IELTS Spelling Lists 1200+ common words

Preparing for the IELTS exam requires a strong vocabulary. Below is a structured spelling list covering common words that frequently appear in the IELTS test.

1. Days & Months

Days of the Week

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday
• Weekdays
• Weekend

Months of the Year

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

2. Money & Finance

• Cash
• Debit
• Credit card
• Cheque
• In advance
• Annual fee
• Monthly membership
• Interest rate
• Deposit
• Tuition fees
• Poverty
• Bank statement
• Money management
• Current account
• Student account
• Withdraw
• Low-risk investment
• Mortgage
• Grace period
• Budget deficit
• Retail voucher
• Coupon
• Counterfeit money
• Public money
• Taxpayers’ money
• Debt
• Interest-free credit
• Purchase
• Partial refund
• Annuity
• Non-refundable
• MasterCard
• VISA
• Distribution costs
• Income
• Finance department
• Family finances
• Duty-free store

3. Academic Subjects

• Science
• Politics
• History
• Biology
• Architecture
• Law
• Geography
• Archaeology
• Literature
• Business management
• Agriculture
• Statistics
• Mathematics
• Logic
• Physics
• Psychology
• Anthropology
• Economics
• Philosophy
• Performing arts
• Visual arts
• Chemistry
• Humanities

4. Studying at College/University

• Course outline
• Group discussion
• Handout
• Written work
• Report writing
• Research
• Proofreading
• Experiment
• Experience
• Reference
• Textbook
• Dictionary
• Laptop
• Printer
• Student advisor
• Teamwork
• Module
• Topic
• Assessment
• Library
• Department
• Computer centre
• Classroom
• Lecture
• Tutor
• Main hall
• Attendance
• Deadline
• Give a talk
• Speech
• Computer laboratory
• Certificate
• Diploma
• Placement test
• Overseas students
• Full-time
• Facilities
• College
• Dining room
• Specialist
• Knowledge
• International
• Accommodation
• Homestay
• Primary
• Secondary
• Intermediate
• Media room
• Resources room
• Staff
• Commencement
• Dissertation
• Leaflet
• Faculty
• Pupils
• Pencil
• Feedback
• Tasks
• Outcomes
• Advanced
• Introductory
• Extra background
• Higher education
• Guidelines
• Post-secondary
• Supervisor
• Bachelor’s degree
• Compound
• Vocabulary
• Student support services
• Student retention
• Publication
• Foreign students
• Schedule
• School reunion
• Registrar’s office
• Stationery

5. Marketing & Business

• Catalogue
• Interview
• Newsletter
• Competition
• TV program
• Strategies
• Research method
• Entertainment industry
• Leadership
• Management
• Display
• Products
• Customer
• Special offer
• Collecting data
• Questionnaire
• Survey
• Mass media
• Statistic
• Profit margin
• Poll
• Business card
• Training
• Trainee
• Merchandise
• Manufacture
• Recruitment

6. Health & Nutrition

• Yoga
• Tai-chi
• Keep-fit
• Salad bar
• Vegetarian
• Outdoor activities
• Leisure time
• Disease
• Meal
• Protein
• Balanced diet
• Food pyramid
• Vitamin
• Carbohydrates
• Rice
• Pasta
• Potatoes
• Pizza
• Tomatoes
• Bread
• Cereals
• Minerals
• Zinc
• Meat
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Beans
• Milk
• Cheese
• Yoghurt
• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Citrus fruits
• Green pepper
• Blackcurrant
• Nuts
• Egg yolk
• Liver
• Medicine
• Treatment
• Remedy
• Nursing care
• Nursery
• Regular exercise

7. Nature & Environment

Landscapes & Natural Features

• Field
• Footbridge
• Waterfall
• River
• Mountain
• Forest
• Village
• Coast
• Reef
• Lake
• Valley
• Hill
• Cliff
• Island
• Peninsula
• Earthquake
• Avalanche
• Tornado
• Typhoon
• Desertification
• Volcano
• Disaster
• Catastrophe
• Erosion
• Landslides
• Storm
• Flood
• Hurricane
• Pond
• Jungle
• Oasis
• Dam
• Canyon

Environmental Issues

• Greenhouse effect
• Acid rain
• Global warming
• Carbon dioxide
• Burning fossil fuels
• Exhaust fumes
• Deforestation
• Nitrogen oxide
• Smog
• Climate
• Pollution
• Temperature
• Power plants
• Landfill
• Cattle
• Wind turbine
• Solar power
• Hydroelectric power
• Renewable energy
• Source of energy
• Reliable
• Solar panels
• Environmentally friendly
• Oxygen
• Chemical-free
• Desert
• Degradation
• Vegetation
• Sea level
• Ocean currents
• Soil conditioner
• Coal
• Fossil fuels
• Firewood
• Drought
• Contaminated

