The IELTS test often tests your understanding of synonyms. So, what is a synonym? A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning to a different word. Consider the synonyms in these two sentences:
Mobile phones have become an essential part of modern life.
Smart phones have become a required aspect of contemporary life.
As you can see, in the above example, there are multiple examples of synonyms being used. Indeed, the English language is full of synonyms and that’s why the IELTS test will use them again and again.
In fact, synonyms are used in all skills sections of the IELTS test. However, they can be especially tricky in the listening section.
Here’s another example. On the listening you may hear the phrase:
‘I would like to confirm a booking…’
On the answer booklet, the correct answer to the multiple-choice question about the reason for the call is:
‘to confirm his reservation’.
You are expected to know that ‘booking’ and ‘reservation’ have the same meaning. If you don’t know this, you will not be able to answer the question correctly.
Common IELTS synonyms
Trying to find out synonyms of new words you encounter is a good way of improving English vocabulary. A good dictionary will often help you, with the abbreviation SYN.
- Abroad – Overseas
- Agree – Consent
- Allow – Permit
- Amount – Quantity
- Ask – Inquire
- Aspect – Thing
- Away – Absent
- Begin – Commence
- Busy – Active
- Change – Transform
- Collect – Gather
- Contrary – Opposite
- Correct – Right
- Crucial – Vital
- Discount – Reduction
- Drawback – Disadvantage
- Enormous – Huge
- Exactly – Precisely
- Except – Apart From
- Extra – Additional
- Finish – Complete
- Get – Receive
- Hard – Difficult
- Have to – Must
- Hazard – Danger
- Help – Assist
- Hint – Tip
- Imitate – Mimic/Copy
- Impact – Affect
- Instructions – Directions
- Intellectual – Mental
- Inventory – Stock
- Invoice – Bill
- Job – Work
- Maybe – Perhaps
- Modern – Contemporary
- Movie – Film
- Native – Local
- Necessary – Essential
- Near – Close
- New – Recent
- Noon – Midday
- Notify – Inform
- Numerous – Many
- Obtain – Acquire
- Part – Section
- Particular – Specific
- Possibility – Opportunity
- Possible – Potential
- Provide – Supply
- Quite – Fairly
- Real – Genuine
- Remark – Comment
- Renew – Resume
- Respond – Reply
- Rich – Wealthy
- Safe – Secure
- Select – Choose
- Significant – Meaningful
- Sincere – Honest
- Suggest – Propose
- Sure – Certain
- Talk – Speak
- Tiny – Small
- Transform – Convert
- Trustworthy -Reliable
- Try – Attempt
- Uncommon – Unusual
- Uncooked – Raw
- Under – Below
- Use – Utilise
- Usually – Generally