ToolsIELTS Vocabulary Flashcards
IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards
Learn 100 words for the topics IELTS asks about most, from describing charts to discussing education, the environment and society. Flip each card to check the meaning, mark what you know, then review the words you missed.
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How to use these flashcards
Read the word and say its meaning to yourself before you flip the card. If you were right, choose “I know it”. If you hesitated or got it wrong, choose “Still learning”. When you reach the end, review only the words you are still learning and repeat until none are left. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can stop and continue later.
In IELTS, vocabulary is marked as Lexical Resource in both Writing and Speaking, so knowing a meaning is only the first step. After each group, write a sentence of your own with every word, on a topic you might be asked about. Practise the spelling too, because a misspelled answer in Listening or Reading is marked wrong. A simple word used correctly scores better than an advanced word used wrongly.
For linking phrases and essay language, read our IELTS vocabulary for Writing guide. To see how your section scores combine, use the IELTS band score calculator.
All 100 IELTS vocabulary words in this deck
Trends and data
For describing charts, graphs and tables in Academic Writing Task 1.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| approximately | adverb | close to a particular number, but not exactly |
| considerable | adjective | large in amount, size or degree |
| decline | verb | to become smaller, fewer or weaker |
| dip | noun | a small, short fall in a level or amount |
| exceed | verb | to be greater than a number or amount |
| fluctuate | verb | to keep changing, going up and down |
| gradual | adjective | happening slowly over a long period |
| majority | noun | more than half of a group |
| marginal | adjective | very small in amount or effect |
| overall | adverb | considering everything; in general |
| peak | verb | to reach the highest point or level |
| plateau | verb | to stay at the same level after a period of growth |
| plummet | verb | to fall suddenly and by a large amount |
| proportion | noun | a part or share of a whole |
| respectively | adverb | in the same order as the things just mentioned |
| sharp | adjective | sudden and large, when describing a rise or fall |
| soar | verb | to rise very quickly to a high level |
| stabilise | verb | to stop changing and stay at a steady level |
| steady | adjective | continuing at the same rate without sudden changes |
| trend | noun | a general direction in which something is changing |
Education and work
Two of the most common topics in Writing Task 2 and Speaking.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| academic | adjective | connected with studying and education, especially at school or university |
| apprenticeship | noun | a period of working for an employer in order to learn a skilled job |
| assessment | noun | a way of judging or measuring someone's work or ability |
| career | noun | the series of jobs a person has during their working life |
| colleague | noun | a person you work with |
| compulsory | adjective | required by a rule or law |
| curriculum | noun | the subjects that are taught in a school or on a course |
| discipline | noun | the practice of making people follow rules, or the ability to control your own behaviour |
| employer | noun | a person or organisation that pays people to work for them |
| flexible | adjective | able to change to suit different needs or situations |
| graduate | noun | a person who has completed a university degree |
| literacy | noun | the ability to read and write |
| productivity | noun | the rate at which a person or company produces goods or completes work |
| promotion | noun | a move to a more important job in the same organisation |
| qualification | noun | an exam you have passed or a course you have completed |
| redundant | adjective | having lost your job because your employer no longer needs you |
| salary | noun | the money a person is paid regularly for their job |
| tuition | noun | teaching, especially in small groups, or the fees paid for it |
| vocational | adjective | providing the skills needed for a particular job |
| workforce | noun | all the people who work in a company, industry or country |
Environment
Common in Reading passages and in essays about problems and solutions.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| biodiversity | noun | the variety of plants and animals living in a place |
| climate | noun | the usual weather conditions of a place over a long period |
| conservation | noun | the protection of nature, wildlife and natural resources |
| contaminate | verb | to make something dirty or harmful by adding a substance to it |
| deforestation | noun | the cutting down of trees over a large area |
| deplete | verb | to reduce something so that there is not enough left |
| drought | noun | a long period with little or no rain |
| ecosystem | noun | all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and their environment |
| emissions | noun | gases or other substances sent out into the air |
| endangered | adjective | at risk of no longer existing |
| habitat | noun | the natural home of a plant or animal |
| landfill | noun | a place where rubbish is buried under the ground |
| pollution | noun | damage caused to air, water or land by harmful substances |
