50 IELTS Collocations That Examiners Love

#Why Collocations Matter More Than Vocabulary Size

Here is a truth most IELTS students do not realise: examiners are not impressed by rare words — they are impressed by natural word combinations. Using "conduct research" (correct collocation) scores higher than "do a research" (unnatural) even though both communicate the same idea. The IELTS band descriptors explicitly mention "collocation" at Band 7+ for Lexical Resource.

Below are 50 collocations organised by category, with correct and incorrect usage for each.

#Academic Collocations

1. conduct research — ✗ "do a research" → ✓ "Scientists conduct research into climate change."
2. draw conclusions — ✗ "take conclusions" → ✓ "We can draw conclusions from the data presented."
3. gather evidence — ✗ "collect evidences" → ✓ "Researchers gathered evidence over a ten-year period."
4. reach a consensus — ✗ "make a consensus" → ✓ "Experts have reached a consensus on this issue."
5. raise awareness — ✗ "rise awareness" → ✓ "Campaigns can raise awareness of environmental issues."
6. address an issue — ✗ "solve an issue" → ✓ "Governments must address the issue of homelessness."
7. yield results — ✗ "give results" → ✓ "This approach has yielded significant results."
8. broaden one's horizons — ✗ "wide one's horizon" → ✓ "Travelling broadens people's horizons."
9. acquire knowledge — ✗ "get knowledges" → ✓ "Students acquire knowledge through hands-on experience."
10. pursue a career — ✗ "follow a career" → ✓ "Many graduates pursue careers in finance."

#Opinion Collocations

1. firmly believe — ✗ "strong believe" → ✓ "I firmly believe that education should be free."
2. strongly disagree — ✗ "very disagree" → ✓ "I strongly disagree with this viewpoint."
3. hold the view — ✗ "keep the view" → ✓ "Many people hold the view that technology is harmful."
4. express an opinion — ✗ "say an opinion" → ✓ "Everyone has the right to express their opinion."
5. take the position that — ✗ "have the position that" → ✓ "I take the position that regulation is necessary."
6. tend to agree — ✗ "likely agree" → ✓ "I tend to agree that balance is important."
7. wholeheartedly support — ✗ "full support" → ✓ "I wholeheartedly support this initiative."
8. partially agree — ✗ "half agree" → ✓ "I partially agree with this statement."
9. it is widely believed — ✗ "it is wide believed" → ✓ "It is widely believed that exercise improves mental health."
10. a compelling argument — ✗ "a strong argue" → ✓ "There is a compelling argument for renewable energy."

#Change Collocations

1. undergo transformation — ✗ "get transformation" → ✓ "Cities have undergone rapid transformation."
2. implement reforms — ✗ "do reforms" → ✓ "The government implemented sweeping reforms."
3. bring about change — ✗ "make change happen" → ✓ "Technology has brought about significant change."
4. adapt to circumstances — ✗ "adapt with circumstances" → ✓ "Workers must adapt to changing circumstances."
5. shift in attitude — ✗ "change of attitude" → ✓ "There has been a notable shift in public attitude."
6. see a dramatic increase — ✗ "have a dramatic increase" → ✓ "The country saw a dramatic increase in population."
7. introduce measures — ✗ "put measures" → ✓ "Authorities introduced strict measures to control pollution."
8. reverse a trend — ✗ "change back a trend" → ✓ "It may be possible to reverse this trend."
9. mark a turning point — ✗ "make a turning point" → ✓ "This policy marked a turning point in education."
10. accelerate the pace of — ✗ "speed the pace of" → ✓ "Globalisation has accelerated the pace of change."

#Problem and Solution Collocations

1. pose a threat — ✗ "give a threat" → ✓ "Climate change poses a serious threat to biodiversity."
2. take measures — ✗ "do measures" → ✓ "Governments should take measures to reduce emissions."
3. tackle a problem — ✗ "solve a problem" (acceptable but less sophisticated) → ✓ "We must tackle the problem at its root."
4. face challenges — ✗ "meet challenges" (acceptable) / "have challenges" (weak) → ✓ "Developing nations face significant challenges."
5. find a solution — ✗ "give a solution" → ✓ "Scientists are working to find a solution."
6. cause concern — ✗ "make concern" → ✓ "Rising unemployment is causing widespread concern."
7. suffer consequences — ✗ "get consequences" → ✓ "Future generations will suffer the consequences."
8. alleviate poverty — ✗ "reduce poor" → ✓ "Education can help alleviate poverty."
9. impose restrictions — ✗ "put restrictions" → ✓ "The council imposed restrictions on building height."
10. exacerbate a situation — ✗ "make worse a situation" → ✓ "Poor planning has exacerbated the housing crisis."

#Cause and Effect Collocations

1. have a profound impact — ✗ "have a big impact" → ✓ "Technology has had a profound impact on communication."
2. stem from — ✗ "come from" (too basic) → ✓ "Many social problems stem from inequality."
3. give rise to — ✗ "make rise to" → ✓ "Urbanisation gives rise to environmental concerns."
4. contribute to — ✗ "help to make" → ✓ "Sedentary lifestyles contribute to obesity."
5. result in — ✗ "result to" → ✓ "Poor diet can result in serious health problems."
6. lead to — ✗ "lead in" → ✓ "Lack of exercise leads to weight gain."
7. account for — ✗ "explain for" → ✓ "Cultural differences account for varying attitudes."
8. play a crucial role — ✗ "play a crucial part" (acceptable) / "do a crucial role" (wrong) → ✓ "Parents play a crucial role in child development."
9. the underlying cause — ✗ "the under cause" → ✓ "We must address the underlying causes of crime."
10. a contributing factor — ✗ "a helping factor" → ✓ "Stress is a contributing factor in many illnesses."

#How to Learn These

Do not try to memorise all 50 at once. Choose 5 per week. Write three sentences using each one. Use them in your practice essays. Within two months, they will become natural.

Want personalised feedback? Try BandNine.ai free — AI-powered IELTS scoring in 30 seconds.