IELTS Academic Collocation Memory Strategies Guide

Academic Collocations Vocabulary

Explanation: Academic collocations are words that naturally pair in academic writing, improving precision and cohesion. Use memory strategies like grouping and flashcards to retain them.

Band 7+ Word Groups

Word	Definition	Example Sentence	Common Collocation
commence (v)	to begin	She will commence her presentation at noon.	commence proceedings
facilitate (v)	to make easier	Technology can facilitate learning in the classroom.	facilitate access
illustrate (v)	to demonstrate	This graph illustrates the trend clearly.	illustrate the point
underscore (v)	to emphasize	The report underscores the importance of sustainability.	underscore the need
optimize (v)	to make as effective as possible	We need to optimize our workflow for efficiency.	optimize performance
exacerbate (v)	to worsen	Pollution can exacerbate health problems.	exacerbate tensions
culminate (v)	to reach the highest point	The research will culminate in a published paper.	culminate in success
embark (v)	to begin a course of action	They embarked on a new project last week.	embark on a journey

Common Mistakes

Using 'start' instead of 'commence' in formal writing
Replacing 'help' with 'assist' without checking collocation accuracy
Confusing 'illustrate' with 'image'

Practice Question

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: Companies should ______ new strategies to remain competitive in the market. A) begin B) start C) optimize D) launch

Show Answer

Answer: C) optimize
Explanation: 'Optimize' accurately conveys improving strategies to their best performance.

Key Takeaways

Regularly review collocations to enhance writing quality
Practice using new words in various contexts
Utilize spaced repetition and mnemonics for retention
Practice collocation vocabulary with Lingo Copilot

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