Normal English vs IELTS English: Vocabulary, Examples

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses English language proficiency for study or work purposes. The IELTS requires a different approach to vocabulary compared to everyday, "Normal English." The details on Normal English vs IELTS English can help one understand how to get good IELTS band scores even if their normal English is good. 

The IELTS is conducted to assess candidates' ability to use English effectively in academic and everyday contexts. However, the language you use to chat with friends is often quite different from what's expected on the IELTS test. When it comes to using English, there are two different forms: Normal English and IELTS English. Normal English is the everyday language used in casual conversations, while IELTS English is more formal and structured, designed for academic and professional contexts. 

Whether you're aiming to understand complex listening passages, write complex essays, or confidently express your ideas in the speaking test, understanding of IELTS English is crucial. This article has all key details on the differences between Normal English and IELTS English. By going through the Normal English vs IELTS English vocabulary, examples, and more, it will be easier to understand what is required from the IELTS test takers. 

What is IELTS English vs Normal English?

Normal English is the type of language used in daily conversations. It is informal, relaxed, and often includes slang, idioms, and contractions. This form of English is suitable for casual settings, such as conversations with friends or family. The vocabulary is simple, and sentences are typically short and straightforward.

Example of Normal English:

Hey, wanna grab coffee later? I'm free after work.

IELTS English, on the other hand, is more structured and formal. It is used in academic and professional contexts, such as universities and workplaces. The vocabulary in IELTS is precise and advanced, avoiding slang and idioms. Sentences are often longer and more complex, demonstrating a higher level of English proficiency.

Example of IELTS English:

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet for coffee later. I am available after completing my work for the day.

Difference between Normal English and IELTS English

Many of you might wonder what are the differences between normal English and IELTS English? The answer to this question on Normal English vs IELTS English differences can be easily understood by going through the table below. 

Aspect	Normal English	IELTS English
Vocabulary	Uses simple and informal vocabulary.	Employs formal and precise vocabulary.
Slang and Idioms	Frequently includes slang and idiomatic expressions.	Avoids slang and idioms.
Contractions	Often uses contractions like "can't" and "won't."	Uses full forms like "cannot" and "will not."
Sentence Structure	Typically uses simple sentence structures.	Often uses longer and more complex sentence structures.

Normal English vs IELTS English: Grammar Nuances

In Normal English, grammar is less formal, and simple sentence structures are common. On the other hand, IELTS English requires more complex structures and precise grammar usage. For example:

Normal English: He’s really into sports.
IELTS English: He has a strong interest in sports and regularly participates in various athletic activities.

Normal English vs IELTS English: Speaking Styles

Normal English conversations are casual and relaxed, often using slang and contractions. IELTS English speaking requires a more formal and structured approach, focusing on clarity and precision.

Normal English vs IELTS English: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

The IELTS test assesses English proficiency across four key domains: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. A clear understanding of the differences between Normal English and IELTS English in each of these areas is critical for achieving a high band score.

1. IELTS Listening

Normal English Listening involves understanding everyday conversations, announcements, and informal discussions. This often includes recognizing slang, idioms, and varying accents.

On the other hand, the IELTS English Listening requires understanding formal lectures, academic discussions, and factual information in the IELTS Listening section. The accents are generally clear, but the vocabulary and sentence structures are more complex.

Key Differences:

• Vocabulary: IELTS uses more technical and academic vocabulary.
• Context: IELTS often presents information in a formal, educational setting.
• Speed: While the speed might be similar, IELTS tests require you to process information and answer questions simultaneously.

Example:

• Normal English: Hey, wanna grab a bite later? I'm starving!
• IELTS English: The speaker will now discuss the implications of globalization on emerging economies. Please take notes as there will be a quiz after the recording.

One can check other important IELTS preparation guides on IELTS Listening from below: 

Multiple Choice	Sentence Completion	1200 Common Words in IELTS Listening Test
IELTS Listening Short Answer Questions	Map Plan Diagram Labeling	Note Completion

2. IELTS Reading

Normal English Reading requires a sound understanding of newspapers, magazines, and informal articles. On the other hand, the IELTS English Reading requires comprehending academic texts, journal articles, and nonfiction passages with complex vocabulary and sentence structures in the IELTS reading section.

Key Differences:

• Vocabulary: IELTS Reading sections are filled with advanced vocabulary and technical terms 
• Complexity: The sentence structures are often longer and more complex in IELTS texts.
• Purpose: IELTS Reading passages aim to test your ability to understand main ideas, details, inferences, and the author's purpose.

Example:

• Normal English: Scientists find new planet that might have water.
• IELTS English: A recent study published in Nature elucidates the discovery of an exoplanet exhibiting characteristics conducive to the presence of liquid water, thereby suggesting the potential for habitability.

