ielts essay synonyms

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Important Synonyms List for 9 Band in IELTS Writing

• Graph Length
• Essay Task 2
• Essay Length
• Assessment Criteria
• Paraphrasing
• 9 band Tips

Synonyms are essential in IELTS writing if you want to paraphrase successfully, avoid repetition and improve your band score in Lexical resource . In this guide, we will look at some important synonyms that you can use in the writing section of your IELTS Academic test.

Table of Contents

1.1 introduction synonyms, 1.2 writing about time, 1.3 phrases to start paragraphs, 1.4 synonyms to describe trends, 1.5 transition words, 1.6 synonyms for estimates, 1.7 making predictions, 2.1 giving your opinion, 2.2 general introduction statements, 2.3 synonyms for body paragraphs, 2.4 cohesive devices/transition words, 2.5 common synonyms for words in questions, 1. synonyms for ielts writing task 1.

In IELTS writing task 1 , you have 20 minutes to write a formal report that summarises the key features of a given chart , graph , table , flowchart , process diagram or map .

We’ve put together a collection of useful synonyms that you can use in any writing task 1 and adapt for your given figure/ diagram

Using synonyms can help you to paraphrase the given statement that will always follow a similar pattern. Take the example below:

IELTS Statement :

The graph below gives information about international tourist arrivals in different parts of the world.

Your introduction should paraphrase the given statement. Here are some different ways you could rephrase the underlined part of the statement:

• The chart/graph/ table/ map/ diagram shows …
• The chart/graph/ table/ map/ diagram illustrates …
• The chart/graph/ table/ map/ diagram gives information about …
• The chart/graph/ table/ map/ diagram demonstrates …
• The chart/graph/ table/ map/ diagram depicts…

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You will often be given data with a time-frame ranging over a period of time, as shown in this example:

The graph shows average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom and the USA between 1977 and 2007 .

In your report, instead of repeating the structure ‘ between ___ and ___’ you could use the following:

• From ___ to ___
• In the years of ___ to ___

Here are some more ways to introduce time in your report:

• At the beginning of the given period…
• At the end of the period…
• In the first year…
• In the final year…
• The next two days showed…
• …in the following three days…
• Over the next two days…

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You always need to make your overview paragraph easy to find. To do this, you can begin your overview with one of the following:

• Overall,…
• In summary,…
• To summarise,…

Here are some useful phrases to continue your overview paragraph:

• …, it can be clearly seen that…
• …it is apparent that..
• …it is evident that…
• …what stands out from the graph/chart/table is that…

And phrases to start your main body paragraph:

• Turning to…
• As regards the…

It is important to learn a range of languages to describe upward, downward, or any other trends that appear in the data. We’ve put together a list of synonyms you could use in your report.

Upward trend :

• Increase (v)
• An increase (n)
• A growth (n)

Downward trend:

• Decrease (v)
• A decrease (n)
• Decline (v)
• A decline (n)
• Remain steady
• Remain stable
• Remain unchanged
• Stay constant
• Stay at the same level

Fluctuation:

• Fluctuate (v)
• Fluctuation (n)

To create cohesion throughout your report, as well as avoid repetition, you should use a range of transition words/ cohesive devices. Here’s a list of appropriate transitions to use in IELTS writing task 1 :

• To begin with,…
• To start with,…
• And then,…
• At this point,…
• Subsequently,…
• After this,…
• Then ,…
• Afterwards,…
• Finally,…
• …with the figure at ____

It is likely that you will not be able to precisely read the figures on a given chart, especially if you are given a bar chart. In this case, you need to use language to estimate the data. Here are some synonyms you can use to describe figures above or below and exact number:

• Approximately

Occasionally, you may be given a graph/chart where predictions are made about what may happen in the future. Since it is not certain that these predictions will happen, you should avoid using grammatical structures that express certainty such as ‘will’. You could instead use:

• …is shown to…
• …is predicted to…
• …is projected to…
• …is expected to…
• …is forecast to…

2. Synonyms for IELTS Writing Task 2

• In my opinion…
• It is my belief that…
• I am of the opinion that…
• To my mind…
• From my point of view…
• From my perspective…
• My point is that…
• My argument is that…
• As far as I am concerned,…
• In my view…
• Some people think that…
• According to many people…
• It is generally said that…
• Some people argue that…
• People often say that…
• A common argument is that…
• People often claim that…
• Some people say that…
• People generally think that…
• People often put forward the argument that…

Topic sentence starters:

• One advantage of ____ is that ….
• Another benefit of ____ is that…
• One downside of ____ is that…
• Another downside of ____ is that…
• One reason that I believe…
• One argument in favour of… is that…
• The main reason that I think…
• Another reason to second….

Supporting sentences starters:

• This is because…
• The result /consequence/reason is that…
• This means that…
• As a result/consequence,…
• In other words,…
• In conclusion,…
• To sum up,…

Sequencing/listing:

• In the first place
• Nevertheless
• By comparison
• In comparison
• On the other hand
• In spite of

Giving examples/ restating:

• For example
• For instance
• That is ( to say)
• In other words

Reasons/results:

• Consequently
• As a result
• In addition
• Furthermore

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List of Synonym Words for IELTS + PDF

If you’re preparing for the IELTS exam and want to expand your vocabulary, we’ve got you covered with our list of synonym words for IELTS. This comprehensive IELTS vocabulary list will help you diversify your language skills and improve your writing and speaking for the test.

Check Also: 300+ List of Vocabulary Words for IELTS (updated 200+ IELTS Academic Word List & Examples and PDF Linking Words and Phrases & List & Examples

IELTS Synonyms A- C List

Here you can find the vocabulary list for IELTS Synonyms from A to C.

IELTS Synonyms C – F

Here you can find the vocabulary list for IELTS Synonyms from C to F.

IELTS Synonyms F – O

Here you can find the vocabulary list for IELTS Synonyms from F to O.

IELTS Synonyms P – Z

Here you can find the vocabulary list for IELTS Synonyms from P to Z.

IELTS Synonyms Words List PDF

Here you can download detailed Synonym Words List for IELTS exam.

