Reference
Top IELTS Collocations to Memorize
High-frequency word partners that examiners hear as natural English. Learn each one as a single chunk, always inside a full sentence about your own life — never as an isolated word.
How to use this page: pick ONE group per practice session, choose 6-8 chunks, and run the Preposition Collocation drill or Collocation Cards with them. Memorizing the whole page at once transfers nothing.
Verb + preposition
Learn these as one word. The verb without its preposition is a word you only half-know.
- depend onIt really depends on the season.
- apply forI applied for a scholarship last year.
- succeed inShe succeeded in passing on her first try.
- belong toThat building belongs to the university.
- benefit fromStudents benefit from smaller classes.
- deal withI had to deal with a lot of pressure at work.
- focus onI'm trying to focus on my pronunciation.
- insist onMy parents insisted on a family dinner every Sunday.
- participate inWe participated in a local clean-up drive.
- recover fromIt took months to recover from the setback.
- contribute toTourism contributes to the local economy.
- complain aboutPeople often complain about the traffic.
- rely onI rely on my phone for almost everything.
- invest inThe city should invest in public transport.
- graduate fromI graduated from university two years ago.
- prepare forI'm preparing for the IELTS exam right now.
Adjective + preposition
These carry most Part 1 answers about likes, skills, and feelings.
- interested inI've always been interested in photography.
- good atI'm quite good at organizing things.
- aware ofMost people are aware of the risks.
- famous forMy hometown is famous for its street food.
- keen onI'm not that keen on horror films.
- responsible forI'm responsible for training new staff.
- similar toMy taste in music is similar to my father's.
- worried aboutI used to be worried about speaking in public.
- capable ofShe's capable of managing the whole project.
- proud ofI'm proud of how far I've come.
- satisfied withI'm satisfied with my current job, mostly.
- different fromCity life is completely different from village life.
- addicted toHonestly, I'm a bit addicted to my phone.
- suitable forThat park is suitable for young children.
Noun + preposition
These are the backbone of Part 3 opinions: causes, effects, and solutions.
- reason forThe main reason for moving was work.
- solution toThere's no easy solution to traffic congestion.
- impact onSocial media has a huge impact on teenagers.
- increase inThere's been an increase in remote working.
- advantage ofThe advantage of trains is that you can relax.
- access toEveryone should have access to clean water.
- demand forThe demand for housing keeps rising.
- attitude towardsAttitudes towards marriage have changed.
- lack ofThe main problem is a lack of green space.
- effect onLong commutes have a real effect on health.
- interest inThere's growing interest in electric cars.
- difference betweenThe difference between the two is cost.
Topic bundle: work & study
Use two or three of these in any work or education answer.
- heavy workloadNurses carry a really heavy workload.
- meet a deadlineI sometimes stay late to meet a deadline.
- take on responsibilityI took on more responsibility this year.
- work-life balanceRemote work improved my work-life balance.
- gain experienceInternships help students gain experience.
- pursue a careerShe moved abroad to pursue a career in design.
- attend a lectureI attended a guest lecture on marketing.
- pass an examI need a band 7 to pass the requirement.
Topic bundle: environment & city life
The Part 3 staples for environment, transport, and city questions.
- climate changeClimate change affects farming the most.
- renewable energyThe country is investing in renewable energy.
- reduce pollutionCycling lanes help reduce pollution.
- public transport networkOur public transport network is improving.
- cost of livingThe cost of living in the capital is brutal.
- rush hourI avoid travelling during rush hour.
- green spaceCities need more green space, not more malls.
- throw away / single-useWe throw away too much single-use plastic.
Topic bundle: health, technology & free time
Cover Part 1 hobbies and Part 3 lifestyle debates with these.
- keep fit / stay in shapeI jog twice a week to keep fit.
- junk foodI try to cut down on junk food.
- screen timeParents worry about their kids' screen time.
- keep in touchWe keep in touch through video calls.
- browse the internetI browse the internet before bed, sadly.
- take up a hobbyI took up baking during the pandemic.
- spare time / free timeIn my spare time I edit videos.
- catch up with friendsWeekends are for catching up with friends.
Make them stick: the 3-step loop
- Say the chunk inside a sentence about YOUR life, twice.
- Answer one real IELTS question forcing 3 chunks from one group in.
- Re-use the same chunks in tomorrow's answer — a chunk used on two different days is a chunk you own.