Introduction
Collocations are word combinations that naturally go together. Mastering them is a powerful way to raise your IELTS Writing score — especially for Band 7 and above.
Instead of memorizing single words, smart candidates learn phrases like:
- take action (not do action)
- heavy traffic (not big traffic)
- highly beneficial (not very good)
This list gives you 50+ high-frequency IELTS collocations, grouped by common Task 2 topics.
Education Collocations
- receive an education
- access to quality education
- compulsory schooling
- literacy rate
- academic performance
- educational outcomes
- school curriculum
- online learning platforms
- educational inequality
- life-long learning
Health Collocations
- public health system
- preventative care
- mental health support
- access to healthcare
- health insurance coverage
- healthy lifestyle choices
- rising obesity rates
- dietary habits
- physical exercise
- medical treatment
Environment Collocations
- climate change
- greenhouse gas emissions
- renewable energy sources
- carbon footprint
- global warming
- environmental protection
- endangered species
- natural resources
- waste management
- environmental awareness
Work & Economy Collocations
- job market
- unemployment rate
- workforce participation
- economic growth
- financial support
- working conditions
- minimum wage
- job satisfaction
- remote work opportunities
- cost of living
Technology Collocations
- digital devices
- online privacy
- technological advancement
- artificial intelligence
- internet access
- social media usage
- screen time
- data security
- cybersecurity threats
- information overload
Society & Culture Collocations
- ageing population
- gender equality
- cultural heritage
- traditional values
- youth crime
- social norms
- immigration policy
- income inequality
- freedom of expression
- government intervention
Opinion Collocations (General Use)
- it is widely believed that…
- from my perspective…
- play a key role in…
- there is growing concern about…
- take into consideration
- outweigh the disadvantages
- pose a threat to…
- contribute significantly to…
- offer a viable solution
- implement a policy
How to Use These Collocations
- Learn them in context, not isolation
- Practice rewriting your Task 2 essays using 5–7 new collocations per draft
- Use them in introduction, body topic sentences, and conclusions
Internal SEO Targets
- IELTS Vocabulary by Topic
- IELTS Grammar and Sentence Variety
- Writing Task 2 Essay Samples (with Collocations)
- IELTS Coherence and Cohesion Explained
- Band 7–8 Writing Upgrade Kit
IELTS 5 to 6 