These are words 101 to 125 of the 300 most common words in English. You will meet them in almost every IELTS Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing task, so it pays to know them well. For each word, read the example, try to guess the meaning, then reveal it and mark honestly how you did. Then say the word aloud, record yourself and compare it with the model voice. When you have finished, try the gap quiz and save your results.
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The words
101
last
adjective, verb
Last year, the city opened its first free bike-sharing scheme.
collocationslast year · at last · last but not least · the last time
Coming at the end, or the most recent one before now. As a verb, to continue for a period of time.
Watch out: 'At last' means finally; 'at least' means no fewer than. Say 'last week', not 'in last week'.
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102
child
noun
As a child, I spent my summers with my grandparents in the countryside.
collocationsonly child · young children · as a child · child development
A young person who is not yet an adult; also someone's son or daughter.
Watch out: The plural is children, not 'childs' or 'childrens'. The vowel changes: /aɪ/ in child but /ɪ/ in children.
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103
tell
verb
My teacher told us to describe the picture in as much detail as possible.
collocationstell the truth · tell a story · tell the difference · tell someone about
To give information to someone in speech or writing; also to know the difference (tell the difference).
Watch out: Tell needs a person: 'tell me', 'tell her that…'. Use say when you do not name the person: 'She said that…'.
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104
really
adverb
I really enjoyed the course because the lessons were practical.
collocationsreally good · not really · really like · do you really
Truly or very much; used to make a word stronger or to check what is true.
Watch out: Really is informal; in academic writing use very, highly or particularly. It starts with /r/, not /l/. Japanese and Korean speakers may say 'leally'.
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105
call
verb, noun
A person who studies the stars is called an astronomer.
collocationscall someone · be called · a phone call · call off
To name someone or something; to telephone; or to shout to get attention.
Watch out: Call + person with no to: 'I called him', not 'I called to him'. Say 'make a phone call', not 'do a call'.
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106
before
preposition, conjunction
Before I started this course, I had never written a formal essay.
collocationsbefore long · the day before · long before · before that
Earlier than another time, event or place.
Watch out: After before, use the present for the future: 'I will phone you before I leave'. For a time in the past counted from now, use ago: 'two years ago'.
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107
company
noun
The company introduced flexible hours so that staff could avoid rush hour.
collocationsset up a company · keep someone company · a large company · company policy
A business that sells goods or services; also being with other people.
Watch out: Say it with stress on the first syllable: COM-pa-ny. The plural is companies.
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108
through
preposition
Many people learn about other cultures through travel and films.
collocationsthrough the internet · go through · through the use of · all through
From one side or end to the other; also by means of.
Watch out: Through, though, thought and tough look similar but sound different. Say /θ/ with the tip of your tongue touching the back of your top front teeth, then /r/. Japanese, Korean and Turkish speakers often say 'sru'.
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109
down
adverb, preposition
Prices tend to go down when more companies compete in the same market.
collocationsgo down · write down · break down · slow down
Towards a lower place or level; also used for a decrease.
Watch out: In Writing Task 1, prefer exact verbs such as fell or decreased to 'went down'. Phrasal verbs change meaning: 'turn down' means refuse.
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110
show
verb, noun
As the graph shows, the number of visitors rose steadily from June to August.
collocationsshow an interest in · show that · show off · as the graph shows
To let someone see something, or to make something clear; also a programme on television or a stage.
Watch out: The participle is shown ('has shown'). In Writing Task 1, 'The graph shows…' is a standard opener, but vary it with illustrates.
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111
life
noun
Quality of life is often better in small towns than in capital cities.
collocationsdaily life · way of life · quality of life · city life
The time between birth and death, or the way someone lives; the state of being alive.
Watch out: The plural is lives (f changes to v): 'two lives'. Use 'way of life' for how people live.
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112
man
noun
A young man in my village built a small school for local children.
collocationsa young man · an old man · man-made · businessman
An adult male person.
Watch out: The plural is men /men/: 'two men', not 'two mans'. In general statements use people or humans instead of man.
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113
change
verb, noun
Climate change is forcing farmers to grow different crops.
collocationsmake a change · climate change · change my mind · a change in
To become different or to make something different; as a noun, the process of becoming different.
Watch out: After the noun, use in for what changed: 'a change in the law'. The last sound is /dʒ/, as in job.
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114
place
noun, verb
The festival takes place in the old town every spring.
collocationstake place · in the first place · a place to live · take the place of
A particular area, building or position; as a verb, to put something in a position.
Watch out: 'Take place' means happen and has no passive form: not 'is taken place'. Do not mix up place with space or room.
