4000 IELTS Academic Words

Stories of USA Today
Materials for Reading & Listening Practice
Want to know your IELTS vocabulary level? Try the Test Page. You can also Report My Test to us; Our tutors may view your testing and give you a suggestion. It is a FREE service.
Vocabulary Study Online by Level
Vocabulary Study Online
Vocabulary Study Online By Level (VSOBL) is a Fast, Reliable, and Handy tool to prepare English exam vocabulary. (Available for all VIP accounts: US$2/Month). It has built-in word lists: 6000 IELTS words, 6000 TOEFL words, 5000 GRE words, and 3000 SAT words. You can load them by level with one click.
 Contents and Actions
 New IELTS Vocabulary
grace   ContextMore...   Speak
v. do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one's presence
blockbuster   ContextMore...   Speak
n. a thing of great power or size, in particular a movie or book that is a great commercial success
modest   ContextMore...   Speak
a. unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements
undeterred   ContextMore...   Speak
a. persevering with something despite setbacks
persist   ContextMore...   Speak
v. continue to exist; be prolonged in spite of difficulty
address   ContextMore...   Speak
v. speak to (a person or an assembly), typically in a formal way
theme   ContextMore...   Speak
n. the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts
resilience   ContextMore...   Speak
n. the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties
solace   ContextMore...   Speak
n. comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness
cherish   ContextMore...   Speak
v. protect and care for (someone) lovingly
 4000 IELTS Academic Words
1   Overview:
IELTS academic test is widely accepted in English countries. Its score is one of the keys to university or college admission. This 4000 IELTS vocabulary is to help you own a strong words list in the IELTS academic test.

In all English tests, vocabulary level is an essential factor in evaluating language ability; IELTS has no exception. All test sections rely on strong vocabulary to succeed. However, IELTS academic word list isn't a fixed or constant word set. If you search on the Internet, you can see many vocabularies called IELTS academic vocabularies.

So the first step is to choose an IELTS vocabulary for your circumstance: Does this 4000 IELTS Vocabulary Words meet your case? We divide the words into 3 levels; each level consists of 4 groups. If you are interested in the words of all groups (1-12), watch them here.



If you think it matches your case, you can start to work on it. It's long but deserves to spend time. Besides, we remind you this list is based on IELTS general vocabulary. As academic test-takers, IELTS general vocabulary is the foundation, which you shouldn't ignore.

Last but not least, you should know that building vocabulary takes lots of time, and its result plays a crucial factor in the final score. We hope this word list can assist you in building IELTS academic vocabulary. If you cannot set your goal or doubt your plan, go to the IELTS Official Website, which will help you make a right decision.

2   Alternative Solutions:
If you doubt whether this 4000 IELTS Academic Vocabulary is the right option, this section gives you some alternative methods and vocabularies.

Alternative Methods
Study a word list isn't a unique way to enrich IELTS vocabulary, and this 4000 vocabulary isn't the only list either. If you have half or one year to prepare, there are some other options to accumulate IELTS vocabulary. 20 Ways to Build IELTS Vocabulary introduces some proven ways.

You may learn new words in TV, news, ads, and daily readings that IELTS exam materials likely come from. Every word has own frequency in specified circumstance. IELTS test has own convention to select materials too, for example, many recent academic reading objects are originated from Economist or BBC.

Alternative Vocabularies - Writing and Speaking
However, if your time frame is very tight, or this 4000 vocabulary is relatively tough, you have to get a more flexible and practical substitute to work. Pick up a dictionary by random to prepare IELTS test isn't a good idea. Your effort and reward both depend on your current level.

For those who want to sharpen IELTS writing vocabulary, this 4000 words list seems large. Instead, IELTS Writing Task Vocabulary collects a short but hard writing vocabulary.

If speaking test is your shortage, enhance speaking vocabulary from 100 IELTS Speaking Words will strengthen your confidence to face examiners.

Alternative Vocabularies - Other Wordlists
Students with separate levels or situations may choose differently. Some like a shortlist because time matters; others prefer to learn difficult and large vocabulary in order to pursue a high score. We do know this 4000 IELTS vocabulary cannot cover all test takers' cases, for those who are looking for lighter or smaller lists, 10 Popular IELTS Vocabularies may give some clues.

Two of them possibly you are interested.

If your schedule is very tight, or you just need a passed score, suggest to view 500 IELTS Vocabulary, a short but proven academic vocabulary for students who are in English countries.

The 6000 IELTS Vocabulary Words actually consists of 2000+ words that are not in the 4000 IELTS Academic Words, low frequency but useful, an excellent supplement after your finishing the first 4000 words.

