Cities of Tomorrow: 15 IELTS Words from Band 6 to Band 8

Fifteen words drawn from the theme of cities of tomorrow, grouped by the band they belong to. Each one comes with a definition, a sentence showing it at work, and the mistake examiners see most often.

Band 6 words

Five words at band 6.

• accelerate (verb) — To increase in speed or rate of occurrence

  Technological advances have accelerated the pace of change in society.

  Watch out: "Accelerate" = speed up. "Decelerate" = slow down. Opposites.

  Common pairings: accelerate growth, accelerate the process, accelerate change, acceleration of

• consecutive (adjective) — Following each other continuously; in unbroken sequence

  The team won five consecutive matches to claim the title.

  Watch out: "Consecutive" = one after another. "Concurrent" = at the same time.

  Common pairings: consecutive days, consecutive years, consecutive wins, consecutive quarters

• register (verb) — To record officially; to show or record a measurement

  All students must register for courses before the semester begins.

  Watch out: "Register" can mean sign up, record, or show (a measurement). Context determines meaning.

  Common pairings: register for, registration process, officially registered, register a complaint

• economy (noun) — The system of how money, business, and trade are organized in a country or area

  The global economy has experienced significant growth over the past decade.

  Watch out: Do not confuse "economy" (noun: the system) with "economic" (adjective: related to the economy).

  Common pairings: global economy, local economy, economy grows, boost the economy

• participate (verb) — To take part in an activity or event

  All employees are encouraged to participate in the company's wellness programmes.

  Watch out: Use "participate in" not "participate at" or "participate to".

  Common pairings: participate in, actively participate, encourage participation, participation rate

Band 7 words

Five words at band 7.

• confine (verb) — To limit or restrict something; to keep within certain boundaries.

  The discussion should be confined to the main issues under consideration.

  Watch out: Using 'confine' without 'to'. Say 'confined to' when indicating limits or restrictions.

  Common pairings: confined to, confine attention to, within confines, strictly confined

• appreciable (adjective) — Large or important enough to be noticed

  There has been no appreciable change in the situation.

  Watch out: "Appreciable" = noticeable. "Appreciably" (adverb).

  Common pairings: appreciable difference, appreciable amount, no appreciable, appreciably higher

• habitat (noun) — The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or organism

  Urban expansion is destroying the natural habitats of many wildlife species.

  Watch out: "Habitat" is where something lives naturally. "Environment" is broader and includes conditions.

  Common pairings: natural habitat, habitat loss, habitat destruction, wildlife habitat

• implement (verb) — To start using a plan or system; to put something into action

  The government plans to implement stricter regulations on carbon emissions.

  Watch out: "Implement" and "apply" are different. Implement means to start using a whole plan or system.

  Common pairings: implement a policy, implement changes, implement measures, successfully implement

assimilate (verb) — To absorb and integrate information or culture

Immigrants often face challenges in assimilating into a new society.

Watch out: "Assimilate" = absorb/integrate. "Assimilation" (noun).

Common pairings: assimilate into, cultural assimilation, assimilate information, fully assimilate

Band 8 words

Five words at band 8.

• advocate (verb) — To publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy

  Environmental groups advocate stricter regulations on industrial pollution.

  Watch out: As a verb: AD-vo-kate. As a noun: AD-vo-kit. The pronunciation changes with the part of speech.

  Common pairings: advocate for, strongly advocate, advocate change, advocate a policy

• revolution (noun) — A dramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitudes, or operation; a forcible overthrow of a government.

  The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed how people work and communicate.

  Watch out: Revolution implies dramatic, fundamental change. Do not use for gradual or minor changes.

  Common pairings: industrial revolution, digital revolution, technological revolution, revolutionary change

• widespread (adjective) — Found or distributed over a large area or among many people

  The internet has led to widespread access to information and education.

  Watch out: "Widespread" is one word, not two. It means spread widely, covering a large area or affecting many people.

  Common pairings: widespread use, widespread concern, widespread support, become widespread

• deviate (verb) — To depart from an established course, standard, or norm.

  The company's actual performance deviated significantly from the projected targets.

  Watch out: Deviate takes 'from': 'deviate from the norm', not 'deviate the norm'.

  Common pairings: deviate from, deviate significantly, deviate markedly, standard deviation

• biodiversity (noun) — The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem

  The destruction of rainforests poses a serious threat to global biodiversity.

  Watch out: One word, not "bio-diversity". Refers to variety of ALL life forms, not just animals.

  Common pairings: biodiversity loss, protect biodiversity, biodiversity hotspot, marine biodiversity

Mistakes to avoid

• Incorrect use of "confine"

  Correct usage: "confine" - to limit or restrict something; to keep within certain boundaries.

  Using 'confine' without 'to'. Say 'confined to' when indicating limits or restrictions.

• Incorrect use of "revolution"

  Correct usage: "revolution" - a dramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitudes, or operation; a forcible overthrow of a government.

  Revolution implies dramatic, fundamental change. Do not use for gradual or minor changes.

• Incorrect use of "appreciable"

  Correct usage: "appreciable" - large or important enough to be noticed

  "Appreciable" = noticeable. "Appreciably" (adverb).

Practise the words

Fill each gap, then check yourself against the answers underneath.

1. Technological advances have accelerated the pace of change in society.
2. The digital _______ has fundamentally transformed how people work and communicate.
3. The company's actual performance deviated significantly from the projected targets.
4. Urban expansion is destroying the natural habitats of many wildlife species.
5. The destruction of rainforests poses a serious threat to global _______.

Answers: accelerate, revolution, deviate, habitat, biodiversity

Writing tip

Always write a clear topic sentence at the start of each paragraph.