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A longer word can make a sentence less accurate

• Compare “Students got advice on their drafts” with “Students achieved evidences on their drafts.” The second sentence sounds ambitious but changes the meaning and misuses the nouns. Choose vocabulary that does a clear job before choosing vocabulary that looks impressive.
• This lesson practises four decisions: meaning, word partners, sentence pattern and evidence. Its short checks do not assess a complete essay or predict a band. A word wearing a top hat still needs to say the right thing.

Learn the word with its useful partners

• A collocation is a familiar combination of words. Useful patterns include give feedback on a draft, meet a deadline, participate in a discussion and provide access to a service. Learn a whole usable pattern, not only an isolated translation.
• The pattern carries meaning. Attendance concerns being present; participation concerns taking part. A register can show attendance without proving that every learner joined a discussion. A timetable can show when a class happens without describing its curriculum, the content taught.

Put the right word form into the right pattern

• In the following ordinary uses, affect is a verb and effect is a noun: “A change may affect attendance” and “A change may have an effect on attendance.” Use affect something, not affect on something, in this pattern. These examples are possibilities, not findings from a study.
• Use some feedback, a piece of feedback, evidence or a piece of evidence in their ordinary uncountable uses. Do not repair three evidences by replacing it with another unfamiliar word; identify the intended countable unit, such as three observations.

Name the quantity before describing the change

• Invented example: the share of commuters who walk rises from 20% to 30%. This is a rise of 10 percentage points. Relative to its starting share, the increase is 50%, because the change of 10 is half the initial 20. “Up by 10%” would describe a different change.
• Rise to names the final value; rise by names the change. “The share rose to 30%” is supported. “The share rose by 30 percentage points” is not. A proportion alone does not establish how many people are involved if the totals are unknown.

Keep the strength of the claim within the evidence

• Original notice: “Three participants said the room was convenient because it was near their workplace. The organiser recorded their comments but did not compare other rooms.” This supports a statement about those participants' comments. It does not prove that the room is convenient for everyone or the best available room.
• Convenient means suitable or easy for a particular purpose. Accessible concerns whether people can reach, obtain or use something. The words can describe related qualities, but they are not automatic replacements. A nearby room may still have a barrier that prevents someone using it.

Make contrasts clear without changing their meaning

• “Attendance rose, whereas participation in discussion remained unchanged.” The sentence contrasts two stated measures. “Attendance rose because participation remained unchanged” adds a cause that the two measures do not establish.
• Keep the pattern complete: “Although attendance rose, discussion participation remained unchanged.” In this pattern, do not add but after the although-clause. A connector is a signpost, not permission to invent a relationship.
• Original short paragraph: “The workshop attracted more attendees in its second month. However, the discussion record showed no increase in the number who spoke. Higher attendance therefore did not establish greater discussion participation.” The paragraph uses a specific example and a limited conclusion; it does not claim that attending a workshop has no value.

Use a word record, then transfer it to a new situation

• Keep a short word record: meaning → useful pattern → original example → contrast or trap. For feedback, record comments that help review work → feedback on a draft → The tutor gave feedback on my introduction → feedback is not the same as a final grade. Then close the record and make a different example.
• Transfer task: an invented notice says “Applications close on Thursday. Eligible applicants may book an interview if an appointment is available.” Write two clear sentences that distinguish the deadline, eligibility and availability. Explain why being eligible does not guarantee an appointment. Suggested response: “The application deadline is Thursday. An eligible applicant can book an interview only if an appointment is available, so eligibility alone does not guarantee a booking.”
• Return to one paragraph you wrote. Replace one vague word with a more precise word, repair one word pattern and remove one unsupported claim. Read it aloud to check that it still sounds natural. Your vocabulary does not need a costume change every sentence.

Sources checked on 2 October 2026: official IELTS Writing preparation guidance, Cambridge Grammar: affect and effect, Cambridge Grammar: affect patterns and Cambridge Dictionary: evidence. Situations, numbers and teaching examples are original; they do not report real study results or reproduce official tasks or band descriptors.