Lexical Resource

IELTS Lexical Resource: The Real Difference Between Band 6 and Band 7

Lexical Resource is about range, precision, collocation, and using less common vocabulary accurately instead of stuffing essays with difficult words.

Check This Criterion in My EssaySee all four criteria

What examiners focus on

Whether vocabulary fits the topic and sentence naturally
How well repetition is controlled through precise wording and paraphrase
Whether less common words and collocations are used accurately

Quick diagnosis

If this is your weakest criterion, the fastest win is usually not more vocabulary or longer essays. It is tighter control of the exact behavior this band descriptor rewards.

Read the Band 6 profile below, compare it against your last draft, and fix one item from the checklist in your next attempt.

Band 6 profile

Vocabulary is good enough for the task, but repetition is noticeable
Attempts at more advanced vocabulary are sometimes awkward or inaccurate
Paraphrasing is present, though often limited to simple synonym swaps

Band 7 profile

Vocabulary shows flexibility and better precision across common IELTS topics
Collocations and word choice usually sound natural in context
There is some range beyond basic words without forcing unusual expressions

Common mistakes

Using memorized academic words that do not fit the sentence
Repeating the same high-frequency adjective or verb throughout the essay
Paraphrasing the question badly and changing the meaning

Improvement checklist

Build topic-based word banks around education, health, technology, and environment
Learn collocations, not isolated words
After writing, highlight repeated words and replace only the ones that truly need variation

Related scoring guides

IELTS writing scores are connected. Once you understand this criterion, compare it with the others so you can see what is limiting the whole essay.

Task Response

IELTS Task Response Band 6 vs 7

Task Response is about answering the exact question, maintaining a clear position, and supporting each main idea with relevant development.

Underline the exact task before writing and list every part you must answer
Read criterion guide

Coherence & Cohesion

IELTS Coherence and Cohesion Band 6 vs 7

Coherence and Cohesion measure how logically your ideas are organized and how naturally your sentences and paragraphs connect.

Give every body paragraph a single main idea before you start writing
Read criterion guide

Grammar

IELTS Grammar Band 6 vs 7

Grammatical Range and Accuracy reward writers who control a mix of sentence types with relatively few errors that distract the reader.

Aim for accuracy first, then add one or two controlled complex sentences per paragraph
Read criterion guide