  IELTS Synonyms Words List PDF – download

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Assalam alikum sir g i have my ielts exame on 23 march please send me words of synonyms

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IELTS Synonyms (In 2024)

Introduction.

Synonyms are different words that have the same or nearly the same meaning, such as male and man or third-level education and university.

Many IELTS teachers, myself included, stress the importance of using synonyms in your writing. Synonyms help us to vary our language and show the examiner that we have a wide-ranging vocabulary. However, synonyms are also very dangerous because, if used incorrectly, they can lower your mark for vocabulary, task response,  and coherence .

This article will look at some real essays that used synonyms incorrectly to show you how dangerous they can be.

Why use synonyms?

When we get an IELTS Writing Task , there will be certain keywords in the question, and our writing would sound very repetitive if we wrote the same words repeatedly. So to make our writing sound better, we use synonyms.

For example, if the question asked us, ‘Computers are increasingly used in education. Do you agree?’ we would have to use the words ‘computers’ and ‘education’ many times in our answer. We could use the words ‘I.T.’, ‘laptops’ or  ‘iPads’ instead of just repeating the word ‘computers’ repeatedly.

We should also paraphrase the question in our very first sentence when answering an IELTS Writing task; synonyms are one of the key ways of doing this. Click the link above for more information on paraphrasing .

Finally, we can use synonyms to show the examiner that we have a wide-ranging vocabulary. If you repeat the same keywords many times, it indicates to the examiner that you don’t know any other ways of expressing those words and that you have a narrow vocabulary.

What’s the danger?

The dangerous thing about synonyms is that people use them incorrectly or try too hard and force them into their essays.

When using a synonym, we first need to think about the meaning. The meaning should be the same. I do not encourage students to use synonyms that mean ‘nearly the same’ because it often leads to mistakes.

Question: It is important that young children are taught art, drama and music, alongside more traditional subjects like maths and science. Do you agree or disagree? Paraphrase: It is important that young people are taught extracurricular activities, alongside serious subjects like mathematics, biology and chemistry.

This student has changed the following words using synonyms, but not all are correct:

young children – young people

art, drama and music- extracurricular activities

traditional subjects- serious subjects

The problem that this student has is they are using what I call ‘loose synonyms’. These are words that don’t really mean the same as each other, and the result is that you are writing about something completely different from the question. This leads to you writing unrelated ideas and can lower your whole essay’s score.

For instance, ‘young children’ could mean people between the ages of around 1-10, but ‘young people’ can mean anything from 1-30 years of age. The question is focusing on young children, and by using young people, you are talking about an irrelevant age group.

Another example is ‘extracurricular activities’, which means things you do outside of school, whereas the question relates to school subjects. The person who wrote this answer mentioned ‘extracurricular activities’ several times in the rest of her essay, which meant she got a much lower score because she was talking about irrelevant ideas.

Finally, ‘traditional’ and ‘serious’ are very loose synonyms; so loose I would not really recognise them as synonyms at all.

The lesson to take away from this example is only use synonyms you know are 100% the same. If you are not sure they are 100% the same, don’t use them.

Question: The growth in crime among teenagers can be attributed to an increase in the use of violent video games. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Paraphrase: The rise of acts of violent in young ones are often viewed as being caused by the exposure to fierce audio-visual games.

This student has changed the following words:

crime- acts of violent

teenagers- young ones

violent- fierce

video games- audio-visual games

These are all wrong and are typical of a student who feels like they must use synonyms and will use them at any cost, i.e. they are more worried about using synonyms than writing a clear and correct sentence.

‘Crime’ means all crime, and ‘acts of violence’ is specifically violent crime. They have also used the wrong form of ‘violence’.

‘Young ones’ does not really mean teenagers and would never be used by a native speaker in an academic essay.

‘Fierce’ does not mean the same things as ‘violent’.

‘Audio-visual’ might sound like high-level vocabulary, but you would never refer to ‘video games’ in this way.

It would have been better for this student to have used simpler words and phrases or just copied the word. If you are not 100% sure about the grammar and meaning of the word, don’t try to force it. Repeating the word is better than forcing  an incorrect synonym into your essay.

Question: Today people are travelling more than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?

In the question above, one of my students replaced the word ‘travelling’ with ‘ commuting ‘. She continued using the words ‘commuting’ and ‘commute’ throughout the essay.

‘Commuting’ means specifically travelling to and from work every day. The result was that her whole essay was full of irrelevant ideas.

You should never take any chances with keywords from the question. If it is a keyword that is crucial to the meaning of the question and your answer as a whole, only change it if you are 100% certain the meaning is the same.

Alternatives to Synonyms

Instead of using synonyms, you can use the following things to vary your language:

• Definitions
• Change the form of the word

If you can’t think of a good synonym, you can list an example or two. So in the question above about ‘computers’, it is perfectly acceptable to say ‘laptops and tablets’. Students use these exact things in class, so it is fine to write them. Like synonyms, ensure that the examples match the word 100%.

You can also define the word if you can’t think of a synonym. So for our example above about travelling, you could say ‘people going from place to place’. This is obviously much longer than a simple synonym, but it is much easier sometimes to write about something in simple language than think of one complicated word.

Finally, changing the form of the word or phrase is always acceptable. So instead of trying to think of a synonym for ‘violent video games’ (which is very hard to do), you could say ‘video games that have violence’. All we have done is change the word from an adjective (violent) to a noun (violence).

• Only change a word if you are 100% sure the meanings are the same.
• Be aware of ‘loose synonyms’.
• If you change it, the grammar must also be correct.
• Be particularly careful with keywords from the question.
• If you can’t think of a synonym, try one of the alternative methods.
• If in doubt, don’t change it. It is better to repeat the word and be correct than force a synonym and be wrong.

I hope you found this article useful. If you have any questions or queries, join the conversation on our Facebook page.

For more information about IELTS Writing, click one of the links below.

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Essential IELTS Synonyms for Success

Synonyms for IELTS

How to increase synonyms for ielts.

We’re told to have lots of synonyms in our language use, not only for the purpose of taking an IELTS test, but generally to express yourself with ease and variety- whether a native speaker or not.

