Mountain Climbing: 15 IELTS Words from Band 6 to Band 8

Fifteen words drawn from the theme of mountain climbing, 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.

• administrate (verb) — To manage or organize the affairs of a business, organization, or government

  The council is responsible for administrating local services.

  Watch out: "Administrate" and "administer" are similar but "administer" is more common. Related: "administration", "administrative".

  Common pairings: administrative tasks, administration costs, administrative staff, public administration

• assume (verb) — To accept something as true without proof; to take on a responsibility or role

  Many people assume that technology always leads to improved quality of life.

  Watch out: "Assume" means to suppose without evidence. "Presume" is similar but suggests more confidence. Do not confuse them.

  Common pairings: assume responsibility, wrongly assume, assume that, safely assume

• migration (noun) — Movement of people or animals from one place to another

  Economic migration from rural to urban areas continues to accelerate.

  Watch out: "Migration" = movement. "Immigration" = coming in. "Emigration" = leaving.

  Common pairings: migration patterns, mass migration, rural-urban migration, migration flows

• shift (noun) — A change in position, direction, or focus

  There has been a significant shift in public attitudes towards climate change.

  Watch out: "Shift" can be a noun or verb. As a noun, it also means a work period.

  Common pairings: shift in focus, significant shift, shift towards, shift away from

• valid (adjective) — Based on truth or reason; acceptable according to rules

  The study provides valid evidence to support the proposed theory.

  Watch out: "Valid" means acceptable or well-founded. "True" means factually correct. They differ slightly.

  Common pairings: valid point, valid argument, valid reason, remain valid

Band 7 words

Five words at band 7.

• emissions (noun) — Gases or substances released into the atmosphere, especially pollutants

  The country aims to reduce carbon emissions by 40% over the next decade.

  Watch out: Usually plural in environmental context. "Carbon emissions", "greenhouse gas emissions".

  Common pairings: carbon emissions, reduce emissions, emission standards, zero emissions

• adequate (adjective) — Enough for a particular purpose; acceptable in quality

  Many schools lack adequate resources to support all their students.

  Watch out: "Adequate" means just enough, not excellent. It has a neutral to slightly negative connotation.

  Common pairings: adequate resources, adequate funding, more than adequate, barely adequate

• surge (noun) — A sudden powerful forward movement; a sudden large increase

  There was a surge in online shopping during the pandemic.

  Watch out: "Surge" implies sudden, powerful increase. More dramatic than "rise" or "increase".

  Common pairings: surge in demand, price surge, sudden surge, surge in popularity

• orient (verb) — To position or direct something in a particular direction; to familiarise someone with a new situation.

  The training programme is designed to orient new employees to company procedures.

  Watch out: British English often uses 'orientate' instead of 'orient'. Both are acceptable but 'orient' is more common in American English.

  Common pairings: market-oriented, goal-oriented, orient towards, customer-oriented

curriculum (noun) — The subjects and content taught in a school or educational program

The national curriculum has been updated to include digital literacy skills.

Watch out: Singular: curriculum. Plural: curricula (formal) or curriculums (informal). Both accepted.

Common pairings: national curriculum, school curriculum, curriculum development, core curriculum

Band 8 words

Five words at band 8.

• exacerbate (verb) — To make a bad situation or problem even worse

  Climate change is likely to exacerbate existing inequalities between nations.

  Watch out: "Aggravate" can mean to annoy someone. "Exacerbate" is more formal and only means to make worse.

  Common pairings: exacerbate the problem, exacerbate tensions, exacerbate inequality, further exacerbate

• practitioner (noun) — A person actively engaged in an art, discipline, or profession.

  Medical practitioners must continually update their knowledge through professional development.

  Watch out: Practitioner refers to someone who practises professionally. Do not use for amateurs.

  Common pairings: medical practitioner, general practitioner, legal practitioner, healthcare practitioners

• revise (verb) — To examine and make corrections or alterations to written or printed matter; to reconsider and alter.

  Policies must be regularly revised to reflect changing social and economic conditions.

  Watch out: In British English, 'revise' also means to study for exams. In American English, use 'review'.

  Common pairings: revise policies, revise estimates, revise upwards, revise downwards

• extrapolate (verb) — To extend known information to estimate unknown situations

  Researchers extrapolated from the data to predict future trends.

  Watch out: "Extrapolate from" = extend beyond data. "Extrapolation" = the estimate.

  Common pairings: extrapolate from, extrapolate trends, extrapolation, extrapolated data

• collateral (adjective) — Additional but subordinate; secondary

  The policy had several collateral effects on the economy.

  Watch out: "Collateral" = secondary/accompanying. Also: security for loan (noun).

  Common pairings: collateral damage, collateral effects, collateral consequences, collateral benefits

Mistakes to avoid

• Incorrect use of "exacerbate"

  Correct usage: "exacerbate" - to make a bad situation or problem even worse

  "Aggravate" can mean to annoy someone. "Exacerbate" is more formal and only means to make worse.

• Incorrect use of "curriculum"

  Correct usage: "curriculum" - the subjects and content taught in a school or educational program

  Singular: curriculum. Plural: curricula (formal) or curriculums (informal). Both accepted.

• Incorrect use of "revise"

  Correct usage: "revise" - to examine and make corrections or alterations to written or printed matter; to reconsider and alter.

  In British English, 'revise' also means to study for exams. In American English, use 'review'.

Practise the words

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

1. Economic _______ from rural to urban areas continues to accelerate.
2. Climate change is likely to _______ existing inequalities between nations.
3. Many schools lack _______ resources to support all their students.
4. The policy had several _______ effects on the economy.
5. Researchers extrapolated from the data to predict future trends.

Answers: migration, exacerbate, adequate, collateral, extrapolate

Speaking tip

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