3   Words' PDF List and Cards:
IELTS Vocabulary PDF List
Some students like using PDF lists to learn and review words. We do offer a handy feature to make a PDF word list of each group. Below are demos of Level 1's first group, including 9 non-English explanations.If you have a VIP account, you can print all groups' word list from the website; the details are in:

IELTS Vocabulary Cards
Cards are useful tools for some students to study new words. We offer two buttons to make one-side and two-side flashcards for each group. Below are one-side cards for Level 1's first group, including 9 non-English explanations.If you have a VIP account, you can print all groups' cards, either one-side or two-side, from the website; the details are in:

DIY - PDF of IELTS vocabulary
May I DIY PDF file of the 4000 IELTS words? Yes, you can run Print Vocabulary in PDF directly. This app can load all vocabularies of this website, please select '4000 IELTS Academic Words', filter and edit words, and create PDF by browsers. It's a free and handy tool to make your IELTS vocabulary PDF file.

If you need more flexible solutions, please go to Download IELTS Vocabulary PDF. In addition to print the whole group, it tells you how to leverage other free Internet PDF tools to produce a PDF file based on this IELTS vocabulary in a few minutes.

4   Manage Word Status:
To speed up your studying, you can manage words by marking them as New, Known, and Review status. There are two ways: Note page or Panel page to manage words' statuses. You can also save statuses to the cloud and sync back if your device has trouble or want to switch to other devices.

Word status works for all vocabularies on the website, including 4000 IELTS Academic Words. It is a handy flag to skip known words and focus on new and half-familiar words.

By Note
Manage IELTS Word by Note


By Panel
Manage IELTS Word by Panel


5   View all words by groups:        
Go to Word List by Group:
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 

Select Vocabulary Group:
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 

Words of Group 1: (Part of words, select list to view all.)
abandon
abort
abortion
absurd
abuse
academic
academy
access
account
accountant
accurate
accuse
accused
acid
acknowledge
address
adjust
administration
adopt
adore
adult
affect
affection
afford
agency
agenda
aggressive
agreement
aid
air
aisle
alarm
album
alien
alliance
ally
...
6   Demonstrate word list style:
beam   Pronounce
n. ray of light; a long piece of metal or wood; long piece fixed or movable in structure, machine, or tool
During a severe earthquake, each beam will absorb the shock by crumpling, thereby preventing severe damage to the tower.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bearing   Pronounce
n. carrying another part; patient endurance; suffering without complaint; the act of producing or giving birth
The U.S. Mint is set to unveil a new $1 coin bearing President Abraham Lincoln's image.
Show examples and contexts   Close

beaten   Pronounce
a. formed or made thin by hammering; totally worn-out; exhausted
Finally we saw a village located well off the beaten path.
Show examples and contexts   Close

behave   Pronounce
v. perform; conduct oneself in a proper way
How we behave is up to us, ” but Nikolai believes that one's particular circumstances predetermine everything.
Show examples and contexts   Close

beloved   Pronounce
a. greatly loved; dear to the heart
But if I go on until my beloved is my bride, and she has taken up my fate, and we are one, and the world knows no difference, what then?
Show examples and contexts   Close

benefit   Pronounce
n. advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being; welfare; gain
Another benefit for business is the elimination of currency risk in the Euro area: the possibility that you might lose money in cross-border trade.
Show examples and contexts   Close

This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
7   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
address  Speak
Exercise
make a formal speech to; deal with or discuss; direct efforts or attention of
Exercise
express an opinion; remark
Exercise
noisy, blustering fellow; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; insolent, tyrannical fellow
Exercise
fight; struggle; incompatibility of dates or events
agency  Speak
Exercise
separately, regarding space or company; in a state of separation as to place; aside
Exercise
a burning piece of wood; mark made by burning with a hot iron; distinctive mark upon in any way
Exercise
a business that serves other businesses; an administrative unit of government
Exercise
something formed in mind; thought or notion
apart  Speak
Exercise
separately, regarding space or company; in a state of separation as to place; aside
Exercise
a counter where you can obtain food or drink; cafe; strip; stick
Exercise
harsh or corrosive in tone; painful; acrid; acrimonious
Exercise
exert; put into service; avail oneself to
apply  Speak
Exercise
a ball of thread or cord; thread; something guides or directs anything of a doubtful or intricate nature
Exercise
express an opinion; remark
Exercise
exert; put into service; avail oneself to
Exercise
someone who pays to get goods or services
attitude  Speak
Exercise
electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
Exercise
posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue
Exercise
small shop within a large department store or supermarket
Exercise
knowing; having knowledge or cognizance
aware  Speak
Exercise
knowing; having knowledge or cognizance
Exercise
separately, regarding space or company; in a state of separation as to place; aside
Exercise
make a formal speech to; deal with or discuss; direct efforts or attention of
Exercise
praise; commendation; say something to someone that expresses praise
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
8   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
v. blame; say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind


Spelling Word: accuse
Read [Esc]
v. be broadcast on television or radio


Spelling Word: air
Read [Esc]
v. astonish; affect with wonder


Spelling Word: amaze
Read [Esc]
n. agreement between parties concerning the sale of property


Spelling Word: bargain
Read [Esc]
n. vessel; large cylindrical container


Spelling Word: barrel
Read [Esc]
v. perform; conduct oneself in a proper way


Spelling Word: behave
This is 6 words spelling. Try spelling exercises of the list