Basic IELTS Speaking Vocabulary

The IELTS Speaking module tests your ability to communicate clearly and correctly in English. You will talk with an examiner face to face for a total of 15-20 minutes. The speaking module usually goes with a fixed three-part structure, though the topics vary from case to case.

Speaking test requires the candidate to express thought through the mouth. It means test-takers should have enough so-called speaking vocabulary: know them and pronounce them clearly and correctly. Anyone who wants to get a higher score from a speaking test must build a stronger speaking vocabulary.

However, the following 100+ word list is for all candidates, even if one only needs an average score. It is a minimum IELTS speaking vocabulary. Try to pronounce them fluently and loudly with full confidence, which is the basis to shoot a good score on the speaking tests.

If you don't have time to learn and practice all of them, we remark stars (*) for some important words you may start at first.

In addition to these generic words, we prepared some speaking vocabularies by topics that are also deserved to study by high score hunters.

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1. fantastic  (*)

They did a fantastic job. 

2. amazing  (*)

she makes the most amazing cakes. 

3. absurd 

Gym shorts looked absurd on such a tall girl. 

4. unbelievable  (*)

Your audacity is unbelievable. 

5. intelligent  (*)

Annabelle is intelligent and hardworking. 

6. annoyed  (*)

Kelly was annoyed with him. 

7. gorgeous  (*)

Such a gorgeous color and exquisite decoration. 

8. brilliant  (*)

You are a brilliant young mathematician. 

9. monotonous 

Soon we heard a low, monotonous wailing of many voices. 

10. doleful 

We dislike that doleful consequence. 

11. stringent 

California's air pollution guidelines are stringent. 

12. efficient  (*)

It's an energy efficient heating system. 

13. outstanding  (*)

The team's outstanding performance impresses me very much. 

14. adventurous  (*)

They wanted more adventurous meals. 

15. impatient  (*)

They are impatient for change. 

16. practical  (*)

There are two obvious practical applications of the research. 

17. romantic  (*)

He's very handsome, and so romantic. 

18. deliberate  (*)

He is a careful and deliberate worker. 

19. ambitious  (*)

The scope of the book is very ambitious. 

20. organized  (*)

I am systematic and organized enough to save things. 

21. reserved 

He is a reserved, almost taciturn man. 

22. sociable  (*)

We will visit a very sociable little village. 

23. talkative  (*)

The talkative driver hadn't stopped chatting. 

24. unusable 

The steps were overgrown and unusable. 

25. avid 

She was avid for information about the murder inquiry. 

26. greedy  (*)

They got the greedy thief who plundered a defense contractor. 

27. understanding  (*)

Foreign visitors with little understanding of English. 

28. dedicated  (*)

Investing in dedicated bike lanes will encourage more bicycle commuters. 

29. incurable 

The claim that a product can cure an incurable disease should sound alarms. 

30. pretty  (*)

She is a pretty little girl with an engaging grin. 

31. outgoing  (*)

She's an extremely affable, jovial, outgoing type of person. 

32. disorganize  (*)

Attacks on leading government figures might disorganize the regime. 

33. frank  (*)

It's a long and frank discussion. 

34. generous  (*)

She was generous with her money. 

35. tolerant  (*)

We must be tolerant of others. 

36. inexperienced  (*)

This young lady is an inexperienced driver. 

37. mischievous 

Two mischievous kittens had decorated the bed with shredded newspaper. 

38. sensitive  (*)

The new method of protein detection was more sensitive than earlier ones. 

39. sensible  (*)

I cannot believe that it is sensible to spend so much. 

40. emotional  (*)

He was a strongly emotional young man. 

41. sentimental  (*)

She felt a sentimental attachment to the place creep over her. 

42. responsible  (*)

The gene was responsible for a rare type of eye cancer. 

44. supportive  (*)

The staff are extremely supportive of each other. 

45. passive  (*)

The women were portrayed as passive victims. 

46. costive  (*)

If he did ask her she would become costive. 

47. stingy 

His employer is stingy and idle. 

48. malignant 

They were in the hands of malignant fate. 

49. vigilant 

The burglar was spotted by vigilant neighbors. 

50. omnipotent 

They argued an omnipotent sovereign on that point. 

51. fierce  (*)

He kissed her with a fierce, demanding passion. 

52. severe  (*)

The charges would have warranted a severe sentence. 

53. intriguing 

No one forgot that intriguing story. 

54. retarded 

In retrospect, it was a totally retarded idea. 

55. discreet 

We made some discreet inquiries. 

56. discreditable 

He must stop his discreditable conduct. 

57. thrifty 

I'm cheap, or rather thrifty and money smart. 