When pairing this idea with the IELTS specifically, is there such a thing as too many synonyms? Yes.

This scenario presented itself a short while back. A student preparing for their IELTS handed me a booklet of vocabulary, there must have been at least 300+. My student had wanted me to pick out words that she thought she would need. The problem was that, where do we begin? How many should we stop at? How do you quantify which words are more important than others? How can you choose between words when meaning is so close?

The task became difficult as inevitably, it started to be that we were collecting too many words. I suggested to my student that she only choose words that were A . as close to the original meaning of the word, and B. not overly complex.

Rather than making it a numbers game with ‘learn 20, 30, 40 (etc) words’, it depends more on the accuracy of language, not the amount.

If we go with the first approach of learning a batch of new words, we aren’t being targeted in our approach. The aim is to learn words in their context and make sure that it makes sense in our writing.

Simplicity is key.

A good rule of thumb to use is to ask yourself; would I use this word in conversation? If not, it is likely that the word isn’t appropriate, or that it isn’t close enough to the word you are trying to use. For example, if I want to use an alternative to students , I know I wouldn’t use the word disciple in conversation because its meaning is too far from the original word.

If you wouldn’t say it, would you then write it?

Common IELTS synonyms

Develop your vocabulary here with vocabulary flash cards. This deck was created by myself, in a collaboration with the revision app; AnkiPro.

Applying appropriate synonyms with IELTS questions

Some people think it is better for children to grow up in the city, while others think that life in the countryside is more preferable. What are the disadvantages and advantages?

Appropriate synonyms:

Some people think it is better for minors to grow up in an urban area, whereas others think that living in a rural area has more advantages.

Inappropriate synonyms:

Some citizens believe it is far greater for kids to grow up in a cosmopolitan area, whilst others think that residing in an area of farmland is far better.

The first example is much clearer and responds better to the question. The second is overly-complicated and the language doesn't reflect the statement with the same clarity.‌ ‌

Some people think that when a person travels into a different culture they should adapt to the local customs and practices. To what extent do you agree?

It is thought that when someone travels to a contrasting culture, they should mould to the local traditions and practices.

Some people think that when a person voyages to another culture, they should copy the local behaviours and rituals.

The second example has used 'voyages' which feels too formal for the statement. The use of 'copy' is mismatched and doesn't accurately reflect the idea of adapting to something, and 'rituals' has the wrong religious, ceremonial connotations. They have used inaccurate synonyms to paraphrase some of the language in the statement.

Some people think that schools should invest more money in technology, such as more computers, while others think more money should be spent on teachers. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that schools should put more money into technology, such as a greater increase in computers. On the other hand, some people think more funds should be invested in the teaching staff.

Some people argue that institutions should put extra money into tech, such as computers. Whereas, some people think excess money should be directed towards teachers.

The first example is clear with some alternation but withholding the same meaning. The second example uses 'institutions' which doesn't have enough of a similarity to 'school'. Technology has been abbreviated to 'tech', which is too informal.

Having a good university degree guarantees people a good job. To what extent do you agree?

Having a quality university degree assures people the security of a job.

Owning an adequate higher education degree promises people a solid job.

The second example begins with 'owning' which is inaccurate to use when trying to equate it to the verb 'to have'. It also uses 'adequate' which differs from good, as it suggests it is passable and fine, but not necessarily good and is therefore a different measure. The closing part of the sentence uses 'solid job' which feels informal and vague.

The government should ban smoking in all public places, even though this would restrict some other people's freedoms. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

Those in governmental positions should prohibit smoking in public spaces, despite this impeding on other people's liberties.

Those in charge should stop people smoking in outdoor spaces, even if this would result in offending people's privileges.

The first example makes some change to the opening noun, with governmental positions which retains the same idea and also uses phrasal language. It also shows confidence in language with appropriate synonyms. The second example starts with 'those in charge' which is too vague and doesn't address the idea of a government. The use of 'offending' isn't the best replacement word compared to 'restricted' seen in the question.

Final thoughts:

• Vocabulary is important for your IELTS exam, but it is better to learn a smaller set of close meaning words and focus on these
• Sounding overly-academic won't gain you extra marks
• Changing the word order can also be a useful method when paraphrasing
• Incorporating phrases or collocations can also be useful if you do not have another word to replace vocabulary with

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Synonyms In The Writing Section

Here's why synonyms are absolutely essential in the writing section....

I hope your IELTS preparation is going well! Whatever stage you’re at in your IELTS preparation journey, keep up the good work – it will really pay off!

Here we are going to cover the use of synonyms in the writing section.

What is a synonym?

A synonym is a word with the same meaning as another word.

There’s some examples further down this page.

Why are synonyms important in the IELTS?

Synonyms are particularly important in the writing section.

They show the examiner that you have the ability to paraphrase (very important in the Writing Task 2 Essay Framework ).

They also show that you use a wide range of vocabulary.

Being able to use or identify alternative words with the same meaning is a VITAL skill to ensure a higher band score.

Remember, your score in the IELTS is dependent on 4 criteria (band descriptors).

Click below to remind yourself what these are.

One of the band descriptors is ‘ Lexical resource ‘.

This simply means your VOCABULARY .

(And it’s worth 25% of you overall writing band score).

Synonyms are a way of showing the examiner you have a good range of vocabulary.

That’s a BIG TICK for Lexical resource!

Think of the band descriptors as a recipe for pizza dough…

You need flour, water, yeast and sugar to make a basic dough.

If you fail to include just ONE of these ingredients, your dough will be rubbish .

Similarly, if you fail to perform well in any of the band descriptor categories, you will fail to get a good IELTS score.

How can I use synonyms in the writing section?

By the time you sit the exam, you should be an expert in writing your answers in a structured way.

(We’re experts in teaching students the best way to structure their IELTS answers – and we can pass this information on to you).

Synonyms are one of the building blocks to achieving band 7+ in the writing section.

For example, the introduction of your essay should paraphrase the question (but without repeating the same words).   That means you need to i dentify the key words in the question and then choose the correct synonyms when paraphrasing .

It is important not to use the same words too many times throughout your essay so you should use synonyms to show the examiner that you have a broad vocabulary.

