Vocab Victor Helps Build Vocabulary for IELTS

The IELTS test is one of the most widely-used English language proficiency tests in the world. It is used to meet English requirements for college entrance, work, and immigration. If you take the IELTS test, it will assess your ability to read, write, listen, and speak in English.

There are many ways to prepare for IELTS. One of the best things you can do is to take a practice test so that you know what to expect. A practice test can also help you identify areas where you need to improve.

Another way to prepare for IELTS is to take an online course. Vocab Victor recommends IELTS with Fiona. Fiona has an MA in TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) and has been teaching for over 25 years. She has developed a course specifically designed to help you do your best on IELTS.

Vocabulary and IELTS

Improving your vocabulary is a great way to prepare for IELTS. Vocabulary is important in all the sections of IELTS. In the reading sections you will have to read dense texts in a short period of time, so it’s important to know the vocabulary. In addition to knowing the key words for the reading and listening sections, the following vocabulary skills are especially important.

Spelling

Spelling is important in the listening and writing sections of IELTS. You must spell words correctly or you may lose points. (In IELTS, both British and North American spelling is accepted.)

Meaning

Your knowledge of word meaning is tested in all four sections – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Answering test questions requires you to understand the meanings of the words and synonyms in the questions.

Variety/Richness of vocabulary

The speaking and writing sections of the test judge you on the richness of your vocabulary – that is, on how many different words you know. Expanding your vocabulary will improve your scores in those areas by using a variety of high-level vocabulary.

Here are some sample test questions for the listening section, in which test takers need to type in answers related to the audio content: https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/sample-test-question

Here are some examples of the speaking test, during which you will have to answer questions to an examiner: https://ieltscanadatest.com/prepare-for-ielts/ielts-scoring-guide/.

Use Vocab Victor to help prepare

Vocab Victor is a great app to help you build and strengthen vocabulary for IELTS.

Timed games

Some of our games include a timer… if you don’t finish in time, you lose! Playing these games will help you get used to the time pressure of the test environment.

Four different games

Our tower includes four different word games which each teach a different type of word knowledge, including spelling, synonyms, collocations, and definitions.

Four Vocab Victor games

Learn new words, practice known words

Vocab Victor teaches you new words at your learning level, and it gives you practice for the words you already know! If you get a lot of words wrong, you get easier words. If you get a lot of words right, you get harder words. Victor is your personal word tutor!

Word review

At the end of every game you can review the words you just saw. Tap the word to study the definition. Vocab Victor uses the Merriam-Webster Learner’s dictionary so the definitions are easy for you to understand.

Word Review Screen

Progress Room

Our Progress Room lets you see your learning progress, see which words you are learning, and study their meanings. You can also compete against other learners on our leaderboard!

Progress Room Review Screen

IELTS with Fiona word lists

IELTS with Fiona offers a 28-day VOCABULARY challenge to teach you IELTS vocabulary that will help BOOST YOUR SCORE (https://members.ieltsetc.com/mayday/).

IELTS with Fiona

Vocab Victor has partnered with Fiona to let you use Vocab Victor to get the most out of this vocabulary challenge. Join her 28-day vocabulary course, follow along with her lesson activities, and get her daily word lists in Vocab Victor! In addition to learning the words in the course materials, you will gain additional practice on the words by seeing them in Vocab Victor’s word games**.** Fiona’s vocabulary list includes topics similar to readings you might find on IELTS, such as housing, transportation, and the environment.

To start using Fiona’s lists on Vocab Victor, you must first register the app. (Registration is free and will make sure that we save your progress, even if you lose your phone!) Next, go to the Progress Room, then choose Word Lists.

Fiona's word lists in Vocab Victor

Tap IELTS with Fiona and pick the list you are working on. Pay for the list using our charms, which you can win by winning games or completing levels. You can also purchase charms as an in-app purchase, or earn them by watching a short ad.

After you purchase the word list, tap on the list to see the words. Victor will show you which words you have learned, and which words are still in progress. (You learn a word by getting it right in the games a certain number of times.) Tap on a word to study the definition.

Word List Progress

Play on!

When you buy a word list, the words appear in the games automatically until they are learned.

Conclusion

Vocabulary is a core language skill that will help you on all four sections of IELTS – reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Vocab Victor can help, especially when you also use a great online course such as IELTS with Fiona (https://www.members.ieltsetc.com/academy/). Download Vocab Victor and start building your vocabulary today!

by Heidi Brumbaugh, PhD

Have you tried our app? Help students improve their vocabulary every day by playing Vocab Victor!

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