Helping you with your IELTS: What to use and what to avoid
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System by Cambridge English and is used to test the English proficiency of non-native speakers.
Depending on what you plan to do, there are two types of IELTS, Academic and General. Academic is that which is usually used when applying for University or other higher education while the second is more geared towards those looking to work abroad or migrating to an English-speaking country. Furthermore, the Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both tests while the Writing and Reading are different.
When doing the writing portion, it is very important to consider and understand what kind of vocabulary you use. This is often what most pupils struggle with. The type of words you use (e.g. Formal and Informal) will determine the mark you receive.
So, here is a list of 15 common words you should avoid and what you could use instead:
Of course, there are many more formal and informal terms you may come across but being aware of the differences so that you can determine which you should and should not use is very important. See more informal/formal word comparisons here.
REMEMBER: Try not to use too many of these formal words in your speaking test. It can make you sound unnatural and scripted. So be aware when it is appropriate to apply them.
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