This is perhaps the most common false belief. When my students think about the IELTS Academic test, they automatically assume that they always have to use academic words. They may think the secret is “the stranger, longer and more complicated the words they use, the higher the band score they get”.

This can’t be further from the truth. As we can see from the above example, the use of “formal” words unnaturally forced into responses can lead to complete confusion and unintelligible answers. This is because, despite knowing the meaning of the words, students often are unaware of how they should be used – things like style or connotations. In fact, speakers are even advised to “mix it up” – having a balance between common and less common vocabulary, and to study new words in context.