High-Score Collocations
Collocations are the words that belong together — you "pose" a threat, you do not "make" one; you "strike" a balance, you do not "build" one. Examiners hear the difference instantly, and the lexical-resource band descriptor explicitly rewards natural pairings. This deck collects the collocations that fit almost any Task 2 topic, so a single review session upgrades essays about the environment, technology and education at once.
Practice this set for free — no account needed. Loads 13 flashcards into the learner.
Practice in the free learnerHow to study this set
Always recall the full phrase with its preposition — "bridge the gap BETWEEN", "raise awareness OF" — because the preposition is where most collocation marks are lost. A good drill: after each session, take one collocation and write a single sentence applying it to the most recent news story you read.
All 13 flashcards
Complete the collocation: "___ a threat to public health."
Pose — "Air pollution poses a serious threat to public health." (You pose a threat, never "make" one.)
Complete: "___ the gap between rich and poor."
Bridge — "Progressive taxation aims to bridge the gap between rich and poor."
Complete: "play a ___ role in economic growth."
Pivotal (or crucial/key) — "Small businesses play a pivotal role in economic growth."
Complete: "___ awareness of mental-health issues."
Raise — "Campaigns on social media raise awareness of mental-health issues." (Awareness OF, not about.)
Complete: "___ insight into consumer behaviour."
Gain — "Companies gain insight into consumer behaviour through data analysis." (Insight INTO.)
Complete: "___ the growing demand for housing."
Meet — "Cities are struggling to meet the growing demand for affordable housing."
Complete: "___ a balance between work and family life."
Strike — "Flexible schedules help employees strike a balance between work and family life."
Complete: "take ___ measures to cut emissions."
Drastic — "Governments must take drastic measures to cut emissions." (Drastic/urgent measures are taken.)
Complete: "___ the brunt of climate change."
Bear — "Coastal communities bear the brunt of climate change." (= suffer the worst part of it.)
Complete: "___ emissions / ___ spending."
Curb — "New regulations aim to curb emissions from heavy industry." (= restrain, keep in check.)
Complete: "___ innovation and creativity."
Foster — "Relaxed workplaces are said to foster innovation and creativity." (= encourage the growth of.)
Complete: "___ the issue of overcrowded classrooms."
Address — "Policymakers have failed to address the issue of overcrowded classrooms." (= deal with.)
Complete: "a ___ alternative to private cars."
Viable — "Cycling infrastructure offers a viable alternative to private cars." (= realistic and workable.)
What to learn next
One level to go: "Band 9 Vocabulary" — the precision lexis (ubiquitous, exacerbate, disparity) that tops off the path when used sparingly and correctly.
Continue to Level 5: Band 9 Vocabulary →