The Future of Transportation: 15 IELTS Words from Band 6 to Band 8
Weekly vocabulary, week 47
Fifteen words drawn from the theme of the future of transportation, 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.
available (adjective) — Able to be used or obtained; present and ready to be used
The data is available for public access on the government website.
Watch out: Say "available to" for people (available to students) and "available for" for purposes (available for download).
Common pairings: readily available, widely available, available resources, make available
concept (noun) — An abstract idea or general notion; a principle or thought
The concept of sustainable development has gained widespread acceptance.
Watch out: "Concept" is an abstract idea. "Conception" is how you understand something. They are different.
Common pairings: key concept, basic concept, concept of, understand the concept
encounter (verb) — To unexpectedly meet or experience something
Researchers encountered several unexpected challenges.
Watch out: "Encounter" = meet/experience unexpectedly. Can be noun or verb.
Common pairings: encounter problems, encounter difficulties, encounter resistance, first encounter
design (noun) — A plan or drawing showing how something will be made; the art of planning appearance
The research design included both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Watch out: "Design" as noun is a plan. As verb, it means to create a plan. Both forms are common in academic writing.
Common pairings: research design, by design, design features, designed to
define (verb) — To state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of something
It is important to clearly define the key terms at the beginning of an essay.
Watch out: "Define" means to give exact meaning. "Describe" means to give details about. They have different purposes.
Common pairings: clearly define, define the terms, well-defined, as defined by
Band 7 words
Five words at band 7.
exaggerate (verb) — To describe something as larger or more important than it really is
Media reports sometimes exaggerate the dangers of new technologies.
Watch out: "Exaggerate" the risks/benefits. "Exaggeration" (noun), "exaggerated" (adjective).
Common pairings: exaggerate the importance, exaggerated claims, without exaggeration, tend to exaggerate
prohibit (verb) — To formally forbid something by law, rule, or authority; to prevent or make impossible.
Many countries have introduced legislation to prohibit smoking in public places.
Watch out: Using 'prohibit to do' instead of 'prohibit from doing'. Say 'prohibited from smoking' not 'prohibited to smoke'.
Common pairings: strictly prohibited, prohibit from, prohibited by law, prohibition of
compatible (adjective) — Able to exist or work together without conflict; able to be used together.
Economic growth must be compatible with environmental sustainability.
Watch out: Using 'compatible to' instead of 'compatible with'. Always say 'compatible with'.
Common pairings: compatible with, mutually compatible, fully compatible, compatible systems
excerpt (noun) — A short extract from a longer text, film, or piece of music
The article includes an excerpt from the author's new book.
Watch out: "Excerpt" = extract/passage. Can be noun or verb (to excerpt).
Common pairings: an excerpt from, short excerpt, following excerpt, excerpt below
sustain (verb) — To keep something going over a period of time; to support or maintain
Economic policies must be designed to sustain long-term growth.
Watch out: "Sustain" means to keep going over time. "Maintain" means to keep at the same level. Sustain implies effort.
Common pairings: sustain growth, sustain life, sustain interest, difficult to sustain
Band 8 words
Five words at band 8.
via (preposition) — By way of; through.
Information is increasingly shared via social media platforms rather than traditional news outlets.
Watch out: Via means through or by means of. It is more formal than 'through' in academic writing.
Common pairings: via email, via the internet, via social media, via telephone
unprecedented (adjective) — Never happened before; the first time ever
The pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to global supply chains.
Watch out: Say it correctly: "un-PRESS-ih-dent-ed", not "un-preh-SEE-dent-ed".
Common pairings: unprecedented growth, unprecedented levels, unprecedented challenge, unprecedented times
precipitate (verb) — To cause something to happen suddenly or prematurely
The economic crisis precipitated widespread political unrest.
Watch out: "Precipitate" (verb) = cause suddenly. "Precipitous" = steep/hasty.
Common pairings: precipitate a crisis, precipitated by, precipitating factor, precipitate change
portion (noun) — A part or share of a larger amount or whole.
A significant portion of the budget is allocated to healthcare services.
Watch out: Portion implies a divided part of a whole, often more formal than 'part'.
Common pairings: large portion, significant portion, small portion, portion of
transmit (verb) — To pass on from one person or place to another; to send or convey
Diseases can be transmitted through contaminated water supplies.
Watch out: "Transmit" is for signals, diseases, or information. "Transfer" is for moving things. They differ in use.
Common pairings: transmit information, transmit disease, transmitted through, transmission of
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect use of "available"
Correct usage: "available" - able to be used or obtained; present and ready to be used
Say "available to" for people (available to students) and "available for" for purposes (available for download).
Incorrect use of "design"
Correct usage: "design" - a plan or drawing showing how something will be made; the art of planning appearance
"Design" as noun is a plan. As verb, it means to create a plan. Both forms are common in academic writing.
Incorrect use of "excerpt"
Correct usage: "excerpt" - a short extract from a longer text, film, or piece of music
"Excerpt" = extract/passage. Can be noun or verb (to excerpt).
Practise the words
Fill each gap, then check yourself against the answers underneath.
- Economic policies must be designed to _______ long-term growth.
- Researchers encountered several unexpected challenges.
- The economic crisis precipitated widespread political unrest.
- The research _______ included both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Diseases can be transmitted through contaminated water supplies.
Answers: sustain, encounter, precipitate, design, transmit
Writing tip
Always write a clear topic sentence at the start of each paragraph.
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These words are from Week 47: The Future of Transportation of our vocabulary program. Subscribers get 15 new IELTS words every week with exercises, quizzes, and practice passages.