Learning new vocabulary for the IELTS test.

Today's best IELTS tips look at the subject of vocabulary. 

You obviously need a wide range of vocabulary to understand IELTS Listening and IELTS Reading.  Your use of vocabulary is one of the crieria used to assess IELTS Speaking and Writing (as can be seen at www.bestieltsonline.com).

I highly recommend you invest in a good English-English dictionary as a good dictionary can give you a lot of useful information.  Below I have included a dictionary definition of the word 'vocabulary' to illustrate my point:

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vocabulary (vo¦cabu|lary) /və(ʊ)’kabjʊləri/   noun (plural vocabularies) 

• 1 the body of words used in a particular language
• a part of such a body of words used on a particular occasion or in a particular sphere:the vocabulary of law [mass noun] :you will want to learn vocabulary that is used frequently the term became part of business vocabulary
• the body of words known to an individual person:he had a wide vocabulary
• a list of difficult or unfamiliar words with an explanation of their meanings, accompanying a piece of specialist or foreign-language text
• 2 a range of artistic or stylistic forms , techniques, or movements:dance companies have their own vocabularies of movement

 

This dictionary definition tells us:

• how to pronounce the word (the phonetics and where the main stress is)
• what part of speech it is (in this case a noun)
• how it is spelt in the plural
• examples of the word in context

 

You must also decide on how you're going to organise new vocabulary.  The following show some of the different methods that students of mine have used over the years:

1. (alphabetical)

B

bicycle

beautiful

brandy

 

2. (parts of speech)

Verbs

memorise

justify

collect

 

3.  (according to the date the word is learnt)

Vocabulary diary 26th January 2008

meanwhile

purpose

euphemism

 

4.  (as a 'dictionary definition')

bid (v & n)

offer money to buy something e.g. bid for something on ebay.

 

5.  (as a mind map)

You must think about the advantages and disadvantages of each method and decide which method is best for you.

 

For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor.  I'm sure you'll find it useful!

If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'.  My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.

 

Alanna