Why reading is the right place to start
IELTS Academic Reading uses texts taken from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online sources, written for readers who are not specialists. If you regularly read quality news sites, science magazines and university blogs, you are already meeting the vocabulary the test uses.
Vocabulary also counts beyond the Reading paper. In Writing and Speaking, "lexical resource" is one of the four criteria examiners use. A word you met in a sentence and then practised is one you can produce under time pressure; a word you glanced at once in a list usually is not.
Step 1: Choose the right words
Do not save every unknown word. In a typical article you might meet ten or fifteen. Choose three to five that pass this quick test:
- Will I see it again? Words like decline, significant and sustainable appear across many topics. A rare plant name does not.
- Could I use it in an essay? Words that describe trends, causes, effects and opinions are the most useful for Writing Task 2.
- Did I nearly know it? Words you half recognise are the quickest to learn properly.
Skip specialist terms. IELTS Reading texts gloss technical words when they use them, so these are rarely worth saving.
Step 2: Save the sentence, not just the word
Many words change meaning with context. Address in "the policy fails to address the problem" means deal with, not a place where someone lives. If you save only the word and the first dictionary definition, you may learn the wrong meaning. Copy the whole sentence and write the meaning that fits it, in simple English.
It also helps to notice the word's family and parts. Urban, urbanisation and suburban share a root, so learning one makes the others easier. Our guide to root words and etymology explains how to use word parts this way.
Step 3: Practise recall, not rereading
Rereading a list feels productive, but it mostly tests recognition. Recall is harder and works better: look at the sentence with the word hidden, or at the word alone, and try to say the meaning before you check. Do this a day later, then a few days later, then a week or two later. This is spaced repetition, and it keeps each session short. Our guide to vocabulary flashcards compares ways to review words like this.
Step 4: Use each word in writing and speaking
A word becomes yours when you use it. For each saved word, write one sentence of your own about a different topic from the original text. Then say a sentence aloud using it, as if answering a Speaking Part 3 question. Keep the word in a natural phrase: "reduce congestion" or "a sedentary lifestyle" is more useful than the word on its own, because examiners notice whether words fit together naturally.
28 words from academic-style reading
The sentences below were written for this guide in the style of an academic reading passage. They are not taken from real IELTS tests and are not an official word list.
Environment
| Word | In a sentence | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| mitigate | "Planting trees along rivers can mitigate the effects of flooding." | Make something bad less severe |
| deplete | "Decades of overfishing have depleted cod stocks in the North Atlantic." | Greatly reduce the amount of |
| sustainable | "The report calls for more sustainable methods of farming." | Able to continue without damaging the environment |
| biodiversity | "Wetlands support a remarkable level of biodiversity." | The variety of plant and animal life in an area |
| degradation | "Soil degradation reduces crop yields over time." | The process of becoming worse in quality |
| emissions | "Transport accounts for a large share of the city's carbon emissions." | Gases released into the air |
Technology
| Word | In a sentence | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| automate | "Many warehouses now automate the sorting of parcels." | Make a process work by machine |
| obsolete | "Some skills become obsolete as software improves." | No longer useful or needed |
| unprecedented | "The speed of the change was unprecedented." | Never having happened before |
| disrupt | "Online banking has disrupted the traditional branch network." | Change an industry by replacing old ways of working |
| widespread | "Widespread use of smartphones has changed how people read news." | Found or happening in many places |
| drawback | "The main drawback of the system is its cost." | A disadvantage |
Health
| Word | In a sentence | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sedentary | "Office workers often lead a sedentary lifestyle." | Involving a lot of sitting and little exercise |
| prevalence | "The prevalence of diabetes has risen in many countries." | How common something is |
| chronic | "Chronic back pain is a common reason for missed work." | Lasting a long time or keeping coming back |
| intervention | "Early intervention can prevent more serious illness later." | Action taken to improve a situation |
| susceptible | "Older adults are more susceptible to winter infections." | Easily affected by something |
| sanitation | "Better sanitation reduced disease in nineteenth-century cities." | Systems for clean water and removing waste |
Urban planning
| Word | In a sentence | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| congestion | "A charge for driving into the centre was meant to reduce congestion." | Too much traffic in one place |
| sprawl | "Urban sprawl has replaced farmland with low-density housing." | Uncontrolled spread of a city into the countryside |
| amenities | "New estates need amenities such as schools and clinics." | Useful local services and facilities |
| densely | "The old quarter is densely populated." | With many people or buildings close together |
| regenerate | "The council plans to regenerate the former docks." | Bring new life and investment to a run-down area |
Education
| Word | In a sentence | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| curriculum | "Many schools have added coding to the curriculum." | The subjects a school teaches |
| literacy | "Adult literacy rates vary widely between regions." | The ability to read and write |
| rote | "Critics argue that rote learning discourages curiosity." | Done by repeating things until they are memorised, without real understanding |
| attainment | "The study links smaller classes with higher attainment." | The level of achievement reached |
| disparity | "There is a clear disparity between rural and urban schools." | A large difference, often seen as unfair |
Try the method: pick five words, write your own sentence for each and test yourself again in two days. For more on meaning in context, see our guide to English words with meaning.
How Stemmy helps
Stemmy is a free Chrome extension that follows the same method on the articles you read online. Highlight a word, click the Stemmy button beside it or press Alt+Shift+D, and the Ghost Card shows the meaning that fits the sentence, the word's roots and its pronunciation. AI features need a free account (Google Sign-In or email). Each account gets 150 free AI uses in total, once; Ghost Card lookups and cloud voice draw on them.
Save the word and the Vocabulary Wallet keeps it with its meaning, the source sentence and the page link. Stemmy groups words into categories, such as Science or Health, and you can search them in the side panel or the dashboard. Reviews bring back only the words that are due, in short sessions you can stop and resume later, rated Again, Hard, Good or Easy.
On a difficult page, X-Ray shows which words are worth learning, which helps with Step 1. AI Stories write short passages from the words in your review queue, for extra reading practice. Your wallet, reviews and settings are stored in your browser, and the privacy page explains what is sent and when.
Stemmy does not teach the test or predict scores; it helps with turning the words you read into words you know. For a comparison with other tools, see our English vocabulary app guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many new words should I learn each day for IELTS?
A small, steady number works better than a large one. Three to five words from each article you read, reviewed over several days and used in your own sentences, adds up quickly without overwhelming you.
Is there an official IELTS vocabulary list?
IELTS does not publish a set vocabulary list, and the words above are not an official list either. The Reading texts come from general sources such as books, journals, magazines and newspapers, so regular reading of that kind of material is a practical way to meet the vocabulary.
What should I read to build IELTS vocabulary?
Read quality newspapers, popular science magazines and university news pages on topics like the environment, technology, health, cities and education.
Will learning more words raise my band score?
No list or tool can promise a score. Vocabulary is one of the criteria in Writing and Speaking, but examiners also look at accuracy and whether words are used naturally, so practise using new words, not just recognising them.
Does Stemmy work on IELTS practice websites?
Stemmy is a Chrome extension for the web pages you read in Chrome, so it works on practice articles that open as ordinary pages. AI meanings need a free account, and each account gets 150 free AI uses in total, once.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Stemmy is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.