Skip to content

IELTS Exam task language

IELTS Task Language

Language for describing trends, comparing options, organising answers, and supporting opinions in IELTS-style tasks.

Independent IELTS study resource — not official exam material.

  • Teens and up
  • Academic English
  • Confident · B2
  • 30 words

The words

Every word in this set, with what it means. Tap a word to hear it.

overview
a short general description of the main points
“Begin with an overview before describing each stage.”
fluctuate
to change up and down frequently
“Prices fluctuated throughout the year.”
peak
to reach the highest point or level
“Demand peaked in July before falling again.”
stable
not changing much
“The figure remained stable for three months.”
sharp
sudden and large in amount or degree
“There was a sharp increase in online sales.”
gradual
happening slowly over a period of time
“The city saw a gradual rise in bicycle use.”
respectively
in the order already mentioned
“Men and women scored 62 and 71 respectively.”
whereas
used to compare two different facts or situations
“City rents rose, whereas rural rents stayed flat.”
overall
considering everything or everyone
“Overall, public transport became more popular.”
account
to be the reason for something; or a report of an event
“Tourism accounts for a large share of local jobs.”
illustrate
to explain something with an example or image
“The chart illustrates how energy use changed.”
predict
to say what you think will happen in the future
“It is difficult to predict next year's figures.”
outline
to give the main ideas without detail
“Outline your position in the introduction.”
justify
to give a good reason for something
“Justify each recommendation with one clear example.”
emphasise
to give special importance to something
“The writer emphasises the need for early support.”
relevant
closely connected with the subject being discussed
“Keep only the relevant details from the passage.”
accurate
correct and without mistakes
“Check that every figure is accurate before you submit.”
structure
the way the parts of something are organised
“A clear structure helps the reader follow your argument.”
cohesive
well connected so that the parts form a clear whole
“Linking words can make a paragraph more cohesive.”
paraphrase
to express the same meaning in different words
“Paraphrase the question instead of copying it.”
criterion
a standard used to judge or decide something
“Clarity is one criterion used to mark the response.”
task
a piece of work that must be done
“Read the task carefully before you start writing.”
prompt
a question or instruction that tells you what to answer
“Use examples that directly answer the prompt.”
response
an answer or reaction to a question or situation
“A strong response addresses every part of the question.”
opinion
a belief or view about something
“State your opinion clearly in the first paragraph.”
advantage
a condition that makes success more likely
“One advantage of the plan is lower cost.”
disadvantage
a condition that makes success less likely
“A disadvantage of the route is the longer travel time.”
solution
a way of dealing with a problem
“The essay proposes one practical solution.”
example
something that shows a general rule or idea
“Give one concrete example to support the claim.”
conclusion
the final part of a piece of writing or the judgment reached
“The conclusion should restate the main position.”