IELTS Speaking Vocabulary to Boost Your Band Score
7 min read · Updated 10 June 2026
The collocations, linking phrases, and opinion language that lift your Lexical Resource score — used naturally, not memorised.
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Speaking score, and it's not about rare 'big' words — it's about range and precision used naturally. Examiners reward exact word choice, natural collocations, and idiomatic phrasing. Here's vocabulary that genuinely lifts your band, grouped so you can actually use it.
Opinion phrases (instead of 'I think')
- As far as I'm concerned…
- The way I see it…
- I'd say that…
- If you ask me…
- I'm inclined to think…
- I'm a firm believer that…
Linking & coherence phrases
- On top of that… (adding)
- Having said that… (contrast)
- As a result… (consequence)
- To put it another way… (clarifying)
- That brings me to… (moving on)
- All in all… (concluding)
Natural collocations that sound advanced
Collocations — words that naturally go together — are what make you sound fluent. A few high-value ones:
- a steep learning curve
- strike a balance between
- a double-edged sword
- make ends meet
- broaden your horizons
- second nature to me
- few and far between
- in the grand scheme of things
How to use idioms safely
Idioms can raise your band, but only if used correctly and naturally. One well-placed idiom impresses; three forced ones in a row sound rehearsed and can lower your score. Learn a handful you genuinely understand and deploy them sparingly.
Q: Example — using vocabulary naturally
“Honestly, learning the piano has been a steep learning curve, but I'd say it's been worth it. As far as I'm concerned, having a creative hobby helps you strike a balance between work and relaxation — and in the grand scheme of things, that balance matters more than people realise.”
Don't memorise word lists in isolation. Learn each phrase inside a full sentence about your own life, so it comes out naturally under pressure instead of sounding bolted on.
Put this into practice
Take a free mock test with an AI examiner and get your band score in under 30 seconds.
Start free test →Frequently asked questions
Does using big words improve my IELTS Speaking score?+
Not by itself. Lexical Resource rewards precision and natural collocations, not rare words. Using an exact common word correctly scores higher than a fancy word used wrongly.
How many idioms should I use in IELTS Speaking?+
Use idioms sparingly — one or two well-placed, correctly-used idioms impress the examiner, while several forced ones sound rehearsed and can lower your score.
How can I improve my IELTS Speaking vocabulary?+
Learn phrases inside full sentences about your own life, focus on natural collocations and linking words rather than rare vocabulary, and practise using them out loud until they come automatically.