How can i improve my understanding of synonyms right now.

There are various ways you can help yourself, such as u sing websites such as https://www.thesaurus.com, which can be used to give you a list of synonyms. (You must be careful though, not all synonyms will work in a sentence).

If you’re after basic, free guidance you can take advantage of our free resources, (such as our FREE Writing Ebook ).

However, if you want to take the risk out of failing, we cover EVERYTHING in our premium study guides (see below). 

Synonym examples.

Here are some examples. Can you think of any others?

‘The temperature is due to ( fall/drop/plummet ) in the next few days.’

‘The pizza delivery boy was very ( fast/quick/speedy ) tonight.’

‘Passing the IELTS is ( important/crucial/vital ) to my dreams of moving abroad.’

‘This graph ( shows/demonstrates/indicates ) the population growth in Canada over the last 10 years.’

‘I have just got back from the cinema. The film was ( funny/hilarious/hysterical ).’

‘The weather forecast today was ( true/accurate/correct ). It was very sunny, just as they predicted.’

Understanding the EXACT synonyms is one of the most important ways to excel in the Task 2 Essay.

Look at the task 2 checklist below which shows the things you should understand before taking the ielts..

How many can you tick off?

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Useful synonyms for IELTS

Home  »  IELTS vocabulary  »  Useful synonyms for IELTS

In this podcast we look at synonyms you can use for IELTS writing task 2 . Since lexical resources account for 25% of your score, according to the band descriptors, a higher level IELTS band score requires precise, sophisticated and flexible use as well as, of course, a wide range of vocabulary.

So, is it enough to memorize lists of synonyms for commonly used words?  Not exactly. Context is very important, as are collocations .

What are collocations??

Collocations are words that are used together not for any specific grammatical reason, but rather because through usage over time they “fit” together. This is why we can say that a city is large or enormous but we are very unlikely to say that it is substantial.  You can easily discover which words collocate by searching online.  

For example, you can type the word + collocation and different resources including online dictionaries will pop up. Or you can type the word + in a sentence and many different examples of how the word is used will be shown.

Why do you need to use synonyms?

• Some words should be replaced with synonyms because they are imprecise and rather low level .   Examples of this are:  good, bad, big, small and nice.  It is correct to say, “Fossil fuels are bad for the environment,” but it lacks the sophistication you would expect to see in a higher level answer.  Here, we would prefer the word, “damaging” or “harmful.”

2. Context is important when using synonyms for words like, “important.”   While “essential” is a synonym, it is inappropriate to say, “Addiction to the internet is an essential issue of our time.  Instead, you could use it instead of “important” when you use the expression, “It is important that government deal with XYZ…..”  Or, you could use “critical,” or “vital.”

3. Sometimes you need synonyms to avoid repetition . This is common in essays about children.   It becomes monotonous to keep using the word “children,” but what alternatives can you use? While a toddler and an adolescent are children, not all children are toddlers and adolescents, so you can’t use these words interchangeably.  Instead, you could use, “the youth,” “the young,” “minors,” or “juveniles.”   “Kids” should be avoided always as it is informal.

4. Lastly, idiomatic expressions should be avoided as well since they are not particularly academic.

Instead of:

“ Make an effort ,” use “ considerable effort should be devoted to… ”

“ Do a good job ,” should be “ perform well ”

“ Do research ” should be “ conduct research ”

“ Get famous ” can be replaced with “ acquire fame ”

“ Get a degree ” is improved with “ earn a degree ”

“ Get skills ” sounds more academic with “ obtain skills . ”

Here is a list of some common synonyms to use in your IELTS essay .

• Bad   - atrocious, base, contaminated, contemptible, corrupt, defective, deficient, deplorable, depraved, despicable, detestable, disagreeable, dismal, evil, faulty, harmful, heinous, horrible, immoral, imperfect, improper, inappropriate,  infamous, inferior, injurious, irascible, nefarious, noxious, obnoxious, outrageous, scandalous, sinister, spoiled, substandard, tainted, unfavorable, unpleasant, unsuitable, wicked, wrong
• Big  -ample, astronomical, colossal, enormous, expansive, gargantuan, gigantic, grand, great, huge, immense, large, sizable, spacious, substantial, tremendous, vast
• Important -, Critical, essential, famous, indispensable, necessary, notable, valuable, vital
• Children -  the  youth,  the young,  minors , juveniles
• Do - accomplish, achieve, attain, enact, execute, finish
• Get - accept,  accumulate, collect, derive, earn, find, gain, gather, glean, obtain, procure, regain, secure, win,
• Good  – advantageous, agreeable, apt, beneficial, capable, excellent, favorable,  fine, friendly, generous, genuine,  gracious, grand,  great, kindly, marvelous,  obedient, honorable, obliging, pleasant, pleasurable, profitable, proper, qualified, reliable,  respectable, righteous, satisfactory, splendid, sterling, suitable, suited, superb, superior, trustworthy, valid, well-behaved, wonderful, worthy.

Do you need more help with learning new vocabulary? Here is a list of useful resources:

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Useful Synonyms For IELTS Writing Task To Score High In Exam

Vocabulary plays an essential role in the IELTS examination. Whether it is a Reading, Speaking, Listening, or Writing test, in each and every module, a student should be well versed in word usage.

Talking about the Writing test, bands are decided on the basis of four parameters, that is,

• Coherence & Cohesion
• Grammatical range and accuracy
• Lexical resources
• Task achievement

So, lexical resources or word usage is one of the criteria which should be effective to achieve the higher score in the IELTS writing exam.

This blog will particularly focus on different synonyms which can be used to achieve the desired bands.

Importance of Synonyms In IELTS Writing

Synonyms are the exact or real meaning of the words. English language is a huge ocean of vocabulary and to have an impact of the language over someone, synonyms can be used.

• Wide range of words helps you to avoid repetition and redundancy.
• It makes the reader interested in the writing.
• It also give your writing an effective or qualitative length.
• It will also improve your band score under the lexical resources criteria.