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115
long
adjective, adverb
Long working hours can harm both health and family life.
collocationsa long time · long-term · as long as · no longer
Measuring a great distance or time; for a large amount of time.
Watch out: Final /ŋ/ with no clear g. Say 'for a long time', not 'since long time'. 'As long as' means only if.
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116
between
preposition
There is a big difference between knowing a word and using it well.
collocationsbetween you and me · between … and … · in between · the difference between
In the space or time separating two points, people or things.
Watch out: Use between … and …, not 'between … to …': 'between nine and five'. Stress the second syllable: be-TWEEN.
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117
feel
verb
Many students feel anxious before an important test, but practice helps.
collocationsfeel like · feel free · feel sure · feel under pressure
To experience an emotion or physical sensation; also to touch something.
Watch out: Feel + adjective: 'I feel tired', not 'I feel tiredly'. The past tense is felt. The vowel is long: feel /fiːl/ is not fill /fɪl/. Spanish, Italian and Japanese speakers often shorten it.
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118
too
adverb
Housing in the capital is too expensive for most young workers.
collocationstoo much · too many · me too · too late
More than is wanted or needed; also means 'as well' (me too).
Watch out: 'Too + adjective' is negative: too expensive means it is a problem. For a strong positive, use very. Do not confuse too, to and two.
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119
still
adverb, adjective
Although he moved abroad, he still phones his parents every Sunday.
collocationsstill alive · stay still · still a long way · still waiting
Continuing up to now; or in spite of that; or not moving.
Watch out: Still goes before the main verb ('She still lives here') and after be ('She is still here'). In negatives it goes before not: 'She still does not understand'.
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120
problem
noun
One serious problem in many cities is the lack of affordable housing.
collocationshave a problem with · solve a problem · a serious problem · no problem
Something difficult that needs a solution; also a question to be solved.
Watch out: Problem is countable: 'a problem', 'problems'. Say 'have a problem with…'. Stress the first syllable: PROB-lem.
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121
write
verb
In the exam, you must write at least 250 words for Task 2.
collocationswrite down · write about · write a report · write back
To put words or numbers on a surface, or to compose a text such as a letter, an essay or a book.
Watch out: The w is silent. The past is wrote and the participle is written (double t). It sounds the same as right.
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122
same
adjective, pronoun
My sister and I went to the same school, but we studied different subjects.
collocationsthe same as · at the same time · all the same · same here
Not different; exactly like another.
Watch out: Same always has the: 'the same', not 'same'. Use 'the same as', not 'same like': 'This phone is the same as mine'.
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123
lot
noun
A lot of people in my city use bicycles for short journeys.
collocationsa lot of · lots of · a lot more · quite a lot
A large amount or number: used in 'a lot' and 'lots'.
Watch out: A lot is two words, never 'alot'. It is informal; in Task 2 use many or a large number of with countable nouns, and much or a great deal of with uncountable nouns.
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124
great
adjective
Rivers have always been of great importance to the growth of cities.
collocationsa great deal of · a great many · great importance · Great Britain
Very good; or very large, important or strong.
Watch out: The vowel is /eɪ/, as in late, not /iː/ (greet). It is spelled ea but not said like eat.
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125
try
verb
I always try to speak English with my neighbours at home.
collocationstry to · try on · try out · try hard
To make an attempt to do something; or to test something to see if you like it.
Watch out: 'Try to do' means make an effort; 'try doing' means test whether it works: 'try drinking water'. Spelling: tries, tried (y changes to i).
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Gap quiz
Each sentence has one gap. Drag a word into the gap, or tap a word and then tap the gap. The words are the ones you have just practised, and some of them have changed shape (for example, is or made).
I saw my cousin week.
The was crying because she was hungry.
He me a funny story yesterday.
? I did not know that.
A person who studies the stars is an astronomer.
I started this course, I had never written a formal essay.
The was founded by two friends and now employs many people.
Many people learn about other cultures travel and films.
Prices tend to go when more companies compete in the same market.
As the graph , the number of visitors rose steadily from June to August.
in a small village is quiet.
The next to me is my uncle.
Let's eat out for a .
The festival takes in the old town every spring.
How does it take?
There is a big difference knowing a word and using it well.
Many students anxious before an important test, but practice helps.
She is tired to study.
He stood and listened carefully.
One serious in many cities is the lack of affordable housing.
Please me an email.
My phone is the as yours.
A of people in my city use bicycles for short journeys.
Rivers have always been of importance to the growth of cities.
I always to speak English with my neighbours at home.
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