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Lexical Resource is one of the four official IELTS scoring criteria for Writing Task 2. This page explains what examiners really want, what most students get wrong, and how to improve your vocabulary without sounding like a thesaurus. You’ll also get practice turning vague, over-complicated, or informal writing into clear academic English

 

📘 What You’ll Learn on This Page

You’ll learn how IELTS examiners assess your vocabulary, what kinds of mistakes lower your score, and how to boost your Lexical Resource score naturally using precise, topic-specific words. This page also explains how to avoid robotic synonyms, cliché phrases, and mixed tones.

🧠 What Is Lexical Resource?

Lexical Resource refers to how well you use vocabulary in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. It includes:

  • Range — Do you use a variety of vocabulary?

  • Accuracy — Are the words used correctly?

  • Appropriateness — Do your word choices fit an academic essay?

You don’t need to use rare or “high-level” words — just the right words.

🚫 Common Vocabulary Mistakes

  1. Using Vague Words
    Words like people, things, stuff, or good don’t show control.

❌ Bad: Many people think this thing is good.
✅ Better: Many employees believe flexible hours improve productivity.

Use specific nouns whenever possible.

  1. Over-Paraphrasing
    Trying to paraphrase every word makes your writing awkward.

❌ Bad: The proliferation of mankind’s offspring has resulted in educational dilemmas.
✅ Better: Rising birth rates have led to challenges in education systems.

Only use synonyms you fully understand. Don’t force it.

  1. Using Learned Phrases or Clichés
    Examiners see phrases like “Every coin has two sides” or “Since the dawn of time” in nearly every exam. They won’t help.

✅ Use original, topic-relevant vocabulary.
✅ Keep it clear and purposeful.

  1. Ignoring Collocations and Word Families
    Natural vocabulary groups show control:

  • make a decision

  • reduce emissions

  • increase funding

  • environmental damage

You can also show range by using related word forms:

  • employ → employee, employment, unemployed

  • educate → education, educator, educational

  1. Mixing Informal and Formal Tone
    IELTS Writing Task 2 should always be formal and academic.

❌ Bad: A lot of kids drop out of school.
✅ Better: Many students leave education before completing secondary school.

Avoid slang and casual language: kids, tons of, loads of, a bunch of, stuff, etc.

  1. Mixing British and American Spelling
    ❌ organise + center = Band 6
    ✅ organise + centre = Band 7+

Stick to one spelling system, preferably British. This site uses UK English.

🎯 Final Advice

To score Band 7+ for Lexical Resource:

  • Use precise, topic-specific vocabulary

  • Avoid awkward or robotic synonyms

  • Don’t try to impress — aim for clarity

  • Use natural collocations

  • Stick to one tone and spelling system

  • Review your vocabulary during your final 5 minutes

Lexical Resource isn’t about fancy words. It’s about control.

🧠 Ready to Practise?

Try rewriting this paragraph using clearer vocabulary, more natural phrasing, and topic-appropriate collocations.

Original:

Nowadays, a lot of kids stop going to school because they don’t like it. This thing is bad and causes problems in society. Since the dawn of time, people knew education was good.

Your Task:

  • Replace vague nouns and verbs

  • Remove clichés and informal phrases

  • Add at least one collocation

  • Keep a neutral, academic tone

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