Free Online Vocabulary Test
K12, SAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL
Want to know your IELTS vocabulary level? Try the Test Page. You can also Report My Test to us; Our tutors may view your testing and give you a suggestion. It is a FREE service.
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:
booth   Pronounce
n. house or shed built for temporary occupation; covered stall or temporary structure
There is a telephone booth near the cinema.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bore   Pronounce
v. drill; make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill
Three types of protein that enable the cells to bore in and out of blood vessels.
Show examples and contexts   Close

bounce   Pronounce
v. jolt; rebound after having struck an object or a surface
All patients bounce back to good health with that particular medicine.
Show examples and contexts   Close

boutique   Pronounce
n. small shop within a large department store or supermarket
Located in historic Fabric Row, the boutique is a good place for gem buyers.
Show examples and contexts   Close

break   Pronounce
n. opportunity to do something; pause or interval, as from work; a sudden change
A former boxer, he got his break as an actor when he replaced Marlon Brando in the Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Show examples and contexts   Close

breeze   Pronounce
n. light current of air; gentle wind; progress swiftly and effortlessly
Tomorrow Night: A light, but the steady breeze from the southwest keeps temperatures warmer than tonight.
Show examples and contexts   Close

This is 6 words quick view. View words of the list
7   Word meaning matching - Test words you know:
aid  Speak
Exercise
light current of air; gentle wind; progress swiftly and effortlessly
Exercise
connect or join together; combine
Exercise
awake, thinking, and knowing what is happening around you; alert
Exercise
person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; helper; assistant
alarm  Speak
Exercise
something formed in mind; thought or notion
Exercise
person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; helper; assistant
Exercise
people who buy goods or services
Exercise
any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger
appreciate  Speak
Exercise
bite and grind with the teeth
Exercise
two or more things occurring at the same time by chance
Exercise
attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge
Exercise
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of
associate  Speak
Exercise
one who has attained maturity or legal age; fully grown
Exercise
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
Exercise
of a fair color; light-colored; as, blond hair; a blond complexion.
Exercise
connect or join together; combine
bait  Speak
Exercise
the lightness of spirits or mood; source of joy or happiness; festive food and drink; refreshment
Exercise
harass; tease; lure, entice, or entrap
Exercise
capture or seize, especially after a chase; take by or as if by trapping; reach just in time
Exercise
people who buy goods or services
band  Speak
Exercise
harass; tease; lure, entice, or entrap
Exercise
orchestra; team; strip; ribbon; belt; unite; ally
Exercise
people who buy goods or services
Exercise
connect or join together; combine
This is 6 words matching. Try matching quizzes of the list
8   Interactive spelling - Check your spelling skill online:
Read [Esc]
n. one who maintains and audits business accounts


Spelling Word: accountant
Read [Esc]
n. instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink


Spelling Word: appetite
Read [Esc]
v. give help or support to, especially as a subordinate


Spelling Word: assist
Read [Esc]
v. support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support


Spelling Word: bear
Read [Esc]
a. brave; daring; intrepid; impudent


Spelling Word: bold
Read [Esc]
n. one that is not yet fully developed; sprout


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