✍️ IELTS Writing – Task 1 & Task 2 · Vocabulary by Exam · 121 words

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the graph shows /ðə ˈɡrɑːf ʃəʊz/ phrase	a standard phrase to introduce what a line graph presents The graph shows how many tourists visited three cities between 2000 and 2020.
the chart illustrates /ðə ˈtʃɑːt ˈɪləstreɪts/ phrase	a formal phrase to introduce the content of a chart The chart illustrates the proportion of income spent on housing in four countries.
the table compares /ðə ˈteɪbl kəmˈpeəz/ phrase	a phrase used to introduce a table comparing data The table compares the average working hours of men and women in five sectors.
the diagram depicts /ðə ˈdaɪəɡræm dɪˈpɪkts/ phrase	a phrase used to introduce a process or map diagram The diagram depicts the stages involved in recycling aluminium cans.
it is clear that /ɪt ɪz ˈklɪə ðæt/ phrase	a phrase that introduces the main trend in an overview It is clear that car ownership rose in all three countries over the period.
as can be seen /əz kən biː ˈsiːn/ phrase	a phrase pointing the reader to information in a visual As can be seen from the graph, sales peaked in the summer months.
over the period /ˌəʊvə ðə ˈpɪəriəd/ phrase	during the whole time shown in a chart Coal use fell by almost half over the period shown.
a striking feature /ə ˌstraɪkɪŋ ˈfiːtʃə/ phrase	a very noticeable point in the data A striking feature of the chart is the sudden drop in 2009.
rise sharply /ˌraɪz ˈʃɑːpli/ phrase	to increase quickly by a large amount The price of rice began to rise sharply after the floods of 2011.
increase steadily /ɪnˌkriːs ˈstedɪli/ phrase	to go up gradually at a constant rate The number of online shoppers increased steadily throughout the decade.
level off /ˌlevl ˈɒf/ phr v	to stop rising or falling and stay at the same level After rising for five years, unemployment levelled off at around six percent.
remain stable /rɪˌmeɪn ˈsteɪbl/ phrase	to stay at about the same level Spending on clothing remained stable at roughly fifty dollars a month.
stabilise /ˈsteɪbəlaɪz/ v	to stop changing and become steady The birth rate stabilised in the early 2000s after a long decline.
dip /dɪp/ n	a small and usually temporary fall There was a slight dip in visitor numbers in 2015, followed by a recovery.
hit a low /ˌhɪt ə ˈləʊ/ phrase	to fall to the lowest point Car sales hit a low of 20,000 units in 2009.
reach a peak /ˌriːtʃ ə ˈpiːk/ phrase	to arrive at the highest point Electricity demand reached a peak of 45 gigawatts at 6 pm.
bottom out /ˌbɒtəm ˈaʊt/ phr v	to reach the lowest level before starting to rise House prices bottomed out in 2012 and then began to climb.
rocket /ˈrɒkɪt/ v	to increase very quickly and suddenly The number of electric cars rocketed from 2,000 to 90,000 in five years.
slump /slʌmp/ v	to fall suddenly by a large amount Exports slumped by thirty percent during the trade dispute.
marginal /ˈmɑːdʒɪnl/ adj	very small in amount or importance There was only a marginal increase in rail use between 2018 and 2019.
upward trend /ˌʌpwəd ˈtrend/ n	a general movement towards higher figures Fruit consumption showed a clear upward trend over the twenty years.
downward trend /ˌdaʊnwəd ˈtrend/ n	a general movement towards lower figures Newspaper sales followed a steady downward trend from 2005 onwards.
erratic /ɪˈrætɪk/ adj	changing often and in an irregular way Rainfall was erratic, with very wet months followed by dry ones.
is projected to /ɪz prəˈdʒektɪd tə/ phrase	is expected to reach a figure in the future The population is projected to reach ten million by 2040.
it is estimated that /ɪt ɪz ˈestɪmeɪtɪd ðæt/ phrase	a phrase used to give an approximate or predicted figure It is estimated that water use will double by the middle of the century.
the figure for /ðə ˈfɪɡə fɔː/ phrase	used to refer to the number for a particular item The figure for Japan was considerably lower than that for Korea.
the proportion of /ðə prəˈpɔːʃn əv/ phrase	used to talk about a part compared with the whole The proportion of students living at home increased to forty percent.
the vast majority /ðə ˌvɑːst məˈdʒɒrəti/ phrase	almost all of a group The vast majority of respondents preferred working from home.
a small minority /ə ˌsmɔːl maɪˈnɒrəti/ phrase	a small part of a group Only a small minority of households owned a second car.
