IELTS Academic Vocabulary: 500 Words and Collocations

Use 500 academic words and collocations accurately across all four skills.

500 cardsLast updated 2026-08-16

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High-scoring academic language depends on accuracy, collocation and register — not on replacing every common word with a longer one. This 500-card deck combines cross-disciplinary vocabulary with evidence language, data description, cause and effect, comparison, argument structure and the topic collocations that come up in every test cycle. Each card gives an independently written meaning, often paired with a short usage note on the point people get wrong. Import it and the whole deck joins your spaced-repetition schedule. Words you already know stretch out and drop out of sight; the ones that keep slipping come back until they stop slipping. What goes down is the number of words you still don't know — not the time it takes to flip past 500 cards you mostly do.

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Showing 100 representative cards from the full 500-card deck.

Front	Back
assert (verb) — what does it mean?	To state something confidently and clearly, often as a claim that still needs support. Common in academic writing and speaking; usually followed by a clause.
argue (verb) — what does it mean?	To give reasons for a point of view or to dispute a claim. In essays, it commonly introduces a reasoned position.
opinion (noun) — what does it mean?	A personal belief or judgment, not necessarily based on full evidence. In formal writing, it should be supported if used as an argument.
evidence (noun) — what does it mean?	Information that supports a claim or conclusion. In academic writing, evidence should be relevant and reliable.
back up (phrasal verb) — what does it mean?	To provide evidence for a claim or statement. Common in spoken and informal academic English.
demonstrate (verb) — what does it mean?	To show clearly by evidence, example, or result. A common formal verb in essays and reports.
imply (verb) — what does it mean?	To suggest something indirectly, rather than state it directly. In academic writing, it often introduces interpretation.
conclusion (noun) — what does it mean?	A final judgment or result based on evidence or reasoning. In academic essays, it should follow from the argument.
judge (verb) — what does it mean?	To form an opinion about something after considering it carefully. In formal contexts, it can mean evaluate.
challenge (verb) — what does it mean?	To dispute or test the validity of a claim, idea, or assumption. Common in academic debate.
align with (phrasal verb) — what does it mean?	To match or support the same idea, policy, or evidence. Common in academic comparison.
rebut (verb) — what does it mean?	To prove an argument or claim wrong with counterevidence or reasoning. Formal and useful in debate.
evidence-based (adjective) — what does it mean?	Grounded in research, data, or verified information rather than guesswork. Common in formal discussion of policy and practice.
take the view that — what does it mean?	A formal way to state an opinion or position. Common in essays and reports.
base something on evidence — what does it mean?	To use evidence as the foundation for a claim, decision or argument.
in line with — what does it mean?	Consistent with or matching something. Useful for comparing findings, policies, or expectations.
limited evidence — what does it mean?	Evidence that exists but is not enough to be fully certain. Useful for cautious academic writing.
anecdotal evidence — what does it mean?	Informal evidence based on personal stories or isolated examples rather than systematic research. Useful, but weak for strong academic claims.
reliable source — what does it mean?	A source that is trustworthy and likely to be accurate. Important when choosing evidence in IELTS writing.
larger sample — what does it mean?	A study group with more participants, which can improve reliability and generalisability.
preliminary evidence — what does it mean?	Early evidence that is not yet final or fully tested. Useful for cautious claims.
may indicate — what does it mean?	A cautious phrase showing that something is possible based on evidence.
unlikely to — what does it mean?	Not expected or not probable. Useful for expressing cautious disagreement with a claim.
overall — what does it mean?	Used to summarise the main pattern after considering details. Common in conclusions and evaluation.
the proportion of (collocation) — what does it mean?	a formal phrase meaning the share of a whole. Often used with percentages and comparisons.
a small fraction of (collocation) — what does it mean?	a very small part of a whole; more precise than “a few.” Example: Only a small fraction of the budget was allocated to maintenance.
a dramatic fall (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	a very large and noticeable decrease. More formal than “big drop.” Example: Tourism suffered a dramatic fall during the travel restrictions.
fluctuate (verb) — what does it mean?	to vary irregularly, moving up and down rather than changing steadily.
bottom out (phrasal verb) — what does it mean?	To reach the lowest point before levelling off or rising. Used mainly for trends and prices.
grow steadily (collocation) — what does it mean?	to increase at a regular pace over time. A useful neutral phrase for trends.
