IELTS vocabulary
IELTS science vocabulary
Words for research, experiments and discoveries, frequent in Academic Reading passages and lectures.
Each entry has the typical band it's useful for, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the words it most often goes with. Learn the collocations along with the word: that's what makes vocabulary sound natural.
Band 6 words
astronomy noun · academic
The scientific study of stars, planets, and other objects in space.
Astronomy has advanced rapidly as more powerful telescopes have become available.
Collocations: study astronomy · astronomy research · astronomy department
biology noun · academic
The scientific study of living things and how they function.
Biology can help explain how changes in an environment affect animal populations.
Collocations: study biology · biology lesson · molecular biology
cell noun · academic
The smallest basic unit of a living thing.
Each cell requires nutrients and oxygen to carry out its normal functions.
Collocations: cell membrane · cell division · blood cell
chemistry noun · academic
The scientific study of substances and the changes they undergo.
Chemistry is essential for developing safer materials and more effective medicines.
Collocations: study chemistry · chemistry experiment · organic chemistry
conclusion noun · academic
A judgement or decision reached after considering evidence or information.
The evidence supports the conclusion that regular exercise can improve mental wellbeing.
Collocations: draw a conclusion · reach a conclusion · main conclusion
cure noun
A treatment that completely ends an illness or disease.
Although researchers have made progress, there is still no cure for some conditions.
Collocations: find a cure · cure for a disease · search for a cure
data analysis noun phrase · academic
The process of examining information to find patterns or reach conclusions.
Careful data analysis helped the research team identify a link between sleep and memory.
Collocations: data analysis methods · data analysis shows
discovery noun
Something newly found or learned, especially through research.
The discovery of a more effective treatment could improve patients' quality of life.
Collocations: scientific discovery · make a discovery
evidence noun · academic
Facts or information that show whether something is true.
There is strong evidence that regular physical activity benefits both physical and mental health.
Collocations: strong evidence · evidence suggests
experiment noun · academic
A scientific test carried out to discover or demonstrate something.
The researchers designed an experiment to test how different levels of light affect plant growth.
Collocations: conduct an experiment · experiment results
gravity noun · academic
The force that pulls objects towards one another, especially towards the Earth.
Gravity keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun.
Collocations: force of gravity · gravity pulls · effects of gravity
laboratory noun · academic
A place equipped for scientific research, testing, or experiments.
Samples were tested in a laboratory to check for signs of contamination.
Collocations: laboratory research · laboratory equipment
microscope noun
An instrument that uses lenses to make very small objects appear larger.
Researchers used a microscope to examine how the cells responded to the new treatment.
Collocations: use a microscope · under a microscope · electron microscope
observation noun · academic
The act of watching something carefully, or a fact noticed in this way.
One important observation from the study was that the plants grew more slowly in low light.
Collocations: make an observation · careful observation · direct observation
physics noun · academic
The scientific study of matter, energy, and the forces between them.
Physics provides a framework for understanding how energy moves through different systems.
Collocations: study physics · physics research · the laws of physics
planet noun
A large object in space that travels around a star.
Scientists are searching for a planet that might support life beyond Earth.
Collocations: distant planet · planet Earth · planet's surface
research noun · academic
The careful study of a subject to discover new information.
Further research is needed to establish whether the treatment is safe over the long term.
Collocations: conduct research · research findings
sample noun · academic
A small part of a larger group used to represent or study it.
The researchers tested a large sample of adults to make their findings more reliable.
Collocations: representative sample · sample size · collect a sample
satellite noun · academic
An object that travels around a planet, or a device placed in space for communication or research.
A satellite can collect information about weather patterns across large areas of the Earth.
Collocations: communication satellite · satellite imagery · satellite data
solar system noun phrase · academic
The Sun and all the planets and other objects that travel around it.
Our understanding of the solar system has improved through observations made by space probes.
Collocations: the solar system · solar system formation · solar system research
species noun · academic
A group of similar living things that can reproduce with one another.
Protecting a species often requires preserving the habitat on which it depends.
Collocations: endangered species · species diversity · species of plant
telescope noun
An instrument that makes distant objects, especially in space, appear closer and clearer.
