When you start preparing for IELTS Reading, you might feel like you need to learn thousands of new words. That is not true. There is a smaller group of words that appears again and again in IELTS passages. These are called academic words. Learning them will help you understand more and answer faster.
IELTS Reading uses texts from books, journals, and newspapers. These texts are academic in style. That means they use formal words and phrases. If you do not know these common academic words, you will get stuck. But if you learn them, you will recognise them instantly. That saves time and reduces stress.
The AWL is a list of 570 word families that are common in academic texts. You do not need to learn all 570 at once. Start with the first 100. These are the most frequent. For example, words like 'analyse', 'concept', 'data', 'environment', 'income', 'process', 'research', and 'similar'. You can find free lists online. Print one out and put it near your desk.
Do not try to memorise a big list of separate words. Instead, learn words that go together. These are called 'collocations'. For example, we say 'conduct research' not 'make research'. We say 'reach a conclusion' not 'arrive to a conclusion'. When you learn a new word, write down two or three phrases that use it. For instance, for 'impact', write 'have an impact on' and 'the impact of climate change'.
A normal dictionary might give you a long definition that is hard to understand. Use a learner's dictionary, like the Oxford Learner's Dictionary or Cambridge Dictionary. These give simple definitions and example sentences. They also show you how to use the word correctly in a sentence. When you look up a new word, read the whole entry, not just the meaning. Notice the grammar and the prepositions that follow.
Reading a list is not enough. You need to see these words in action. When you do practice passages, underline every academic word you see. After you finish, write down any words you do not know. Then look them up and make your own sentence. Do this for each passage. It takes only ten extra minutes, but it builds your vocabulary fast.
You can also make a simple notebook. Divide a page into three columns: Word, Meaning, Example. Write the word, a short meaning in your own language or English, and a sentence from a passage. Review your notebook every few days. Try to use the words in your own writing or speaking. This helps you remember them longer.
Learning vocabulary takes time. Do not try to learn fifty words in one day. Instead, learn ten new words each day. Review yesterday's words before you learn new ones. After a month, you will have learned 300 words. That is a big step.
Finally, you can practise this skill with Readlify's practice passages. They use real academic texts, so you will meet these words again and again. That is the best way to make them yours.
Start today. Pick ten words from the AWL, learn them in phrases, and then read a short article. You will see that IELTS Reading becomes less scary and more manageable.