stay constant (collocation) — what does it mean?	to remain unchanged. Slightly formal and common in graph descriptions.
make up (verb phrase) — what does it mean?	to constitute a part of a whole; common but slightly less formal than “account for.” Example: Imported goods make up a large part of the local market.
exceed (verb) — what does it mean?	to be greater than a limit, amount, or another figure. Formal and precise.
be lower than (collocation) — what does it mean?	a basic comparative phrase for a smaller figure or rate.
difference (noun) — what does it mean?	a point or amount by which things are not the same. Common in comparison language.
effect (noun) — what does it mean?	the result of a cause; what happens because of something else.
stem from (verb phrase) — what does it mean?	to originate in or be caused by something. More formal and analytical.
prompt (verb) — what does it mean?	to cause something to happen or encourage a response. Formal and common in reports.
shape (verb) — what does it mean?	to influence the development or form of something over time. More abstract and academic.
progressively (adverb) — what does it mean?	in a gradual way over time. Often used with change, increase, or decline.
in the long run (phrase) — what does it mean?	over a long period and considering future effects.
triple (verb) — what does it mean?	To become three times as much or as many.
reach a low of (collocation) — what does it mean?	to arrive at the lowest recorded level. Useful in formal data commentary.
output (noun) — what does it mean?	the amount of product, energy, or work produced. Common in economics and industry.
average (noun/adjective) — what does it mean?	the central or typical value in a set of numbers. Common in academic summaries.
plummet (verb) — what does it mean?	to fall very quickly and steeply. Strong verb for dramatic downward trends.
acquire (verb) — what does it mean?	to gain or obtain something, often over time or through effort; formal academic use.
scholarship (noun) — what does it mean?	financial support for study, usually based on merit or need; formal education term.
employment (noun) — what does it mean?	paid work, especially in a formal or official context; broader than 'job'.
flexible working (collocation) — what does it mean?	work arrangements with adaptable hours or location; common modern workplace phrase.
automation (noun) — what does it mean?	the use of machines or software to do tasks with little human control; formal technology/workplace term.
software update (collocation) — what does it mean?	a new version or fix for a program; practical technology phrase.
network (noun) — what does it mean?	a connected system of computers, people, or transport routes; broad academic noun with several contexts.
audience engagement (collocation) — what does it mean?	the degree to which viewers, readers, or users respond and interact with content; media/marketing phrase.
urbanisation (noun) — what does it mean?	the process of more people moving to and living in cities; formal geography term.
congestion (noun) — what does it mean?	traffic that is too heavy and slow; formal transport and city-planning term.
sustainable city (collocation) — what does it mean?	a city designed to reduce environmental impact and support long-term living standards; formal urban-development phrase.
traffic flow (collocation) — what does it mean?	the movement of vehicles along roads; transport-management phrase.
global trade (collocation) — what does it mean?	the buying and selling of goods and services across countries; core globalization phrase.
foreign investment (collocation) — what does it mean?	money from another country placed into businesses or projects; formal economics phrase.
accessibility (noun) — what does it mean?	how easy it is to reach, enter, use, or understand something; common in city, transport, and technology contexts.
local authority (collocation) — what does it mean?	the official government body in a local area; common in city and public-service writing.
specialise in (phrasal verb) — what does it mean?	to focus on one particular subject, skill, or type of work; common academic and professional phrase.
bilingual (adjective) — what does it mean?	able to use two languages; useful in education and city diversity contexts.
global city (collocation) — what does it mean?	a major city with strong international influence in business, culture, and transport; urban/globalization phrase.
digital archive (collocation) — what does it mean?	an organised online collection of stored records, images, or texts; media/education phrase.
sustainable (adjective) — what does it mean?	Able to continue without exhausting resources or causing lasting damage; often used in environmental and development contexts. Collocates with development, energy, and growth.
deforestation (noun) — what does it mean?	The large-scale clearing of forests for farming, building, or logging. Formal environmental noun often linked to biodiversity and emissions.
global warming (noun) — what does it mean?	The long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature. Common climate collocation, more general than some technical terms.
outbreak (noun) — what does it mean?	A sudden increase in a disease or harmful event. Common in health and social policy contexts.
ageing population (noun) — what does it mean?	A population with a growing proportion of older people. Common demographic collocation in society and public policy.
