IELTS Collocations Guide
Master natural English collocations to sound more fluent and achieve higher band scores. Collocations are word combinations that native speakers use naturally.
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are words that naturally go together. They sound right to native speakers and make your English more natural and fluent.
Strong Collocations:
- Make a decision ()
- Heavy rain ()
- Conduct research ()
Incorrect Combinations:
- Do a decision (L)
- Strong rain (L)
- Make research (L)
Common IELTS Collocations
Task 1 Collocations
Describing Trends:
- Sharp increase/decrease
- Gradual rise/fall
- Steady growth/decline
- Dramatic improvement/deterioration
Data Description:
- Significant difference
- Notable variation
- Marked contrast
- Slight fluctuation
Task 2 Collocations
Education:
- Quality education
- Higher education
- Lifelong learning
- Academic achievement
Technology:
- Cutting-edge technology
- Digital revolution
- Technological advancement
- Artificial intelligence
Speaking Collocations
| Topic | Natural Collocations | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Life | close friend, free time, spare time, busy schedule | "In my free time, I enjoy spending time with close friends." |
| Work/Career | full-time job, career prospects, work experience, professional development | "Good work experience improves your career prospects." |
| Environment | environmental protection, climate change, renewable energy, carbon footprint | "Renewable energy helps reduce our carbon footprint." |
| Health | physical fitness, mental health, healthy lifestyle, balanced diet | "A balanced diet is essential for maintaining physical fitness." |
Verb + Noun Collocations
Make vs Do
Make:
- Make a decision
- Make progress
- Make an effort
- Make a mistake
- Make money
Do:
- Do research
- Do homework
- Do your best
- Do exercise
- Do business
Other Common Verbs
Take:
- Take action
- Take responsibility
- Take advantage
- Take measures
Give:
- Give advice
- Give a presentation
- Give priority
- Give support
Adjective + Noun Collocations
Strong/Weak Collocations:
- Strong coffee ()
- Weak tea ()
- Heavy traffic ()
- Light meal ()
High/Low Collocations:
- High standards ()
- Low prices ()
- High unemployment ()
- Low income ()
Deep/Shallow Collocations:
- Deep understanding ()
- Shallow water ()
- Deep concern ()
- Shallow breathing ()
Common Collocation Mistakes
Say vs Tell
L "He said me the truth."
"He told me the truth."
"He said, 'I'll tell you the truth.'"
Economic vs Economical
L "Economical growth is important."
"Economic growth is important."
"This car is economical." (saves money)
Collocation Practice
Choose the correct collocation:
- Students should _______ (make/do) their best to succeed.
- The government needs to _______ (take/make) action on climate change.
- There was a _______ (strong/heavy) increase in unemployment.
- We must _______ (give/pay) attention to environmental issues.
- The research _______ (made/conducted) by scientists was groundbreaking.
Answers:
1. do (do your best)
2. take (take action)
3. sharp (sharp increase - 'heavy' is not used with increase)
4. pay (pay attention)
5. conducted (conduct research)
1. do (do your best)
2. take (take action)
3. sharp (sharp increase - 'heavy' is not used with increase)
4. pay (pay attention)
5. conducted (conduct research)
Building Your Collocation Knowledge
Learning Strategies
- Learn collocations in context, not in isolation
- Keep a collocation dictionary or notebook
- Practice with authentic materials (news, articles)
- Focus on common IELTS topics
- Use collocations in your speaking and writing practice
IELTS Benefits
- Higher Lexical Resource scores
- More natural-sounding language
- Improved fluency in speaking
- Better coherence in writing
- Demonstrates advanced vocabulary usage