These are words 201 to 225 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
201
money
noun
Many students find it hard to save money while they study.
what you use to buy things; coins and notes, or an amount in a bank.
Watch out: Money is uncountable, so there is no moneys. Say a lot of money, not many moneys, and an amount of money.
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202
fact
noun
The fact that prices have risen is well known.
collocationsin fact · the fact that · a fact of life · as a matter of fact
something that is true and can be checked.
Watch out: In fact adds a stronger or surprising point, not an example. The ending /kt/ is difficult for some learners, so release the t.
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203
however
adverb
Cars are convenient. However, they cause pollution.
collocationshowever much · however hard · however many · However, ...
used to show a contrast with what was said before.
Watch out: Use a full stop or semicolon before however, and a comma after it. A comma alone before however is an error.
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204
area
noun
Housing in urban areas is expensive in most countries.
collocationsan urban area · a rural area · a residential area · an area of research
a region or part of a place; a subject or field.
Watch out: Area has three syllables: AIR-ee-uh. The plural is areas.
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205
provide
verb
Governments should provide free healthcare for older people.
collocationsprovide information · provide support · provide A with B · provide B for A
to give or supply what someone needs.
Watch out: Use provide someone with something or provide something for someone. Do not say provide someone something.
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206
name
noun, verb
The city was named after a river that runs through it.
collocationsfirst name · family name · in the name of · be named after
the word that people use to call a person or thing; to give a name to.
Watch out: In British English, family name and surname mean the same. First name, forename and given name are also used.
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207
read
verb
I read the full report before the meeting yesterday.
collocationsread a book · read aloud · read about · read between the lines
to look at words and understand them.
Watch out: The past and the participle are also spelled read, but they are pronounced /red/. The present form is /riːd/.
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208
friend
noun
I made many friends during my first year at university.
collocationsa close friend · make friends · a best friend · be friends with
a person you know well and like.
Watch out: The spelling is ie, not ei. Friendly ends in -ly but it is an adjective: a friendly person. Say make friends, not do friends.
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209
month
noun
Rents in the city rise by a small amount every month.
collocationslast month · every month · a month ago · per month
one of the twelve parts of a year.
Watch out: Month ends in /nθ/ and months in /nθs/. Touch the back of your top front teeth with the tip of your tongue for /θ/, and keep it short. As a describing word, month stays singular: a three-month course.
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210
large
adjective
A large number of tourists visit the old town each summer.
collocationsa large number of · on a large scale · by and large · large families
big in size or number; not small.
Watch out: Large means big, not long or wide. It is more formal than big, so it is a good choice in an essay.
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211
business
noun
Small businesses create many jobs in rural areas.
collocationsrun a business · a small business · on business · a business trip
the work of buying and selling; a company.
Watch out: Business has two syllables when you say it: BIZ-ness. It is a countable noun when it means a company: a business.
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212
without
preposition
Some people can study well without any noise around them.
collocationswithout doubt · without any · do without · without having
not having or not using something.
Watch out: Without already has a negative meaning, so do not add no or not: without any help, not without no help. After without use an -ing form: without asking.
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213
information
noun
Websites give learners instant information about courses.
collocationsa piece of information · useful information · collect information · information about
facts or details about something.
Watch out: Information is uncountable. Say some information, not an information or informations.
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214
open
adjective, verb
Local libraries are open to everyone in the community.
collocationsopen a door · open to ideas · open-minded · open an account
not closed; to make something not closed.
Watch out: For a light or a machine, say turn on, not open. Open is for doors, windows, bags and accounts.
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215
order
noun, verb
Governments increase taxes in order to pay for public services.
collocationsin order to · place an order · in alphabetical order · out of order
the way things are arranged; a request for goods; to ask for something to be made or brought.
Watch out: In order to is followed by a base verb to show purpose: in order to save money. Do not say in order for save.
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216
government
noun
The government has introduced a new policy on plastic bags.
collocationslocal government · government policy · government spending · the government of
the group of people who run a country.
Watch out: The spelling has an n before ment: government. In British English you can use a singular or plural verb, but choose one and stay with it in an essay.
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217
word
noun
In other words, cheaper homes would help young families.
collocationsin other words · word for word · a word of advice · keep your word
a unit of language with a meaning.
Watch out: Use in other words to restate an idea. Do not mix up word /wɜːd/ with world /wɜːld/.
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218
issue
noun, verb
Housing is an important social issue in many cities.
collocationsraise an issue · the issue of · a social issue · issue a statement
a topic or problem that people discuss; to give out officially.
Watch out: Issue is slightly more formal than problem for an idea that people debate. It can also be said /ˈɪsjuː/.
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219
market
noun, verb
The job market is becoming more competitive for graduates.
collocationsthe job market · the housing market · on the market · market research
a place or system where goods are bought and sold.
Watch out: A market is where trade happens. Marketing is the activity of promoting and selling a product. They are not the same.
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220
pay
verb, noun
Employees expect to be paid fairly for overtime.
collocationspay attention · pay for · pay a bill · a pay rise
to give money for something; money you receive for work.
Watch out: The past form is paid, not payed. You pay a bill or a person, but pay for goods and services you buy.
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221
build
verb
Governments are building new homes in many large cities.
collocationsbuild a house · build trust · build a career · build up
to make something by putting parts together.
Watch out: The u is silent. Build rhymes with filled. The past form is built /bɪlt/, not builded.
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222
hold
verb
The city holds a food festival every summer.
collocationshold a meeting · hold on · hold an opinion · hold back
to keep something in your hand; to have an event or an opinion.
Watch out: The past is held. Say hold a meeting or hold an election, not make a meeting.
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223
service
noun
A reliable bus service helps older people stay independent.
collocationspublic services · customer service · a bus service · the service industry
a system or business that provides something people need.
Watch out: Service has an s, not a z, in the middle: /ˈsɜːvɪs/. Services (plural) can mean facilities, such as health services.
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224
against
preposition
Many residents are against the plan to build a new road.
collocationsbe against · against the law · against my will · against the clock
opposed to; in contrast to; next to a surface.
Watch out: Say I am against the idea, not against to the idea. The last sound is /nst/, with a clear s and t.
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225
believe
verb
Many people believe that young drivers cause more accidents.
collocationsbelieve in · believe that · hard to believe · make believe
to think something is true; to trust that something exists.
Watch out: Believe is not used in continuous tenses: say I believe, not I am believing. Believe in means trust something exists or is good.
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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 have no , so I cannot buy lunch.
It is a that the sun rises in the east.
Cars are convenient. , they cause pollution.
Housing in urban is expensive in most countries.
Parents must for their children.
The city was after a river that runs through it.
I the full report before the meeting yesterday.
I made many during my first year at university.
Rents in the city rise by a small amount every .
A number of tourists visit the old town each summer.
Small create many jobs in rural areas.
Some people can study well any noise around them.
Websites give learners instant about courses.
Local libraries are to everyone in the community.
We left early in to catch the train.
The has introduced a new tax on cigarettes.
Do not say a to anyone.
There is an with my account.
We buy fresh fruit at the on Saturdays.
Employees expect to be fairly for overtime.
Governments are new homes in many large cities.
The city a food festival every summer.
A reliable bus helps older people stay independent.
Many residents are the plan to build a new road.
Do you in ghosts?
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