Updated Feb. 19, 2019
Note that if you incorrectly or inappropriately use what you think is an example of "high level" vocabulary, you might actually lose points for vocabulary rather than gain points. This is mostly because communication can be damaged, or even broken, by such errors. In other words, using a simple word or repeating the same word is often better than using an "impressive" word incorrectly. Clear communication is the Number 1 priority in the IELTS test!
Index
30. Time Management
32. Relaxing
33. Tradition
34. Change
35. Non-Electrical Equipment in the Home
37. Bags
38. Types of Cards
40. Humour
41. Politeness
42. Toys (Now on Page 4)
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punctual punctuality to plan ahead on time on schedule a deadline timely a "rush job" at short notice to be behind time to delay to put off doing s’thing to leave s’thing till the last moment
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to procrastinate to postpone overdue the due time the due date prompt, promptly to fall behind to be behind to rush to hurry urgent to cram (for an exam) to be pressed for time
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a crash study program a timetable a schedule to fritter away one’s time a short-term goal a long-term goal goal-setting a priority high priority low priority efficient, inefficient organized flexible |
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The following words could be used when describing people who participate in extreme sports or other examples of adventurous people. Use a good dictionary (not just an electronic dictionary) to see the full meaning, with examples, and usage of these words.
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Adjectives |
Nouns |
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adventurous |
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fearless |
a “showoff” |
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bold |
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reckless |
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rash |
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foolhardy |
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daring |
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The following words might be useful when talking about the topic of relaxation.
(The words in the three columns, "Nouns", "Verbs" and "Phrases & Expressions" are not always connected to the word in the first column, "Adjectives". For example, "to sleep", "a massage" and the phrase, "for enjoyment" are not connected to the word, "leisurely". Each column is a separate list of words.)
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Adjectives |
Nouns |
Verbs |
Phrases & Expressions |
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relaxing |
a rest |
to relax |
"A change is as good as a rest." |
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relaxed |
a nap |
to rest |
for recreation |
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restful |
a siesta |
to nap |
for pleasure |
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leisurely |
a massage |
to sleep |
for enjoyment |
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peaceful |
meditation |
to unwind |
for leisure |
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soothing |
stress |
to refresh oneself |
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stressful |
pressure |
to meditate |
to take my mind off my studies (or, off my work) |
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tension |
to stretch out |
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light exercise |
to take it easy |
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soothing music |
to revitalize oneself |
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a warm bath |
to relieve stress |
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to take a nap = to have a nap |
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to stretch the legs (= go for a walk) |
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| to "chill out" (This is slang but ok to use with younger examiners. Pronounce it clearly.) |
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Adjectives |
Nouns |
Verbs |
Other |
| traditional | a tradition | to observe a custom | |
| customary | a custom | to follow a custom | |
| ceremonial | a ceremony | to bow | |
| religious | a ritual | ||
| superstitious | a rite | ||
| formal | a practice | ||
| conventional | a convention | ||
| ancestral | folklore | ||
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religious |
a superstition |
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a belief |
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a myth |
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a legend |
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a festival |
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The topic of "change" is a very frequent topic throughout the IELTS Speaking and Writing tests.
Most of the verbs in this list can be changed into nouns, often by adding "ion" to the verb.
Similarly, many of the verbs can be changed to become adjectives by adding "ed", for example, "improve" can become "improved".
Make sure you use a dictionary to see examples of how any new words are used. Using an impressive word in the test but using it incorrectly often causes you to lose points for vocabulary rather than gain points. This is because the listener (the examiner) might become confused about what you mean – clear communication is the Number 1 thing in the IELTS Speaking and Writing tests!
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Adjectives |
Nouns |
Verbs |
Verbs (continued) |
Other |
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better |
progress |
to grow |
to restrict |
"A change is as good as a rest". |
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worse |
a development |
to increase |
to suppress |
"Variety is the spice of life." |
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former |
a metamorphosis |
to rise |
to abolish |
go out of fashion |
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current |
a transition |
to expand |
to renew |
go out of style |
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modern |
the rate of change |
to extend |
to rejuvenate |
to die out (Some old traditions have "died out".) |
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fashionable |
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to broaden |
to renovate |
exponentially (exponential growth) |
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up-to-date |
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to widen |
to revamp |
to “change for the better” |
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contemporary |
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to lengthen |
to streamline |
to “change for the worse” |
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a radical change |
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to intensify |
to recondition |
behind the times = no longer fashionable |
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a gradual change |
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to magnify |
to refurnish |
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an imperceptible change |
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to decrease |
to rehabilitate |
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| to fall | to regenerate | |||
| to contract | to reform | |||
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to shorten |
to reverse |
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to reduce |
to improve |
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to fluctuate |
to develop |
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to vary |
to mature |
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to move |
to modernize |
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to relocate |
to enhance |
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to transport |
to advance |
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to shift |
to ameliorate |
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to divert |
to alleviate |
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to substitute |
to relieve |
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to transform |
to correct |
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to replace |
to deteriorate |
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to convert |
to worsen |
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to build |
to age |
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to construct |
to decay |
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to demolish |
to degenerate |
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to fix |
to aggravate |
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to repair |
to exacerbate |
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to update |
to impair |
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to alter |
to corrupt |
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| to modify | to discontinue | |||
| to limit | to abandon | |||
| to contain |
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35. Non-Electrical Equipment in the Home
Here, "equipment", "devices", "tools", "gadgets" all mean, more or less, the same thing.
