4000 IELTS Academic Words

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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:
cemetery   Pronounce
n. place or ground set apart for the burial of the dead; graveyard
A vehicle for conveying a coffin is to a church or cemetery.
Show examples and contexts   Close

ceremony   Pronounce
n. a formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom
This afternoon, a swearing ceremony is set for a man who will replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
Show examples and contexts   Close

challenge   Pronounce
v. assert a right; raise a formal objection; take exception to
Nowadays no one will challenge the fact that the earth is round.
Show examples and contexts   Close

champagne   Pronounce
n. light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France
Why don't we crack open a bottle of champagne to celebrate?
Show examples and contexts   Close

channel   Pronounce
n. passage for water or other fluids to flow through; bed of a stream or river; route of communication or access
You should take her request through the official channel, and there is no private room for her issue.
Show examples and contexts   Close

chapel   Pronounce
n. place of worship that is smaller than and subordinate to a church; service conducted in a chapel
Slightly smaller than the shrine, the chapel is also a domed structure cruciform in plan.
Show examples and contexts   Close

This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
7   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
adjust  Speak
Exercise
act of clearing; space cleared; permission to proceed or trust
Exercise
pillar; cylindrical or polygonal support for roof; anything resembling, in form or position; upright body or mass
Exercise
solid mass; covering with cement; hard, strong construction material consisting of sand, conglomerate, and gravel
Exercise
change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable
affect  Speak
Exercise
relation of direct opposition; very opposed in nature or character or purpose
Exercise
act of clearing; space cleared; permission to proceed or trust
Exercise
support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support
Exercise
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
anniversary  Speak
Exercise
invariable; repeating; continually occurring; persistent
Exercise
annual; yearly; annual return of the day on which any notable event took place
Exercise
support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support
Exercise
act of clearing; space cleared; permission to proceed or trust
bacon  Speak
Exercise
back and sides of a pig salted and smoked
Exercise
determined to do or have
Exercise
harass; tease; lure, entice, or entrap
Exercise
state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to, or open disrespect of
bear  Speak
Exercise
support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support
Exercise
do something that cannot be changed; cause to be admitted
Exercise
interest in any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety
Exercise
social or moral custom; formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates; agreement between states
bump  Speak
Exercise
impact as from a collision; lump on the body caused by a blow
Exercise
someone who pays to get goods or services
Exercise
wealth in the form of money or property; assets available for use; a city that is the official seat of government
Exercise
a ball of thread or cord; thread; something guides or directs anything of a doubtful or intricate nature
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
8   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
a. preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish


Spelling Word: absurd
Read [Esc]
n. act of putting a person into a non-elective position; arrangement


Spelling Word: appointment
Read [Esc]
a. arising from feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others


Spelling Word: arrogant
Read [Esc]
ad. just; only; hardly; scarcely


Spelling Word: barely
Read [Esc]
n. cellar; a part of a building that is below the level of the first floor


Spelling Word: basement
Read [Esc]
n. outer part or edge of anything, as of a garment, a garden; margin; verge; brink; boundary


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