8. Animals & Plants

Animal Kingdom

• Birds of prey
• Seabirds
• Poultry and game
• Mammals
• Cetacean
• Whale
• Primates
• Rodents
• Fish
• Amphibian
• Reptile
• Insects
• Octopus
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
• Livestock
• Creature
• Lion
• Penguin

Plants

• Mushroom
• Fungus
• Leaves
• Seed
• Core
• Bark
• Trunk
• Twig
• Branch
• Flower
• Stem
• Roots
• Cluster
• Fertilizer

9. Geography & Countries

Continents

• South America
• North America
• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• Australia
• Antarctica

Countries

• Egypt
• Mexico
• France
• Indonesia
• Turkey
• England
• Germany
• China
• Greece
• Brazil
• India
• North Korea
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Singapore
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• The Dominican Republic
• The Philippines
• Denmark

Languages

• Linguistics
• Bilingual
• Trilingual
• Polyglot
• Portuguese
• Mandarin
• Bengali
• Chinese
• Hindi
• Russian
• Japanese
• German
• Punjabi
• Thai
• Persian
• Filipino
• French
• Italian
• Greek

10. Architecture & Buildings

• Dome
• Palace
• Fort
• Castle
• Glasshouse
• Pyramid
• Log cabin
• Lighthouse
• Hut
• Skyscraper
• Sculpture

Homes

• Semi-detached house
• Duplex
• Terraced house
• Town house
• Row house
• Bungalow
• Thatched cottage
• Mobile home
• Houseboat
• Block of flats
• Apartment building
• Condominium
• Chimney
• Bedroom
• Basement
• Landlord
• Tenant
• Rent
• Lease
• Neighborhood
• Suburb
• Sofa
• Coffee table
• Dormitory
• Storey
• Kitchen
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Ground floor
• Oven
• Hallway
• Insurance

In the City

• Cities
• Street
• Lane
• City centre
• Central station
• Car park
• Department store
• Bridge
• Temple
• Embassy
• Road system
• Hospital
• Garden
• Avenue

11. Work & Employment

• Clinic
• Dentist
• Reception
• Appointment
• Staff selection
• Colleague
• Workshop
• Showroom
• Information desk
• Employer
• Employment
• Unemployed
• Technical cooperation
• Team leaders
• Stress
• Ability
• Vision
• Confidence
• Employee
• Internship

12. Ratings & Qualities

• Reasonable
• Satisfactory
• Dangerous
• Safe
• Strongly recommended
• Poor quality
• Satisfied
• Disappointed
• Efficient
• Luxurious
• Colored
• Spotted
• Striped
• Expensive
• Cheap

13. Travel & Tourism

• Tourist guided tour
• Ticket office
• Souvenir
• Trip
• Guest
• Reservation
• View
• Culture
• Memorable
• Single/double-bedded room
• Picnic
• Tourist attraction
• Hostel
• Suite
• Aquarium

14. Verbs (Common IELTS Words)

• Train
• Develop
• Collect
• Supervise
• Mark
• Edit
• Revise
• Exhibit
• Donate
• Surpass
• Register
• Support
• Hunt
• Persuade
• Concentrate
• Discuss
• Suggest
• Arrange
• Borrow
• Immigrate
• Review
• Learn
• Touch

15. Adjectives (Descriptive Words)

• Energetic
• Social
• Ancient
• Necessary
• Fantastic
• Exciting
• Fabulous
• Dull
• Comfortable
• Convenient
• Suitable
• Affordable
• Voluntary
• Mandatory
• Compulsory
• Temporary
• Permanent
• Immense
• Vast
• Salty
• Extinct
• Vulnerable
• Pessimistic
• Optimistic
• Realistic
• Practical
• Knowledgeable
• Flexible
• Confident
• Western
• Intensive
• Tranquil
• Spectacular
• Intact
• Various

16. Hobbies & Sports

Hobbies

• Orienteering
• Caving
• Spelunking
• Archery
• Ice skating
• Scuba-diving
• Snorkeling
• Skateboarding
• Bowls
• Darts
• Golf
• Billiards
• Photography
• Painting
• Pottery
• Woodcarving
• Gardening
• Stamp collection
• Embroidery
• Climbing
• Chess
• Parachute

Sports

• Cricket
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Rugby
• Soccer
• American football
• Hockey
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Squash
• Badminton
• Ping-pong
• Field
• Court
• Pitch
• Stadium
• Team
• The discus
• The javelin
• The hammer
• The high jump
• Horse racing
• Show jumping
• Polo
• Cycling
• Gymnasium
• Athlete
• Gym
• Extreme sports
• Paragliding
• Hang-gliding
• Skydiving
• Abseiling
• Snowboarding
• Bungee jumping
• Surfing
• Windsurfing
• Jet-skiing
• Bodyboarding
• White-water rafting
• Kitesurfing
• Mountain biking
• Jogging
• Press-up
• Push-up
• Barbell
• Treadmill
• Judo
• Recreation
• Snooker
• Walking
• Championship
• Canoeing
• Refreshment