In the Kitchen
| a measuring cup | a bottle opener | a frying pan | a meat cleaver |
| a ladle | a corkscrew | a saucepan (U.S. pronunciation is also acceptable: saucepan) | a cutting board |
| a spatula | a nutcracker | a vegetable knife | a dish rack (a dish drainer) |
| a can opener | a wok (锅） | a vegetable peeler | a timer |
| a water dispenser | a serving spoon | a strainer |
In the Bathroom
| a bathroom scale (= a set of bathroom scales) | a toothbrush holder | ||
| a toilet plunger | a razor | ||
| a toilet brush | a hairbrush | ||
| a toothbrush |
In the Study
| a stapler (a stapling machine) | a pencil sharpener | ||
| a ruler | a pair of scissors | ||
| a hole punch | a magnifying glass |
Cleaning Equipment
| a broom | a feather duster | ||
| a dustpan (and hand brush) | |||
| a mop | |||
| a mop bucket |
Exercise Equipment
| an exercise bicycle | a dumbbell | ||
| a rowing machine | a barbell | ||
| a treadmill | a skipping rope | ||
| a set of weights |
Handyman Tools
| a hammer | a ladder | a tape measure | |
| a screwdriver | an adjustable spanner (U.S. = an adjustable wrench) | ||
| a pair of pliers | a saw | ||
| a set of jeweler's screwdrivers | a hacksaw |
Other
| a sewing needle | |||
| a torch (U.S. = a flashlight) | |||
| a coat hanger | |||
| a pair of nail clippers |
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There are many types of bags. Below are some of the types of bags that you might want to mention in the speaking test.
Try to pronounce the compound nouns (the words that are composed of two nouns) with the stress more on the first word than on the second word. Mimic the recordings to learn this.
a 'handbag (The bag that most women carry.)
a purse (Usually a purse is a small bag that a woman uses to hold her money and she keeps it in her handbag when she is carrying her handbag. But sometimes, especially in American English, "a purse" is used to mean "a handbag".)
a 'backpack (A "rucksack" and a "haversack" are words for a bigger type of backpack that people use when they are hiking and camping, although we also can call those bigger bags, "backpacks".)
a 'book bag (A book bag can be a shoulder bag or a small backpack that school children use.)
a 'briefcase (Carried by businesspeople and also by some older students.)
a suitcase
an 'attaché case and 'attaché case (A type of briefcase that is flatter and more solid than a briefcase and has a more squared shape than a briefcase.)
a laptop 'computer bag (Some people use this to carry things other than their laptop computer. Or some people always carry this with them wherever they go because they take their laptop computer with them everywhere. It can hold a few extra small things besides the laptop computer.)
a 'shopping bag (and 'shopping bag) (A bag that is usually carried by a woman , especially an older woman, when she goes shopping.) = a carry bag
Some more bags are listed here: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/Bags-and-cases-for-carrying-possessions and on this page, http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/TYPE_1_PAGE_1.htm
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See the long list of cards at http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/TYPE_1_PAGE_2.htm#CARD. Make sure you know how to pronounce these compound nouns (= two-word nouns) with the first word stressed more than the word, "card". Mimic some of the recordings.
For the Part 1 topic of "Cards", you only need to know a few of these examples. " A postcard " seems to be one of the words used in the Part 1 questions. In fact, this might be the only card that you will be asked about.
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Cars
sedans
sports cars
convertibles (the roof can be retracted)
station wagons
SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
Off-road vehicles (similar to four-wheel-drive vehicles & SUVs)
four-wheel-drive cars
electric cars
hybrid cars
a utility = a "ute" (Australian English) = a pick-up truck in American English
a racing car (e.g., a Formula 1 racing car)
a beach buggy
a stretch limousine
a vintage car (a car that was produced earlier than about 40 years ago, especially those cars produced in the 1920's to the 1950's.)
Trucks
Vans
Motor Homes
campers
caravans (not a self-powered vehicle)
Bicycles
mountain bikes (BMX bikes)
racing bikes
electric bicycles
fold-up bicycles
a bicycle built for two
unicycles
Motor Cycles
(Sometimes called "motor bikes" in British English)
a racing motorcycle
scooters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle))
electric motor cycles
sidecar (on some motor cycles)
Other Vehicles
tractors
horse-drawn carts
a rickshaw
a mini-bus
a go-cart
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter
(See different languages at the left-hand side of those pages)
See note about appropriate usage
humour (= "humor" in American spelling)
humorous
a sense of humour
laugh, laughter
to smile, to grin, to chuckle, to snigger
funny (NOT the same as “interesting” or “fun”)
my "funny bone"
amusing
wit, witty, a witicism
ludicrous / ridiculous / absurd / laughable
uproarious
comedy (a type of performance or a type of TV show or film)
a sit-com (= a situational comedy TV show)
comedian
a jokester / a comic
a stand-up comic (performer)
a "wise-crack"
cross-talk (in China)
a clown
a joke
to crack a joke / to tell a joke / to tell jokes
“rolling in the aisles”
a "dirty joke"
a practical joke
a gag
a pun
to jest
a pun = a play on words
slapstick
satire
to satirize
a satirist
to make fun of somebody / something
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette (See different languages at the left-hand side of that page)
See note about appropriate usage
polite
courtesy
common courtesy (= everyday small acts of courtesy or politeness. Most often, these acts involve consideration of others. Examples include saying, "Thank you", "Excuse me" and greeting those we know such as saying, "Good morning". )
manners
good manners
table manners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners)
well-mannered
etiquette
formal, formality
ceremony, ceremonial
custom, tradition
to bow
social status
to respect
to show respect
using honourific language (eg. 您 in Chinese)
disrespectful
informal, casual
impolite
discourteous
rude
uncultivated, uncivilized, ignorant (related to low social class)
genteel, refined, well-bred, gentlemanly (related to higher social class)
unaffected, natural, simple
rudeness
insulting
to offend, offensive
ill-mannered
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