IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary | 200 Words for Essays

Use this IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary list to state a position, explain a cause, compare solutions and discuss topics such as education, technology and the environment. Each of the 200 entries gives a meaning and a short usage example.

In both IELTS Academic and General Training, Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words. Allow about 40 minutes of the 60-minute Writing test. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1. IELTS assesses the essay for Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

The 200-word list

1–20 Taking a position · 21–40 Using evidence and reasoning · 41–60 Connecting ideas · 61–80 Explaining cause and effect · 81–100 Comparing options and weighing costs · 101–120 Education and work · 121–140 Technology and information · 141–160 Environment and infrastructure · 161–180 Communities, health and participation · 181–200 Describing scale and change

Exam requirements · Worked writing examples · Fencing Method · Practice and FAQs · Extended practice response

1–20 Taking a position

claim — a statement you want the reader to accept. make a claim.
stance — your position on a question. take a clear stance.
thesis — the central position or interpretation your response develops. support the thesis.
premise — an idea the argument starts from. question the premise.
assumption — something treated as true without being established. test the assumption.
assert — state a position firmly. assert that access matters.
argue — give reasons in support of a position. argue for a trial.
maintain — continue to hold or defend a view. maintain that the policy is fair.
contend — put forward a position that can be challenged. contend that the proposal is workable.
justify — give sufficient reasons for a decision or judgement. justify the expense.
advocate — publicly support an action or change. advocate for reform.
defend — answer criticism of a view or choice. defend a decision.
qualify — limit a statement so it applies only where warranted. qualify the conclusion.
concede — acknowledge a valid point made by the other side. concede that costs may rise.
rebut — answer an opposing claim with reasoning or evidence. rebut the objection.
counterargument — a reasoned objection to a position. address a counterargument.
reservation — a concern that makes agreement incomplete. express a reservation.
distinguish — show what makes two things different. distinguish cost from value.
criteria — standards used to judge something. agree on the criteria.
verdict — a final judgement reached after consideration. reach a verdict.

21–40 Using evidence and reasoning

evidence — information that helps establish a claim. draw on evidence.
example — a specific case that makes a general point clearer. give a concrete example.
illustrate — make an idea clearer through a case or detail. illustrate the difficulty.
demonstrate — show how or why something is true. demonstrate a connection.
substantiate — support a claim with convincing information. substantiate the allegation.
corroborate — provide independent support for an existing account. corroborate the witness’s account.
infer — draw a conclusion from available clues. infer a motive from the wording.
imply — suggest a meaning without saying it directly. imply that change is possible.
interpret — explain what something means in context. interpret a figure in context.
analyse — examine how parts work together. analyse the writer’s choices.
evaluate — judge the strength, quality or value of something. evaluate the proposal.
plausible — reasonable enough to believe given what is known. a plausible explanation.
credible — worthy of belief or trust. a credible source.
relevant — directly connected to the issue being considered. relevant to the question.
sufficient — enough for the purpose or conclusion at hand. sufficient for a limited trial.
representative — typical enough to reflect a larger group. a representative sample.
anecdote — a brief account of a particular incident. open with an anecdote.
limitation — something that restricts what a method or claim can establish. acknowledge a limitation.
contradict — state or show something incompatible with another claim. contradict the earlier finding.
synthesise — combine ideas from separate sources into a new account. synthesise competing accounts.

41–60 Connecting ideas

whereas — introduces a clause that contrasts with another. whereas the first option costs less.
although — introduces a fact that qualifies the main statement. although demand may rise.
however — signals a contrast or change in direction. however, costs remain uncertain.
nevertheless — signals that a point still holds despite a difficulty. nevertheless, the trial could go ahead.
conversely — introduces a contrasting relationship in the reverse direction. conversely, lower demand can free capacity.
similarly — points out a meaningful likeness. similarly, smaller groups need space.
likewise — shows that a similar point applies elsewhere. likewise, evening users need lighting.
consequently — introduces a result of what came before. consequently, the queue grew.
therefore — introduces a conclusion or result that follows. therefore, a trial is justified.
furthermore — adds a supporting point. furthermore, the existing room is free.
specifically — narrows the discussion to a precise detail. specifically, the plan would add two sessions.
instead — signals a replacement or different choice. instead, use the current building.
alternatively — introduces another option. alternatively, change the timetable.
otherwise — indicates what happens under different conditions. book early, otherwise places may fill.
provided — introduces a condition when used with a following clause. provided that staffing is adequate.
despite — introduces something that fails to prevent the main outcome. despite the delay.
unlike — marks a difference between two things. unlike the previous scheme.
respectively — matches items with values in the same stated order. costs were $5 and $8, respectively.
overall — signals a judgement about the whole picture. overall, the benefits are modest.
ultimately — identifies what matters after other factors are considered. ultimately, the decision depends on demand.