Task 1- Report Writing

In report writing , a report of at least 150 words is required where any of the diagram or illustration will be given and one is required to explain that illustration in one’s own way. Different synonyms which can be used while writing a report can be:-

Depicting Words In Introduction

• It depicts...
• It illustrates....
• The table shows....
• These pie charts give information about..
• The map presents...
• The diagram depicts...
• These diagrams depict...
• The diagram demonstrates..
• These flowcharts illustrate...

Words Written With Years

Between 1990 and 2000.

From 1990 to 2000.

In the years of 1990 to 2000.

For Rephrasal

• Result/ outcome..
• Population, number of people, the populace
• Survey/research...

For Starting First Paragraph

It can be clearly seen that...

It is evident that...

It is apparent that...

For Second Paragraph

• Moving to..
• Turning to...
• Moving further...

To Show Trend In Body Paragraphs

Increase/decrease, Incline/decline, soar/Plunge, rise/downfall...

Almost same, equal, not much difference,...

Remained same, was constant, did not change,...

Minimum, lowest, least, lower, small amount...

Maximum, highest, significant amount, majority...

Fluctuates- zigzag trend, upward and downward..

Some another Synonyms

• Projected, anticipated, forecasted, expected...
• Process, steps, series,...
• Countries, nations, different parts of world...
• Different, various, distinct...
• Number, count, strength, figure...
• Waste, garbage, rubbish

Connectors For Conclusion

• All in all..

Task 2- Essay Writing

Essay writing is a task where an essay of minimum of 250 words is required with proper usage of words and correct explanation of ideas. A different range of synonyms or vocabulary is used while writing an essay which has no limit and can be won over by practicing. Here is the list of some useful and effective synonyms which students can use to have an excellent band scores.

In Introduction

For opinion statement.

• I believe that...
• I reckon that...
• In my point of view....

For General Statement In Intro

• Some people think that...
• According to some people...
• It is generally said that...

In Body Paragraphs

For start (connectors).

• First of all, firstly, first and foremost...
• There are many factors which influence my point of view...
• On one hand,
• For contrast ( on the other hand)...

For Continuing Ideas

• Furthermore,..
• In addition to...
• Moreover, also, additionally

For Last (Connectors)

• Last but not the least...

For Conclusion

In conclusion,...

To summarize...

To conclude...

List of Useful Synonyms

Also read:  Linking words benefits in IELTS Writing task 2

Vocabulary is essential in IELTS Writing Exam. The exam is not conducted to check your vocabulary. Although it should be effective it is not the only criterion. Just focus on explaining your ideas by correct sentence usage. Basically, your ideas should be conveyed to the reader in an appropriate way. Go and practice it enough times and you will feel the change that you are getting an idea of how these words are used in a sentence.

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How To Use Synonyms

TIP >>  When paraphrasing the question in your introduction, you don’t need to change all of the words, but you should try to change most of them. Be careful though, because choosing a word that has a similar  meaning – not the same  meaning can make the meaning of the sentence change or become unclear. 

What Is A Synonym?

Synonyms are words that are similar or have a related meaning, to another word. They are important to use in your IELTS writing when you want to avoid repeating the same word over and over. Also, sometimes the word you have in mind might not be the most appropriate word, which is why finding the right synonym is crucial. When you are preparing for your IELTS test, take some time to use an online tool, to help you research many synonym examples. A great way to practice finding the right synonyms is to use an online thesaurus .

Choosing a Synonym

For example, one synonym of the word child is “ brat ” however, this word carries quite a negative connotation. Depending on the circumstance you can use it, but in this instance, if you just want to say that someone is young (a child) then another synonym such as “young child” or “minor” would be more applicable.

Synonym Examples

Here is a list of adjectives and their synonyms that are commonly used >>

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy  and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

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IELTS Synonyms | Quiz + Strategies

The best way to learn ielts synonyms.

Using synonyms is very important in IELTS. However, synonyms can be tricky to learn. In this lesson, we look at 3 ways to learn synonyms, and we also have 3 quizzes to help you learn some useful synonyms before your IELTS test. 

How to learn synonyms

We have found three methods to learn synonyms effectively. The three methods are:

When you write the introduction to an essay, you have to use paraphrasing skills and synonyms to introduce the topic. This is great practice for using synonyms and will help you prepare for your IELTS writing test. We suggest that you look at a list of IELTS essay questions and write the introduction for as many as you can. 

You can find a list of IELTS essay topics here .

This is also something that we do regularly in our Facebook Group . 

It’s a good idea to have a teacher look over your writing to make sure that you are using the correct synonyms. 

A good way to learn synonyms is to read IELTS essays written by teachers or high-level students. What you can do is to circle all of the different synonyms that the writer uses. This will help you to learn the appropriate context for different synonyms. 

Our Members have access to our bank of model answers. 

When your teacher shows you a new word, ask them if there are any synonyms for this word. If you do this for long enough, you are bound to learn a lot of useful synonyms. 

Learn more advanced vocabulary in my IELTS Vocabulary Course!

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6 Alternatives to “I think” to Sound FLUENT

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Vocabulary for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 (part 1)

