Mastering the 7 Types of Collocations for IELTS

Collocations are not random. They follow certain patterns, which are usually grouped into seven main types: adverb + adjective, adjective + noun, noun + noun, noun + verb, verb + noun, verb + preposition/expression, and verb + adverb. Understanding these categories is crucial for learners preparing for IELTS because they allow students to expand their vocabulary in a structured way.

1. Adverb + Adjective
Examples: deeply concerned, highly successful, completely wrong. These collocations often intensify meaning. In IELTS Writing Task 2, a candidate might write, “The government is deeply concerned about climate change.” This sounds far more advanced than “The government is very worried about climate change.”

2. Adjective + Noun
Examples: serious problem, global issue, significant improvement. In speaking, instead of saying “There is a big problem in education,” a candidate could say, “There is a serious problem in the education system regarding equal access.”

3. Noun + Noun
Examples: language barrier, climate change, job market. In IELTS Speaking Part 3, a student might say, “Many graduates face difficulties entering the job market.”

4. Noun + Verb
Examples: prices rise, unemployment increases, technology advances. These are useful in Writing Task 1 essays where data description is required. For example, “The unemployment rate rose significantly in 2020.”

5. Verb + Noun
Examples: make progress, conduct research, gain knowledge. Students can apply these in academic topics: “Scientists conduct research to find solutions to global health issues.”

6. Verb + Preposition/Expression
Examples: depend on, focus on, participate in. A strong speaking response might include: “Success in education depends on both teachers and students working together.”

7. Verb + Adverb
Examples: recover quickly, speak fluently, whisper softly. In Speaking Part 2, a candidate might say, “I had to give a presentation, and I tried to speak fluently to impress the audience.”

Mastering these seven types of collocations ensures a balanced vocabulary. Students will not only know advanced words but also how to combine them correctly. The difference between high and low band scores often lies in this accuracy. According to Schmitt (2010), knowledge of collocations is one of the strongest predictors of language proficiency.

Practical learning strategies include noticing collocations in academic articles or news reports, practicing with flashcards, and completing gap-fill exercises. Teachers often encourage students to create “collocation trees,” where one key word is linked with its common partners. For instance, the word decision can lead to make a decision, reach a decision, final decision.

In IELTS, using these seven collocation types in both writing and speaking will demonstrate lexical variety, help avoid repetition, and create more natural answers. Candidates who practice them regularly are likely to perform at a higher level and meet the criteria for Band 7 or higher.

References

• Schmitt, N. (2010). Researching vocabulary: A vocabulary research manual. Palgrave Macmillan.

• Cambridge University Press. (2023). The impact of collocational proficiency features on expert ratings of L2 English learners’ writing. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 45(3), 612–637. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263122000031