61–80 Explaining cause and effect

cause — produce or bring about an outcome. cause avoidable delays.
contribute — play a part in bringing about an outcome. contribute to overcrowding.
trigger — set a process or reaction in motion. trigger a review.
accelerate — make a process happen faster. accelerate the transition.
intensify — make something stronger or more severe. intensify competition.
exacerbate — make an existing problem worse. exacerbate existing inequalities.
mitigate — reduce the severity or harmful effect of something. mitigate the harm.
prevent — stop something from happening. prevent further damage.
deter — discourage someone from taking an action. deter people from taking risks.
enable — make an action possible. enable students to attend.
facilitate — make an action or process easier. facilitate access to training.
reinforce — strengthen an effect, belief or behaviour. reinforce an existing pattern.
undermine — weaken something, often gradually. undermine public trust.
sustain — keep something going over time. sustain the improvement.
displace — push something or someone out of an existing place or role. displace smaller operators.
redistribute — change how something is shared. redistribute public funds.
consequence — an outcome that follows an action or event. an unintended consequence.
mechanism — the process through which an effect occurs. identify the mechanism.
correlation — a pattern in which two things vary together. observe a correlation.
constraint — a condition that limits what can be done. work within a budget constraint.

81–100 Comparing options and weighing costs

benefit — a useful or favourable effect. a long-term benefit.
drawback — a feature that makes an option less attractive. a potential drawback.
trade-off — a compromise in which gaining one thing costs another. a trade-off between cost and convenience.
priority — something that deserves attention before competing needs. give priority to public health.
alternative — another way of achieving a goal. offer an alternative to driving.
feasible — possible to carry out with the available resources. a feasible timetable.
viable — capable of working successfully over time. a viable business model.
practical — suited to what can actually be done. a practical solution.
effective — able to produce the intended result. an effective response to congestion.
efficient — able to achieve a result with relatively little waste. efficient use of limited funds.
affordable — within the means of the people expected to pay. affordable childcare.
accessible — easy or possible for the intended users to reach or use. accessible public transport.
equitable — fair in light of differing needs and barriers. equitable access to training.
proportionate — appropriate in scale to the problem. a proportionate penalty.
substantial — large enough to matter. a substantial reduction in waste.
marginal — small in size or effect. a marginal improvement.
outweigh — be more important than something on the other side. the benefits outweigh the costs.
offset — counterbalance part or all of an effect. offset part of the expense.
allocate — assign money, time or resources to a purpose. allocate funds to local schools.
compromise — an arrangement that meets competing needs only in part. reach a workable compromise.

101–120 Education and work

curriculum — the planned content and goals of a programme of study. revise the curriculum.
literacy — ability to read and write, or competence in a named area. teach financial literacy.
numeracy — ability to understand and use numbers. build basic numeracy.
attainment — the level a learner has reached. raise educational attainment.
compulsory — required by a rule or law. compulsory schooling.
vocational — concerned with skills for a particular occupation. vocational training.
apprenticeship — training that combines work with learning a trade. complete an apprenticeship.
credential — a qualification used to show competence or eligibility. gain a recognised credential.
transferable — usable in another situation or role. develop transferable skills.
employability — the skills and qualities that help someone secure and retain work. improve graduate employability.
productivity — output achieved for a given amount of work or other input. raise workplace productivity.
automation — the use of systems to perform tasks with reduced manual input. invest in automation.
flexibility — ability to adjust schedules, methods or arrangements. offer flexibility in working hours.
incentive — something that encourages a particular action. provide an incentive to train.
retention — the continued participation of employees, students or customers. improve staff retention.
turnover — the rate at which people leave and are replaced in a workforce. reduce staff turnover.
workload — the amount of work someone is expected to do. manage a heavy workload.
specialise — concentrate on one area of study or work. specialise in engineering.
reskill — learn different skills for a new kind of work. reskill for a different role.
collaborate — work jointly towards a shared result. collaborate on a project.