The general format for writing academic writing task 2/ ielts essay is as follows:, many/some people claim/opine/believe that... there is no denying that... it is often said that... these days.../ nowadays.../ in this day and age... it goes without saying that... it is universally accepted that... we live in an age when many of us are... people are divided in their opinion regarding... .... is one of the most important issues... whether .... or .... is a controversial issue..., let us examine both views before reaching a concrete decision. the following paragraphs discuss whether ...... or ...... and reach a reasonable conclusion. the following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument. my two cents go for... however, i strongly believe that... i oppose the view and my reasons will be explained in the following paragraphs. i will support this view with arguments in the following paragraphs. i personally believe that... thus the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages... i wholeheartedly believe that this trend should be changed., in my opinion... i strongly opine that... i strongly agree with the idea that... i strongly disagree with the given topic... i think... my opinion is that... personally speaking... in my view... i believe... apparently... personally speaking... according to me... from my point of view... ( not 'in my point of view') as far as i am concerned... from my perspective... i realise... to my way of thinking... it seems to me that... to me... to my mind... my own view on the matter is... it appears that... i feel that... i understand... i suppose..., it is true that... first... first of all... firstly... first and foremost... initially... to begin with... to start with... let us take a look at... it is worth considering... in the first place... though it is true that... some people believe that... many people think that... according to many... some people believe that... many support the view that... on the one hand..., second(ly)...  ( not 'second of all') third(ly)... then... next... after that... and... again... also... besides... likewise... in addition... consequently... what’s more... furthermore... moreover... other people think that... other people believe that... on the other hand... apart from that... finally... last but not least..., in the same way... likewise... similarly... like the previous point... similar to... also... at the same time... just as..., on the other hand... on the contrary... however... nevertheless.../ nonetheless... but... nonetheless/ nevertheless... oppositely... alternatively... unlike... while... whilst... although... though... even though... despite... / in spite of... in spite of the fact that... alternatively... in contrast to this... then again... on the other hand... despite the fact that... even so... yet... meanwhile..., as an example... as an illustration... as an instance... as for instance... for instance... for example... as for example... by way of illustration... by way of example... to illustrate... to paraphrase... to show an example... to give an example... to cite an example... to cite an instance... take one example... take one instance... like... as... that is... among others... such as... particularly... specifically... regarding... in particular... including/ to include... namely... with respect to... as far .... is concerned... as a piece of evidence... an example is... ...could be a good/ideal example here a case... when it comes to... as a model..., research shows that... research has found that... when it comes to... with respect to... not only... but also... in terms of..., furthermore... in addition... on top of that... besides... what is more... another point worth noting is... another factor to consider is... furthermore... not only .... but also... also..., as a result... consequently... as a consequence... as an effect... thus... so... the reason why... therefore... on account of... because of... hence... eventually... for this/that reason... thereby... due to... owing to..., as a result... as a result of... due to... one reason behind this is... ... has led to/ ... has resulted in... consequently... therefore..., to sum up... in short... in a word... to put it simply... that is to say... to repeat in short... to summarise..., it goes without saying that... obviously... needless to say... there is little doubt that... although... thought... nonetheless... nevertheless... still... yet... must... after after all... even if... therefore... thus....., to put it simply... to put it in another way... that is to say... in other words..., then... else... otherwise... besides... as soon as... as much as......

In conclusion... In summary... To conclude... To conclude with... In closing... To sum up... In general... To summarise... In short... All in all... Overall... On the whole... To draw the conclusion... Given these points... Ultimately... In a nutshell... To elucidate... ('To elucidate' means - 'make something clear' or 'to explain'.) All things considered... By and large... Taking everything into consideration... Taking everything into account... In light of these arguments... Weighing up both sides of the argument...

Next (Vocabulary-Writing Task 2 - part 2) »

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• Common Synonyms for IELTS

A List of the Most Common Synonyms to Improve Your IELTS Score

Last updated: 25 September 2024

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• Undergraduate degree course - IELTS overall 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element
• Postgraduate degree course - IELTS overall 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element

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Synonyms for IELTS

A great way to improve your IELTS score is by improving your IELTS vocabulary. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using synonyms for common words. Synonyms are words that mean the same thing and can be used to replace a word with a better one. Synonyms are of great help in getting a good IELTS score and improving one's general vocabulary.

Below is a list of synonyms for common words which can help a great deal in getting you a good IELTS score. 

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Last Updated 25 September 2024

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IELTS Synonyms Words List for 2023

Ielts synonyms words list 2023.

Enhance your IELTS test preparation with our comprehensive Synonyms Words List. This comprehensive list includes a vast array of words that can be used interchangeably in different contexts, allowing you to expand your vocabulary and improve your writing and speaking skills. By incorporating these words into your daily life, you can effectively improve your language abilities and increase your chances of scoring higher on the IELTS test. Whether you are a student, professional, or simply looking to improve your language skills, our IELTS Synonyms Words List is the perfect tool for you to achieve your goals and enhance your English proficiency.

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Important General Words for IELTS Writing Task 2 and Its Synonyms

The IELTS writing task 2 requires a candidate to use a wide range of vocabulary. You should go through this article to join the best IELTS preparation online India. Also, the best online coaching for IELTS will let you move in the right direction. Connective words, phrases, and antonyms are very important to finish writing task 2 in a coherent way. One must know how to use connective words in an essay or writing to:

• Avoid the redundancy of expression
• To prove your knowledge of the different terms

But do you know what these connecting terms or synonyms are?

So, first, let’s learn about “what is a synonym?”

What is a Synonym?

A synonym is a term with the same meaning or having an almost similar meaning, to another word. They can be used as lifesavers when you’re trying to avoid using the same words again and again.

Let’s read more about this with the help of a few examples.

Also Read: Best MBA Colleges in Europe: Perfect for Indian Students Who want to Appear for IELTS

Why are Synonyms Important in the IELTS?

Metonyms are highly important for an individual to prepare himself for the writing section of this examination. This tells the examiner about your ability to paraphrase and your knowledge of the wide range of vocabulary.

Using a lot for the different terms being used or identifying various words helps one to increase their band score.

But why do you think are these important to use?

Importance of Synonyms for IELTS Writing Task 2

• Some expressions should be replaced because they are imprecise and have a rather low level

There are some expressions that need to be substituted with others of the same meaning, because, sometimes they lack the satisfaction that would have been required otherwise.

For example, instead of using the word, “bad”; one could either go for “damaging” or “harmful”.

While using equivalents, it is necessary to see the context for which they are being used. Context plays a highly important role while choosing the appropriate term for a sentence.

For example, it would be extremely inappropriate to say, “Addiction to the internet is an essential issue of our time. Instead of this, one could easily go around saying, “Addiction to the internet is an important issue of our time”.

Seldom, in order to avoid redundancy, it becomes essential for one to use different equivalents for the same expressions.

For example, if you have used the word “children” more than five times in a sentence & you still keep using it, it will become monotonous. Rather, you could simply use “youth”, “young”, “minors”, or “juveniles”.

Now that we have learned their importance, let’s move on to know more about some of the important general words for IELTS writing task 2 & its synonyms.

