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Vocabulary Study Online by Level
Vocabulary Study Online
Vocabulary Study Online By Level (VSOBL) is a Fast, Reliable, and Handy tool to prepare English exam vocabulary. (Available for all VIP accounts: US$2/Month). It has built-in word lists: 6000 IELTS words, 6000 TOEFL words, 5000 GRE words, and 3000 SAT words. You can load them by level with one click.
 Contents and Actions
 New IELTS VocabularyMore new words  
oystercatcher   ContextMore...   Speak
n. a coastal wading bird with black-and-white plumage and a strong orange-red bill
scurry   ContextMore...   Speak
v, move hurriedly with short quick steps
squeak   ContextMore...   Speak
v. make a high-pitched sound or cry
heather   ContextMore...   Speak
n. a low, spreading plant with small purple, pink, or white flowers
strewn   ContextMore...   Speak
a. untidily scattered
moorland   ContextMore...   Speak
n. open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather, bracken, and moss
grant   ContextMore...   Speak
n. a sum of money given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose
murky   ContextMore...   Speak
a. not fully explained or understood, especially with concealed dishonesty or immorality
landscape   ContextMore...   Speak
n. all the visible features of an area of countryside or land
painstakingly   ContextMore...   Speak
ad. with great care and thoroughness
 4000 IELTS Academic Words
1   Overview:
IELTS academic test is widely accepted in English countries. Its score is one of the keys to university or college admission. This 4000 IELTS vocabulary is to help you own a strong words list in the IELTS academic test.

In all English tests, vocabulary level is an essential factor in evaluating language ability; IELTS has no exception. All test sections rely on strong vocabulary to succeed. However, IELTS academic word list isn't a fixed or constant word set. If you search on the Internet, you can see many vocabularies called IELTS academic vocabularies.

So the first step is to choose an IELTS vocabulary for your circumstance: Does this 4000 IELTS Vocabulary Words meet your case? We divide the words into 3 levels; each level consists of 4 groups. If you are interested in the words of all groups (1-12), watch them here.



If you think it matches your case, you can start to work on it. It's long but deserves to spend time. Besides, we remind you this list is based on IELTS general vocabulary. As academic test-takers, IELTS general vocabulary is the foundation, which you shouldn't ignore.

Last but not least, you should know that building vocabulary takes lots of time, and its result plays a crucial factor in the final score. We hope this word list can assist you in building IELTS academic vocabulary. If you cannot set your goal or doubt your plan, go to the IELTS Official Website, which will help you make a right decision.

2   Alternative Solutions:
If you doubt whether this 4000 IELTS Academic Vocabulary is the right option, this section gives you some alternative methods and vocabularies.

Alternative Methods
Study a word list isn't a unique way to enrich IELTS vocabulary, and this 4000 vocabulary isn't the only list either. If you have half or one year to prepare, there are some other options to accumulate IELTS vocabulary. 20 Ways to Build IELTS Vocabulary introduces some proven ways.

You may learn new words in TV, news, ads, and daily readings that IELTS exam materials likely come from. Every word has own frequency in specified circumstance. IELTS test has own convention to select materials too, for example, many recent academic reading objects are originated from Economist or BBC.

Alternative Vocabularies - Writing and Speaking
However, if your time frame is very tight, or this 4000 vocabulary is relatively tough, you have to get a more flexible and practical substitute to work. Pick up a dictionary by random to prepare IELTS test isn't a good idea. Your effort and reward both depend on your current level.

For those who want to sharpen IELTS writing vocabulary, this 4000 words list seems large. Instead, IELTS Writing Task Vocabulary collects a short but hard writing vocabulary.

If speaking test is your shortage, enhance speaking vocabulary from 100 IELTS Speaking Words will strengthen your confidence to face examiners.

Alternative Vocabularies - Other Wordlists
Students with separate levels or situations may choose differently. Some like a shortlist because time matters; others prefer to learn difficult and large vocabulary in order to pursue a high score. We do know this 4000 IELTS vocabulary cannot cover all test takers' cases, for those who are looking for lighter or smaller lists, 10 Popular IELTS Vocabularies may give some clues.

Two of them possibly you are interested.

If your schedule is very tight, or you just need a passed score, suggest to view 500 IELTS Vocabulary, a short but proven academic vocabulary for students who are in English countries.

The 6000 IELTS Vocabulary Words actually consists of 2000+ words that are not in the 4000 IELTS Academic Words, low frequency but useful, an excellent supplement after your finishing the first 4000 words.

3   Words' EBook, PDF, and Cards:
IELTS Vocabulary EBook
We have published ebook that exactly matches the 4000/6000 IELTS Academic Words. Students can buy from main ebook distributors.

