Listening · Unit 3: Core strategies
L32: Vocabulary sets: accommodation, travel, health, work
Target band 6.5 to 7
Parts 1 and 2 are about everyday life. And everyday life in IELTS means the same situations again and again: renting a flat, booking travel, seeing a doctor, applying for a job. Each situation has its own set of words. If you know these words and can spell them, Parts 1 and 2 become much easier.
Why this matters
You can't predict every answer. But you can predict the topic. Once you know it's about renting a flat, your brain should be ready for words like deposit and landlord. If those words are new to you, you'll hear them as noise.
Accommodation
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| landlord / landlady | the person who owns the flat |
| tenant | the person who rents it |
| deposit | money paid at the start, returned at the end |
| rent | money paid every month |
| bills / utilities | gas, electricity, water, internet |
| furnished | comes with furniture |
| lease / contract | the rental agreement |
| flatmate | someone you share a flat with |
Travel
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| single / return ticket | one-way / there and back |
| platform | where you get on the train |
| departure / arrival | leaving / coming in |
| itinerary | a plan of your trip |
| luggage | your bags |
| delay | when something is late |
| timetable | a list of times |
| reservation | a booking |
Health
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| appointment | a booked time to see a doctor |
| GP | a family doctor in the UK |
| prescription | a doctor's note for medicine |
| pharmacy | a shop that sells medicine |
| symptoms | signs of illness |
| check-up | a routine examination |
| allergy | a bad reaction to food or medicine |
Work
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| applicant | a person who applies for a job |
| CV | a document listing your experience |
| salary / wage | yearly pay / hourly pay |
| part-time / full-time | fewer hours / normal hours |
| shift | a period of work, like a night shift |
| colleague | a person you work with |
| deadline | the last day to do something |
| reference | a letter about you from a past employer |
Services and leisure
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| membership | joining a club or gym |
| refund | money given back |
| receipt | proof that you paid |
| discount | a lower price |
| admission | the cost of entry |
| exhibition | a show of art or objects |
| volunteer | someone who works for free |
How to learn them
- One set per day. Read the words, say them, and write each one twice.
- Spell them from memory. Many are on the misspelling list in L09.
- Imagine the situation. Close your eyes and imagine renting a flat in London. What would the landlord say? Use the words.
Try it yourself
Which word fits?
- You pay this at the start and get it back when you leave the flat.
- A document from a doctor that lets you get medicine.
- The plan of your trip, day by day.
Show the answers
1) deposit. 2) prescription. 3) itinerary.
Honest note
These lists are a starting point. Your practice tests will show you more words. Add every new word to your notebook under the right topic.
Your task today
Choose one set. Write a short paragraph in English using at least five of the words. For example, describe your dream flat abroad.