121–140 Technology and information

innovation — a new method, idea or product put into use. encourage innovation.
adoption — the process of beginning to use something. the adoption of digital payments.
digitalisation — the introduction of digital tools into existing processes. digitalisation of public services.
connectivity — the ability to connect to a network or system. poor internet connectivity.
algorithm — a set of procedures for solving a problem or making a calculation. an algorithm for ranking results.
surveillance — systematic monitoring of people or places. limits on workplace surveillance.
consent — permission given after a person can make a choice. obtain informed consent.
privacy — control over access to personal information or life. protect user privacy.
intrusive — entering someone’s space or affairs in an unwelcome way. intrusive monitoring.
transparent — open enough for people to see how a decision was made. transparent selection criteria.
accountable — required to explain and take responsibility for actions. hold officials accountable.
reliable — able to be trusted to work or give consistent information. a reliable connection.
verify — check that something is accurate or authentic. verify a claim.
misinformation — false or inaccurate information that circulates. identify health misinformation.
bias — a tendency that can systematically skew judgement or results. reduce selection bias.
amplify — increase the reach, strength or volume of something. amplify misleading claims.
moderate — oversee content and apply rules to what can appear. moderate an online forum.
dependency — reliance on something or someone. dependency on imported technology.
obsolescence — the process of becoming outdated or no longer useful. the obsolescence of older equipment.
adaptability — ability to adjust to changed circumstances. show adaptability at work.

141–160 Environment and infrastructure

emission — the release of a substance such as a gas into the environment. cut carbon emissions.
renewable — able to be replenished naturally on relevant timescales. expand renewable energy.
depletion — the process of using up a resource. resource depletion.
conservation — protection and careful management of resources or nature. support water conservation.
biodiversity — variety of living organisms in an area or system. protect local biodiversity.
habitat — the natural home of a species. restore a damaged habitat.
pollution — contamination of the environment by harmful substances or energy. reduce air pollution.
wastewater — used water containing waste that requires treatment. treat industrial wastewater.
landfill — a place where waste is deposited and usually buried. divert waste from landfill.
consumption — the use of resources, goods or services. reduce energy consumption.
congestion — overcrowding that slows traffic or another flow. ease road congestion.
commute — regularly travel between home and work or school. commute by train.
infrastructure — basic systems such as transport, water and power networks. maintain ageing infrastructure.
retrofitting — adding updated equipment or features to an existing structure. retrofitting existing homes.
resilience — ability to withstand disruption and recover. build resilience to flooding.
exposure — contact with a source of possible harm. limit exposure to extreme heat.
vulnerability — susceptibility to harm when a threat is present. reduce vulnerability to outages.
regulate — control an activity through rules. regulate industrial waste.
enforcement — action taken to make people follow a rule. improve enforcement.
compliance — the act of following a rule or requirement. monitor compliance with a standard.

161–180 Communities, health and participation

cohesion — the degree to which a group stays connected. strengthen social cohesion.
inclusion — meaningful participation by people who might otherwise be excluded. promote inclusion.
isolation — a state of being separated from other people. reduce social isolation.
inequality — an uneven distribution of resources, access or outcomes. address income inequality.
disparity — a measurable or noticeable gap between groups. a disparity in access.
discrimination — unfair treatment based on a characteristic or category. tackle workplace discrimination.
subsidy — financial support that lowers a cost or supports an activity. offer a housing subsidy.
eligibility — meeting the conditions to receive or do something. set eligibility criteria.
coverage — the extent to which a service or policy reaches its intended population. extend service coverage.
provision — the supply of a service, resource or support. improve childcare provision.
prevention — action taken before a problem occurs. invest in disease prevention.
intervention — an action taken to change an existing situation. test an early intervention.
sedentary — involving prolonged sitting or little physical activity. a sedentary lifestyle.
wellbeing — a person’s general state of health and life satisfaction. improve mental wellbeing.
autonomy — freedom and capacity to make one’s own choices. protect patient autonomy.
participation — taking part in an activity or decision. encourage public participation.
engagement — active attention or involvement. increase student engagement.
outreach — efforts to reach people who might not approach a service. expand community outreach.
reciprocity — mutual exchange of help, obligations or benefits. a culture of reciprocity.
stigma — social disapproval attached to a condition or characteristic. reduce stigma around seeking help.