nearly half /ˌnɪəli ˈhɑːf/ phrase	almost fifty percent Nearly half of all energy came from coal in 1990.
just over /ˌdʒʌst ˈəʊvə/ phrase	a little more than a number Just over a third of graduates found work within six months.
just under /ˌdʒʌst ˈʌndə/ phrase	a little less than a number Just under sixty percent of the land was used for farming.
two-thirds /ˌtuː ˈθɜːdz/ n	two of three equal parts of something Two-thirds of the budget was spent on staff salaries.
twice as many /ˌtwaɪs əz ˈmeni/ phrase	double the number of something countable Twice as many women as men enrolled on the nursing course.
outnumber /ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə/ v	to be more in number than another group In 2020, female students outnumbered male students in medicine.
make up /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/ phr v	to form a particular part of a total Imports make up around a quarter of all the food consumed nationally.
in comparison /ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn/ phrase	used when comparing two things In comparison, spending on leisure rose only slightly.
in stark contrast /ɪn ˌstɑːk ˈkɒntrɑːst/ phrase	used to show a very clear and obvious difference In stark contrast, rural areas saw their populations shrink.
the former /ðə ˈfɔːmə/ phrase	the first of two things mentioned Both trains and buses grew, but the former rose more quickly.
the latter /ðə ˈlætə/ phrase	the second of two things mentioned Tea and coffee were popular, although the latter cost much more.
followed by /ˈfɒləʊd baɪ/ phrase	coming next in order or ranking Germany had the highest output, followed by France and Italy.
the process begins with /ðə ˈprəʊses bɪˈɡɪnz wɪð/ phrase	a phrase to introduce the first stage of a process The process begins with the collection of used glass bottles.
in the first stage /ɪn ðə ˈfɜːst steɪdʒ/ phrase	used to describe the opening step of a process In the first stage, the cocoa beans are dried in the sun.
after which /ˌɑːftə ˈwɪtʃ/ phrase	used to add the next step after describing one The milk is heated to 72°C, after which it is cooled rapidly.
is transported /ɪz trænˈspɔːtɪd/ phrase	passive form used in process descriptions to show movement The finished cement is transported to building sites by lorry.
is filtered /ɪz ˈfɪltəd/ phrase	passive form showing that a liquid is passed through a filter The rainwater is filtered to remove leaves and other debris.
is packaged /ɪz ˈpækɪdʒd/ phrase	passive form showing a product is put into containers Finally, the coffee is packaged and sent to supermarkets.
end product /ˈend ˌprɒdʌkt/ n	the final thing produced at the end of a process The end product is a fine white powder used in paper making.
in a cyclical manner /ɪn ə ˈsɪklɪkl ˈmænə/ phrase	happening again and again in the same order Water moves through the environment in a cyclical manner.
is fed into /ɪz ˈfed ɪntuː/ phrase	passive form for putting material into a machine The crushed sugar cane is fed into a large boiler.
was replaced by /wəz rɪˈpleɪst baɪ/ phrase	passive phrase showing one feature changed into another The old factory was replaced by a shopping centre.
was converted into /wəz kənˈvɜːtɪd ˈɪntuː/ phrase	changed to have a different use or form The railway station was converted into a museum in 1995.
was demolished /wəz dɪˈmɒlɪʃt/ phrase	was completely knocked down The row of houses near the river was demolished to widen the road.
make way for /ˌmeɪk ˈweɪ fɔː/ phrase	to be removed so that something new can be built Several trees were cut down to make way for a new car park.
to the north of /tə ðə ˈnɔːθ əv/ phrase	in a position north of something A new school was built to the north of the main road.
adjacent to /əˈdʒeɪsnt tuː/ adj	next to or very near something A sports field was added adjacent to the existing school.
overlooking /ˌəʊvəˈlʊkɪŋ/ prep	having a view of a place from above Luxury flats were built on the hill overlooking the harbour.
pedestrianised /pəˈdestriənaɪzd/ adj	closed to traffic so that only people on foot can use it The high street was pedestrianised and lined with trees.
redeveloped /ˌriːdɪˈveləpt/ adj	changed by building new structures on an area The redeveloped waterfront now includes shops and a marina.
farmland /ˈfɑːmlænd/ n	land used for growing crops or keeping animals By 2010, much of the farmland had been turned into housing.
some people believe /sʌm ˈpiːpl bɪˈliːv/ phrase	a phrase introducing one side of a debate Some people believe that university education should be free for everyone.
others argue /ˈʌðəz ˈɑːɡjuː/ phrase	a phrase introducing the opposite side of a debate Others argue that students should contribute to the cost of their studies.