58. furtive  (*)

They spent a furtive day together. 

59. shabby  (*)

A conscript in a shabby uniform saluted the car. 

60. assertive  (*)

Patients should be more assertive with their doctors. 

61. tangible  (*)

The emphasis is now on tangible results. 

62. tempting  (*)

He cannot refuse a tempting financial offer like this. 

63. tire  (*)

Soon the ascent grew steeper and he began to tire. 

64. cynical  (*)

No one will accept her cynical attitude. 

65. notorious  (*)

Los Angeles is notorious for its smog. 

66. applicable  (*)

The same considerations are equally applicable to accident claims. 

67. agitated  (*)

There's no point getting agitated. 

68. boldly  (*)

You will have our support as long as you fight boldly against corruption. 

69. eminent 

He is one of the world's most eminent statisticians. 

70. dry  (*)

The jacket kept me warm and dry. 

71. doleful 

We dislike his doleful look. 

72. unavoidable  (*)

It's the natural and unavoidable consequences of growing old. 

73. inevitable  (*)

They believe that war was inevitable. 

74. dignified  (*)

She maintained a dignified silence. 

75. indispensable 

He made himself indispensable to the parish priest. 

76. cunning 

A cunning look came into his eyes. 

77. reveal 

The clouds were breaking up to reveal a clear blue sky. 

78. flashy 

He always had a flashy car. 

79. impressive  (*)

The photo shows us an impressive view of the mountains. 

80. rational 

I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation. 

81. reasonable  (*)

It seems a reasonable enough request. 

82. miserable  (*)

Their happiness made Anne feel even more miserable. 

83. spontaneous 

The audience broke into spontaneous applause. 

85. industrious  (*)

He struck me as being particularly hardworking, energetic and industrious . 

86. studious 

We all noticed his studious absence from public view. 

87. indolent 

They didn't want any competition in the lazy and indolent stakes. 

88. cosmopolitan 

His knowledge of French, Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely cosmopolitan. 

89. radiant  (*)

She gave him a radiant smile. 

90. versatile 

She just brought a versatile sewing machine. 

91. canny 

The canny shoppers came early for a bargain. 

92. cautious  (*)

The plan received a cautious welcome. 

93. discreet 

We made some discreet inquiries. 

94. immortal  (*)

Our mortal bodies are inhabited by immortal souls. 

95. extravagant 

It was rather extravagant to buy both. 

96. idle  (*)

Being idle won't pay the bills 

97. abstemious 

The monks here have willingly chosen this abstemious life. 

98. frugal 

He led a remarkably frugal existence. 

99. wholehearted 

You have my wholehearted support. 

100. competent 

She spoke quite competent French. 

101. sympathetic  (*)

He was sympathetic toward staff with family problems. 

102. compassionate 

One of the lessons she tried to teach her son is to be compassionate. 

103. eccentric  (*)

My favorite aunt is very eccentric. 

104. interpersonal 

You will need good interpersonal skills. 

105. introversive 

Try to find out those children in your class who are introversive. 

106. cozy 

We have a cozy chat in lunch room. 

107. lax  (*)

He asked to improve lax security arrangements at the airport. 

108. conceited 

Not to be vain or conceited , but it was the truth and anyone sensible would agree. 

109. extraordinary  (*)

Young children need extraordinary amounts of attention. 

110. vernal 

We are shocked by the vernal freshness of the land. 

111. futile  (*)

He knew it's a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage. 

112. crooked 

His teeth were yellow and crooked. 

113. timorous 

We heard her timorous voice and felt her nervousness. 

114. harsh  (*)

The story took place on days of harsh military discipline. 

115. consecutive  (*)

The project will last five consecutive months. 

116. anti clockwise  (*)

To release the cover, move anti clockwise. 

117. clockwise  (*)

Please turn the knob clockwise. 

118. dread 

Jane was dreading the party. 

119. instinctive  (*)

She has an instinctive distaste for conflict. 

120. bleak 

She looked around the bleak little room in despair. 

121. brisk 

I usually have a good brisk walk in the morning. 

122. caustic 

The players were making caustic comments about the refereeing. 

123. brittle 

Her bones became fragile and brittle. 

124. unceasing 

The success is from the unceasing efforts of staffs. 

125. climatic  (*)

Under certain climatic conditions, desert locusts increase in number. 

126. clumsy 

A terribly clumsy fellow ruins efforts of all team members. 

127. considerate  (*)

The girl is the quietest and most considerate tenants possible. 

128. coherent 

They failed to develop a coherent economic strategy. 

129. incredible  (*)

They did an almost incredible tale of triumph and tragedy. 

130. constant  (*)

The company has kept its prices fairly constant.