Lexical Resources in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Which essay do you think will be more appreciated - one that is with easy-to-understand words or the one that has got difficult-to-understand words?  Obviously, examiners will prefer to score higher essays that carry simple or plain English (Buit, at the same time, it has to be effective too).

Certainly, nobody would want to read an essay that has words difficult to understand. Often, candidates are under the false impression that they can impress the examiner with hi-fi words, words that are never heard of or which are difficult to understand or even those words which are of Latin or Greek origin.

For instance, we find essays in which most of the candidates make use of words that are given below:

  • avant -garde
  • Au fait
  • adios
  • al dente
  • al fresco
  • aloha
  • aloo
  • alu
  • Angrez
  • cause célèbre
  • coda
  • coup de théâtre
  • intermezzo
  • magnum opus
  • mot juste
  • ombudsman
  • passim
  • Schadenfreude
  • sonata
  • sotto voce
  • the Internationale
  • vide

Of course, the use of the words given above may make your essay stylish but at the same time it is also possible that your essay will be penalized for the same.

Remember, the easy formula to get higher score in IELTS writing task 2 is as follows:

Simple + Effective Words = Good Essay.

You can style your essay with the right synonyms or phrases.

When you want to make use of the word “Difficult” style your essay with one of its equivalent, a synonym etc.

For instance, you can use words like arduous, formidable, challenging, onerous, herculean, immense etc.

You should know that not all the synonyms of the given words may give the exact meaning. One has to be very careful while making use of such synonyms or equivalents. 

An advanced dictionary of thesaurus will certainly be of great help to you as it can let you know of the synonyms or the antonyms for the given words and you will also know more about how to use the words in the sentences to.

Pay more attention to making use of the collocations (you need to know which verb matches which noun).

Try to paraphrase more carefully

Use more appropriate words.

Correct spellings are crucial

Avoid using slang language

Use formal language or semi-formal

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