this essay will discuss /ðɪs ˈeseɪ wɪl dɪˈskʌs/ phrase	a phrase stating the purpose of an essay in the introduction This essay will discuss both views before giving my own opinion.
both views /ˈbəʊθ vjuːz/ phrase	the two opinions in a discuss-both-views question Although both views have merit, I believe the first is more convincing.
on the one hand /ɒn ðə ˈwʌn hænd/ phrase	used to introduce the first of two contrasting points On the one hand, online learning is cheap and flexible.
the main reason /ðə ˌmeɪn ˈriːzn/ phrase	the most important cause of something The main reason for traffic congestion is the growth in car ownership.
another factor /əˌnʌðə ˈfæktə/ phrase	used to introduce an additional cause or influence Another factor is the lack of affordable housing near city centres.
lead to /ˈliːd tuː/ phr v	to cause something to happen A lack of exercise can lead to serious health problems later in life.
result in /rɪˈzʌlt ɪn/ phr v	to cause a particular situation Building more roads often results in even more traffic.
contribute to /kənˈtrɪbjuːt tuː/ phr v	to be one of the causes of something Fast food has contributed to rising obesity among teenagers.
bring about /ˌbrɪŋ əˈbaʊt/ phr v	to make something happen, especially a change The internet has brought about huge changes in how people shop.
arise from /əˈraɪz frɒm/ phr v	to happen as a result of a situation Many health problems arise from poor working conditions.
a knock-on effect /ə ˈnɒk ɒn ɪˌfekt/ phrase	an indirect result that causes other things to happen Rising fuel prices have a knock-on effect on the cost of food.
a ripple effect /ə ˈrɪpl ɪˌfekt/ phrase	a situation where one event causes a spread of further effects The closure of the factory had a ripple effect on local shops.
root cause /ˌruːt ˈkɔːz/ n	the basic reason a problem exists Poverty is often the root cause of crime in deprived areas.
adverse effect /ˌædvɜːs ɪˈfekt/ n	a harmful or negative result Spending too long online can have an adverse effect on sleep.
detrimental effect /ˌdetrɪˈmentl ɪˈfekt/ n	a damaging effect on something Noise pollution has a detrimental effect on children's concentration.
beneficial effect /ˌbenɪˈfɪʃl ɪˈfekt/ n	a good or helpful result Green spaces have a beneficial effect on residents' mental health.
in the long term /ɪn ðə ˌlɒŋ ˈtɜːm/ phrase	over a long period of time in the future In the long term, investing in education reduces unemployment.
in the short term /ɪn ðə ˌʃɔːt ˈtɜːm/ phrase	over a short period of time in the near future Raising taxes may be unpopular in the short term.
on a global scale /ɒn ə ˌɡləʊbl ˈskeɪl/ phrase	affecting the whole world Plastic waste is a problem that must be tackled on a global scale.
at a local level /ət ə ˈləʊkl ˌlevl/ phrase	within a particular town or area Recycling schemes are often most effective at a local level.
one possible solution /ˌwʌn ˈpɒsəbl səˈluːʃn/ phrase	a phrase to introduce a way of solving a problem One possible solution is to offer tax breaks to companies that hire young people.
curb /kɜːb/ v	to control or limit something harmful Strict laws are needed to curb the sale of junk food to children.
combat /ˈkɒmbæt/ v	to try to stop something bad from happening or increasing Governments must work together to combat online fraud.
remedy /ˈremədi/ v	to correct or improve a bad situation Better public transport could remedy the shortage of parking spaces.
crack down on /ˌkræk ˈdaʊn ɒn/ phr v	to start dealing with a problem much more strictly Police should crack down on drivers who use their phones.
impose a ban on /ɪmˌpəʊz ə ˈbæn ɒn/ phrase	to officially forbid something Some cities have imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags.
raise taxes on /ˌreɪz ˈtæksɪz ɒn/ phrase	to increase the tax charged on a product or activity Raising taxes on sugary drinks could discourage people from buying them.
subsidise /ˈsʌbsɪdaɪz/ v	to pay part of the cost of something to make it cheaper The government should subsidise public transport in rural areas.
public awareness campaign /ˌpʌblɪk əˈweənəs kæmˌpeɪn/ n	an organised effort to inform people about an issue A public awareness campaign could teach people how to save water.
stricter regulations /ˌstrɪktə ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃnz/ phrase	official rules that are harder to break Stricter regulations on factory waste would protect local rivers.
tougher penalties /ˌtʌfə ˈpenəltiz/ phrase	more severe punishments for breaking a law Tougher penalties for littering might keep the streets cleaner.
