100 Vocabulary Phrases to Boost Your IELTS Writing Score
Want to impress IELTS examiners with high-level vocabulary? These 100 powerful phrases will upgrade your Writing Task 1 and Task 2 essays and help you sound more academic, cohesive, and precise.
Mastering vocabulary is essential if you're aiming for Band 7 or higher in the IELTS Writing section. A strong lexical resource not only boosts your score but also helps convey complex ideas clearly and academically. In this blog, we’ve curated 100 high-scoring vocabulary phrases, organized by purpose and writing task.
Whether you're writing a formal report for Task 1 or crafting a persuasive argument in Task 2, these phrases will help you write with clarity and precision.
Why Vocabulary Matters in IELTS Writing
IELTS examiners assess your vocabulary under the Lexical Resource band descriptor. Here's what they're looking for:
- Variety of vocabulary
- Precision in word choice
- Ability to use collocations and topic-specific terms
- Avoidance of repetition and informal language
Using memorized phrases isn't enough—you need to use them naturally and appropriately. Let's dive in 👇
Task 1: Academic & General Training Vocabulary
For Academic Task 1, you'll describe trends, compare data, and summarize visuals.
For General Task 1, you're usually writing a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter.
To learn more about the differences, read 👉 Writing Task 1: Academic vs General
📊 Academic Task 1 Phrases
Introducing the Graph or Chart:
- The graph illustrates...
- The chart provides an overview of...
- The data reveals that...
Describing Trends:
- There was a significant increase in...
- The number of X rose steadily from...
- A sharp decline was observed in...
Comparing Data:
- In contrast to X, Y experienced a...
- X was twice as high as Y in...
- Both figures showed a similar pattern...
Describing Highs and Lows:
- Reached a peak of...
- Hit a low point at...
- Remained stable at...
Summarizing:
- Overall, it is evident that...
- In summary, the data suggests...
✉️ General Training Task 1 Phrases
Opening Lines:
- I am writing to inform you...
- I would like to express my concern regarding...
- I am writing with reference to...
Requests:
- I would be grateful if you could...
- Could you please provide further details about...
- I am writing to request...
Apologies and Complaints:
- I sincerely apologize for...
- I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
- I hope this issue can be resolved promptly.
Closings:
- I look forward to your prompt response.
- Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely,
- Thank you for your time and assistance.
Task 2: Opinion and Discussion Essay Vocabulary
IELTS Writing Task 2 includes a variety of essay types, including opinion and discussion essays.
To learn the difference and how to approach each, check this 👉 Task 2: Opinion vs Discussion Essay
🧠 Introduction Phrases
- It is often argued that...
- Some people believe that...
- This essay will examine both sides of the issue.
💬 Giving Your Opinion
- I firmly believe that...
- From my perspective,...
- I am convinced that...
🔍 Presenting Arguments
- One of the main reasons is that...
- Another significant factor is...
- This can be attributed to...
🆚 Counterarguments & Rebuttals
- On the other hand, some people argue that...
- However, this viewpoint fails to consider...
- Nevertheless, it is important to note that...
🔗 Linking Ideas
- Furthermore,...
- In addition,...
- Despite this,...
- As a result,...
- Consequently,...
✅ Concluding Your Essay
- In conclusion, while there are strong arguments on both sides,...
- To sum up, it is clear that...
- Overall, I believe that...
💡 High-Level Vocabulary by Function
Here’s a categorized list of advanced vocabulary phrases that apply to both Task 1 and Task 2:
| Function | Example Phrases |
|---|---|
| Cause & Effect | due to, as a result of, consequently, therefore |
| Contrast & Comparison | whereas, although, in contrast, similarly |
| Adding Information | furthermore, moreover, in addition, also |
| Giving Examples | for instance, such as, namely, to illustrate |
| Emphasis | indeed, in fact, it is worth noting that |
| Certainty | undoubtedly, there is no doubt that, certainly |
| Hedging (Cautious tone) | it appears that, may suggest, it is possible that |
📝 Sample Prompts to Practice
Use the vocabulary above to write responses to these IELTS-style questions:
- Task 1 Academic: The graph below shows the percentage of households with internet access in three countries between 2000 and 2020. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features.
- Task 1 General: You recently moved to a new city and want to join a local sports club. Write a letter to the club manager.
- Task 2 Opinion: Some people think that children should start school at an early age, while others believe they should begin later. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Task 2 Discussion: Many believe that technological advances are making people less social. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
❌ Common Mistakes with Vocabulary
- Overusing basic words like “good,” “bad,” “a lot,” “thing”
- Forcing complex words in the wrong context
- Using informal phrases like “kids” or “gonna”
- Repeating the same words — use synonyms and paraphrases
- Wrong collocations — e.g., "do a decision" instead of "make a decision"
🎯 Ready to Boost Your Band Score?
Practice with realistic, examiner-style mock exams for both Academic and General IELTS at 👉 ieltsexam.ai/ielts-mock-tests
Get instant AI feedback, scoring, and sample answers for Writing Task 1 & 2!