One can check the details on IELTS Reading answers:

Glaciers Reading Answers	The Story Of Silk Reading Answers
The Lost City Reading Answers	The White Horse of Uffington Reading Answers
Henry Moore Reading Answers	William Henry Perkin Reading Answers
Doctoring Sales Reading Answers	European Transport System Reading Answers
The Dead Sea Scrolls Reading Answers	Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers
Travel Books Reading Answers	The Importance of Children's Play Reading Answers
The Truth about the Environment Reading Answer	Driverless Cars Reading Answers
The Little Ice Age Reading Answers	Collecting As a Hobby Reading Answers
Early Childhood Education Reading Answers	The Falkirk Wheel Reading Answers

3. IELTS Writing

Normal English Writing includes informal emails, personal letters, and social media posts. On the other hand, the IELTS English Writing requires producing formal essays, reports, and letters that demonstrate coherence, grammatical accuracy, and a wide range of vocabulary in the IELTS writing section.

Key Differences:

• Formality: IELTS Writing demands a formal and objective tone
• Structure: IELTS essays require a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Vocabulary: The IELTS requires precise and academic language with a good range of vocabulary.

Example:

• Normal English: Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the help! You're awesome!
• IELTS English: I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable assistance. Your expertise significantly contributed to the successful completion of the project.

More prepration guides on IELTS Writing:

Writing Task 1	Writing Task 2	Articles Usage
Academic Word List	Prefixes and Suffixes	Synonyms and Antonyms

4. IELTS Speaking

Normal English Speaking involves casual conversations, informal discussions, and everyday interactions. On the other hand, the IELTS English Speaking requires engaging in structured interviews, delivering short talks, and participating in formal discussions on various topics in the IELTS speaking section.

Key Differences:

• Formality: IELTS Speaking requires a formal and articulate speaking style.
• Structure: IELTS Part 2 requires a structured talk on a given topic.
• Vocabulary: Use of a wide range of vocabulary, including less common words.
• Fluency: You should be speaking smoothly and clearly.

Example:

• Normal English: "So, like, what's up with that new movie?"
• IELTS English: "I am interested in knowing your perspective on the recently released film, particularly concerning its thematic exploration and cinematographic techniques.

One can check other important parts of IELTS speaking from below

IELTS Speaking Vocabulary	Idioms for IELTS	IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Speaking Part 2	Discussion	Describe an Exciting Book that You Enjoy Reading

Normal English vs IELTS English: What to do?

Candidates now know the difference, have a major concern over the usage and practicing IELTS english. Here are some examples of how to use your common understanding of English into the IELTS preparation:

Vocabulary Building for IELTS

• Synonyms: Replace common words with more advanced synonyms. Instead of "important," use "vital" or "crucial."
• Phrasal Verbs: Incorporate relevant phrasal verbs naturally. For example, instead of "continue with," use "stick with."
• Idioms: Use idioms wisely and appropriately in the speaking test. Make sure you fully understand their meaning and context.

Examples using vocabulary from the provided lists:

• Normal English: The test was easy.
• IELTS English: The assessment proved to be a piece of cake.(Idiom)
• Normal English: He made a mistake.
• IELTS English: He did misconceive the situation. (Phrasal Verbs)
• Normal English: They support green energy.
• IELTS English: They advocate for sustainable energy solutions. (Synonym)

For a better preparation, one can check other important topics of IELTS grammar from below

Idioms	Second Conditional Sentences	Modal Verbs of Deduction
Past Perfect Tense	Mixed Conditionals	Infinitive Verb

Normal English vs IELTS English Vocabulary

Understanding and improving on the vocabulary differences between Normal English and IELTS English is important for getting a good IELTS score. By focusing on formal language, expanding your vocabulary range, and practicing regularly, you can improve your ability to communicate effectively and succeed on the IELTS exam.

IELTS Vocabulary: Advanced Alternatives, Meaning 

Here are 20 common words with advanced alternatives suitable for the IELTS.

Normal English	Advanced Alternatives (IELTS)	Meaning
Good	Superb, Magnificent, Excellent	Of very high quality; outstanding.
Bad	Awful, Terrible, Dreadful, Substandard, Immoral	Of poor quality; unpleasant; morally wrong.
Crazy	Insane, Deranged, Unhinged	In a state of severe mental illness; extremely foolish.
Famous	Noted, Renowned, Celebrated	Well-known; widely recognized.
Mistake	Error, Blunder, Oversight, Misconception, Flaw	An act or judgment that is misguided or wrong.
Many	Abundant, Ample, Numerous	Present in large quantities; plentiful.
Join	Connect, Link, Associate, Integrate	To bring together or combine.
Important	Vital, Crucial, Essential, Significant	Of great importance; necessary.
Help	Assist, Aid, Facilitate, Support	To give assistance; to make it easier.
Happy	Content, Delighted, Elated, Joyful, Pleased	Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
Show	Display, Exhibit, Demonstrate, Illustrate	To make visible; to reveal.
New	Recent, Current, Novel, Contemporary	Having recently come into existence; modern.
Clean	Neat, Immaculate, Spotless	Free from dirt, marks, or stains.
Interesting	Intriguing, Captivating, Engaging, Fascinating	Arousing curiosity or interest; charming.
Tell	Narrate, Inform, Disclose, Recount	To relate in detail; to communicate knowledge.
Think	Believe, Consider, Deem, Speculate	To have a particular opinion or belief; to regard something in a specified way.
Wrong	Mistaken, Incorrect, Erroneous, Inaccurate	Not correct; untrue.
End	Cease, Terminate, Conclude, Halt	To bring to an end; to stop.
Easy	Simple, Straightforward, Elementary	Not difficult; easily done or understood.
True	Accurate, Correct, Genuine, Authentic	In accordance with fact or reality.

