Collocates: reach a consensus, broad/general/scientific consensus.
A limitation or restriction. "Financial constraints prevent many talented students from accessing higher education." Replaces: limitation, restriction, barrier.
About to appear or happen; willing to give information. "Further details will be provided in a forthcoming report."
Based on observation or experience rather than theory. "There is strong empirical evidence linking smoking to lung cancer." Key IELTS/TOEFL academic word.
Language designed to persuade, often without substance. "The politician's speech was full of rhetoric but lacked concrete policy proposals." Collocates: empty rhetoric, political rhetoric.
To increase in strength, size, or effect. "Social media can amplify misinformation at an alarming rate." Replaces: increase, magnify, intensify.
Considering something as a whole rather than its parts in isolation. "We need a holistic approach to mental health that addresses social, physical, and psychological factors."
A difference or inconsistency between two or more things. "There is a clear discrepancy between what the government reports and the actual unemployment figures."
To make something less severe, serious, or painful. "Renewable energy can help mitigate the effects of climate change." Replaces: reduce, lessen, minimise.
Never having happened or existed before. "The pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to the global economy." Collocates: truly, historically, virtually unprecedented.
Capable of working successfully; feasible. "Solar energy is becoming an increasingly viable alternative to fossil fuels." Replaces: feasible, workable, practical.
To include or cover a wide range of things. "The report encompasses a broad range of economic, social, and environmental factors." Replaces: include, cover, involve.
To have a mutual relationship or connection. "Research suggests that exercise levels correlate positively with academic performance." Collocates: positively/negatively correlate with.
Belonging naturally to something; essential. "There is intrinsic value in education beyond its economic benefits." Opposite: extrinsic.
Understood or implied without being directly stated. "There was a tacit agreement between the two parties not to discuss the matter." Replaces: unspoken, implied, implicit.
To examine closely and critically. "Government spending must be rigorously scrutinised to prevent waste." Replaces: examine, analyse, investigate closely.