I've written about this many times before, but I still hear from many people who think that the way to get a higher score is by using big, difficult or 'original' words.
For example, a student commented recently that she had improved her English by learning the words ameliorate, juggernaut and katzenjammer. I can honestly say that I had never seen or heard the word 'katzenjammer' before. My dictionary says that it is an informal and old-fashioned word that was used in the US, which explains why I didn't know it. If you use a word like that in your IELTS essay, your writing will look very strange!
Please don't waste your time learning strange words. Instead, read through the writing lessons on this website, and try to copy the writing style that I use.
Hi Simon
Thank you for your advice about writing task.
I have a question: Some dictionary uses number after words. As higher number as usually word.
What is your opinion about this.
BR
Posted by: Bahman | March 05, 2017 at 11:00
They look like words used in SAT^^
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 05, 2017 at 11:44
Hi Simon
Thanks for your great website.
I took IELTS yesterday and my speaking part 2 question was
Describe an activity you enjoy that is expensive.
I talked about eating in expensive restaurants with my friends. And I explained in the begining that this activity can be very expensive. And I used some band 7+ vocabulary. Can I get high score as I think my answer was off topic.
Posted by: Zezee | March 05, 2017 at 13:52
Zeezee
There is no real 'off topic' in the speaking test, unless you talk about something that is completely irrelevant. Eating out in restaurants is clearly an activity, and it certainly can be expensive so there is no chance of you being penalised for this.
Posted by: sjm | March 06, 2017 at 03:40
Dear Sjm,
Thank you!!!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 06, 2017 at 04:23
Dear Sjm,
Thank you for your reassurance.
The thing that worried me is the examiner in the beginning of part 3 said let's talk about expensive things apart from food. So I felt I was off topic.
Posted by: Zezee | March 06, 2017 at 06:22
No, you weren't. The examiner just wanted to hear your vocabulary in other areas.
Posted by: sjm | March 07, 2017 at 01:30
Dear sjm,
Thanks a lot
Posted by: Zezee | March 07, 2017 at 03:05
Thank you for your tips. I really appreciate tips and tricks like this, it somehow give me more confidence to know what I am expected to use. Please keep up the good work.
Posted by: ViVi | March 07, 2017 at 15:32
Dear Mr. Simon
I really appreciate your efforts that made this site extremely helpful. some of my friends got higher bands using exclusively your material. I hope that you do not mind posting your advice and recommendations in some IELTS groups. Thank you. Asem
Posted by: asem | March 07, 2017 at 21:38