Collocations are combining two or more definite words to make a phrase so that it makes appropriate sense. While communicating when you use collocations correctly makes interaction smooth, accurate, and fluent. Especially for writing task 2, the test takers should use collocations correctly to ace the writing test. The easiest way to get proficient in collocation for IELTS is by reading English regularly.
What is the importance of collocations in the IELTS test?
Important collocations for IELTS examination
- Have: have fun, have a blast, have a phone, have food, and have breakfast
- Make: make your bed, why don’t you make your breakfast? make some tea, make your bed.
- Do: do your homework before you sleep, do it right now, do get up early.
- Take: take a bite from me, take your pen, take a bath, take a knife.
- Keep: keep your bag off, keep it on the desk, keep a smile on your face.
- Get: get it done, get married, get off, get ready.
- Go: go out, go home, go to school.
Examples of using collocation for IELTS:
- IELTS examiner: Can you tell us about your morning regime?
- Candidate: Well, I maintain a healthy schedule. I usually wake up by 8 in the morning. I have my breakfast, do my dishes, get dressed up, then leave around 9 in the morning.
- Tell us about your plans after completion of study?
- Well, I plan to get a job in a reputed firm. After which, I wish to get married in 2-3 years and settle down with my family.
Types of collocations in the English language
- Adverb + Adjective
- Noun+ Noun
- Verb+ Noun
- Collocations that comes with have, make, and take
- Adjective Or Noun
- Verb+ Adverb
- Noun+ Verb
- Adverb + Adjective
- I was utterly shocked by the way he behaved with me.
- Leaving the examination in the middle was a stupid decision taken by her.
- I am totally satisfied with a band 8 in IELTS.
- It is pretty worrying to find the new rules imposed on traveling.
- She is extremely interested in meeting me.
- I booked an elite decorated apartment for the birthday party.
- Are you completely aware of what you are doing to yourself?
- Adjective + Noun
- The heavy snowfall got us delayed in reaching our destination.
- Considering his health conditions, he was advised to walk for 30 minutes every day.
- I always found my sister showing a keen interest when it comes to studying in the US.
- It was a bit of invaluable advice that I did not use for the examination.
- It was an amazing idea to visit a foreign destination during Christmas.
- Noun + Noun
- She paid huge for a round of soft drinks.
- They get paid to work in the service industry.
- Without a building permit, you cannot build the property.
- Noun + Verb
- Her mother paid her a compliment for singing a song so well.
- All the applicants were doubtful about the question that was discussed during the last session.
- It was the 50th anniversary of his parents, so he took them to watch a movie.
- The government is very serious when it comes to the rising level of pollution.
- I made a late appointment to see my oncologist.
- Non-native English speakers always make an effort to get more than 8 bands in IELTS.
- Verb + Noun
- The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
- Get something to drink for yourself.
- Always get some time for yourself to enjoy
- The nurse died out of poverty
- Verb + Adverb
- The hotel supervisor complained bitterly regarding the bad behaviour of the managers.
- Guests should be given warm welcome whenever there is a party.
- Rohit spoke loudly and shouted at his father for the entire time over the call.
- Jack whispered very softly in Jill’s ears.
- Collocation with have, take, or make
- Make mistake
- Have a conversation
- Have a job interview
- Have a headache
- Take a shower
- Take care
- Take a survey
- Take an advice
- Take medicine
- Make a wish
- Make salad
- Make breakfast
- Take a picture
- Have a baby
- Have an illness
Importance of collocation for IELTS applicants
- While taking the IELTS test, non-native English-speaking applicants should prioritize sounding like native English speakers. The proper usage of collocation will surely keep the language flow natural so that the interviewer can comprehend everything you speak.
- While taking the IELTS speaking test, applicants use collocations to draft the answers with the right words to express themselves. Collocations enhance the vocabulary so that you can express emotions or situations with different alternatives. In a way, you get to deliver winning answers.
- Students need to be sure about the collocations they use while taking the speaking test, to improve IELTS band and English language proficiency. C stands for collocations, and that is an important marking criterion.
- Speak naturally with collocations. They make your English more idiomatic, and that sounds similar and proficient like a native speaker.
- Collocations improve oral communication skills, comprehension, reading speed, and fluency in non-native English speakers, and eventually, they perform well in the IELTS test.
How to use collocations correctly?
Appropriate collocations improve the IELTS score. Applicants do not need to learn the long list of collocations to do well in the IELTS examination. There are some rules that you need to apply to use the collocations while communicating correctly. It should be included in your vocabulary learning schedule. As you come in contact with a new word that can be a part of your IELTS vocabulary, note down and start looking for other words that will go well and relate to that word. This way you will start building up a rich vocabulary with collocations. It is important for non-native and English speakers. The words aren’t new, but the way it is used will be different when you use collocations accurately. For proper collocation usage, it is essential to use common words in different ways.
Collocations bring natural flow to the English language and make it more idiomatic. You need to understand the right words that can be used together to make sense. If you are speaking incorrectly, any native speaker will be able to pinpoint it. When you learn a simple word like ‘to have, you will just not learn the word ‘have’, instead you learn chunks of the English language. You will be learning all the words that can be used with the word ‘have.’ This is how you can use collocations in IELTS speaking and writing sections. To have a rich vocabulary, you need to learn using collocation for IELTS instead of learning words in an isolated manner.