One of the best ways to sound more natural and fluent in English is by using collocations — pairs or groups of words that commonly go together. This is especially important for the IELTS test, where strong vocabulary and natural language use are key to achieving a high score. Many learners from the top 10 IELTS classes in Ahmedabad are trained to use collocations correctly to enhance their performance in the Speaking and Writing sections.

Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for a band 7 or higher, learning common collocations can give you a big advantage.

What Are Collocations?

Collocations are words that frequently appear together in English. They “sound right” to native speakers. For example:

• Make a decision (not do a decision)
  
  
• Heavy rain (not strong rain)
  
  
• Take a risk (not do a risk)
  
  

Using collocations correctly shows that you have a strong command of English, which is exactly what IELTS examiners look for.

Why Collocations Matter in IELTS

In the IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks, collocations help you:

• Sound more fluent and natural
  
  
• Avoid awkward or incorrect word choices
  
  
• Make your language more sophisticated
  
  
• Boost your lexical resource score
  
  

If your sentences sound too basic or unnatural, your score in the "Lexical Resource" criterion can suffer. But when you use natural collocations, your English appears polished and advanced.

Useful Collocations for IELTS

Here are some common collocations that can be useful for both Speaking and Writing sections:

1. Education

• Receive an education
  
  
• Gain knowledge
  
  
• Pursue a degree
  
  
• Attend lectures
  
  
• Academic achievement
  
  

2. Work and Business

• Job satisfaction
  
  
• Career prospects
  
  
• Work-life balance
  
  
• Earn a living
  
  
• Run a business
  
  

3. Health

• Suffer from stress
  
  
• Maintain a balanced diet
  
  
• Mental health issues
  
  
• Take medication
  
  
• Lead a healthy lifestyle
  
  

4. Environment

• Reduce pollution
  
  
• Combat climate change
  
  
• Use renewable energy
  
  
• Environmental impact
  
  
• Protect endangered species
  
  

5. Technology

• Advanced technology
  
  
• Digital devices
  
  
• Internet access
  
  
• Online platforms
  
  
• Technological development

How to Learn and Practice Collocations

Here are a few practical ways to get familiar with collocations:

• Read English newspapers, books, or websites regularly and take notes of word combinations.
  
  
• Use a collocations dictionary or online tools.
  
  
• Practice writing sample IELTS answers using the collocations.
  
  
• Listen to English podcasts or watch interviews to hear them in real use.
  
  
• Use flashcards to memorize and revise common combinations.
  
  

Conclusion

Mastering collocations can be a game-changer for your IELTS preparation. These natural word combinations help you express yourself more clearly and fluently, especially in the Speaking and Writing sections. Whether you're preparing through self-study or learning with guidance from the top 10 IELTS classes in Ahmedabad, building a solid list of topic-wise collocations will boost your confidence and improve your band score. Keep practicing, stay consistent, and soon enough, using these combinations will become second nature.

FAQs

1. Are collocations important for all sections of the IELTS test?

They are especially important in the Speaking and Writing sections. In Reading and Listening, understanding them helps you comprehend text and audio better.

2. Will I get a lower score if I don’t use collocations?

You won’t be penalized for not using collocations, but using them correctly can increase your Lexical Resource score and improve the overall fluency of your responses.

3. How can I remember so many collocations?

Focus on learning topic-wise collocations (like education, health, technology) and use them in sentences. Regular practice is key.

4. Can I use collocations in both Task 1 and Task 2 of IELTS Writing?

Yes, collocations can be used in both tasks. For example, “data shows a significant increase” in Task 1 or “governments should take responsibility” in Task 2.

5. Is it okay to learn collocations from IELTS model answers?

Absolutely. Model answers are a great resource for learning how natural word combinations are used in context.