available, exaggerate and 13 More IELTS Words on the Future of Transportation

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.

1. Economic policies must be designed to _______ long-term growth.
2. Researchers encountered several unexpected challenges.
3. The economic crisis precipitated widespread political unrest.
4. The research _______ included both qualitative and quantitative methods.
5. 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.