Also Read: How to Check IELTS Result? IDP and British Council Formats

Common Synonyms for IELTS Writing Task 2

Given below is a list of some of the important general words for IELTS writing task 2 & its synonyms being used in the IELTS exam that will save you from redundancy in your texts.

• Accurate – correct
• Achieve – accomplish
• Active – energetic
• Bashful – shy, timid
• Beautiful – pretty, attractive
• Calm – quiet, tranquil
• Chilly – cool, nippy
• Chubby – plump, pudgy
• Defend – protect, shield
• Defy – resist, challenge
• Delicate – fragile, dainty
• Easy – simple
• Fatigue – tire, exhaust
• Fiction – fantasy, untruth, myth
• Fill – load, pack
• Fraction – part, portion, segment
• Gaudy – showy, garish, vulgar
• Gaunt – scrawny, skinny, thin
• Generous – giving, selfless, big-hearted
• Great – outstanding, remarkable

Some more Synonyms

• Handy – useful, convenient, skilful
• High – elevated, lofty
• Huge – vast, immense, great (Big Synonym)
• Humble – modest, unpretentious
• Humiliate – embarrass, disgrace, dishonour
• Identical – alike, duplicate
• Immaculate – spotless, pure
• Inferior – lesser, substandard
• Infuriate – enrage, agitate, provoke
• Ingenious – clever, creative, original
• Join – connect, unite, link
• Jolly – merry, jovial, joyful
• Jubilant – overjoyed, delighted, elated
• Keep – save, protect, guard
• Least – fewest, minimum, smallest
• Logical – sensible, sane, rational
• Long – lengthy
• Luxurious – extravagant, elegant
• Magnify – expand, enlarge, exaggerate
• Meagre – scanty, sparse, poor
• Mean – unkind, malicious, nasty
• Naughty – bad, disobedient, wrong
• Nonchalant – indifferent, lackadaisical, blase
• Normal – ordinary, typical, usual
• Obey – mind, heed, comply
• Observe – examine, study, scrutinize
• Obsolete – extinct, dated, antiquated
• Optional – voluntary, elective
• Ordinary – usual, average
• Outrageous – preposterous, shocking
• Polite – gracious, refined, courteous
• Poor – destitute, needy, impoverished
• Portion – part, segment, piece
• Prompt – punctual, timely
• Proud – arrogant, elated
• Push – shove, propel
• Quit – cease, stop, withdraw
• Racket – noise, commotion, disturbance
• Ratify – approve, confirm, endorse
• Ravage – devastate, ruin, damage
• Raze – destroy, demolish
• Sluggish – listless, lethargic, inactive
• Small – little, insignificant, trivial
• Smooth – slick, glossy, level
• Taut – tense, tight, stiff
• Tender – delicate, gentle, affectionate
• Terrible – dreadful, horrible, vile
• Thrifty – economical, frugal, prudent
• Thrive – prosper, flourish, develop
• Urgent – crucial, important
• Vacant – unoccupied, empty
• Vague – unclear, obscure, indistinct
• Valiant – courageous, brave, heroic
• Victory – triumph, win, success
• Virtuous – moral, righteous, angelic
• Weary – tired, fatigued, lethargic
• Worn – used, impaired, old
• Wrong – incorrect, untrue, mistaken
• Yield – produce, bear, provide

Also Read: Describe a Piece of Art You Like: A 2021 IELTS Cue Card Topic with Sample Answers

Synonyms for the IELTS exam are extremely important to learn & use. While an individual is speaking or writing, this is one of the best ways to avoid the redundancy of words along with expanding your vocabulary. Also, to avoid using the same words repeatedly, use a thesaurus to find synonyms.

Using them can help an individual in improving both their oral as well as their writing skills.

And when we are talking about an individual preparing himself for the IELTS exam, it becomes even more important to learn the usage of these words along with grasping new words every single day as that will help one to sound more like a native English user.

The above article here presents all the more information on why and how these are important for this examination. Along with this, it presents one with a list of some of the important yet general words being used in the IELTS exam with their synonyms.

Hopefully, you have found this information useful & if you have any doubts regarding the same, feel free to use the comments section to let us know about it. If you are preparing for the IELTS exam, you should visit the IELTS Ninja website. This is the best IELTS preparation online India for the aspirants to get perfect in all the sections of the exam. You can take a demo class with the best online coaching for IELTS to choose the best platform for your preparation.

Are these words enough, or should I practice more?

Are these words enough, or should I practice more? If I practice these many words will I be able to achieve a good band score?

Are these words enough, or should I practice more? If I practice these many words will I be able to achieve a good band score? Please let me know.

Great! This is indeed an amazing site that provides all the information at one place with the help of their blogs. Also, I had a doubt in mind, can you help me clear that? Do we need to learn the antonyms as well for this exam or just the synonyms?

This article correctly speaks about how and why about the second task and answers to the point, and also I have a doubt about the books that we have to refer?

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Synonyms for People

Posted by David S. Wills | Oct 14, 2022 | IELTS Tips | 0

Have you ever been in the middle of writing an essay and you realise you have used the word “people” too much? If so, then you have probably tried to find some synonyms for people. However, this is not always as easy as it seems.

In this article, I will tell you some synonyms for people but also give you lots of warnings about common problems.

What’s the Problem with People?

First of all, let’s address the main issue. Is there anything wrong with saying “people” in an IELTS essay? No, it’s a perfectly fine word to use.

A problem arises, however, when you use this word too often . For example:

• Many people think that people spend too much time on their computers, but other people disagree with this.

In this sentence, we have the word “people” used three times! That is very repetitive and so we really should avoid it.

There are different ways to avoid repetition, which you can read about here , but the one we’ll look at today is synonyms .

Common Synonyms for People

If you use a thesaurus and type in “people,” you will undoubtedly find a lot of synonyms. Here’s a list from Thesaurus.com , which is a pretty useful resource.

It should go without saying that you cannot just take any synonym from this list and use it to replace the word “people.”

Let’s see what would happen if we took our previous example and did that:

• Many people think that citizens spend too much time on their computers, but other humans disagree with this.

This is now a terrible sentence! 😨 Unfortunately, though, this is really common IELTS language and it is a big problem! I deliberately overlooked the silliest words on that list and the ones that grammatically were impossible:

In fact, almost all of these words are ridiculous and could not replace “people” in most sentences!

