IELTS Vocabulary for Band 7+: 100 Words With Examples

Lexical Resource is one of four criteria examiners score in both Writing and Speaking, and it's worth 25% of each. What separates a Band 7 vocabulary from a Band 6 one usually isn't rarer words — it's precision: using the right word for the exact meaning intended, and varying vocabulary naturally instead of repeating the same three adjectives across an entire essay.

Below are 100 words organized by the function they serve, since that's how you'll actually need to retrieve them in the exam — not as a random list, but as tools for a specific job: stating an opinion, comparing two things, explaining a cause, and so on.

Stating and Supporting an Opinion (12 words)

• Contend (verb) — to argue a position firmly. *Many economists contend that automation will ultimately create more jobs than it destroys.*
• Assert (verb) — to state something confidently as true. *The report asserts that remote work improves employee wellbeing.*
• Maintain (verb) — to continue to hold an opinion, especially against disagreement. *Critics maintain that the policy will disproportionately affect low-income families.*
• Advocate (verb/noun) — to publicly support a cause. *She has long advocated for stricter environmental regulations.*
• Skeptical (adjective) — doubtful about a claim. *Many scientists remain skeptical of the study's methodology.*
• Plausible (adjective) — reasonably believable. *It seems plausible that remote work will remain common after the pandemic.*
• Compelling (adjective) — convincing. *The evidence for climate change is compelling.*
• Unsubstantiated (adjective) — not supported by evidence. *The claim remains largely unsubstantiated.*
• Undeniable (adjective) — impossible to argue against. *It is undeniable that technology has transformed education.*
• Contentious (adjective) — likely to cause disagreement. *Immigration policy remains a contentious issue in many countries.*
• Warrant (verb) — to justify or deserve. *The risks involved warrant further investigation.*
• Substantiate (verb) — to provide evidence for a claim. *The findings substantiate earlier concerns about air quality.*

Comparison and Contrast (12 words)

• Conversely (adverb) — introducing an opposite point. *City dwellers value convenience; conversely, rural residents often prioritize space.*
• Whereas (conjunction) — used to contrast two facts. *Older generations tend to save more, whereas younger people often prioritize experiences.*
• In contrast to (phrase) — highlighting a difference. *In contrast to public transport, private car ownership has continued to rise.*
• Analogous (adjective) — comparable in a relevant way. *The situation is analogous to what happened in the 1990s housing market.*
• Disparity (noun) — a significant difference. *The disparity in income between the two regions has widened.*
• Nuanced (adjective) — involving subtle distinctions. *A more nuanced view accounts for exceptions to the general trend.*
• Comparable (adjective) — similar enough to be compared. *The two countries have comparable populations but very different economies.*
• Divergent (adjective) — developing in different directions. *The two policies have had divergent outcomes.*
• Whilst (conjunction) — formal alternative to "while," for contrast. *Whilst some benefits are clear, others remain speculative.*
• On the other hand (phrase) — introducing a contrasting point. *On the other hand, smaller companies often adapt more quickly.*
• Distinct (adjective) — clearly different. *The two approaches are distinct in both cost and outcome.*
• Correspondingly (adverb) — in a way that matches something else. *Demand rose, and prices increased correspondingly.*

Cause and Effect (12 words)

• Stem from (phrasal verb) — to originate from. *Much of the disparity stems from unequal access to education.*
• Give rise to (phrase) — to cause something to happen. *Rapid urbanization has given rise to significant housing shortages.*
• Precipitate (verb) — to cause something to happen suddenly. *The policy change precipitated a wave of business closures.*
• Attributable to (phrase) — able to be explained by. *The decline is largely attributable to reduced government funding.*
• Consequently (adverb) — as a result. *Fuel prices rose; consequently, transport costs increased across the economy.*
• Underlying (adjective) — the fundamental, less visible cause. *The underlying cause is a shortage of affordable housing, not laziness.*
• Exacerbate (verb) — to make a problem worse. *Poor planning has exacerbated the region's traffic congestion.*
• Mitigate (verb) — to reduce the severity of a problem. *Better insulation can mitigate rising heating costs.*
• Correlate with (verb) — to be statistically connected. *Higher education levels correlate with higher lifetime earnings.*
• Trigger (verb) — to cause an immediate reaction. *The announcement triggered a sharp rise in applications.*
• Byproduct (noun) — an unintended secondary result. *Increased screen time is often a byproduct of remote work.*
• Root cause (phrase) — the fundamental origin of a problem. *Addressing the root cause is more effective than treating symptoms.*

Problem and Solution (12 words)

