IELTS Collocations & Phrases for Band 7+: 50+ Examples by Topic
Lexical Resource is worth 25% of your IELTS Writing and Speaking band score. The most reliable way to score Band 7+ is to use high-quality IELTS collocations and phrases naturally — not isolated vocabulary words. This guide gives you 50+ collocations organised by the most common IELTS essay topics, ready to use immediately. Test them in real essays with our free AI IELTS feedback tool that evaluates your Lexical Resource criterion specifically.
What Are Collocations and Why Do They Matter for IELTS?
A collocation is a pair (or group) of words that naturally occur together in English. “Make a decision” is a collocation; “do a decision” is not — even though both make grammatical sense. Examiners reward candidates who use collocations naturally because it signals genuine fluency, not memorised phrases.
| Instead of… | Use This Collocation | Why It’s Better |
|---|---|---|
| “a big problem” | “a pressing issue / a serious concern” | More academic; shows Lexical Range |
| “very important” | “of paramount importance / critically important” | Avoids basic adjective; more varied |
| “do a research” | “conduct research / carry out a study” | Correct collocation; “do research” is informal |
| “make pollution” | “generate pollution / contribute to environmental damage” | Accurate verb collocations |
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IELTS Collocations by Topic: Education
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| access to education | Equal access to education remains a challenge in developing nations. |
| pursue higher education | More students now pursue higher education than at any point in history. |
| foster critical thinking | Universities should foster critical thinking rather than rote learning. |
| lifelong learning | Technological change has made lifelong learning a necessity, not a choice. |
| academic performance | Socioeconomic factors significantly influence academic performance. |
| vocational training | Investing in vocational training can reduce youth unemployment substantially. |
IELTS Collocations by Topic: Technology
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| rapid technological advancement | Rapid technological advancement has transformed every aspect of modern life. |
| artificial intelligence | Artificial intelligence poses both opportunities and ethical risks for society. |
| digital divide | The digital divide between rich and poor nations is widening. |
| reliance on technology | Over-reliance on technology risks eroding essential human skills. |
| disruptive innovation | Disruptive innovation regularly renders existing industries obsolete. |
| data privacy concerns | Growing data privacy concerns have prompted legislative action globally. |
IELTS Collocations by Topic: Environment
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| carbon emissions | Reducing carbon emissions is the most urgent environmental priority. |
| renewable energy sources | A transition to renewable energy sources is both achievable and necessary. |
| environmental degradation | Unchecked industrial growth has led to severe environmental degradation. |
| sustainable development | Sustainable development balances economic growth with ecological responsibility. |
| climate change | The consequences of climate change disproportionately affect developing countries. |
| biodiversity loss | Biodiversity loss threatens the stability of ecosystems that humans depend on. |
IELTS Collocations by Topic: Health
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| public health crisis | Obesity has escalated into a global public health crisis. |
| mental health awareness | Increased mental health awareness has reduced the stigma of seeking help. |
| sedentary lifestyle | A sedentary lifestyle is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. |
| healthcare system | Universal healthcare systems reduce inequality in medical outcomes. |
| preventable diseases | Improved sanitation has dramatically reduced deaths from preventable diseases. |
| physical well-being | Governments have a responsibility to promote the physical well-being of citizens. |
IELTS Collocations by Topic: Economy & Society
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| income inequality | Rising income inequality is destabilising societies across the developed world. |
| economic growth | Sustainable economic growth requires investment in both infrastructure and education. |
| globalisation | Globalisation has accelerated the movement of capital, goods and people. |
| social cohesion | Strong social cohesion is built on shared values and equitable institutions. |
| urbanisation | Rapid urbanisation has created both opportunity and strain on city infrastructure. |
| government intervention | Government intervention is justified when markets fail to serve the public interest. |
Use These Collocations in a Real IELTS Essay
Write a practice essay using collocations from any topic above. Our AI scores your Lexical Resource criterion and highlights overused or incorrect word choices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I memorise collocations for IELTS?
Memorise them, then practise using them in context. A collocation that appears forced or misused signals to the examiner that it was memorised rather than internalised. Use each collocation in 3–5 practice sentences before using it in a graded essay.
Is it better to use complex vocabulary or accurate simple vocabulary?
Accurate simple vocabulary with good collocations beats complex vocabulary used incorrectly. Examiners at Band 7 expect “a variety of vocabulary with some less common items” — not obscure vocabulary used randomly.
