IELTS Writing- Lexical Resource
Lexical Resource is one of the other four criteria for IELTS writing which comprises of another 25% of your writing band score. This criterion measures the candidate’s ability to use a wide range of vocabulary in their writing. Lexical Resource in other word refers to vocabulary and students are highly recommended that they use uncommon words to express their ideas. Again, using uncommon words will not be enough as long as you are not able to use it appropriately and correctly. The ability to use a wide range of vocabulary correctly simply refers to using it without errors and using words appropriately refers to using the words in a proper context.
What do examiners look for?
In terms of Lexical Resource, the examiners look for various aspects of vocabulary which includes clear communication, accurate spelling, accurate tone, accurate collocations and topic-specific vocabulary.
Clear communication simply means communicating your ideas clearly so that your examiner will be easily able to understand your writing.
The frequency of the spelling mistakes you make in your writing will also be monitored by your examiner which is why you should make sure that you use accurate spelling.
It is equally important that you consider the tone, formal or informal tone when writing. For instance, the Writing Task 2 requires you to use more formal vocabulary.
Usage of collocations is very common in writing however, it is important that you use accurate collocations.
Examiners are also checking if you have used a range of topic-specific vocabulary which simply refers to particular words that are only used to talk about a particular topic.
How to improve your vocabulary for IELTS writing?
There are endless ways you can improve your vocabulary however, the best way to improve is learning vocabulary every day. What is important to understand is that you cannot build your vocabulary overnight but, it is a progress that requires constant effort and time. And of course, building up your vocabulary simply doesn’t mean having a vocabulary diary with lists of all the new words that you learn but, it means learning new words and being able to actively use these words in your speaking and writing ensuring it fits in the context.
Active reading is another way to improve and students are highly recommended that they spend some time reading each day to learn new words and how the words are used in the contexts. Read about a variety of topics which will indeed help you learn topic specific words.
As the band descriptor clearly mentions students’ ability to use a wide range of vocabulary, students are also recommended that they avoid repetition of words. Using synonyms can turn out to be really helpful.
A lot of times students copy words directly from the task and it is advised that students rather paraphrase and rewrite the sentences than copying it.
Additionally, when paraphrasing you should understand that you cannot paraphrase every word henceforth, you should be extra careful when choosing synonyms because sometimes the word might not be able to express the same meaning in the sentence.
A tip is that you maintain a vocabulary diary where you note down the new words that you learn every time. When noting down words, it is important to remember that a word can have several meanings henceforth; students are suggested that they understand the different meanings of the words, look at collocations, pronunciation and example sentences. Recording group of words or phrases can be often helpful than just recording an individual word. Finally, reviewing these words is also one of the essential steps before we forget these words.
Remember! Practice is the key!