social mobility (noun) — what does it mean?	The ability of people to move between social or economic classes. Academic collocation common in education, employment, and policy essays.
multicultural (adjective) — what does it mean?	Including or reflecting people from several cultural backgrounds. Often used to describe cities, classrooms, and societies.
cultural diversity (noun) — what does it mean?	The presence of many different cultural groups or traditions in one place. Positive academic collocation used in society and education.
risk factor (noun) — what does it mean?	Something that increases the chance of a problem, disease, or harmful outcome. Common in health and policy reports.
taxation (noun) — what does it mean?	The system of collecting taxes, or the taxes collected. Formal economics and policy noun often linked to reform and revenue.
law enforcement (noun) — what does it mean?	The organisations and activities that enforce laws, especially the police and related agencies. Formal collocation used in crime and governance.
burglary (noun) — what does it mean?	The crime of illegally entering a building, usually to steal. Formal noun, more specific than robbery.
urban planning (noun) — what does it mean?	The organized design and development of towns and cities. Formal collocation used in environment, transport, and society essays.
resource depletion (noun) — what does it mean?	The process of using natural resources faster than they can be replaced. Formal environmental collocation used in sustainability writing.
heat insulation (noun) — what does it mean?	Material or design that reduces heat loss or heat gain in a building. Technical collocation used in housing and energy contexts.
well-being (noun) — what does it mean?	Overall state of health, happiness, and comfort. Broad formal noun used in health and society topics.
reoffending (noun) — what does it mean?	The act of committing another crime after being punished or released. Formal criminal-justice noun often used with reduce and prevent.
to impose restrictions (phrase) — what does it mean?	To officially place limits on something, usually through law or policy. Formal public-policy collocation.
analyse (verb) — what does it mean?	To examine something carefully in order to understand its parts or causes. Often used with data, results, text, or trends; formal academic register.
integrate (verb) — what does it mean?	To combine separate parts so they work as one system. Common with ideas, data, technology, or groups.
methodology (noun) — what does it mean?	The system or set of methods used in a study or piece of research. Formal academic word, mainly in research writing.
relevant (adjective) — what does it mean?	Closely connected to the topic or useful for the current purpose. Very common in academic writing and speaking.
temporary (adjective) — what does it mean?	Lasting for a short time only, not permanent. Often used in social and work contexts.
give rise to (verb phrase) — what does it mean?	to cause something to begin or develop, often as an indirect consequence; commonly used in formal cause-and-effect writing.
in addition — what does it mean?	Used to add another point or piece of information. Frequent in essays and reports.
health disparity (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	a measurable difference in health outcomes or access between population groups; often discussed with social and economic factors.
consumer behaviour (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	The way people choose, buy, use, and react to products and services. Common in business and economics contexts.
cost-effective (adjective) — what does it mean?	Giving good results for the money spent. Common in economics, business, and public policy.
rapid increase (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	A fast rise in number, amount, or level. Useful in describing charts and change over time.
higher risk (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	A greater chance that something negative will happen. Common in health, safety, and environment discussions.
academic writing (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	Formal writing used in study, research, and education. Often involves evidence, structure, and clear argument.
social consensus (noun phrase) — what does it mean?	broad agreement within a society or group; it does not require every individual to agree.
prevalent (adjective) — what does it mean?	common or widespread in a particular place or group; formal adjective, often used with problems, beliefs, or habits
endanger (verb) — what does it mean?	to put something at risk of harm; formal verb, often used with lives, species, or stability

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Memly writes all of them — every meaning, usage note and example. That is why the examples read like sentences you could hand in: they were written for academic writing and speaking, rather than collected from wherever the word happened to appear.

Does the deck cover collocations as well as single words?

Yes. It includes productive combinations for describing evidence, change, comparison, cause, policy and common academic topics, with grammar and register cues.

Editorial method and sources

Memly's editors use the primary sources below to check scope and terminology, then independently write and review the cards.

IELTS: Academic test format