Less common vocabulary refers to words that are not frequently used in everyday English conversations or basic texts. These are words that demonstrate a wider range and greater precision in your lexical resource, moving beyond simple or very common terms. Examples include 'ameliorate' instead of 'improve', 'ubiquitous' instead of 'everywhere', or 'plethora' instead of 'a lot'.
Why it matters for IELTS Writing
Using less common vocabulary appropriately is crucial for achieving a higher band score in the IELTS Writing test, particularly for the Lexical Resource criterion. The band descriptors for Lexical Resource reward candidates who:
- Band 6: 'uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task; attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy'
- Band 7: 'uses a sufficient range of lexical resources to allow some flexibility and precision; uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation'
- Band 8: 'uses a wide range of vocabulary with fluency and precision; uses less common lexical items skilfully'
Therefore, incorporating less common vocabulary demonstrates a sophisticated command of English. However, it is vital to use these words accurately and in the correct context. Misusing complex words can negatively impact your score more than sticking to simpler, correctly used vocabulary. For example, instead of writing 'The problem was very big, so they tried to fix it', a candidate aiming for a higher band might write, 'The issue was formidable, prompting efforts to ameliorate the situation'.