17. Shapes & Measurements

Shapes

• Square
• Rectangular
• Triangular
• Polygon
• Oval
• Spherical
• Spiral
• Circular
• Curved
• Cylindrical

Measurements

• Width
• Length
• Altitude
• Imperial system
• Metric system
• Mass
• Depth
• Breadth
• Height
• Three dimensions
• Frequency

18. Transportation & Vehicles

Water Transport

• Cargo plane
• Shipment
• Container ship
• Boat
• Lifeboat
• Ferry
• Hovercraft
• Hydrofoil
• Liner
• Canal boat
• Narrowboat
• Dinghy sailing
• Sailboat
• Paddle steamer
• Cabin cruiser
• Rowing boat
• Rowboat
• Kayak
• Canoe
• Punt
• Gondola

Air Transport

• Aircraft
• Helicopter
• Seaplane
• Airship
• Hot-air balloon
• Airport
• Crew
• Passenger
• Platform
• Hire a car
• Automobile

Road Vehicles

• Double-decker bus
• Single-decker
• Minibus
• School bus
• Coach
• Truck
• Tanker
• Van
• Lorry
• Transporter
• Forklift truck
• Tow truck
• Breakdown truck
• Pickup
• Jeep
• Caravan
• Camper
• Tractor
• Taxi
• Cab
• Tram
• Underground
• Subway
• Stream train
• Freight train
• Goods train

19. Weather & Places

Weather

• Humid
• Hot
• Sticky
• Breeze
• Chilly
• Cold
• Cool
• Dry
• Dusty
• Freezing
• Warm
• Wet
• Weather forecast
• Antenna
• Moisture

Places

• Local library
• Swimming pool
• Cafeteria
• Cottage
• Parliament
• Accommodation
• Restaurant
• Canteen
• Cafe
• Bookshop
• Sports centre
• City council
• Dance studio
• Park
• Conversation club
• Kindergarten

20. Equipment & Tools

• Helmet
• Light
• Musical instrument
• Cassette
• Silicon chip
• Digital monitor
• Gadget
• Device
• Screen
• Brakes
• Wheels
• Mechanical pencil
• Disk
• Backpack

21. Arts & Media

• Opera
• Orchestra
• Concert
• Symphony
• The press
• Conductor
• Vocalist
• Audience
• Festival
• Carnival
• Exhibition
• Classical music
• Theatre
• Cinemas
• Art gallery
• Museum
• Ballet
• Television
• Radio
• Graphics
• Newspaper

22. Materials

• Fur
• Metal
• Steel
• Aluminum
• Copper
• Rubber
• Plastic
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Cement
• Stone
• Textile
• Cotton
• Fabric
• Wool
• Leather
• Bone
• Paper
• Lumber/wood
• Glue
• Composite
• Fiberglass
• Concrete
• Wax
• Silver
• Gold
• Feather

23. Jobs & Professions

• Occupation
• Profession
• Designer
• Decorator
• Architect
• Engineer
• Manager
• Waitress
• Waiter
• Teacher
• Vacancy
• Professor
• Specialist
• Psychologist
• Volunteer
• Freelance
• Secretary
• Craftsman
• Work experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Mail address
• Receptionist
• Pilot
• Guard
• Flight attendant
• Lecturer
• Office assistant
• Clerk
• Accountant
• Cashier
• Captain

24. Colors

• Blue
• White
• Orange
• Green
• Grey
• Black
• Red
• Yellow
• Purple
• Brown
• Pink

25. Time & Expressions

• Three times
• Three times per week
• A gap year
• Full-time
• Part-time
• Midday
• Midnight
• Millennium
• Century
• Decade
• Fortnight

26. Miscellaneous

• Passport photo
• State
• Government
• Individual
• Variety
• Private sector
• Practice
• Gender
• Creativity
• Original inhabitant
• Indigenous
• Demonstration
• Strike
• Entrance
• Circuit
• Guarantee
• Dialogue
• Commerce
• Carriage
• Narrative
• Chocolate
• Satellite
• Decision
• Prototype
• Attitude
• Daily routine
• Personal fulfillment
• Activity
• Recipient
• Ultrasound
• Pedestrian safety
• Traffic jams
• Procedures
• Creation
• Prize
• Junior
• Senior
• Opportunity
• Driving license
• Process
• Literary
• Man-made
• Republicans
• Umbrella
• Frequently updated
• Waiting list
• Sewer systems
• Liberal democracy
• Democrats
• Lunar calendar
• Libertarian
• Burger
• Videos
• Nature conservation
• Life expectancy
• Fund-raising event
• Magnet
• Dialect
• Ramification
• Straight
• Farewell
• Welfare
• Encyclopedia
• Evolution
• Revolution
• Illiteracy
• Robot
• Proficiency
• Sufficient

Final Tips for IELTS Vocabulary Success

✅ Practice spelling these words regularly.
✅ Use them in writing and speaking to improve fluency.
✅ Learn synonyms to avoid repetition.
✅ Read IELTS materials to see these words in context.