it is imperative that /ɪt ɪz ɪmˈperətɪv ðæt/ phrase	used to say that something is extremely important to do It is imperative that governments act now to protect the oceans.
it is vital that /ɪt ɪz ˈvaɪtl ðæt/ phrase	used to say that something is necessary It is vital that young people learn how to manage money.
should be encouraged to /ʃʊd biː ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒd tuː/ phrase	used to recommend a behaviour for a group of people Employees should be encouraged to cycle or walk to work.
a balanced approach /ə ˌbælənst əˈprəʊtʃ/ phrase	a way of dealing with a problem that considers all sides A balanced approach combining education and regulation would work best.
the onus is on /ði ˈəʊnəs ɪz ɒn/ phrase	used to say who has the responsibility for something The onus is on parents to limit their children's screen time.
a step in the right direction /ə ˌstep ɪn ðə ˌraɪt dəˈrekʃn/ phrase	an action that helps to improve a situation Banning cars from the city centre would be a step in the right direction.
take, for instance, /ˌteɪk fər ˈɪnstəns/ phrase	a phrase used to introduce a specific example Take, for instance, Finland, where homework is kept to a minimum.
this is because /ðɪs ɪz bɪˈkɒz/ phrase	used to explain the reason for a previous statement This is because older workers often have more experience.
this means that /ðɪs ˈmiːnz ðæt/ phrase	used to explain the result of a previous statement This means that fewer students can afford to live near campus.
it is often argued that /ɪt ɪz ˌɒfn ˈɑːɡjuːd ðæt/ phrase	used to introduce a common opinion, often before challenging it It is often argued that technology makes people less sociable.
outweigh /ˌaʊtˈweɪ/ v	to be greater or more important than something else In my view, the benefits of tourism clearly outweigh its costs.
counterargument /ˈkaʊntərɑːɡjumənt/ n	an argument that opposes another argument A strong essay should mention and answer a counterargument.
in summary /ɪn ˈsʌməri/ phrase	used to begin a short statement of the main points In summary, the advantages of remote work outweigh the drawbacks.
to conclude /tə kənˈkluːd/ phrase	used to introduce the final part of an essay To conclude, both governments and individuals must reduce waste.
for the reasons outlined above /fə ðə ˈriːznz ˌaʊtlaɪnd əˈbʌv/ phrase	used in a conclusion to refer back to previous arguments For the reasons outlined above, I strongly support free public transport.
wholeheartedly agree /ˌhəʊlˈhɑːtɪdli əˈɡriː/ phrase	to agree completely and sincerely I wholeheartedly agree that every child deserves a free education.
in today's society /ɪn təˌdeɪz səˈsaɪəti/ phrase	used to describe the present-day situation In today's society, many young adults still live with their parents.
a growing number of /ə ˌɡrəʊɪŋ ˈnʌmbər əv/ phrase	more and more people or things A growing number of people are choosing to work from home.
play a crucial role in /ˌpleɪ ə ˌkruːʃl ˈrəʊl ɪn/ phrase	to be very important in a situation or process Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's values.
have a vested interest in /ˌhæv ə ˌvestɪd ˈɪntrəst ɪn/ phrase	to have a personal reason for wanting something to happen Oil companies have a vested interest in slowing down climate laws.
go hand in hand /ˌɡəʊ ˌhænd ɪn ˈhænd/ phrase	to be closely connected and happen together Economic growth and pollution often go hand in hand.
at the expense of /ət ði ɪkˈspens əv/ phrase	causing harm or loss to something else Some cities grew rapidly at the expense of the countryside.
with the advent of /wɪð ði ˈædvent əv/ phrase	used to describe change after something new appears With the advent of smartphones, people read fewer printed newspapers.
be held accountable /biː ˌheld əˈkaʊntəbl/ phrase	to be made responsible for actions and their results Companies that pollute rivers should be held accountable for the damage.
raise living standards /ˌreɪz ˈlɪvɪŋ ˌstændədz/ phrase	to improve the quality of people's lives Foreign investment can help raise living standards in poorer regions.
a drain on resources /ə ˌdreɪn ɒn rɪˈzɔːsɪz/ phrase	something that uses up a lot of money or materials Some argue that space programmes are a drain on public resources.
the pros and cons /ðə ˌprəʊz ən ˈkɒnz/ phrase	the advantages and disadvantages of something Before choosing a career, students should weigh up the pros and cons.
weigh up /ˌweɪ ˈʌp/ phr v	to think carefully about the advantages and disadvantages Governments must weigh up the costs before building new airports.