IELTS Band 7 Vocabulary
Band 6 writing tends to use the same safe words over and over: important, big, problem, good. Band 7 shows range. This list collects forty words that come up constantly in IELTS essays and speaking tasks, each with an example sentence so you can see it working in context.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| detrimental /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ | adj.有害的，不利的 | Excessive screen time is detrimental to children’s eyesight. |
| alleviate /əˈliːvieɪt/ | v.缓解，减轻（痛苦、问题） | Better public transport would alleviate traffic congestion in the city centre. |
| mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ | v.减轻，缓和（风险、影响） | Planting trees can mitigate the effects of air pollution. |
| exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ | v.使恶化，加剧 | Cutting public spending would only exacerbate unemployment. |
| prevalent /ˈprevələnt/ | adj.普遍的，流行的 | Obesity is increasingly prevalent among teenagers in developed countries. |
| compelling /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ | adj.有说服力的；引人入胜的 | There is compelling evidence that regular exercise improves memory. |
| substantial /səbˈstænʃl/ | adj.大量的，可观的 | The government invested a substantial amount in renewable energy. |
| feasible /ˈfiːzəbl/ | adj.可行的 | Banning cars from the city centre is not feasible without a reliable metro system. |
| negligible /ˈneɡlɪdʒəbl/ | adj.微不足道的 | The difference in cost between the two options is negligible. |
| ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ | adj.模棱两可的，含糊的 | The instructions were ambiguous, so many candidates answered the wrong question. |
| coherent /kəʊˈhɪərənt/ | adj.连贯的，条理清晰的 | A Band 7 essay needs a coherent argument from introduction to conclusion. |
| intricate /ˈɪntrɪkət/ | adj.复杂精细的 | The tax system is too intricate for most people to understand. |
| paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ | adj.至关重要的 | When treating patients, safety is paramount. |
| discrepancy /dɪsˈkrepənsi/ | n.差异，不一致 | There is a large discrepancy between what schools promise and what they deliver. |
| incentive /ɪnˈsentɪv/ | n.激励，动机 | Tax breaks provide an incentive for companies to hire graduates. |
| infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə/ | n.基础设施 | Rural areas often lack the infrastructure needed to attract new businesses. |
| scrutiny /ˈskruːtəni/ | n.仔细审查 | The proposal came under heavy scrutiny from local residents. |
| viable /ˈvaɪəbl/ | adj.可行的，能生存的 | Solar power is now a viable alternative to coal in many regions. |
| adverse /ˈædvɜːs/ | adj.不利的，负面的 | The new policy had an adverse effect on small businesses. |
| deteriorate /dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt/ | v.恶化，变坏 | Air quality in the capital has deteriorated sharply over the past decade. |
| impede /ɪmˈpiːd/ | v.阻碍，妨碍 | Poor internet access impedes students in remote areas. |
| advocate /ˈædvəkeɪt/ | v.提倡，主张 | Many economists advocate raising taxes on sugary drinks. |
| undermine /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ | v.削弱，损害 | Constant testing can undermine students’ confidence in their own judgement. |
| rigorous /ˈrɪɡərəs/ | adj.严格的，严谨的 | The study was praised for its rigorous methodology. |
| comprehensive /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/ | adj.全面的，综合的 | The report offers a comprehensive review of the education system. |
| plausible /ˈplɔːzəbl/ | adj.貌似合理的 | That is a plausible explanation, but the evidence is thin. |
| lucrative /ˈluːkrətɪv/ | adj.赚钱的，有利可图的 | Tourism has become the region’s most lucrative industry. |
| disparity /dɪˈspærəti/ | n.差距，悬殊 | The disparity in income between urban and rural areas continues to widen. |
| innate /ɪˈneɪt/ | adj.天生的，固有的 | Some researchers argue that musical ability is innate rather than learned. |
| tentative /ˈtentətɪv/ | adj.试探性的，暂定的 | The findings are tentative and need to be replicated. |
| obsolete /ˈɒbsəliːt/ | adj.过时的，淘汰的 | Automation has made many manual jobs obsolete. |
| conducive /kənˈdjuːsɪv/ | adj.有助于……的 | A quiet environment is conducive to concentration. |
| profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ | adj.深远的，深刻的 | The internet has had a profound impact on how we learn. |
| resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/ | adj.有韧性的，能恢复的 | Children who face setbacks early often become more resilient adults. |
| trivial /ˈtrɪviəl/ | adj.琐碎的，不重要的 | Compared with climate change, these disputes seem trivial. |
| unprecedented /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ | adj.前所未有的 | Cities are growing at an unprecedented rate. |
| ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ | adj.无处不在的 | Smartphones have become ubiquitous in classrooms. |
| inherent /ɪnˈhɪərənt/ | adj.内在的，固有的 | There are inherent risks in relying on a single export market. |
| cumulative /ˈkjuːmjələtɪv/ | adj.累积的 | The cumulative effect of small daily habits is easy to underestimate. |
| sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ | adj.可持续的 | The city needs a sustainable plan for waste disposal, not a temporary fix. |
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