COLLOCATIONS FOR IELTS: TO GET BAND 7+ SCORE

Collocations play a pivotal role in achieving success in the IELTS examination, particularly in the Writing and Speaking sections. In this blog post, we will delve into the significance of collocations, explore common collocation examples, and provide practical tips to enhance your usage of collocations in English.

What is collocation?

There are various ways to understand and define “Collocation” in English:

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Collocation is: “a combination of words in a language that happens very often and more frequently than would happen by chance”.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, Collocation is: “a word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be expected from the meaning”.

In summary, Collocations involve the combination of words to form meaningful phrases, expressing a particular idea. For example, “Pay attention” is used instead of “give attention.”

Why are they important for IELTS?

The examiner will be judging you on this. For example, here is what the IELTS public band descriptors say for an IELTS band 7+ for lexis (vocabulary):

“uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation.”

So to achieve a band 7+ in this criteria, not only do you need to be using some less common words, but you also need to show to some extent that you know what other words these less common words are usually used with.

However, this is important for any band – if you have a bad grasp of them, this will have a negative impact on your writing and your speaking.

In the IELTS exam, common collocations play a crucial role in each skill as follows:
IELTS Listening: Learning collocations help students develop the ability to identify and predict word combinations or connections between words. This skill is essential for accurately processing the information heard and filling in the blanks in the listening section.

IELTS Reading: Proficiency in processing information quickly is vital for achieving a high score in the Reading section. Therefore, learning and applying collocations can enhance the ability to understand and analyze answers more flexibly and accurately.

IELTS Speaking and Writing: Mastering collocations in both Speaking and Writing is highly valued for the Lexical Resource criterion. Specifically, students who can use idiomatic language appropriately receive favorable evaluations. Collocations enable more natural expression, similar to the speech or writing style of native speakers.

Types of Collocations IELTS

There are six common types of collocations which we have listed below:

• Adjective + Noun
• Noun + Noun (such as collective nouns)
• Verb + Noun
• Adverb + Adjective
• Verb + prepositional phrase (phrasal verbs)
• Verb + Adverb 

Examples:

1. Adjective + Noun

My neighbor is proud of her intelligent son Yesterday, in our place, there was heavy rain which really caused a lot of trouble Physics is an amazing subject that made me think in different possible ways.  Her boyfriend was attracted to valuable accessories which cost him thousands of rupees. My parents made me join a swimming class since I showed a keen interest in swimming One friend of mine told me that his poor handwriting became a cause of his mark reduction

2. Noun + Noun

According to the data, people love to watch more thriller movies. One of the Indian car manufacturers became the richest man in the world. The entertainment industry seizes almost all the spheres of our lives. Police officers found the culprit by using the lie detector

3. Verb + Noun

I told him to have a drink in a friendly manner, but he reacted cruelly. My friend broke the law, so he has to be in prison for 2 months. Pay attention while I am talking to you or else don’t speak to me hereafter. She has to save money to pay her daughter’s college fees.

4. Adverb + Adjective

She was deeply affected by the incident He was highly successful in his field which made him popular. My fellow classmate was deeply hurt by the words I used. Though he faced lots of struggles, he is perfectly normal. When I saw the stars in the sky, I was completely amazed.

5. Verb + prepositional phrase

When I was outside, he was looking for my telephone. My girlfriend is looking at my childhood photo. I got relieved from my stress by listening to the songs. He is asking for a discount for a small purchase.

6. Verb + Adverb

My neighbour talked loudly and that made my baby cry. Zizek argued strongly which resonated with the people who heard his arguments. He runs quickly whenever I motivate him. She acted bravely when she was confronted by thieves which is appreciable.

Collocations by Topic

Collocations in English are diverse and consist of various combinations. Below are some common collocations by topic. Following and applying these will enhance your performance in the Speaking and Writing sections of the test.

TECHNOLOGY

Collocation	Example
Geographical boundaries	With social networks, people can communicate with each other without geographical boundaries
Digital transformation	Many organizations in Vietnam have carried out a digital transformation to fulfill customer expectations.
Surf the Internet	I spent hours surfing the Internet
Social media	I connect with my friends on social media more often than I sea them directly
Be replaced by automation	Some parts of the workforce will soon be replaced by automation
Addicted to something (social media/the Internet/computer games)	Children who are addicted the the Internet will show behaviors of increased aggressiveness, loss of sleep and depression.
Interactive learning	Interactive learning enables teachers to utilize different platforms and media to keep classes engaging and entertaining.
Cutting-edge gadgets	Cutting-edge gadgets such as smartphones and computers facilitate global communication.
User-friendly	This machine comes attached with a very user-friendly instruction manual.
Computer literate	The application form specified that candidates must be computer literate to be suitable for the job.

SOCIETY

Collocation	Example
Social welfare	Denmark is well-known as the country which provides the most decent social welfare in the world.
Social norm	According to social norms in Vietnam, women have to take care of their families
Illegal immigration	Tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking requires proper checks.
Antisocial habit	Nowadays, smoking is considered an antisocial habit
Gender imbalance	Gender imbalance, an issue where the male population is significantly larger than the female, is happening in many Asian countries.
Family planning	Family planning is an optimal method to mitigate the problems caused by overcrowding.
Living condition	The government has made an effort to improve living conditions for the poor
State pension	The state pension ensures a basic income for eligible individuals upon reaching a certain age.
Sexual discrimination	In the past, women always suffered from sexual discrimination.
Racial discrimination	Barack Obama is the man who successfully solved the problem of racial discrimination in the US recently.

HEALTH

Collocation	Example
A healthy and balanced diet	Eating a healthy and balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health.
Stay healthy/ Keep fit	Regular exercise and a balanced diet are important to stay healthy and keep fit
Build up resistance	Regular exercise helps build up resistance to common illnesses
Go on a diet	Nowadays, people often go on a diet to lose weight.
Gentle exercise	After an accident, it’s important to start with gentle exercises to gradually regain strength.
Relieve pressure/stress	Taking a walk in nature can help relieve pressure
To make a full recover	With proper medical care and rehabilitation, she is expected to make a full recovery from her injuries
Serious medical conditions	Some serious medical conditions require long-term medical treatment and specialized care.
An incurable disease	Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with an incurable disease that requires ongoing management and care.
A course of Medication	The doctor prescribed a course of medication to treat the infection.

ENVIRONMENT

Collocation	Example
Environmental deterioration	The production process of companies may induce environmental deterioration
Exhaust fumes	Car-free-days can help reduce the amount of exhaust fumes from vehicles
Non-renewable energy source	Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of non-renewable energy sources
Alternative energy sources	Solar power is an alternative energy source which is commonly used in our daily lives.
Global warming	The rise of sea levels due to global warming is considered one of the main natural threats to human society.
Climate change	Human life may be adversely affected by climate change
Soil erosion	Uncontrolled deforestation can lead to soil erosion
Toxic waste	Some manufacturing companies were fined for dumping toxic waste into the sea.
Destruction of the ozone layer	The main cause of the destruction of the the ozone layer is industrial activities
Greenhouse gases	The consumption of energy from fossil fuels increases greenhouse gas emissions and thus contributes to global warming

In conclusion, a mastery of collocations is indispensable for excelling in the IELTS examination. The effective use of verb-noun, adjective-noun, adverb-adjective, and preposition-noun collocations not only elevates the overall quality of your language but also demonstrates a sophisticated command of English. Consistent practice and incorporation of collocations in both written and spoken English will undoubtedly contribute to your success in the IELTS journey.