| preserve | verb | to keep something in its original state or protect it from harm |
| recycle | verb | to treat used materials so that they can be used again |
| renewable | adjective | describing energy from sources that do not run out, such as wind or sunlight |
| resource | noun | a supply of something useful, such as water, oil or land |
| sustainable | adjective | able to continue for a long time without damaging the environment |
| urbanisation | noun | the process by which more people come to live in towns and cities |
| wildlife | noun | animals, birds and plants that live in natural conditions |
Technology and health
For essays and Speaking Part 3 questions about modern life.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| access | noun | the opportunity or right to use something |
| addiction | noun | the condition of being unable to stop doing or using something harmful |
| artificial | adjective | made by people rather than occurring naturally |
| automation | noun | the use of machines to do work that people used to do |
| breakthrough | noun | an important discovery or development |
| device | noun | a piece of equipment made for a particular purpose |
| diagnose | verb | to find out what illness or problem someone has |
| diet | noun | the food a person usually eats |
| digital | adjective | using or connected with computer technology |
| epidemic | noun | a large number of cases of a disease, or a sudden rapid increase in something bad |
| innovation | noun | a new idea, method or invention |
| nutrition | noun | the food people eat and the way it affects their health |
| obesity | noun | the condition of being very overweight in a way that harms health |
| obsolete | adjective | no longer used because something newer has replaced it |
| prevention | noun | the act of stopping something bad from happening |
| privacy | noun | the right to keep your personal life and information secret |
| sedentary | adjective | involving a lot of sitting and little physical activity |
| surveillance | noun | the careful watching of people or places, especially by the police or government |
| treatment | noun | medical care given to someone who is ill or injured |
| wellbeing | noun | the state of being healthy, comfortable and happy |
Society and opinions
For discussing social issues and giving your view in Writing Task 2.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| address | verb | to deal with a problem or issue |
| argue | verb | to give reasons for or against an idea |
| benefit | noun | an advantage or helpful effect |
| consequence | noun | a result of an action, often a bad one |
| controversial | adjective | causing a lot of public disagreement |
| crucial | adjective | extremely important |
| drawback | noun | a disadvantage or problem |
| generation | noun | all the people born and living at about the same time |
| globalisation | noun | the process by which countries become more connected through trade, travel and culture |
| impact | noun | a strong effect that something has on a person or situation |
| inequality | noun | an unfair difference between groups of people, for example in wealth or opportunity |
| issue | noun | an important topic or problem that people discuss |
| measure | noun | an official action taken to deal with a problem |
| outweigh | verb | to be greater or more important than something else |
| perspective | noun | a particular way of thinking about something |
| poverty | noun | the state of being very poor |
| significant | adjective | large or important enough to have an effect |
| tackle | verb | to make a determined effort to deal with a problem |
| tradition | noun | a custom or belief that has been passed down over a long time |
| widespread | adjective | existing or happening over a large area or among many people |
IELTS vocabulary flashcards FAQ
How many words are in the IELTS vocabulary flashcards?
The deck has 100 words in 5 groups of 20: trends and data, education and work, environment, technology and health, and society and opinions. Each card has the word, its part of speech, a plain-English meaning and an example sentence.
How is vocabulary scored in IELTS?
Vocabulary is assessed as Lexical Resource, one of the four marking criteria in both Writing and Speaking, and it counts for a quarter of the score in each. Examiners look at the range of words you use, how accurately you use them and whether they suit the topic. Vocabulary also matters in Listening and Reading, where you need to recognise words and paraphrases quickly.
Are these the exact words that appear in IELTS?
No one can promise that, because there is no official IELTS word list. These are words that suit the topics IELTS returns to most often, such as education, work, the environment, technology, health and society, plus the language needed to describe charts in Academic Writing Task 1.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. The words you mark as known or still learning are saved in this browser, so they are there when you come back. Nothing is sent to a server and you do not need an account. Clearing your browser data, or using a different device, starts you from zero.
Does spelling matter for IELTS vocabulary?
Yes. In Listening and Reading, an answer that is spelled wrongly is marked as incorrect, and spelling mistakes in Writing lower your Lexical Resource score. Both British and American spellings are accepted, but stay consistent. This deck uses British spelling.