How to Score Band 9 in IELTS, Part III. Becoming an expert u | Emuallim
How to Score Band 9 in IELTS, Part III.
Becoming an expert user of English (or any other language) can be laborious and time-consuming. But if there's one thing that can really up your game, it's without doubt vocabulary! Let's talk about why and how you should be learning new words.
The number one problem #IELTS students have during the Listening exam is comprehension, i.e. not understanding the speakers. In turn, comprehension issues are often (though not always) a result of not having a strong vocabulary.
In Speaking and Writing sections, Lexical Resource is 1/4 of your overall score. A band 9 candidate "uses vocabulary with full flexibility and precision in all topics". The same goes for Reading. In fact, many IELTS teachers call the Reading section a "Vocabulary test", which does make a lot of sense. (Revisit my post about Otabek's protein diet here)
How then can you build the vocabulary of an expert user? Well, for starters, definitely check out Band 9 Vocabulary with Alex, which I can't recommend enough – especially if you've never taken IELTS before. She breaks down the type of words you'll need (and won't need) to learn to achieve a high band.
DO NOT try to cram lists of C1 or C2 words you found on some bizarre IELTS channel! This simply doesn't work. Even if you use some fancy-schmancy vocabulary in your Task 2, the examiner will evaluate your essays holistically, and faulty use of these words can actually bring down your overall score.
Instead, you should learn new vocabulary subconsciously, through reading books and articles (listening to English is also fine). Just knowing the translation of the word in your native language isn't enough – you have to feel the word in its proper context. Don't take my word for it: here's how Mahfuza (IELTS 8.5) built up her vocabulary: How to to learn new words?
I do recommend books like "Collocations in Use" and "Vocabulary in Use", though. The key to scoring a 9 in Speaking and Writing sections is using less common lexical items. Hence it's important to study topic-specific vocabulary, such as words related only to education: autonomous learning, tertiary education, et cetera.
However, you should NOT focus on less common lexical items unless you already mastered common lexical items. There's little use in learning the word 'wredge' before you know the word 'hummer', for example.
If you ask me, in addition to learning words through reading and listening, it's a good idea to keep a notebook for vocabulary. I personally try studying 5 - 10 new words on a daily basis, using English to English dictionaries. Today I jotted down berserk, presage, willful, abate, and wedge, but don't look them up because you'll probably not need them anyway.
Finally, it's one thing to look up a new word, it's another thing to retain that word in your memory. Definitely check this short video by Mufti Menk about How to Increase Memory. While this topic deserves its own post, I must mention the verse in the Quran: "And fear Allah, and Allah will teach you" [2:282]. May Allah makes us of those who have taqwa.
Stay tuned for Part IV of this quick guide to Cracking 9 in IELTS.
(Read Part I) (Read Part II)
@ozodbek_SK
