What does Lexical Resource mean in the IELTS Writing test?

Lexical Resource is one of the four areas used to assess your writing, and it makes up 25% of your final writing score. This criteria is all about how flexibly and fluently you can find the right words and phrases to convey precise meanings.

If you are preparing for either the Academic or General Training test and want to improve your IELTS Writing band scores, understanding what Lexical Resource refers to is important. This article is meant to help you focus on what matters.

Some of you might say Lexical Resource is about vocabulary, and that’s not wrong, but it’s better to take a more holistic view and see that scoring high is not simply about using a long list of fancy words. You also need to know how to use those words accurately. This includes using the correct form of the word and spelling, but it’s even more than that.

If you are trying to showcase a higher level of English fluency, you need to demonstrate that you can express yourself clearly and somewhat like a native speaker. This means that you should be able to write with a sense of style (essay, report, letter) and somewhat naturally.

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1. They use Idioms and language that is less common to basic English users.

Take the idiom in this blog title” What’s the deal with Lexical Resource” as an example. I could have written “What is Lexical Resource about?” and that would be fine, but by using the idiom, I show I can express myself with some style and lexical knowhow. This idiom is informal and perfectly suits this style of blog writing.

The ability to use idioms in the right situation comes with practice.

2. Skillfully combine words so they “sound correct” in English.

Words partner or group together in English, and if you put the wrong words together, not only do they “sound” incorrect, sometimes their meaning is changed completely. Let’s use the word “deal”, for instance. There are so many idioms and word pairings using the word deal. Here are a few variations with “big deal” that will show how much the meaning can change if not used correctly:

"A big deal" 

• something that is very important

• Getting a 7 on IELTS was a big deal to Carla.

"Big deal" 

• without the article “a”, this can mean “Who cares?” 

• You got a 7 on IELTS? Big deal, I got an 8.

"No big deal" 

• not a big problem 

• If you took the wrong bus, it’s no big deal; just get off at the next stop and go back.

Knowing how to put words together happens with lots of exposure to the language and making plenty of mistakes before you get it right. The more you read, listen to, speak, and write in English, the more knowledgeable and skilled you become.

3. Possess a huge bank of words to write about a wide range of topics.

This is where most people focus their prep, and it is an excellent idea to learn new words that relate to common IELTS topics like education, the environment, family, and children, but that’s not the end of it. Fluent people know which words to use in which contexts to express their ideas concisely. If you are achieving 6 or 6.5 in your writing and you want to raise that score, make sure that you don’t simply throw in subject-specific words here and there in your writing or overuse lots of fancy words memorized from your thesaurus. You are trying to get your ideas across as clearly as possible. Flooding your writing or speaking, for that matter, with related but misused vocabulary doesn’t sound natural, and it can be confusing and result in a lower score than you deserve.

There really are no quick tricks to improving your Lexical Resource.

Generally, you will need to know the common spelling or word form errors and check for them on the test. The reality is that may take time to become accustomed to how words are used in a different language.

Be careful when words or phrases that you don't understand.

Ultimately, you will be trying your best on the test to make your ideas understood, and you should think about doing that with the words you know. Remember that using words or phrases that you don’t understand could be keeping your score down, not raising it. Don’t be afraid to paraphrase or explain something in another way if you don’t know the exact word.

Make English a part of your everyday life.

The more you are exposed to the language, the more words you will learn. Correspond and speak with fluent people, read books and articles, listen to podcasts, and watch videos about a variety of subjects that interest you.

Learning a new language requires more than simply reading and listening.

You have to do something with the language, produce something with it if you are actually going to add it to your lexical resource. Make sure that you record any new words and expressions and include word forms and associations in that list, so you have some idea of how to use them correctly.

Test out new words and idioms that you learn.

Then, when you learn a new idiom or word pairing that you actually think you could use, test it out. Note that it would be a huge task to memorize all of the word groupings and meanings around the word “deal”, but if there are some that you think you could use, start using them. For example, take “what’s the deal with” and use it in an English environment. At the grocery store, you could ask, “What’s the deal with your points card?” and a clerk should explain how the points card works.

I hope you see what a big deal Lexical Resource is, but also know that with careful preparation and practice, it will be no big deal to improve your score.

Achieving a great IELTS score takes time and planning. You can’t just book and take your test in a matter of days – no matter how strong your English skills are. Successful test takers create a schedule to help them study everything they need to know before they sit an IELTS test. They make time to practise all four English skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking – as the format of each part of the test is different.

To help you prepare for your IELTS test, you can access our wide range of preparation materials, attend a FREE Masterclass with an IELTS expert, and complete IELTS practice tests.

You can also boost your writing band score with IELTS Writing Assist. Complete an official mock IELTS writing test online and receive personalised feedback from an IELTS Expert.