What’s the Problem with People Synonyms?

You can see from the above list that there are loads of words that basically mean people. A family is a bunch of people, right? And a community is comprised of people (most of the time). We occasionally could refer to people as “bodies” and “crowds” and even the “bourgeois”!

However, these words all have specific meanings and connotations. The word “people” is general and is typically the best choice.

Let’s look at some words that IELTS candidates often try to use, but which are usually incorrect:

In short, these words can be used but are frequently misused but IELTS candidates who are eager to avoid saying “people.”

Visual Lessons

I make visual lessons on Twitter and Facebook and I will share some of the ones related to “people” synonym problems here.

The first is mostly about the word “individual,” which is commonly misused.

The next is about the misuse of “population.”

How to Choose a Good Synonym for People

If you are talking generally about people, then just say “people”! You don’t always need a synonym. Remember that you can also use pronouns and omission if you want to avoid repetition.

If you really do need a synonym, then choose a word according to its precise meaning, taking into consideration connotation and grammar.

Let’s look at some examples:

• People continue to produce a vast amount of waste, which is badly damaging the planet.

I would replace “people” with “humans” because we are talking about people as a species. This means it is ok to use a more scientific term:

• Humans continue to produce a vast amount of waste, which is badly damaging the planet.

Here’s another:

• People living in urban areas tend to suffer more from respiratory illnesses.

For this we could use words like “population” and “citizen” and “resident,” as long as we change the grammar to fit:

• Residents of urban areas tend to suffer more from respiratory illnesses.
• Urban populations tend to suffer more from respiratory illnesses.
• In big cities, the citizens tend to suffer more from respiratory illnesses.

(Note that “populations” is used to refer to more than one population. It does not mean each person individually.)

It is also fine to use “individuals” when we are emphasising people as distinct entities rather than a group:

• In order to prove his theory, the researcher contacted fifteen individuals with the condition and asked them for permission to look into their medical history.

Here, it is clear that we are not just talking about a faceless mass of people but rather fifteen specific (but unnamed) individuals.

You definitely should try to avoid saying “people” too often in an IELTS essay, but at the same time you should not just randomly pick synonyms from a thesaurus. Instead, choose words that have a precise meaning and that grammatically fit your sentence.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS Synonyms for Increase and Decrease

25% of your IELTS writing task 1 score is based on the vocabulary you use. 

Therefore, it is crucial to look over useful IELTS vocabulary as you prep for Writing Task 1.

You should employ synonyms in your writing so that you can achieve a high band score overall.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion Examples: How to End Your Essay Effectively

• Restate the main idea
• Summarize key points
• Provide a final thought or call to action
• Maintain a formal tone
• Avoid introducing new information

Examples of Strong IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

Let’s examine some examples of effective conclusions for different IELTS Writing Task 2 question types.

Example 1: Opinion Essay

Question: Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Conclusion: In conclusion, while there are valid arguments for making unpaid community service mandatory in high schools, I believe that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Forcing students to participate may lead to resentment and a lack of genuine engagement. Instead, schools should focus on educating students about the value of volunteering and provide opportunities for those who are interested. By encouraging rather than mandating community service, we can foster a more authentic sense of social responsibility among young people.

Example 2: Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Question: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multi-generational household.

Conclusion: In summary, living in a multi-generational household presents both significant benefits and challenges. While it offers financial advantages, emotional support, and cultural continuity, it can also lead to privacy issues, conflicts, and reduced independence. Ultimately, the success of such living arrangements depends on clear communication, mutual respect, and the ability to balance individual needs with family obligations. As society evolves, it is crucial to recognize and address both the positive and negative aspects of multi-generational living to ensure harmonious family dynamics.

Example 3: Problem and Solution Essay

Question: The number of people who are overweight is increasing. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?

Conclusion: To conclude, the rising prevalence of obesity is a complex issue stemming from various factors, including poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic influences. Addressing this problem requires a multi-faceted approach. By implementing comprehensive education programs, promoting active lifestyles, and creating supportive environments for healthy choices, we can work towards reducing obesity rates. It is crucial for governments, communities, and individuals to collaborate in these efforts to ensure a healthier future for all.

Example 4: Discussion Essay

Question: Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Conclusion: In conclusion, while both parents and schools play vital roles in shaping children into responsible members of society, I believe that the primary responsibility lies with parents. The home environment provides the foundation for a child’s values and behavior, which is then reinforced and expanded upon in school settings. Ideally, a collaborative approach between parents and educational institutions would be most effective, ensuring that children receive consistent guidance and support in developing the skills and values necessary to contribute positively to society. By recognizing the complementary roles of both parties, we can create a more comprehensive and impactful approach to raising socially conscious individuals.

Tips for Writing Effective Conclusions

• Keep it concise: Your conclusion should be about 40-50 words or 2-3 sentences.
• Use transition phrases: Start with phrases like “In conclusion,” “To sum up,” or “Overall” to signal the end of your essay.
• Echo your introduction: Refer back to your thesis statement and main points, but use different wording.
• Avoid repetition: Don’t simply copy and paste from your introduction or body paragraphs.
• End with impact: Leave the reader with a final thought that resonates.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

• Introducing new information: The conclusion is not the place for new ideas or arguments.
• Being too repetitive: While you should restate your main points, avoid simply repeating sentences from earlier in your essay.
• Using informal language: Maintain a formal tone throughout, including in your conclusion.
• Writing a lengthy conclusion: Keep it concise and to the point.
• Failing to answer the question: Ensure your conclusion directly addresses the essay prompt.

By avoiding these mistakes and implementing the tips and examples provided, you can craft strong, effective conclusions for your IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Remember, practice is key to perfecting your conclusion-writing skills. Try writing conclusions for various essay types and seek feedback to continually improve your performance.

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As you prepare for your IELTS exam, focus on developing a clear, concise, and impactful concluding paragraph for each practice essay. With time and effort, you’ll find that crafting strong conclusions becomes second nature, helping you to leave a lasting impression on the examiner and boost your overall Writing Task 2 score.

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