• Alleviate (verb) — to make a problem less severe. *Additional funding could alleviate pressure on the healthcare system.*
• Address (verb) — to deal with a problem directly. *The plan fails to address the underlying causes of congestion.*
• Viable (adjective) — practical and workable. *Public transport offers a viable alternative to private cars.*
• Implement (verb) — to put a plan into action. *The city implemented a congestion charge in 2003.*
• Feasible (adjective) — able to be done realistically. *A four-day work week may not be feasible for every industry.*
• Curb (verb) — to restrict or control something. *New regulations aim to curb excessive water usage.*
• Tackle (verb) — to deal with a difficult problem. *Governments must tackle inequality alongside economic growth.*
• Countermeasure (noun) — an action taken to reduce a problem's impact. *Flood countermeasures include improved drainage and higher river barriers.*
• Remedy (noun/verb) — a solution to a problem. *There is no simple remedy for an aging population.*
• Overhaul (verb/noun) — to reform something completely. *The education system is in need of a complete overhaul.*
• Deter (verb) — to discourage an action. *Higher fines are intended to deter illegal dumping.*
• Long-term / short-term (adjectives) — describing timescale of an effect. *Short-term subsidies rarely solve long-term structural problems.*

Describing Trends and Data (12 words)

• Surge (verb/noun) — a sudden, large increase. *Demand for electric vehicles has surged in recent years.*
• Plummet (verb) — to fall sharply. *House prices plummeted during the financial crisis.*
• Fluctuate (verb) — to vary irregularly. *Oil prices fluctuate in response to global events.*
• Plateau (verb/noun) — to level off after a period of change. *Growth plateaued after an initial period of rapid expansion.*
• Steadily (adverb) — gradually and consistently. *The population has grown steadily over the past decade.*
• Marginal (adjective) — very small. *The improvement was marginal compared with previous years.*
• Substantial (adjective) — considerable in size. *There has been a substantial increase in university enrolment.*
• Overtake (verb) — to become greater than something else. *Renewable energy production is expected to overtake fossil fuels by 2035.*
• Peak (verb/noun) — the highest point. *Demand typically peaks during the winter months.*
• Level off (phrasal verb) — to stop increasing or decreasing. *Sales grew rapidly before levelling off in the final quarter.*
• Dip (verb/noun) — a temporary decrease. *There was a brief dip in attendance before numbers recovered.*
• Proportion (noun) — a share of a whole. *A growing proportion of the workforce is now self-employed.*

Academic and Formal Register (12 words)

• Predominantly (adverb) — mainly or mostly. *The workforce is predominantly employed in the service sector.*
• Arguably (adverb) — used to soften a strong claim. *This is arguably the most significant policy change in a decade.*
• Notably (adverb) — used to highlight a specific point. *Several countries, notably Sweden and Denmark, have adopted this model.*
• Inevitably (adverb) — unavoidably. *Rapid growth inevitably brings new infrastructure challenges.*
• Prevalent (adjective) — widespread. *This attitude remains prevalent, particularly among older generations.*
• Sustainable (adjective) — able to continue over the long term. *Sustainable development balances growth with environmental protection.*
• Detrimental (adjective) — harmful. *Excessive screen time can be detrimental to sleep quality.*
• Beneficial (adjective) — producing good results. *Regular exercise is beneficial to both physical and mental health.*
• Ubiquitous (adjective) — present everywhere. *Smartphones have become ubiquitous in daily life.*
• Multifaceted (adjective) — having many aspects. *Poverty is a multifaceted problem with no single solution.*
• Paramount (adjective) — of the greatest importance. *Safety remains paramount in the design of public transport systems.*
• Pragmatic (adjective) — practical rather than idealistic. *A pragmatic approach balances ambition with realistic budgets.*

Speaking-Specific: Sounding Natural, Not Memorized (10 words)

Examiners are trained to notice memorized "template" vocabulary, and it costs marks under Fluency and Coherence rather than earning them. These words work well in speaking because they sound conversational rather than written:

• I'd say — softens an opinion naturally. *I'd say the biggest change has been how we communicate.*
• To be honest — signals a genuine, considered opinion. *To be honest, I've never really thought about it that way.*
• It really depends on — shows nuanced thinking. *It really depends on the context, I suppose.*
• What stands out to me is — a natural way to highlight a point. *What stands out to me is how quickly things have changed.*
• I guess you could say — hedges a claim conversationally. *I guess you could say it's become a bit of a habit.*
• Looking back — introduces reflection naturally. *Looking back, I probably should have started earlier.*
• The way I see it — introduces a personal opinion. *The way I see it, both options have their merits.*
• Come to think of it — signals a spontaneous realization. *Come to think of it, that's actually a really good example.*
• More often than not — a natural alternative to "usually." *More often than not, I end up doing it the same way.*
• At the end of the day — introduces a final, summarizing point. *At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference.*

Use Vocabulary, Don't Just Memorize It

Learning a list is only the first step — the words that actually raise your band score are the ones you can retrieve naturally under exam pressure. Practise writing full sentences with new words in our Essay Idea Bank, and rehearse using them out loud through our grammar and vocabulary masterclass, which pairs each topic with real speaking practice.

For an even deeper phrase bank organized by task and topic, explore our Language Toolkit. And to understand exactly how Lexical Resource is scored, see our guide to IELTS band descriptors. For full definitions, word forms, and pronunciation of any word here, the Cambridge Dictionary is a reliable free reference.