### Why advanced vocabulary does not automatically improve your band score
1\. What does Lexical Resource mean?
Lexical Resource assesses how effectively you use vocabulary in your essay. The examiner looks at vocabulary range, accuracy, collocations, word choice and appropriacy.
Using difficult words does not automatically produce a higher score. Your vocabulary must be natural, accurate and suitable for the context.
2\. Incorrect collocations
A collocation is a natural combination of words.
* ❌ Make a research → ✅ Conduct research
* ❌ Do a decision → ✅ Make a decision
* ❌ Take an effort → ✅ Make an effort
* ❌ Strong pollution → ✅ Severe pollution
Example:
❌ Governments should make research before introducing new policies.
✅ Governments should conduct research before introducing new policies.
Why? English uses the combination conduct research, not make research.
3\. Exaggerated vocabulary
Using complicated expressions unnecessarily can make your writing unnatural.
* ❌ Highly gigantic → ✅ Extremely large
* ❌ Extremely enormous → ✅ Enormous
* ❌ Highly excellent → ✅ Excellent
* ❌ Immensely huge → ✅ Enormous
Example:
❌ The city is facing a highly gigantic pollution problem.
✅ The city is facing a severe pollution problem.
Why? Gigantic refers mainly to exceptional size. Severe communicates the seriousness of the pollution problem more accurately.
4\. Forced idioms and expressions
Do not insert idioms simply to impress the examiner.
* ❌ Plunging into the trap of addiction → ✅ Becoming addicted
* ❌ A golden opportunity for development → ✅ A valuable opportunity for development
* ❌ The root of all evil → ✅ A major underlying cause
Example:
❌ Young people are plunging into the trap of digital addiction.
✅ More young people are becoming addicted to digital devices.
Why? The original expression sounds forced. The correction communicates the idea directly and naturally.
5\. Vague vocabulary
Choose words that communicate your exact meaning.
* ❌ Many facilities → ✅ Access to useful services
* ❌ Things are bad → ✅ Conditions have deteriorated
* ❌ A lot of problems → ✅ Numerous challenges
* ❌ Good effects → ✅ Positive outcomes
* ❌ Bad impact → ✅ Harmful consequences
Example:
❌ Technology gives many facilities to students.
✅ Technology provides students with access to useful learning resources.
Why? Facilities generally refers to places, equipment or services. The improved sentence explains the actual educational benefit.
6\. Incorrect prepositions
A good vocabulary choice can still become inaccurate when used with the wrong preposition.
* ❌ Impact in society → ✅ Impact on society
* ❌ Discuss about the issue → ✅ Discuss the issue
* ❌ Depend of technology → ✅ Depend on technology
* ❌ Responsible of the project → ✅ Responsible for the project
* ❌ Access for information → ✅ Access to information
Example:
❌ Excessive screen time has a negative impact in children's development.
✅ Excessive screen time has a negative impact on children's development.
Why? The correct collocation is impact on something.
7\. How to upgrade basic vocabulary
Instead of writing:
\- Pollution is bad for people.
Write: Air pollution poses a serious threat to public health.
\- Many people use cars.
Write: A considerable proportion of commuters rely on private vehicles.
\- Technology is good for education.
Write: Digital technology can improve access to educational resources.
\- This causes many problems.
Write: This creates several social and economic challenges.
Notice that the improvement comes from precision, not unnecessarily difficult words.
8\. Your exam-day vocabulary check
Before submitting your essay, check:
* Meaning – Does the word express exactly what I intend?
* Collocation – Do these words naturally go together?
* Context – Is the expression suitable for the topic?
* Grammar – Have I used the correct word form and preposition?
* Precision – Could I communicate the idea more clearly?
Example:
❌ The government should take a strong action to solve this gigantic issue.
Corrections:
* Take a strong action → Take decisive action.
* Gigantic issue → Serious issue.
* Solve an issue → Address an issue (more appropriate in this context).
Improved: The government should take decisive action to address this serious issue.
9\. Practice: Correct these eight sentences
* Governments should make more research on climate change.
* The problem has become highly gigantic.
* Young people are plunging into the trap of social media addiction.
* Technology gives many facilities to university students.
* This trend has a negative impact in society.
* Governments must do a decision immediately.
* People should take an effort to protect the environment.
* Many citizens depend of public transportation.
Answers:
* Conduct more research.
* Extremely serious.
* Becoming increasingly addicted to social media.
* Provides access to useful learning resources.
* Negative impact on society.
* Make a decision.
* Make an effort.
* Depend on public transportation.
Final lesson: Do not use big words just to impress the examiner. Use vocabulary that is accurate, natural, precise and appropriate to the topic. Strong Lexical Resource is about effective communication, not complicated language.
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