These are words 251 to 275 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
251
idea
noun
One good idea is to open school libraries in the evening.
collocationsa good idea · have no idea · the idea of · come up with an idea
a thought, plan or suggestion.
Watch out: The stress is on the second syllable: eye-DEER. For your view say in my opinion, not in my idea.
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252
cost
noun, verb
The cost of living in large cities keeps rising.
collocationsthe cost of living · cost a lot · at all costs · cut costs
the money needed to buy or do something; to need an amount of money.
Watch out: The past form is also cost: it cost a lot. Use cost for money and take for time: it takes two hours, it costs ten pounds.
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253
less
determiner, adverb
There is less traffic on the roads during school holidays.
collocationsless than · less likely · more or less · much less
a smaller amount of something; not so much.
Watch out: Use less with uncountable nouns (less money) and fewer with countable nouns (fewer cars). Less than a number is common in Task 1.
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254
room
noun
There is plenty of room for improvement in the city's bus service.
collocationsa living room · make room for · room for improvement · no room
a part of a building with its own walls; space.
Watch out: When it means space, room is uncountable: there is no room. When it means part of a building, it is countable: three rooms.
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255
until
preposition, conjunction
Many young people live with their parents until they find a stable job.
collocationsuntil now · wait until · not until · until recently
up to the time when something happens.
Watch out: Until shows an action continuing; by shows a deadline. After until, use the present tense for the future: wait until she arrives.
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256
reason
noun
One reason for the decline in rural schools is the fall in population.
collocationsthe reason for · the reason why · for this reason · a good reason
the cause of something, or an explanation for it.
Watch out: Say the reason for something, not the reason of. After the reason you can use why or that.
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257
form
noun, verb
Applicants must fill in an online form before the end of the month.
collocationsfill in a form · form a habit · in the form of · a form of transport
a document, on screen or on sheets, that you fill in; a type or kind; to create or make.
Watch out: In British English we say fill in a form (also fill out). To create a group or habit, use the verb form: form a habit.
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258
spend
verb
Many students spend too much time on their phones.
collocationsspend time · spend money on · spend time doing · spend a fortune
to use money or time.
Watch out: The past form is spent, not spended. Use -ing after spend: spend time studying, not spend time to study.
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259
head
noun, verb
The head teacher announced a new reading programme.
collocationshead of department · head for · a head teacher · use your head
the top part of the body; the leader of a group; to go towards.
Watch out: The vowel is short /e/, as in bed, not /iː/. A head teacher runs a school in British English.
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260
car
noun
Car ownership has risen quickly in many Asian cities.
collocationsby car · a car park · drive a car · car ownership
a road vehicle with four wheels and an engine.
Watch out: Say by car with no article. In British English, the r in car is not pronounced: /kɑː/.
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261
learn
verb
Children learn a language faster when they hear it every day.
collocationslearn about · learn how to · learn from mistakes · learn by heart
to get knowledge or a skill by study or experience.
Watch out: Learn is what the student does; teach is what the teacher does. The past can be learnt or learned in British English.
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262
level
noun, adjective
The level of pollution in the city has fallen in recent years.
collocationsa high level · sea level · the level of · reach a level
a position on a scale; a height; flat.
Watch out: In Task 1, level off is a useful phrase for a line that stops rising. The British spelling of the past tense is levelled.
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263
person
noun
A person who reads regularly usually writes more clearly.
collocationsin person · per person · a person who · a young person
a human being as an individual.
Watch out: The usual plural is people, not persons. The word peoples is used only for nations or groups of people.
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264
experience
noun, verb
Work experience can help graduates find a job faster.
collocationswork experience · gain experience · a valuable experience · from experience
knowledge from doing something; something that happens to you.
Watch out: It is uncountable for knowledge (a lot of experience) and countable for an event (a great experience). The stress is on the second syllable.
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265
once
adverb, conjunction
I go to the gym once a week to stay fit.
collocationsonce a week · at once · once more · once you have
one time; at some time in the past; as soon as.
Watch out: Pronounce it /wʌns/, with a w. In an essay, once a week is more natural than one time per week.
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266
member
noun
She is a member of the university swimming team.
collocationsa family member · a member of · a staff member · a member state
a person who belongs to a group.
Watch out: Use member of, not member in or member at. The last syllable is weak: /bə/.
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267
enough
determiner, adverb
Many teenagers do not sleep enough on school nights.
collocationsenough time · good enough · not enough · old enough to
as much as is needed.
Watch out: Enough follows an adjective (tall enough) but comes before a noun (enough money). The ending is /f/, not the letters gh.
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268
bad
adjective
Too much screen time is bad for young children.
collocationsbad for · bad at · a bad habit · go bad
not good; harmful.
Watch out: Say bad at maths, not bad in maths. The forms of comparison are worse and worst, not badder.
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269
city
noun
Life in a big city is often faster than life in a small town.
collocationsthe city centre · a capital city · city life · the inner city
a large and important town.
Watch out: The plural is cities. In British English the spelling is city centre, not city center.
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270
night
noun
Some people study better at night because it is quiet.
collocationsat night · last night · all night · a night shift
the time when it is dark.
Watch out: Say at night but in the morning. The gh in night is silent.
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271
able
adjective
Students who read widely are able to write more clearly.
collocationsbe able to · unable to · ability to · enable someone to
having the skill, power or chance to do something.
Watch out: Use be able to plus the base verb: she is able to swim. Do not say can able to.
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272
support
verb, noun
Her parents strongly supported her decision to study abroad.
collocationssupport a view · support for · financial support · family support
to help, agree with or hold up; help and encouragement.
Watch out: Support means help or agree with. It does not mean tolerate. For tolerate, use put up with or bear.
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273
whether
conjunction
The council must decide whether to build a new bridge.
collocationswhether or not · decide whether · ask whether · whether to
used to talk about two possibilities, like if.
Watch out: Whether and weather sound the same but have different meanings. Use whether after a preposition: the question of whether.
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274
line
noun
The line on the graph rises steeply after 2010.
collocationsa line graph · a straight line · in line with · along the lines of
a long thin mark; a row of people or things; a telephone connection.
Watch out: A line graph is common in Task 1. British English uses queue for a line of people, and American English uses line.
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275
present
adjective, noun, verb
At present, many offices offer flexible working hours.
collocationsat present · the present day · give a present · present a report
existing now; a gift; to give or show.
Watch out: The adjective and noun are stressed on the first syllable; the verb /prɪˈzent/ is stressed on the second.
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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).
Wait, I have an !
The of a train ticket has gone up.
The journey takes than ten minutes.
My bedroom is tiny: a bed and a desk fill the whole .
Please wait here I call you.
One for the decline in rural schools is the fall in population.
Applicants must fill in an online before the end of the month.
Many students too much time on their phones.
I have a pain in my .
ownership has risen quickly in many Asian cities.
Children a language faster when they hear it every day.
The town is two metres above sea .
I met a very interesting at the party.
Work can help graduates find a job faster.
I go to the gym a week to stay fit.
He is a of a chess club.
He is old to vote.
Smoking is for your health.
Paris is the capital of France.
I slept badly last .
Students who read widely are to write more clearly.
Her parents strongly her decision to study abroad.
The council must decide to build a new bridge.
Please wait in .
I need to wrap the before the party.
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