181–200 Describing scale and change

widespread — present across many places or groups. widespread smartphone use.
prevalent — common in a particular group or setting. prevalent among younger adults.
persistent — continuing over a period despite efforts or change. a persistent shortage.
gradual — happening in small steps over time. a gradual decline.
incremental — proceeding through successive small additions or changes. incremental improvements.
temporary — lasting for a limited period. a temporary measure.
permanent — intended or expected to continue indefinitely. a permanent change.
systemic — rooted in the workings of a whole system. a systemic failure.
structural — arising from the organisation of institutions or systems. structural barriers to employment.
localised — limited to a particular area or group. a localised shortage.
uneven — distributed or developing differently across a group. uneven growth across regions.
disproportionate — too large or too small relative to a comparison. a disproportionate burden.
unintended — occurring without being planned. an unintended effect.
preventable — capable of being stopped before it happens. preventable injuries.
measurable — able to be assessed in observable terms. a measurable improvement.
threshold — a point at which a rule, effect or condition begins to apply. reach a minimum threshold.
trajectory — the direction in which change is moving over time. alter the long-term trajectory.
fluctuate — rise and fall irregularly. prices fluctuate over time.
stabilise — become or make something more steady. stabilise demand.
reverse — change an earlier direction or outcome. reverse the decline.

What IELTS Writing Task 2 expects

Read the instructions after the topic statement. If the task asks you to discuss both views and give your opinion, write about both views and make your own judgement clear. If it asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, identify what makes one consequence more important than another. For a two-question task, plan a direct answer to each question before writing.

Your paragraph should give the reader a reason to accept your point. A claim that online courses improve access becomes more persuasive when you explain who can enrol, which barrier is removed, and what still limits participation. A relevant example can be hypothetical. Present it as a possible case and keep invented survey percentages out of the essay.

Lexical Resource includes range and precision as well as control of spelling, word forms and natural word combinations. Write reduce congestion, improve access to training and comply with the rules. During revision, check the noun or preposition that follows the verb as well as the spelling of the target word.

IELTS Academic Writing format · IELTS General Training Writing format · IELTS Writing band descriptors

Word list · Worked writing examples

A worked Task 2 paragraph

Practice question. Some people believe local governments should subsidise public transport. Others argue they should spend the money on improving services. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

A fare subsidy can make public transport more affordable for low-income workers. Its effect on car use, however, depends on whether buses run when those workers travel. For example, someone finishing a late shift may still need a car if the last bus leaves before the shift ends. Where routes are infrequent, extending service hours should take priority. Once buses meet those basic travel needs, a targeted subsidy can remove a further barrier.

This paragraph grants a benefit to the first proposal and specifies the condition under which the second takes priority. Notice how depends on sets a limit and targeted explains the kind of subsidy. A second body paragraph could explore the strongest case for cheaper fares where service is already frequent. A conclusion could then distinguish areas with a coverage problem from areas with a cost problem.

Word list · Exam requirements · Fencing Method

How to fence an IELTS word

1. Base sentence. Subsidies can mitigate hardship. Check that mitigate means reduce severity. 2. Add detail. Targeted fare subsidies can mitigate hardship for low-income commuters. 3. Adjust tone and certainty. Targeted fare subsidies may mitigate hardship for low-income commuters. 4. Add a reason. They may mitigate hardship by reducing a recurring expense. 5. Transfer. Shade can mitigate heat exposure at outdoor bus stops.

Close the list and try the verb in a new question about education. One possible sentence is Loan devices can mitigate the effect of poor access to technology if students also have a reliable connection. Check whether you can name the harm, the action and a condition. Then draft a paragraph on an unfamiliar topic using the same reasoning sequence.

Repair a sentence such as Lower fares will mitigate people to drive. A correct choice is Lower fares may deter some commuters from driving. Another is Lower fares may mitigate transport costs for frequent passengers. The first verb acts on a choice. The second acts on a burden.

The eduKate Fencing Method for Vocabulary

Word list · Worked writing examples · Practice and FAQs

Practice and frequently asked questions

Try a short planning split for a prompt about requiring students to learn financial literacy. List a benefit, a competing priority and a condition that might make the requirement work. Write a paragraph explaining why teaching students to compare loan costs may help even if lesson time is limited.

Do I need to use a quota of advanced words? IELTS uses the published band descriptors. Select words that communicate the intended relationship naturally. How long is Task 2? The minimum is 250 words, and the official suggested time is about 40 minutes. Is the word list official? It is an eduKate practice list aligned to common writing moves.

For your last check, underline the opinion, bracket each example and circle any connector whose relationship you could explain aloud. If a paragraph starts with nevertheless, name the difficulty it is conceding. If there is none, start directly with the point.

Word list · Fencing Method

Three short practice drills

Which word fits the relationship?

