These are words 226 to 250 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
226
second
adjective, noun
English is the second language of many professionals in Asia.
collocationsa second language · the second half · a second chance · second-hand
coming after the first; a unit of time.
Watch out: The stress is on the first syllable: SEC-ond. Secondly introduces your next point in an essay; the adjective second goes before a noun: the second reason.
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227
though
conjunction, adverb
Even though the course was difficult, most students enjoyed it.
collocationseven though · as though · though it was · it was good though
despite the fact that; but.
Watch out: Spell it carefully: though, through, thought and tough all look similar and sound different. After even use though, not although.
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228
yes
interjection
Yes, I think that technology has improved the way we study.
collocationssay yes · yes or no · yes, please · yes, of course
used to agree or to answer a question positively.
Watch out: Start with the sound /j/, as in you, not /dʒ/. In IELTS Speaking, do not stop at yes; add a reason or example.
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229
love
verb, noun
I love living near the sea because the air is clean.
collocationsfall in love · love doing · in love with · love to
to like very much; a strong feeling of care.
Watch out: Love has the vowel of cup, /lʌv/. Use I love doing or I love to do. Vary it in Speaking with I really enjoy or I am keen on.
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230
increase
verb, noun
Sales of electric cars increased steadily over the period.
collocationsincrease by · an increase in · increase sharply · increase steadily
to become larger or to make larger; a rise.
Watch out: The verb is stressed on the second syllable /ɪnˈkriːs/, and the noun on the first /ˈɪnkriːs/. After the noun use in: an increase in sales.
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231
job
noun
Many graduates apply for a job abroad in their first year.
collocationsget a job · apply for a job · a part-time job · job satisfaction
the work that you do to earn money; a task.
Watch out: Job is countable: a job, two jobs. Work is uncountable, so do not say a work or works for employment.
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232
plan
noun, verb
I plan to study engineering at a university in Britain.
collocationsmake a plan · plan to · plan ahead · according to plan
a set of ideas for what to do; to decide what to do in advance.
Watch out: After plan use to plus the base verb: plan to study. You can also say plan on studying.
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233
result
noun, verb
Poor sleep can result in lower marks at school.
collocationsas a result · result in · result from · exam results
something that happens because of something else; a score; to happen because of something.
Watch out: Result in names the effect; result from names the cause. The linking phrase is as a result, with a comma after it.
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234
away
adverb
The nearest hospital is about ten minutes away from the village.
collocationsfar away · go away · right away · take away
to or at a distance; not here.
Watch out: When you name the place, use away from: five kilometres away from the city.
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235
example
noun
For example, cities such as Paris have built cycle lanes.
collocationsfor example · give an example · a good example of · set an example
something that shows what others of its type are like.
Watch out: Put a comma after for example. The stress is on the second syllable: ex-AM-ple.
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236
happen
verb
Accidents often happen when drivers are tired.
collocationshappen to · what happened · happen again · as it happens
to take place, especially without being planned.
Watch out: Happen has no passive: the accident happened, not the accident was happened. Take place is a more formal alternative for planned events.
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237
offer
verb, noun
Many universities offer scholarships to students from overseas.
collocationsoffer to help · a job offer · offer advice · a special offer
to say you will give or do something; something that is offered.
Watch out: After offer use to and the base verb: she offered to help. You can also offer someone something.
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238
young
adjective
Young people spend a lot of time online.
collocationsyoung people · a young adult · young children · the young
not old; having lived for a short time.
Watch out: Young rhymes with sung. The spelling is ou, but the vowel is /ʌ/. Use the young to mean all young people.
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239
close
adjective, verb
The nearest school is close to my home.
collocationsclose friends · close to · close down · close the gap
as an adjective, near or very friendly; as a verb, to shut.
Watch out: The adjective is /kləʊs/ with an s, and the verb is /kləʊz/ with a z. Check which one you need.
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240
program
noun, verb
The training programme lasts for six months and includes a work placement.
collocationsa computer program · a training programme · a TV programme · to program a robot
a set of instructions for a computer; in British English, a plan or TV show is programme.
Watch out: In British English use program only for computers, and programme for a plan of activities or a broadcast.
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241
lead
verb
Heavy rain can lead to flooding in low-lying areas.
collocationslead to · lead a team · lead a healthy life · lead the way
to show the way; to be in charge; to cause something.
Watch out: The forms are lead, led, led. The past led /led/ is not leaded. Lead to means cause.
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242
buy
verb
More people now buy their groceries online than in the past.
collocationsbuy online · buy a ticket · buy something from · buy a house
to get something by paying money.
Watch out: The past form is bought /bɔːt/, not buyed. Buy and by sound the same but are spelled differently.
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243
understand
verb
It is easier to understand a rule when the teacher gives an example.
collocationsunderstand why · easy to understand · fully understand · make yourself understood
to know the meaning of something or how it works.
Watch out: Understand is not used in continuous tenses: I understand, not I am understanding. The past is understood. The main stress is on the last syllable.
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244
thank
verb
I would like to thank my teacher for helping me prepare.
collocationsthank you for · thanks to · thank goodness · thank someone for
to tell someone you are grateful.
Watch out: Start with /θ/, with the tongue tip touching the back of your top front teeth, not /s/ or /t/. Thank you for is followed by a noun or an -ing form.
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245
far
adverb, adjective
So far, the new bus route has been popular with commuters.
collocationsso far · far from · as far as I know · by far
a long distance away.
Watch out: So far goes with the present perfect: so far I have visited three countries. In British English the r is not pronounced.
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246
today
adverb, noun
Today, more people work from home than ever before.
collocationstoday's world · earlier today · from today · until today
on this day; at the present time.
Watch out: The first syllable is weak /tə/. In essays, In today's world is overused, so try nowadays or in recent years.
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247
hour
noun
The journey to the university takes about an hour by train.
Watch out: The h is silent. Hour sounds like our. Say an hour, not a hour.
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248
student
noun
International students often live in shared housing near campus.
collocationsa university student · an international student · a full-time student · a student loan
a person who studies at school or university.
Watch out: The stress is on the first syllable. In British English, the sound after t is /j/: STYOO-dent. Do not stress the second syllable.
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249
face
noun, verb
Cities face serious traffic problems in the next decade.
collocationsface a problem · face to face · face the fact · lose face
the front of the head; to deal with a problem.
Watch out: As a verb, face means deal with or be in front of. Face a challenge is a common phrase in essays.
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250
hope
verb, noun
I hope to study medicine and work in a rural clinic.
collocationshope to · hope that · lose hope · in the hope of
to want something to happen; a feeling that good things will happen.
Watch out: After hope use to plus the base verb, or a that clause: I hope that you can come. Do not say I hope you to come.
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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).
English is the language of many professionals in Asia.
Even the course was difficult, most students enjoyed it.
Do you like pizza? , I do.
They fell in at university.
Sales of electric cars steadily over the period.
She has a part-time to pay for her studies.
We our holiday months ago.
Poor sleep can in lower marks at school.
The nearest hospital is about ten minutes from the village.
For , cities such as Paris have built cycle lanes.
Accidents often when drivers are tired.
Many universities scholarships to foreign applicants.
She is too to drive.
The nearest school is to my home.
The training lasts for six months and includes a work placement.
Heavy rain can to flooding in low-lying areas.
Where can I a cheap ticket?
It is easier to a rule when the teacher explains it.
goodness it stopped raining.
So , the new bus route has been popular with commuters.
is my birthday.
The journey to the university takes about an by train.
International often live in shared housing near campus.
Cities serious traffic problems in the next decade.
Let's the weather is good tomorrow.
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