Want to boost your IELTS score from Band 6 to Band 7 or higher? One of the most effective ways is mastering academic collocations. These are natural word combinations that native speakers use effortlessly, and examiners specifically look for them when assessing your Lexical Resource score.

What Are Academic Collocations?

Collocations are words that frequently appear together. For example, we say make a decision (not do a decision) or conduct research (not make research). Academic collocations are formal combinations commonly used in university settings, academic writing, and professional contexts.

Using collocations correctly shows you understand how words naturally combine in English. This is crucial for IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, where examiners assess your vocabulary range and precision.

Why Collocations Matter for Band 7+

The IELTS band descriptors explicitly mention collocational awareness:

• Band 6: Uses some less common vocabulary but may make occasional errors in word choice
• Band 7: Uses some less common lexical items with awareness of style and collocation
• Band 8: Uses a wide range of vocabulary naturally and precisely, including less common items

Simply put: candidates who use collocations correctly score higher. It’s that straightforward.

50 Essential Academic Collocations by Category

Research and Analysis

• Conduct research – Scientists conduct research into climate change.
• Draw a conclusion – We can draw a conclusion from the data presented.
• Gather evidence – The police gathered evidence over several months.
• Establish a relationship – Studies have established a relationship between diet and health.
• Provide insight – The findings provide valuable insight into human behaviour.
• Challenge assumptions – New research challenges previous assumptions about learning.
• Present findings – The team will present their findings at the conference.
• Reach a consensus – Experts failed to reach a consensus on the issue.

Education and Learning

• Acquire knowledge – Students acquire knowledge through practical experience.
• Gain understanding – The course helps students gain a deeper understanding of economics.
• Develop skills – The programme develops practical skills for the workplace.
• Meet requirements – All candidates must meet the entry requirements.
• Complete a degree – She completed her degree in three years.
• Attend lectures – First-year students must attend all core lectures.
• Submit an assignment – Essays must be submitted by Friday evening.
• Fail an exam – He failed his driving test three times before passing.

Opinions and Arguments

• Hold an opinion – I hold the opinion that education should be free.
• Express a view – She expressed strong views on environmental protection.
• Share a belief – Many people share the belief that technology improves lives.
• Change your mind – After hearing the evidence, I changed my mind completely.
• Win an argument – It’s not about winning arguments but finding solutions.
• Make a point – He made an excellent point about work-life balance.
• Put forward a suggestion – The committee put forward several suggestions.
• Take into account – We must take into account the needs of all students.

Problems and Solutions

• Face a challenge – Modern societies face significant environmental challenges.
• Overcome obstacles – She overcame many obstacles to achieve her goals.
• Address an issue – The government must address this issue urgently.
• Tackle a problem – We need innovative ways to tackle urban poverty.
• Raise awareness – Campaigns aim to raise awareness of mental health.
• Find a solution – Engineers worked hard to find a solution to the problem.
• Take measures – The company took measures to reduce pollution.
• Have an impact – The new policy had a significant impact on employment.

Change and Development

• Undergo changes – The city has undergone dramatic changes in recent years.
• Experience growth – The economy experienced rapid growth in the 1990s.
• Make progress – Students have made considerable progress this term.
• Take steps – We must take steps to protect endangered species.
• Play a role – Education plays a crucial role in social development.
• Set a trend – The company set a trend for sustainable fashion.
• Keep pace with – Schools struggle to keep pace with technological change.
• Adapt to changes – Workers must adapt to changes in the job market.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Reap benefits – Companies that invest in training reap long-term benefits.
• Enjoy advantages – Urban dwellers enjoy advantages in healthcare access.
• Offer opportunities – The internet offers opportunities for remote learning.
• Pose a threat – Climate change poses a threat to coastal communities.
• Present difficulties – Learning a new language presents difficulties for adults.
• Have drawbacks – Working from home has its drawbacks, including isolation.
• Carry risks – Investing in stocks carries significant financial risks.
• Create problems – Overpopulation creates problems for infrastructure.

Numbers and Statistics

• Significant increase – There has been a significant increase in online shopping.
• Slight decrease – Figures show a slight decrease in unemployment.
• Steady rise – The cost of living has seen a steady rise over the decade.
• Sharp decline – Traditional media has experienced a sharp decline.
• Considerable number – A considerable number of students study abroad.
• Substantial amount – The project requires a substantial amount of funding.
• Relatively small – The sample size was relatively small.
• Widely varying – Opinions on the matter are widely varying.

How to Use Collocations in IELTS Writing

Let’s see how these collocations transform your writing:

Band 5-6 example:
“Technology is getting better and helps students learn more things. It makes education better.”

Band 7+ example:
“Technological advancements play a crucial role in modern education. Digital tools provide valuable insight into individual learning patterns, allowing educators to address issues more effectively. However, institutions must take into account the digital divide, as not all students enjoy equal access to these resources.”

Notice how the Band 7+ version uses natural word combinations that flow together smoothly?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong: make a research → Right: conduct research
• Wrong: do a conclusion → Right: draw a conclusion
• Wrong: take a decision → Right: make a decision
• Wrong: have a discussion about → Right: have a discussion on
• Wrong: big problem → Right: significant problem / major issue
• Wrong: get knowledge → Right: acquire knowledge / gain knowledge
• Wrong: do an effort → Right: make an effort
• Wrong: give a suggestion → Right: make a suggestion / put forward a suggestion

Practice Exercise

Complete these sentences with the correct collocation:

1. Scientists need to ________ (conduct/make) more research into renewable energy.
2. From this evidence, we can ________ (draw/make) several conclusions.
3. The government should ________ (take/make) measures to reduce air pollution.
4. Students can ________ (gain/get) a deeper understanding through practical experience.
5. This development will ________ (have/make) a significant impact on local communities.

Answers: 1. conduct, 2. draw, 3. take, 4. gain, 5. have

Pro Tips for Mastering Collocations

• Read academic articles – Notice how professional writers combine words
• Use a collocation dictionary – Oxford Collocations Dictionary is excellent
• Learn phrases, not single words – Study “conduct research” not just “conduct”
• Practice with flashcards – Write the full collocation on each card
• Review your writing – Check for unnatural word combinations
• Use parallel structures – “This policy will boost the economy, create jobs, and reduce poverty”

Frequently Asked Questions

How many collocations should I learn?
Quality beats quantity. Master 50-100 common academic collocations thoroughly rather than learning hundreds superficially.

Will using collocations guarantee Band 7?
No single factor guarantees a score. Collocations improve your Lexical Resource score, but you also need good grammar, coherence, and task response.

Can I use collocations in Speaking Part 1?
Yes, but use them naturally. Don’t force complex collocations into simple conversations about hobbies or your hometown.

Are collocations more important than rare vocabulary?
Examiners prefer natural, appropriate vocabulary used correctly over rare words used incorrectly. Collocations demonstrate natural language use.

Final Thoughts

Academic collocations are the building blocks of sophisticated English. By incorporating them into your IELTS preparation, you’ll sound more natural, write more fluently, and impress examiners with your lexical awareness.

Start with the 50 collocations in this guide. Practice using them in your writing and speaking. Over time, they’ll become automatic, and your IELTS score will reflect your improved command of English.

Ready to put these collocations into practice? Try writing a paragraph about education or technology using at least five collocations from this guide. The more you use them, the more confident you’ll become.