Normal English vs Advanced English Sentences 

Common Word	IELTS Synonyms	Example Sentence (Normal English)	Example Sentence (IELTS English)
Good	Superb, Excellent, Commendable	The research is good.	The research methodology employed was superb, yielding significant and reliable findings.
Bad	Awful, Terrible, Dreadful, Substandard	The results are bad.	The experimental results obtained were substandard, necessitating further investigation and refinement of the research design.
Important	Vital, Crucial, Significant	This topic is important.	This topic is crucial for understanding the broader implications of the research.
Happy	Content, Elated, Joyful	The students are happy with their grades.	The students expressed content with their academic performance, reflecting effective pedagogical strategies.
New	Novel, Recent, Contemporary	This is a new theory.	This represents a novel theoretical framework within the field of cognitive psychology.
Big	Immense, Enormous, Substantial	The data set is big.	The data set is immense, comprising a comprehensive collection of observations across diverse demographics.
Small	Minor, Negligible, Insignificant	The error is small.	The measurement error is negligible, having minimal impact on the overall validity of the experimental results.
Difficult	Challenging, Arduous, Onerous	The assignment is difficult.	The assigned task is arduous, demanding a synthesis of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Easy	Straightforward, Simple, Elementary	The concept is easy to understand.	The underlying concept is straightforward, facilitating comprehension among students with varied academic backgrounds.
Interesting	Intriguing, Captivating, Engaging	The lecture was interesting.	The lecture proved captivating, stimulating intellectual curiosity and fostering active participation among attendees.
Show	Demonstrate, Exhibit, Illustrate	The study will show the effect.	The study will demonstrate the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
Tell	Narrate, Recount, Disclose	The author tells a story.	The author narrates a compelling account of historical events, providing valuable insights into the socio-political context of the time.
Think	Believe, Consider, Deem	I think the results are valid.	I deem the findings to be statistically significant and methodologically sound.
Use	Utilize, Employ, Implement	We should use this method in the experiment.	We should implement this established methodology to ensure rigor and replicability of the experimental design.
End	Terminate, Conclude, Cease	The research will end soon.	The research project will conclude with the publication of a peer-reviewed article disseminating the findings to the wider academic community.
Change	Alter, Modify, Transform	They need to change the approach.	They need to modify the experimental protocol to mitigate potential confounding variables and enhance the internal validity of the study.
Help	Assist, Aid, Facilitate	This will help understanding.	This will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors.
True	Accurate, Authentic, Genuine	The data is true.	The data presented is authentic, having been rigorously verified and validated through established statistical procedures.
Wrong	Incorrect, Erroneous, Inaccurate	The hypothesis was wrong.	The initial hypothesis proved erroneous, prompting a re-evaluation of the underlying assumptions and a refinement of the theoretical framework.
Stop	Cease, Halt, Discontinue	Please stop the experiment.	Please discontinue the experiment immediately.

Common Phrases for IELTS Speaking and How to Use Them

Here are some common phrases that can be adapted for academic discussions:

1. In my opinion...
• Academic Context: "In my opinion, the current research suggests that..."
• Example: "In my opinion, the findings of this study highlight the importance of sustainable practices in environmental conservation."
2. To put it simply...
• Academic Context: "To put it simply, the theoretical framework can be summarized as..."
• Example: "To put it simply, the theoretical framework can be summarized as an integration of cognitive and behavioral models."
3. As far as I'm concerned...
• Academic Context: "As far as I am concerned, the most significant challenge in this field is..."
• Example: "As far as I am concerned, the most significant challenge in this field is the lack of practical  evidence supporting the proposed hypothesis."
4. I am going to talk about...
• Academic Context: "I am going to discuss the implications of..."
• Example: "I am going to discuss the implications of technological advancements on societal norms."
5. It's worth mentioning that...
• Academic Context: "It's worth noting that recent studies have shown..."
• Example: "It's worth noting that recent studies have shown a correlation between economic growth and environmental degradation."
6. Let me give you an example...
• Academic Context: "For example, a case study on..."
• Example: "For example, a case study on the impact of climate change on coastal communities illustrates the need for adaptive strategies."
7. If my memory serves me well...
• Academic Context: "If I recall correctly, the seminal work by..."
• Example: "If I recall correctly, the seminal work by Dr. Smith laid the groundwork for contemporary research in this area."

IELTS Speaking Test Example Dialogue 

Examiner: What are your thoughts on the role of technology in education?

Candidate: In my opinion, technology has revolutionized the educational landscape by providing access to a vast array of resources. To put it simply, digital tools have made learning more accessible and engaging. As far as I am concerned, the most significant challenge is ensuring equitable access to these resources. It's worth mentioning that recent studies have highlighted the benefits of mixed learning models. Let me give you an example: a study on online learning platforms showed significant improvements in student engagement.