Apple iBookKoboBarnes & NobleAmazon Kindle


IELTS Vocabulary PDF List
Some students like using PDF lists to learn and review words. We do offer a handy feature to make a PDF word list of each group. Below are demos of Level 1's first group, including 9 non-English explanations.If you have a VIP account, you can print all groups' word list from the website; the details are in:

IELTS Vocabulary Cards
Cards are useful tools for some students to study new words. We offer two buttons to make one-side and two-side flashcards for each group. Below are one-side cards for Level 1's first group, including 9 non-English explanations.If you have a VIP account, you can print all groups' cards, either one-side or two-side, from the website; the details are in:

DIY - PDF of IELTS vocabulary
May I DIY PDF file of the 4000 IELTS words? Yes, you can run Print Vocabulary in PDF directly. This app can load all vocabularies of this website, please select '4000 IELTS Academic Words', filter and edit words, and create PDF by browsers. It's a free and handy tool to make your IELTS vocabulary PDF file.

If you need more flexible solutions, please go to Download IELTS Vocabulary PDF. In addition to print the whole group, it tells you how to leverage other free Internet PDF tools to produce a PDF file based on this IELTS vocabulary in a few minutes.

4   Manage Word Status:
To speed up your studying, you can manage words by marking them as New, Known, and Review status. There are two ways: Note page or Panel page to manage words' statuses. You can also save statuses to the cloud and sync back if your device has trouble or want to switch to other devices.

Word status works for all vocabularies on the website, including 4000 IELTS Academic Words. It is a handy flag to skip known words and focus on new and half-familiar words.

By Note
Manage IELTS Word by Note


By Panel
Manage IELTS Word by Panel


5   View all words by groups:        
Go to Word List by Group:
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 

Select Vocabulary Group:
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 

Words of Group 1: (Part of words, select list to view all.)
abandon
abort
abortion
absurd
abuse
academic
academy
access
account
accountant
accurate
accuse
accused
acid
acknowledge
address
adjust
administration
adopt
adore
adult
affect
affection
afford
agency
agenda
aggressive
agreement
aid
air
aisle
alarm
album
alien
alliance
ally
...
6   Demonstrate word list style:
budget   Pronounce
n. estimate; a sum of money allocated for a particular purpose
Earlier this week, EU governments voted to bend the rules o that France and Germany wouldn't be penalized for breaking the rules on budget deficits.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bull   Pronounce
n. male of any species of cattle; large, strong, and aggressive person; optimist regarding business conditions
We are in a medium-term bull market, a corrective move within a long-term bear market.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bump   Pronounce
n. impact as from a collision; lump on the body caused by a blow
Have you ever found a small lump or a bump on your body?
Show examples and contexts   Close

bush   Pronounce
n. place abounding in trees or shrubs; the wild forest
When they got pretty close on to us, we dodged into the bush and let them go by and then dropped in behind them.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bust   Pronounce
n. the occasion for excessive eating or drinking; complete failure; sculpture of the head and shoulders of a person
With major debt repayments due over in 18 months, the business could go bust.
Show examples and contexts   Close

cabin   Pronounce
n. a small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
British Airways says passengers reported a slight smell of petrol in the cabin of BA flight 003 bound for New York.
Show examples and contexts   Close

This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
7   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
alien  Speak
Exercise
something formed in mind; thought or notion
Exercise
solid thick rope made of twisted steel or metal wire
Exercise
talk without exchanging too much information; informal conversation
Exercise
dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed in nature; very different place, society, or person
ambulance  Speak
Exercise
society; a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government
Exercise
field hospital organized as to follow an army in its movements; a wagon for conveying the wounded to hospital
Exercise
the field where the buildings of a university are situated
Exercise
like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; merciless
antique  Speak
Exercise
any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion
Exercise
bonanza; prosperity; prosper; expand; flourish
Exercise
part of the human body which extends downward from breast to thighs, and contains bowels; womb
Exercise
a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another; lack of clarity or order
benefit  Speak
Exercise
assured; having or marked by assurance
Exercise
like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; merciless
Exercise
drill; make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill
Exercise
advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being; welfare; gain
blast  Speak
Exercise
highest in office or rank; principal; head
Exercise
explode; burst; gale; a powerful gust of wind or air
Exercise
field hospital organized as to follow an army in its movements; a wagon for conveying the wounded to hospital
Exercise
assured; having or marked by assurance
bolt  Speak
Exercise
talk without exchanging too much information; informal conversation
Exercise
link; connection; uniting force or tie; binding agreement; duty
Exercise
any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion
Exercise
dash or dart off; move or jump suddenly
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
8   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
v. stop; terminate before completion; terminate a pregnancy


Spelling Word: abort
Read [Esc]
a. making assaults; unjustly attacking; combative; hostile; tending to spread quickly


Spelling Word: aggressive
Read [Esc]
n. state of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or character


Spelling Word: agreement
Read [Esc]
n. lawyer; one who is appointed by another to act in his place or stead; proxy


Spelling Word: attorney
Read [Esc]
a. knowing; having knowledge or cognizance


Spelling Word: aware
Read [Esc]
n. a sort of theatrical representation by dancers


Spelling Word: ballet
This is 6 words spelling. Try spelling exercises of the list