What is Lexical Resource in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+?

Examiners look at four main things:

• Range of vocabulary
  Do you use a variety of words and phrases, or repeat the same basic ones (good, bad, very, many, a lot) again and again?
• Precision
  Do your words express your meaning accurately (e.g. “traffic congestion” vs “many cars,” “obesity” vs “fat people problem”)?
• Collocation and naturalness
  Do your word combinations sound natural in English (e.g. “make a decision,” “heavy traffic,” “online learning platform”)?
• Spelling and word formation
  Do you spell words correctly and use the correct form (education / educate / educational; develop / development / developing)?

Lexical Resource is 25% of your Writing Task 2 score, so improving it can significantly raise your overall band.

Also read:

An Overview of IELTS Writing Task 2

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

What is Task Response in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+?

What is Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+?

What is Grammatical Range and Accuracy in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

What is Lexical Resource in IELTS Writing Task 1 and how to reach Band 7+

Range of vocabulary

Band 6: Mix of basic and some less common words; repetition is noticeable.

Band 7: Sufficient range to discuss the topic clearly with some flexibility.

Precision

Band 6: Words are generally correct but often general or vague.

Band 7: Vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate to the task.

Collocation & naturalness

Band 6: Some awkward or incorrect combinations; “translation feel”.

Band 7: Mostly natural word combinations; collocation errors do not impede meaning.

Synonym use

Band 6: Attempts synonyms, but sometimes inaccurate or unnatural.

Band 7: Uses variety without distorting meaning; synonyms are mostly accurate.

Spelling & word formation

Band 6: Some errors, but message is clear; may be noticeable across the essay.

Band 7: Occasional errors, but they do not reduce clarity or control.

Overall impression

Band 6: Vocabulary is enough to answer the question but limited and uneven.

Band 7: Vocabulary supports ideas well and makes the writing sound more fluent.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Question: “Technology in education – more benefits or more drawbacks?”

Band 6: “Technology has many good effects on education. First of all, it is very useful because students can get a lot of information from the internet for their homework. They can also use many different websites to study about different subjects, which is really helpful. Another good thing is that online classes are getting more and more popular, so students can study at home and don’t need to go to school every day.”

• Repetition of simple words: good, useful, a lot of, many, helpful.
• Phrases are understandable but basic: “get a lot of information,” “study about,” “good thing”.
• Some informal style: “really helpful,” “don’t need to go.”

Band 7: “Educational technology offers significant advantages for both students and teachers. To begin with, it allows learners to access a wide range of up-to-date information instantly, rather than relying only on textbooks that may be out of date. In addition, online learning platforms provide interactive exercises and videos that can clarify complex concepts more effectively than traditional lectures. As a result, many students find it easier to stay engaged and take greater responsibility for their own learning.”

• More precise vocabulary: “significant advantages,” “up-to-date information,” “interactive exercises,” “complex concepts,” “stay engaged.”
• Natural collocations: “access a wide range of…,” “clarify concepts,” “take responsibility for their own learning,”
• Variety of verbs and nouns; less repetition of simple words like good / bad / very.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Instead of basic, general words, choose more specific ones that fit the topic.

Example (Technology in education):

• Band 6: “Technology is very good and useful for students.”
• Band 7: “Educational technology can greatly enhance students’ access to learning materials.”

Aim for accurate topic phrases like:

• “online learning platforms”, “digital resources”, “interactive software”

You don’t need rare or extremely advanced words; you need exact and appropriate ones.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Avoid repeating the same simple word too often and strange or unnatural synonyms. Focus on natural variety:

Instead of always saying “good”:

• beneficial, advantageous, positive, valuable, effective

Instead of always saying “bad”:

• harmful, detrimental, negative, problematic, damaging

Instead of “a lot of”:

• many, numerous, a great deal of, a large number of

But be careful: if you are not sure a synonym is natural, use a simpler, correct word.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Collocations are word combinations that native speakers commonly use. Using them correctly shows higher Lexical Resource.

Examples:

• make progress, gain experience, pose a risk, take responsibility
• heavy traffic, strong argument, serious problem, high demand
• access information, improve productivity, reduce pollution

Compare:

• Band 6: “This causes many problems for people.”
• Band 7: “This can cause serious problems for people’s mental and physical health.”

