10 Academic idioms for IELTS academic writing

10 Academic idioms for IELTS academic writing 

In the following article, I will teach you how you can use academic idioms to boost your score for IELTS writing. I will cover: 

1/  will using idioms boost my IELTS writing score? 

2/ ten academic idioms that you can use for IELTS writing with examples

Will using idioms boost my IELTS writing score? 

Well, the answer is that it depends on the type of idiom you use and how you use it. For the academic writing test, you must not use informal idioms like “feeling down in the dumps” or “to kill two birds with one stone”. These idioms are fine for the speaking test or the general training informal letters, but they are informal and therefore not appropriate for the IELTS academic writing test.

You can however use academic idiomatic language such as “trial and error” or “in the long run”. 

The academic idioms in this article rank among the most commonly found academic idioms in academic papers and therefore are great for IELTS.

You should also only use the academic idioms where appropriate as just fitting them in randomly will disrupt the flow of your ideas and lower your score. 

TIP - when learning idioms in English it is useful to focus on “flexible” idioms. What I mean by that is that you should try to learn idioms that can be used in multiple situations rather than ones that can only be used in very specific situations. This will increase the likelihood that you will actually be able to use the idioms in your test.

10 Academic idioms for IELTS academic writing 

1/ trial and error 

Meaning- the process of experimenting with various methods of doing something until one finds the most successful.

"Children learn by trial and error"

Example in an IELTS context

More and more people are finding it increasingly important to wear fashionable clothes. Is this attitude to wearing clothes a positive development or negative?

Answer:

For many of us choosing what to wear remains a process of trial and error, yet its importance within society is becoming evermore significant. This trend has brought with it new stresses, although on balance it's fair to say it has been a step in the right direction 

2/ in the long run / in the short run

Meaning - over or after a long period of time, eventually / over or after a short period of time, presently.

"It saves time in the long run"

“smoking cigarettes feels good in the short run but in the long run it can damage your health.”

Example in an IELTS context

Supermarkets should only sell food produced from within their own country rather than imports from overseas.

What are your opinions on this?

Answer: 

In a globalized free-market economy, it makes sense that supermarket chains would want to cut costs by sourcing their products internationally. In the long run, however, it proves more cost-effective to derive these goods from sources a little closer to home, and certainly not from abroad. 

3/ It goes without saying 

Meaning - used to mean that something is obvious.

“Of course, it goes without saying that you'll be rewarded for passing your  test”

Example in an IELTS context 

Many people believe that increasing levels of violence on television and in films is having a direct result on levels of violence in society. Others claim that violence in society is the result of more fundamental social problems such as unemployment.

How much do you think society is affected by violence in the media?

In the past seeing a gruesome act of violence was a rare occurrence. However, through the medium of modern media, regular exposure to such acts is now commonplace.  It goes without saying that violence has become normalized, encouraging many impressionable individuals to replicate crimes in copycat fashion.

4/  Across the board 

Meaning - applying to all / totally.

"The coronavirus has affected society across the board"

Example in an IELTS context 

Genetic engineering is a dangerous trend. It should be limited.

To what extent do you agree?

What distinguishes humans from other animals is our ability to manipulate our environment. Astonishingly, we now increasingly have the ability to manipulate our own genetics and those of our children. Due to the risks, their use should not be approved across the board, but we would be foolish to dispose entirely of our newfound potential to rewrite genetic code.     

5/ The driving force behind “something” 

Meaning - Someone or something that has the power to make things happen.

“The driving force behind Apple’s success was Steve Jobs”.

Example in an IELTS context 

Longer life spans and improvements in the health of older people suggest that people over the age of sixty-five can continue to live full and active lives.

In what ways can society benefit from the contribution that older people can make?

Advancements in medicine, lifestyle, and the elimination or control of many diseases have been the driving forces behind people living healthy and productive for longer than ever. As a society, we should seek to capitalize on the vitality that now persists into people’s twilight years. Elders are a source of knowledge and wisdom like no other and they are the safe-keepers of an extremely valuable type. Experience.  

6/ Bad news / Good news 

Meaning - An unwelcome thing or person / A welcome thing or person. 

“She was bad news from the moment you met her”. 

Example in an IELTS context 

Some think that climate change reforms will negatively affect business. Others feel they are an opportunity for businesses. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Within the business world, the introduction of new environmental regulations to curb global warming is largely considered bad news. However, such changes also bring with them novel business opportunities. I am of the opinion that businesses must adapt in order to survive, moreover, increasing environmental protection is just one of many market forces shaping the future of business. 

7/ As a rule of thumb

Meaning -  A rough and useful principle or method, based on experience rather than precisely accurate measures. 

“As a rule of thumb, it takes me about one hour to travel from my house to London”.

Example in an IELTS context 

 An increasing number of people are now using dating sites to meet their second halves. Do you think that this tendency helps people to socialize or does more harm than good?

Give your opinion. Provide relevant examples if necessary.

Online dating sites such as tinder have seen unprecedented success in recent years. That said, many have questioned their utility as long term usage seems to negatively impact people’s ability to socialize. As a rule of thumb, I  would say that dating sites are a good way to meet new people, but users should not forgo meeting potential partners in more traditional settings like bars or sports clubs. 

 8/ To get to grips with something 

Meaning - begin to deal with or understand.

“Lately, I have been getting to grips with the grammatical rules of English.” 

Example in an IELTS context 

A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, while others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and research.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

In recent years people have started to get to grips with the fact that animals are capable of feeling pain. In light of this development, a new ethical dilemma has emerged and it has become unclear whether we should permit their exploitation as a resource. 

9/ To bear something in mind  

Meaning - remember a fact or circumstance and take it into account.

"when traveling to the USA you should beat in mind that many people have guns".

Example in an IELTS context 

Government investment in the arts, such as music and theatre, is a waste of money. Governments must invest this money in public services instead.

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Most countries allocate a relatively small percentage of their national budget towards artistic ventures such as theatres and music programs. Bearing in mind that many people within society are struggling to survive, this money should be redirected towards helping them with basic necessities. 

10/ Last resort 

Meaning - a final course of action, used only when all else has failed.

"asking them to leave the school should be a last resort". 

Example in an IELTS context 

In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to improve public transportation.

To what extent do you agree?

One solution to inner-city congestion could be to impose higher taxes on motorists and then utilize this money for the development of public transport networks. In my opinion, this solution should only be considered as a last resort.

NEXT STEPS?

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog.  If you have any questions regarding the test or would like to inquire about my writing correction services or IELTS online classes please email me at info@lovetolearnenglish.com.