IELTS Lexical Resource Band 7 Examples
Improve flexibility and precision without forcing rare words that damage clarity or collocation.
Quick answer
Band 7 Lexical Resource is not a collection of difficult synonyms. It means having enough vocabulary to express ideas with flexibility and precision, using less common items when they fit, and showing awareness of collocation and style. Occasional word-choice or formation errors can remain, but vocabulary should generally make the argument clearer rather than more impressive-looking.
Precision is more valuable than rarity
General words such as good, bad, big, and thing are not automatically wrong, but repeated reliance on them hides important distinctions. Replacing 'a big problem' with 'a shortage of affordable rental housing' gives the examiner more exact meaning and gives the paragraph a clearer direction.
Do not replace every common word. Natural academic writing still uses people, problem, change, and important. Upgrade the noun or verb that carries the argument, then keep the surrounding language controlled.
Collocation decides whether a word sounds natural
Knowing a word's dictionary meaning is not enough. English speakers make decisions, pose risks, address shortages, and impose restrictions. A rare word combined with the wrong partner draws attention to the error and may obscure meaning.
Learn vocabulary in short usable combinations and record the context in which each phrase works. When proofreading, check the main noun–verb and adjective–noun combinations rather than replacing words only to avoid repetition.
Worked examples
Before-and-after IELTS Writing fixes
Weak direction
Housing is a big problem for many people in cities.
Stronger direction
A shortage of affordable rental housing places sustained financial pressure on low-income urban workers.
Weak direction
Governments should do things to make people healthier.
Stronger direction
Governments can improve public health by expanding preventive screening and making primary care easier to access.
Weak direction
New technology has many good effects on companies.
Stronger direction
Automation can increase productivity by handling repetitive administrative tasks with greater speed and consistency.
Weak direction
This policy will eradicate traffic congestion in every metropolis.
Stronger direction
This policy could ease congestion in densely populated city centres.
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Self-check before you submit
- Have I replaced repeated vague nouns with precise meaning?
- Do my main verbs collocate naturally with their nouns?
- Is each less common word appropriate for the tone and context?
- Have I paraphrased meaning rather than swapping isolated synonyms?
- Could simpler wording express any sentence more accurately?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need advanced vocabulary for IELTS Writing Band 7?
You need sufficient range and precision, not a fixed list of advanced words. Accurate collocations and flexible paraphrasing are safer than rare vocabulary used incorrectly.
Does repeating a word lower Lexical Resource?
Some repetition is natural, especially for the central topic. Unnecessary repetition can show limited flexibility, but awkward synonym changes can be worse. Prioritise clarity and use reference phrases where suitable.
Continue with a related fix
IELTS Grammatical Range and Accuracy Band 7
Build sentence variety through meaningful relationships while keeping errors from becoming systematic or disruptive.
IELTS Writing Feedback Report Example
Learn the difference between generic comments and feedback that identifies evidence, priorities, and the next revision action.