The second uses a stronger, more natural combination.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Collocation Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Band 7+ is about control, not just “fancy” words. Overusing memorised expressions or strange vocabulary lowers your score.

Try to avoid:

• Overly academic clichés: “It is a universally acknowledged fact that…,” “In the modern era of globalization…”
• Random complex words that don’t quite fit the sentence.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Collocation Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Frequent spelling and word-form mistakes can hold you at Band 6.

Common issues:

• “enviroment” (environment), “definately” (definitely), “goverment” (government)
• Wrong forms: “many traffic”, “many advices”, “a lot of informations”

Practise writing common IELTS topic words correctly and learn their different forms:

• employ, employee, employer, employment, unemployment
• pollute, pollution, polluted, pollutant
• educate, education, educational, educated

Writing the right form at the right time is a clear sign of stronger Lexical Resource.

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Spelling Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Before writing

• Do I know 8–15 useful topic words/collocations for this question?
• Can I express my main ideas without repeating very basic words (good, bad, very, a lot)?
• Do I have safer, natural alternatives ready (e.g. beneficial, harmful, significant, numerous)?

While writing

• Am I avoiding overusing the same simple words (good/bad/important/problem) in each paragraph?
• Am I using natural collocations (e.g. heavy traffic, pose a risk, take responsibility, academic performance)?
• Am I choosing clear, precise words instead of vague ones (e.g. “environmental damage” instead of “nature problems”)?
• Does my vocabulary match an academic essay style (no slang or very informal phrases)?

After writing

• Have I repeated any basic words too many times that I could upgrade (good → beneficial/positive, a lot → many/numerous)?
• Are there any “strange” or forced advanced words that I’m not 100% sure are natural? (If yes, simplify them.)
• Are spelling and word forms correct for common IELTS words (environment, government, development, education, technology)?
• Did I avoid repeating the exact same phrases in the introduction, body, and conclusion?

Also read:

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Reaching Band 7+ in Lexical Resource is not about memorising long word lists or forcing advanced vocabulary into every sentence. Instead, it comes from using a wide but relevant range of topic vocabulary, natural collocations, and precise word choices, while keeping spelling and word forms under control. By building strong topic-based word banks, upgrading your most common “basic” words, and regularly rewriting Band 6-style sentences into Band 7 versions, you can steadily transform your writing into clearer, more accurate English that meets the examiner’s expectations for higher bands.

An Introduction to IELTS Academic Test

Everything You Need to Know about IELTS Academic Writing Test

An Overview of IELTS Writing Task 2

How IELTS Writing Task 2 is Assessed

What is Task Response in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+

Typical Task Response Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

How to Generate Ideas for 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types with WH- Questions

How to Stay on Topic in IELTS Writing Task 2

How to Develop Your Position in IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Thesis Statements for IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays

What is Coherence and Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+

Typical Coherence and Cohesion Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Upgrading Coherence in IELTS Writing Task 2

How to Apply 5 Introduction Approaches to 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

Paraphrasing in IELTS Writing Task 2 for Introduction

Practical Topic Sentence Writing Skills for Better Coherence in IELTS Writing Task 2

Practical Body Paragraph Writing Skills for Better Coherence in IELTS Writing Task 2

How to Apply 5 Conclusion Approaches to 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

Summarizing IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay in Conclusion

Upgrading Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Mastering Linking Words for Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Mastering Reference Words for Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Mastering Substitution for Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Mastering Ellipsis for Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Mastering Lexical Cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2

Typical Lexical Resource Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Collocation Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Spelling Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

Paraphrasing Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 2

What is Grammatical Range and Accuracy in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to reach Band 7+

Typical Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pitfalls in IELTS Writing Task 2

Common Sentence Structure Problems and How to Fix Them for IELTS Writing Task 2

Common Grammar Problems and How to Fix Them for IELTS Writing Task 2

Common Punctuation Problems and How to Fix Them for IELTS Writing Task 2

An Introduction to the 5 Question Types in IELTS Writing Task 2

An Introduction to 14 Common Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2

General Test Skills for IELTS Writing Task 2

Time Management Skills for IELTS Writing Task 2

Proofreading Skills for IELTS Writing Task 2

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2

An Overview of IELTS Writing Task 1

How IELTS Writing Task 1 is Assessed

What is Lexical Resource in IELTS Writing Task 1 and how to reach Band 7+