5 Ways to strengthen your vocabulary

In the IELTS test extensive English vocabulary is your strongest weapon as you prepare for your IELTS exam.

Weak vocabulary puts you at a huge disadvantage in the IELTS test because you won’t fully understand what is being asked of you in the IELTS Test questions and won’t be able to answer the questions properly.

Not understanding the question is a guaranteed way to fail.

Strong vocabulary will give you confidence and reduce your stress levels during the IELTS exam. Not worrying about the meaning of words will give you more time to concentrate on other aspects of English language; grammar, pronunciation, essay structure etc.

You may not be an eloquent speaker but using the right words in your responses to the IELTS Test questions will be a great advantage.

Here are 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Vocabulary:

1. Read, read and read

Reading enhances the rate at which you learn words, especially their usage. Seeing words in context often means that you develop an intuitive understanding of the meaning of the word. Reading material can take the form of novels, newspapers, magazines and journals. All reading is good reading – for vocabulary development.

2. Always have a dictionary to hand – and use it!

Knowing the words is a start but isn’t enough. You need to comprehend what the words mean too. When you are faced with new words in a book or some other article, having a dictionary near you helps you to develop your understanding. A habit well worth forming.

3. Make note of the words you don’t know

Sometimes we think we understand the words we use. It’s only when we are asked to explain what they mean – by friends or others – that we discover we actually don’t. Carry a notepad with you – if you don’t have an app on your phone! –  and capture the words as you discover them, so you can find out what they mean later on. But do make sure that you follow through and find out the meaning of the words you don’t know. This is another habit worth forming.

4. Use your words – or lose them!

The best way to keep your vocabulary in your head and current is to use it everyday. For every social situation you find yourself in, try using your expanded vocabulary rather than just the core set of words. Think of synonyms to use instead of the first words that pop into your conscious head when talking. Try to be expressive and colourful when relating a story or describing something. Avoid using imprecise words like “nice” by being more specific.

5. Play word games

Word games are commonly used to stimulate the interest of young children in English. This works for adults too, provided the games used aren’t too childish as adults don’t like being made to feel like children. Think about crosswords and word matching and finding games. These are often found in newspapers and magazines. Scrabble is a perennial favourite with people interested in English, as is Hangman. There are others too.

It will help you a lot to try to include vocabulary expansion activities in your daily writing and speaking. It should be obvious to everyone, but just in case it isn’t I’ll say it here, better vocabulary will lead to better IELTS Test Band Scores.

To your IELTS success,

James

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