Learning Outcomes
By completing this article, you will be able to reliably identify Academic Word List (AWL) vocabulary in IELTS reading passages, recognise how academic collocations function in context, and apply practical techniques for learning and using AWL items and typical collocation structures. You will strengthen your ability to answer IELTS reading questions involving paraphrasing, word formation, and precise academic vocabulary.
IELTS Academic, General & UKVI Syllabus
For IELTS, you are expected to use and understand a range of academic vocabulary common across subject areas. To revise this article, focus on the following syllabus points:
- Recognise and interpret Academic Word List vocabulary in IELTS reading texts.
- Understand how academic collocations are structured and why they are important for meaning.
- Apply strategies to deduce the meanings of unfamiliar academic words using context and word parts.
- Use AWL items accurately and select suitable collocations in your own writing and speaking.
- Distinguish common paraphrase patterns using AWL synonyms and collocations in IELTS question types.
Test Your Knowledge
Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.
- What is the Academic Word List, and why is it important for IELTS reading?
- Give one example of a typical academic collocation and explain why using the full collocation is important for meaning.
- When faced with an unfamiliar academic word in a reading passage, which strategies can help you deduce its meaning?
Introduction
Reading passages in IELTS Academic and General Training modules are designed to test your understanding of academic vocabulary used across a wide range of subjects. This vocabulary is not only topic-specific, but also includes words and collocations common to scientific, educational, business, and social topics. The Academic Word List (AWL) is a widely-accepted list that highlights this high-utility vocabulary for learners preparing for academic contexts such as the IELTS exam.
Key Term: Academic Word List (AWL)
A set of word families that occur frequently in academic English texts, but are less common in everyday spoken or informal language.
Recognising the meaning and usage of AWL vocabulary is essential for successful comprehension, paraphrasing, and precise communication in IELTS reading, writing, and even listening or speaking tasks. Equally important is understanding academic collocations—frequent word pairings or groupings which often have a fixed or preferred structure in academic English.
Key Term: Collocation
A combination of words that commonly occur together in English and form natural, predictable patterns, such as “significant increase” or “conduct research.”
The Role of the Academic Word List in IELTS
The Academic Word List was created after analysing thousands of academic texts and identifying words that appear across many subjects. Examples include “analysis,” “consist,” “function,” or “notion.” Many IELTS reading questions, especially gap-fill and summary completion tasks, use paraphrasing based on these AWL items.
You are expected to:
- Recognise AWL words even when paraphrased or modified.
- Understand their typical grammatical forms (noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
- Predict likely collocations to help you guess meanings and answer questions quickly.
Academic Collocations in Reading
Academic collocations are essential for fluent, natural-sounding English, but also directly affect comprehension. Recognising collocations helps you:
- Deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words (e.g., “substantial evidence” = “a large amount of proof”).
- Understand the writer’s viewpoint or the degree of certainty.
- Avoid confusion from literal or inappropriate translations.
Many listening, speaking, and especially reading questions paraphrase collocations to test your understanding. For example, “ongoing investigation” in the passage may appear as “current research” in the question.
Strategies for Learning and Using Academic Vocabulary
Learning AWL words and their collocations takes repeated exposure. Apply these methods:
- Keep a vocabulary notebook divided into sections for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and common collocations.
- Practise guessing meanings from context using word roots, prefixes, and suffixes (e.g., “reassessment”—where “re-” shows repetition).
- Memorise typical collocations as full units, not single words (“make a contribution,” “reach a conclusion,” “undertake a study”).
- Use AWL-focused gap-fill and paraphrase exercises to consolidate both meaning and usage.
Key Term: Word Family
A group of related words with a common base form, including different endings (e.g., “analyse,” “analysis,” “analysed,” “analyst”).Key Term: Paraphrase
Expressing the same idea using different words or structures, commonly used in IELTS questions to check true understanding of vocabulary and collocations.
Using Context and Word Parts to Understand AWL Items
When you encounter a new academic word in the reading paper, look at:
- The context: What is the sentence about?
- Word formation: Are there any suffixes or prefixes (“-ance,” “in-,” “-ment”)?
- Nearby collocations: Does the surrounding phrase suggest a meaning (“reasonably accurate measurement”)?
If you see “the data was subsequently verified,” and you know that “verify” means “to check,” then “verified” likely means “checked.” The adverb “subsequently” signals “afterwards.”
Academic Collocation Types
Several common patterns occur in academic English:
- Adjective + noun: “significant improvement,” “potential danger”
- Verb + noun: “draw a conclusion,” “address an issue”
- Noun + of + noun: “level of accuracy,” “source of information”
Learning and using these full patterns will boost both your recognition in reading and your own performance in writing.
Worked Example 1.1
Read the text and answer the question below:
Most universities around the world require applicants to demonstrate a sufficient level of academic English before admission. One means of assessment is the IELTS examination, which evaluates test-takers’ ability to use a broad academic vocabulary and to arrange ideas using common academic collocations. For instance, candidates are expected to summarise texts, interpret data, and justify their conclusions using suitable phrases.
Question:
What are two key academic skills mentioned in the passage above, and which academic collocations signal their function?
Answer:
The skills are “summarising texts” (“summarise texts”) and “justifying conclusions” (“justify their conclusions”). The collocations “summarise texts” and “justify their conclusions” signal the expected academic vocabulary and phrasing.
Worked Example 1.2
Below is an exam-style summary completion question.
The company issued a report describing the results of its most recent customer survey. Among the most 1 findings was that overall satisfaction had increased substantially. In addition, the report called for 2 changes to current procedures, recommending a more systematic approach.
Question:
Fill the gaps with appropriate academic collocations from the AWL.
Answer:
- significant
- fundamental
So the completed collocations are “significant findings” and “fundamental changes.”
Exam Warning
Many IELTS candidates score lower for missing key collocation words in their answers. Writing only a single word when the question requires a full phrase (e.g., “conduct research” instead of just “research”) can cost marks. Always write the full collocation if it is required in the answer space.
Revision Tip
When reading a new AWL word, always check which words appear before or after it in authentic academic texts. This helps you memorise and use the full collocation instead of isolated vocabulary.
Summary
The Academic Word List and academic collocations form the core of IELTS reading, writing, and listening vocabulary. Success depends on recognising, understanding, and accurately using this vocabulary in context, especially when it appears in paraphrased form with new word endings or as part of a common collocation.
Key Point Checklist
This article has covered the following key knowledge points:
- Explain the importance of the Academic Word List (AWL) in IELTS reading.
- Identify and understand academic collocations in context.
- Use strategies for deducing unfamiliar AWL word meanings and grammatical forms.
- Practise and memorise AWL items together with their typical collocations, not as isolated words.
- Recognise paraphrases and modify your understanding based on context, endings, and collocation patterns.
- Avoid omitting collocation partners or misusing AWL words in responses.
Key Terms and Concepts
- Academic Word List (AWL)
- Collocation
- Word Family
- Paraphrase