IELTS Academic Essay Writing Guide
Article 4: Mastering Vocabulary & Grammar
The Engine of Your Essay
A perfect structure is just a skeleton. Lexical Resource (your vocabulary) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (your grammar) are the muscles that give your essay power and precision. Together, they account for 50% of your total score. This lesson will show you how to maximize your marks in both areas.
Part 1: Lexical Resource – Using the Right Words
This isn't about using "big" words; it's about using precise, appropriate, and varied language.
Band 5 Vocabulary
"Using the internet is good for students. They can get a lot of information. But it is also bad because they can see bad things. This is a big problem for parents."
Analysis: The vocabulary is repetitive ("good", "bad") and very simple ("a lot of", "big problem"). It lacks precision and academic tone.
Band 9 Vocabulary
"The internet provides students with unparalleled access to a vast repository of information. However, this digital landscape also presents considerable risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content, which is a significant concern for many guardians."
Analysis: Uses precise, less common vocabulary ("unparalleled access," "repository of information," "digital landscape," "inappropriate content," "guardians"). The tone is consistently academic.
How to Improve Your Lexical Score:
- Learn Synonyms & Paraphrase: Instead of repeating "important," use "crucial," "vital," "essential," or "significant."
- Use Topic-Specific Vocabulary: For an essay on the environment, use terms like "biodiversity," "carbon emissions," "sustainable," and "deforestation."
- Learn Collocations: These are words that naturally go together. For example, instead of "a big reason," use "a primary reason." Instead of "make a decision," say "reach a decision."
Part 2: Grammatical Range & Accuracy
To score high, you must use a variety of sentence structures accurately. The key is to mix simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Simple Sentences
One independent clause. Use them for clarity and emphasis.
"Governments must invest in renewable energy."
Compound Sentences
Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
"Governments must invest in renewable energy, but this transition requires significant funding."
Complex Sentences
An independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. They show sophisticated relationships between ideas.
"Although the transition requires significant funding, governments must invest in renewable energy to combat climate change."
Key to a High Score:
A Band 9 essay is not just a list of complex sentences. It uses a mix of all three types for rhythm and effect. A short, simple sentence can be very powerful after a long, complex one.
Part 3: The Glue – Essential Linking Words
Linking words (cohesive devices) are essential for Coherence and Cohesion. They guide the examiner through your argument, showing how your ideas are connected.
To Add Ideas
- Furthermore,
- Moreover,
- In addition,
- Additionally,
To Show Contrast
- However,
- Nevertheless,
- On the other hand,
- In contrast,
To Give Examples
- For example,
- For instance,
- To illustrate,
- A case in point is...
To Show Reason/Result
- Consequently,
- As a result,
- Therefore,
- For this reason,
To Emphasize
- Undoubtedly,
- Indeed,
- Clearly,
- Significantly,
To Conclude
- In conclusion,
- To summarize,
- To conclude,
- In summary,