IELTS Writing Vocabulary: 60 Phrases for Task 2 Band 7+

Lexical Resource is one of four equally-weighted criteria in IELTS Writing, accounting for 25% of your band score. The examiner assesses: range of vocabulary, accuracy of use, and ability to paraphrase. The Band 7 descriptor requires "sufficient range to allow some flexibility and precision" and "uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation."

This guide gives you 60 phrases organised by function — the building blocks of a Band 7+ Task 2 essay.

How to Use These Phrases

Three rules:

1. Never memorise these verbatim to be dropped in wholesale. Examiners are trained to spot memorised phrases. Use them as templates and adapt them to your essay topic.
2. Collocations matter. "Play a pivotal role" and "play a crucial role" are natural English. "Play a significant role" is borderline. "Play an important role" is overused. The rarer the phrase, the more it signals lexical range.
3. One unusual phrase is worth more than five common ones. Don't try to pack all 60 into one essay. Use 5–8 well-chosen phrases, each integrated naturally.

Section 1: Introducing the Topic (Paraphrasing)

Use in: Introduction

1. "It is widely acknowledged that..."
2. "There is growing consensus that..."
3. "The question of whether X has become increasingly pertinent in recent decades."
4. "X has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in contemporary society."
5. "The proliferation of X has prompted widespread debate about..."
6. "X represents one of the defining challenges/opportunities of the twenty-first century."
7. "Against a backdrop of [globalisation/technological change/urbanisation], the question of X has taken on renewed urgency."
8. "Few issues have generated as much public debate as the question of..."

Section 2: Stating Your Position (Thesis)

Use in: Introduction and Conclusion

9. "This essay argues that..."
10. "It is the contention of this essay that..."
11. "There is a compelling case to be made for..."
12. "On balance, the evidence suggests that..."
13. "While acknowledging the merits of alternative perspectives, this essay maintains that..."
14. "The weight of evidence points towards..."
15. "This is, ultimately, a question about... and the answer has significant implications for..."

Section 3: Presenting Arguments

Use in: Body paragraphs

16. "One of the most persuasive arguments in favour of X is..."
17. "Perhaps the most significant consideration is..."
18. "A central pillar of this argument is..."
19. "It is difficult to overstate the importance of..."
20. "X plays a pivotal role in..."
21. "The implications of this for Y are considerable."
22. "This is borne out by evidence showing that..."
23. "Research consistently demonstrates that..."
24. "A compelling illustration of this is..."
25. "This point is underscored by the fact that..."

Section 4: Conceding the Counter-Argument

Use in: Body paragraphs (especially Discussion essays)

26. "It is true that..."
27. "Proponents of the opposing view would argue that..."
28. "There is undeniable merit in the claim that..."
29. "One cannot dismiss the argument that..."
30. "Admittedly, there are valid reasons why some believe..."
31. "While it is tempting to conclude that..., the reality is more nuanced."
32. "This view has considerable intuitive appeal; however..."
33. "Even granting that X is the case, it does not necessarily follow that..."

Section 5: Adding Points and Building Arguments

Use in: Within and between body paragraphs

34. "Furthermore, what compounds this issue is..."
35. "A related consideration concerns..."
36. "This is further complicated by..."
37. "What is particularly striking about this is..."
38. "Beyond this immediate point lies a deeper issue:"
39. "Compounding matters further is the fact that..."
40. "In addition to this, it is worth noting that..."
41. "This trend is not limited to X but extends to..."

Section 6: Contrasting and Qualifying

Use in: Throughout — signals intellectual precision

42. "This is not to say that..."
43. "The picture is, however, considerably more complex."
44. "Crucially, this does not mean that..."
45. "A distinction must be drawn between... and..."
46. "It would be an oversimplification to suggest that..."
47. "There is a significant difference between X and Y in this context."
48. "While X is largely true for [context A], the situation is quite different in [context B]."

Section 7: Emphasising Key Points

Use in: Within body paragraphs

49. "It bears emphasising that..."
50. "Of particular note is..."
51. "What is often overlooked is..."
52. "Central to this debate is..."
53. "The significance of this cannot be overstated."
54. "This is, arguably, the most important dimension of the issue."

Section 8: Concluding

Use in: Conclusion

55. "In sum, the evidence points clearly towards..."
56. "The foregoing analysis suggests that..."
57. "Taken together, these considerations indicate that..."
58. "What emerges from this discussion is a picture of..."
59. "It is clear that a multifaceted approach to this issue is required."
60. "Ultimately, the resolution of this issue demands not only X but also Y."

Vocabulary for Specific IELTS Topics

Some phrases are topic-specific but appear frequently enough to memorise:

Technology: "the rapid pace of technological advancement," "digital transformation," "algorithmic decision-making," "the automation of routine tasks"

Environment: "climate mitigation strategies," "carbon-intensive industries," "ecological sustainability," "the transition to renewable energy"

Education: "equitable access to education," "pedagogical approach," "critical thinking skills," "the credentialist labour market"

Health: "preventive healthcare measures," "the obesity epidemic," "mental health infrastructure," "evidence-based medicine"

Globalisation: "economic interdependence," "cultural homogenisation," "the multinational corporation," "cross-border mobility"

Common Vocabulary Mistakes at Band 6

Mistake 1: Overusing "important" Replace with: crucial, pivotal, significant, critical, fundamental, indispensable

Mistake 2: Overusing "show" Replace with: demonstrate, indicate, suggest, reveal, highlight, illustrate, underscore

Mistake 3: Overusing "many" Replace with: a considerable number of, a growing proportion of, the majority of, an increasing share of, numerous

Mistake 4: Repeating the task question's exact vocabulary Every use of the question's specific words costs Lexical Resource marks. Paraphrase: "social media" → "social networking platforms," "digital communication tools," "online social spaces"

Mistake 5: Using formal vocabulary incorrectly "The government should utilise resources" is correct. "He utilised a pen to write" is wrong — that is over-formal. Vocabulary range must also demonstrate appropriate register.

Action Checklist

• Write one introduction using phrases from Sections 1 and 2
• Write one body paragraph using 2 phrases from Section 3 and 1 from Section 4
• Write one conclusion using a phrase from Section 8
• Check your last essay — identify every use of "important," "show," "many" and replace
• Submit an essay for AI Lexical Resource feedback

Next Steps

Vocabulary range is built over weeks of deliberate exposure and production. Read one academic article per day (The Economist, Guardian opinion, BBC analysis) and note any phrases that could serve a function from this list. Then use IELTS Writing practice to write essays and track your Lexical Resource score specifically — that number tells you exactly where your vocabulary stands relative to Band 7.