Words That Score
Small, simple words like good, very, nice and things are correct — but they don't show your best vocabulary. Swapping them for a slightly stronger word can lift your writing and speaking score without changing your meaning at all.
Easy upgrades:
- good → useful / impressive
- very + adjective → extremely + adjective
- nice → enjoyable
- things → aspects
Linking words worth knowing
Use these to join your ideas instead of starting every sentence with And or But:
- Adding an idea: additionally, furthermore, in addition
- Contrasting an idea: however, on the other hand
- Giving a result: therefore, as a result
- Giving an example: for example, for instance
Useful phrases to keep ready
- “It is worth noting that…”
- “One of the most useful aspects is…”
- “This has a significant effect on…”
- “In my experience,…”
Real word or not?
Which of these is a real English word?
Which of these is a real English word?
Complete the word
1. ben___ — something that helps you (noun)
2. imp___ — to make something better (verb)
3. en___ — to make someone want to do something (verb)
Interactive Reading
Read the passage once for the general idea, then again for detail. Then answer the questions below.
Community gardens are shared spaces where local residents grow vegetables, fruit and flowers together. They have become popular in cities, where many people do not have their own outdoor space. As well as providing fresh food, community gardens help neighbours get to know each other. Many gardens also run workshops to teach gardening skills to beginners, and local councils often support these projects because they can improve both physical health and mental wellbeing.
Complete the sentence (from the passage)
1. Local residents grow vegetables, fruit and ___ together.
2. Community gardens have become popular in ___, where many people do not have their own outdoor space.
3. Many gardens also run ___ to teach gardening skills to beginners.
Choose the best title
Which title fits the passage best?
Which statement is true?
According to the passage…
Describe the Photo (in writing)
Look at the photo for a few seconds, then write three or four sentences describing it. Use the frame: general → details → a feeling or guess.
01:00
One good version: “This is a graduation ceremony, held outdoors in a large stadium on a sunny day. On the right there is a big stage with a banner that reads ‘Class of 2024’. In the middle, hundreds of graduates in black caps and gowns are throwing their caps into the air to celebrate. In the foreground, families and friends are standing, clapping and filming on their phones, and some look very proud and emotional. It feels joyful and full of achievement.”
The Writing Sample
Choose one of the prompts below. Keep sentences simple and correct, and fill the space. Leave 30 seconds at the end to check your tenses, articles and agreement.
The plan: 1) your opinion in one clear sentence; 2) reason one + example; 3) reason two + example; 4) a one-sentence conclusion. Join them with linking words.
WRITE · 5 min
Some people prefer to shop in small local stores. Others prefer large supermarkets. Which do you prefer, and why?
Some people prefer to shop in small local stores. Others prefer large supermarkets. Which do you prefer, and why?
WRITE · 5 min
Some people think it is better to live in a big city. Others think it is better to live in a small town. What is your opinion?
Some people think it is better to live in a big city. Others think it is better to live in a small town. What is your opinion?
05:00
Check before you finish
- Verbs are in the right tense.
- Singular/plural agree (a store sells, stores sell).
- Articles are there where needed (a, an, the).
- I used at least two linking words.
- Opinion, two reasons + examples, a conclusion — and I filled the space.
Listen & Type
Your teacher reads each sentence twice. Type it exactly, then check.
1. Type the sentence you hear:
2. Type the sentence you hear:
3. Type the sentence you hear:
4. Type the sentence you hear:
Keep Improving
A short habit, done often, beats a long session done rarely. Use this checklist every time you finish a piece of writing.
Writing self-check
- I upgraded at least one weak word (good, very, nice, things).
- I used at least one linking word.
- My tenses are consistent and correct.
- My articles (a, an, the) are in the right places.
- I filled the space and answered the actual question.
I can…
- I can swap a weak word for a stronger one without changing the meaning.
- I can find the answer to a gap-fill question inside a short passage.
- I can describe a photo in writing using general → details → a feeling.
- I can plan and write a four-part opinion answer in five minutes.
- I can type a dictated sentence accurately, including contractions.
Strong vocabulary doesn't mean long words — it means the right word, used correctly. Keep upgrading one word at a time.