Replace the second sentence in this pair. More households bought electric vehicles. Consequently, electricity prices rose. Unless your evidence shows the mechanism, use During the same period to report the sequence. If you have a reason to suggest a connection, say that higher demand may have contributed and name the conditions under which that explanation is plausible.

Which recommendation can be defended?

Try two plans for reducing food waste. One makes households pay for each bag of rubbish. The other offers separate collection for food scraps. Compare the plans on enforcement, affordability and likely participation. Decide whether a fee would deter waste or encourage people to dispose of rubbish elsewhere. End with a proposal that names the actor and the safeguard.

Which noun belongs after the verb?

Write one sentence with allocate, one with improve and one with undermine. Put money, time or space after allocate. Put a service, outcome or kind of access after improve. Put trust, confidence or a line of reasoning after undermine. Make each sentence fit a different topic. Mark any preposition you need to check.

A complete practice essay

Practice question. Some people think employers should let staff work from home whenever possible. Others believe most employees should work together at a shared workplace. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Working from home can reduce travel and give employees more control over their schedules. A shared workplace, however, can make it easier to train new staff and resolve problems that involve several teams. I would give established employees some flexibility while protecting time for activities that benefit from being done together.

The case for remote work is strongest when employees can complete a task independently and have the equipment to do it well. For instance, an experienced payroll officer may be able to process routine records from home without delaying colleagues. Removing the commute can give that person more time to manage other responsibilities. An arrangement of this kind depends on reliable internet access and a suitable space to work. Employees who lack either may need the option of coming into the office.

The strongest argument for a shared workplace is that some forms of cooperation are harder to schedule. A new employee may need to ask several small questions in the course of a morning. When experienced colleagues are nearby, they can often demonstrate a process and spot a mistake before it is repeated. The same benefit can apply to a team responding to a complex problem. Nevertheless, requiring everyone to attend every day would use office space and travel time even on days when little joint work is planned.

In my view, employers should decide which activities need a shared space and arrange attendance around those activities. A flexible schedule can preserve the benefits of individual work while making it possible to train and collaborate in person. This approach depends on managers agreeing when teams need to meet and making attendance predictable for staff.

Why the vocabulary fits the essay

The essay uses independently for work that an individual can do without waiting for colleagues. It uses reliable to describe a practical condition for remote work. The example of the payroll officer supports a limited claim about routine tasks. It gives the reader a concrete job to imagine and leaves room for work that depends on close supervision.

In the workplace paragraph, nevertheless concedes that a real advantage does not justify attendance every day. The paragraph earns that turn by first describing when a shared office helps. Try reading the final sentence without the preceding example. The contrast becomes harder to follow because the reader has lost the benefit being conceded.

Notice the movement from whenever possible in the task to particular conditions in the answer. The writer names equipment, suitable workspace, established experience and the type of activity. These details give content to broad terms such as flexibility and cooperation. Rewrite the final position for a hospital team whose work is done in person and see which reasoning can transfer.

Plan and revise your own response

Use the first few minutes of a practice session to read the instruction and write your answer in a single line. Then label the job of each paragraph. A discussion essay might use one paragraph to develop each view. A solution essay might separate the cause from the proposal. The exact split depends on what the question asks.

When drafting, keep a small margin note for a word you cannot retrieve. If you cannot remember retrofitting, write upgrading existing buildings and continue. The plain version preserves the idea and leaves you time to explain what would be upgraded. When you later review the essay, decide whether the more technical term actually adds precision.

Try a three-pass review on the practice essay. First, underline the position wherever it appears and check that it stays consistent. Second, highlight a reason and an example in each body paragraph. Third, choose five phrases to check for grammar and word pairing. If you find a weak example, repair the example before you spend time swapping individual adjectives.

For a transfer task, answer whether schools should replace printed textbooks with tablets. Reuse the concepts of access, training and cost from the remote-work essay. Build new examples around the people and activities named in the question. If you use access, specify access to what. If you use cost, separate purchase from upkeep. If you use efficient, say whose time or resources are saved.

A parent or study partner can ask two questions after reading. What position did the writer take? Which example made a reason more believable? Ask them to point to the relevant lines. If they can identify the vocabulary but cannot explain the position, return to the opening sentence and rebuild the paragraphs from it.

Next reading

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500) · AP English Language and Composition · AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 (8700)

Essential Vocabulary Words for a 12-Year-Old · Back to the 200-word list

Top 200 Vocabulary Word List for IELTS Writing Task 2 | Essay Writing