Makshud.

Speaking · Unit 3: Core strategies

S33: Topic vocabulary: learn it in chunks, not single words

Target band 7

Many Bangladeshi students study vocabulary from lists. "Ubiquitous, meticulous, paramount." They memorise meanings in Bangla. Then in the test, they either can't use these words at all, or they use them in strange ways. There's a better method: learn words in chunks, organised by topic.

Why this matters

Lexical Resource rewards using vocabulary naturally and precisely. At band 7, the descriptors mention less common words and an awareness of style and collocation. Collocations are words that naturally go together. Native speakers say "heavy traffic", not "big traffic". They "make a decision", not "do a decision". Learning chunks gives you this naturalness.

Single words vs chunks

Single word Chunks you can actually use
pollution air pollution, cut down on pollution, a major source of pollution
decision make a decision, a tough decision, a last-minute decision
traffic heavy traffic, stuck in traffic, traffic jams
career build a career, a career path, a change of career
health mental health, in good health, a healthy lifestyle

Mini banks for common IELTS topics

Technology

  • spend hours scrolling, screen time, be glued to your phone
  • stay in touch, video call, go online
  • a double-edged sword, a lack of privacy

Environment

  • climate change, rising sea levels, extreme weather
  • plastic waste, recycle, single-use plastic
  • take public transport, reduce your carbon footprint

Education

  • get good grades, sit an exam, cram for a test
  • rote learning, practical skills, critical thinking
  • go to university, drop out, a well-rounded education

Work

  • a nine-to-five job, work long hours, a heavy workload
  • job security, a decent salary, work-life balance
  • get promoted, change careers, work from home

Health

  • a balanced diet, junk food, stay in shape
  • get enough sleep, a sedentary lifestyle
  • mental health, stress at work, see a doctor

Cities

  • urban areas, overcrowded, high cost of living
  • public transport, green spaces, noise pollution
  • move to the city, rural-urban migration

How to build your own topic sheets

For each common topic, make a one-page sheet with:

  1. 10 useful chunks, each in a short example sentence
  2. 2 opinions you could give in Part 3
  3. 1 personal example from your life

That's enough to talk comfortably about almost any question on that topic.

Where to find good chunks

  • Listen to podcasts or YouTube videos about the topic. Write down phrases, not single words.
  • Use a collocation dictionary. Many are free online.
  • When you learn a word, always ask: "What words usually come before and after it?"

Try it yourself

Fix the collocations in these sentences.

  1. "I did a big mistake in my exam."
  2. "There was very big traffic this morning."
  3. "I want to make my career in banking."
Show the answers

  1. "I made a big mistake in my exam."
  2. "There was very heavy traffic this morning."
  3. "I want to build a career in banking." (or "I want to work in banking.")

Honest note

The examiner isn't counting how many rare words you use. One natural chunk used correctly is worth more than three rare words used wrongly. Start with common topics, and learn chunks you'd really say.

Your task today

Choose one topic. Make your first topic sheet with 10 chunks, 2 opinions and 1 personal example.

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