Hidden Gems: Underrated Travel Destinations: 15 IELTS Words from Band 6 to Band 8

Fifteen words drawn from the theme of hidden gems: underrated travel destinations, 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.

• affect (verb) — To have an influence on something or someone; to cause a change

  Air pollution significantly affects the health of people living in urban areas.

  Watch out: "Affect" is usually a verb. "Effect" is usually a noun. This is one of the most common errors in English.

  Common pairings: directly affect, adversely affect, significantly affect, affect the outcome

• structure (noun) — The way in which parts are arranged or organized to form a whole

  The social structure of ancient societies differed greatly from modern ones.

  Watch out: "Structure" can be a noun (the structure) or a verb (to structure). Both are common in academic writing.

  Common pairings: social structure, organisational structure, basic structure, underlying structure

• partner (noun) — A person who shares an activity or works with another; a member of a couple

  International partners are essential for addressing global environmental challenges.

  Watch out: "Partner" can mean business associate, romantic partner, or collaborator. Context determines meaning.

  Common pairings: business partner, trading partner, partnership agreement, key partner

• essential (adjective) — Absolutely necessary; extremely important

  Clean water is essential for human survival.

  Watch out: "Essential" = absolutely necessary. "Essentially" = basically/fundamentally.

  Common pairings: essential for, essential to, essential services, essentially

• accomplish (verb) — To achieve or complete successfully

  The team accomplished their goal of reducing costs by 20 percent.

  Watch out: "Accomplish" = achieve a goal. "Accomplishment" = the achievement itself.

  Common pairings: accomplish a goal, accomplish a task, accomplishment, accomplished musician

Band 7 words

Five words at band 7.

• successor (noun) — A person or thing that comes after and takes the place of another.

  The new CEO is seen as a worthy successor to the company's founder.

  Watch out: Confusing 'successor' with 'predecessor'. Successor comes after; predecessor comes before.

  Common pairings: successor to, name a successor, worthy successor, natural successor

• target (noun) — An objective or result that one aims to achieve

  The government has set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions.

  Watch out: "Target" is a specific measurable goal. "Goal" is broader. "Objective" is a step toward a goal.

  Common pairings: set targets, meet targets, target audience, achieve targets

• sum (noun) — The total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers; an amount of money.

  The government allocated a significant sum for infrastructure development in rural areas.

  Watch out: Using 'sum' only in mathematics. In academic writing, it often refers to amounts of money.

  Common pairings: large sum, substantial sum, the sum of, in sum

• devote (verb) — To give time, effort, or resources to a particular purpose or person.

  The company devotes significant resources to research and development activities.

  Watch out: Using 'devote' without 'to'. Always say 'devote to' not 'devote for'.

  Common pairings: devote time to, devote attention to, devoted to, devote resources to

ambivalent (adjective) — Having mixed or contradictory feelings

Many people feel ambivalent about technological progress.

Watch out: "Ambivalent" = mixed feelings. "Ambivalence" (noun).

Common pairings: ambivalent about, feel ambivalent, ambivalence towards, deeply ambivalent

Band 8 words

Five words at band 8.

• scrutiny (noun) — Careful and thorough examination or observation

  Government spending has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years.

  Watch out: "Scrutiny" implies critical examination. It is often used when looking for problems or mistakes.

  Common pairings: under scrutiny, public scrutiny, close scrutiny, come under scrutiny

• overlap (verb) — To extend over and cover a part of something; to have something in common.

  The responsibilities of these two departments significantly overlap, causing confusion.

  Watch out: Overlap can be a verb or noun. As a noun: 'there is overlap between X and Y'.

  Common pairings: overlap with, overlap between, significantly overlap, areas of overlap

• ubiquitous (adjective) — Present, appearing, or found everywhere

  Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.

  Watch out: "Ubiquitous" = found everywhere. "Ubiquity" = the state of being everywhere.

  Common pairings: ubiquitous presence, ubiquitous in, ubiquity, increasingly ubiquitous

• eliminate (verb) — To completely remove or get rid of something

  The goal is to eliminate poverty within the next decade.

  Watch out: "Eliminate" means complete removal. "Reduce" means make smaller. "Minimise" means make as small as possible.

  Common pairings: eliminate the need, eliminate barriers, eliminate waste, completely eliminate

• norm (noun) — A standard or pattern that is typical or expected; a required standard of behaviour.

  Working from home has become the new norm for many professionals worldwide.

  Watch out: Norm refers to what is standard or expected, not necessarily what is desirable or correct.

  Common pairings: social norms, cultural norms, become the norm, accepted norm

Mistakes to avoid

• Incorrect use of "target"

  Correct usage: "target" - an objective or result that one aims to achieve

  "Target" is a specific measurable goal. "Goal" is broader. "Objective" is a step toward a goal.

• Incorrect use of "accomplish"

  Correct usage: "accomplish" - to achieve or complete successfully

  "Accomplish" = achieve a goal. "Accomplishment" = the achievement itself.

• Incorrect use of "sum"

  Correct usage: "sum" - the total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers; an amount of money.

  Using 'sum' only in mathematics. In academic writing, it often refers to amounts of money.

Practise the words

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

1. International partners are essential for addressing global environmental challenges.
2. The company devotes significant resources to research and development activities.
3. Clean water is _______ for human survival.
4. The goal is to _______ poverty within the next decade.
5. Government spending has come under increasing _______ in recent years.

Answers: partner, devote, essential, eliminate, scrutiny

Speaking tip

Extend your answers naturally - don't just give one-word responses.