A powerful telescope can help astronomers observe planets that are too distant to see unaided.
Collocations: powerful telescope · radio telescope · telescope observations
trial noun · academic
A test of a product, treatment or method to assess how well it works.
The new treatment showed promising results during an initial clinical trial.
Collocations: clinical trial · trial period · conduct a trial
Band 7 words
clinical trial noun phrase · academic
A carefully controlled test of a medical treatment involving human participants.
Before a new medicine becomes widely available, it must usually undergo a clinical trial.
Collocations: conduct a clinical trial · clinical trial participants · clinical trial results
controversy noun · formal
Strong public disagreement about an issue or decision.
The use of animals in medical research remains a source of controversy.
Collocations: cause controversy · spark controversy · controversy surrounding
ethical adjective · academic
Relating to moral principles about what is right and fair.
Researchers must consider whether it is ethical to test treatments on vulnerable people.
Collocations: ethical concerns · ethical standards · ethical research
evolution noun · academic
The gradual development of living things over many generations.
Evolution explains how species can adapt to environmental changes over long periods.
Collocations: the theory of evolution · human evolution · evolution of a species
findings noun · academic
The results or conclusions produced by research or an investigation.
The findings suggest that access to green spaces can improve people's wellbeing.
Collocations: research findings · key findings · findings suggest
genetics noun · academic
The study of genes and how characteristics are passed between generations.
Genetics may help doctors identify people who are at greater risk of certain illnesses.
Collocations: genetics research · study genetics · human genetics
hypothesis noun · academic
An explanation or idea that can be tested through research.
The study tested the hypothesis that regular exercise improves concentration.
Collocations: test a hypothesis · support a hypothesis
molecule noun · academic
The smallest unit of a substance that retains its chemical properties.
A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Collocations: molecule of water · complex molecule · molecule structure
orbit noun · academic
The curved path an object follows around a planet, star or other body.
The satellite was placed in orbit to monitor changes in the atmosphere.
Collocations: Earth's orbit · stable orbit · enter orbit
organism noun · academic
An individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, or bacterium.
Even a simple organism can respond to changes in its surroundings.
Collocations: living organism · single-celled organism · organism's environment
particle noun · academic
A very small piece of matter.
Air pollution contains tiny particles that can enter the lungs and harm health.
Collocations: subatomic particle · particle of dust · particle size
peer review noun phrase · academic
An assessment of research by other experts in the same field.
Peer review helps identify weaknesses in a study before its results are published.
Collocations: peer review process · peer review system · undergo peer review
phenomenon noun · academic
An event or fact that can be observed and studied.
The rapid spread of urban heat islands is a phenomenon that scientists are increasingly investigating.
Collocations: natural phenomenon · social phenomenon · observe a phenomenon
prototype noun · academic
An early model of a product used to test its design and performance.
The engineers built a prototype to identify problems before manufacturing the device on a large scale.
Collocations: build a prototype · prototype design · test a prototype
publication noun · formal
The act of making information available, or a work that has been published.
The publication of the findings attracted attention from researchers in several related fields.
Collocations: academic publication · scientific publication · publication of research
qualitative adjective · academic
Related to qualities or characteristics rather than numbers or measurements.
Qualitative interviews can reveal why people choose not to use public transport.
Collocations: qualitative analysis · qualitative research · qualitative data
quantitative adjective · academic
Related to amounts or numbers that can be measured and compared.
The study used quantitative data to compare energy consumption before and after the changes.
Collocations: quantitative analysis · quantitative data · quantitative research
radiation noun · academic
Energy that travels as waves or particles, sometimes causing harm to living things.
Strict safety measures are essential when medical staff work with radiation.
Collocations: radiation exposure · radiation levels · radiation therapy
research funding noun phrase · academic
Money provided to support the study of a particular subject.
Research funding should be directed towards projects with clear benefits for public health.
Collocations: secure research funding · public research funding · research funding application
scientific method noun phrase · academic
A systematic process of observing, testing and analysing ideas to gain knowledge.
The scientific method helps researchers test explanations using evidence rather than assumptions.
Collocations: apply the scientific method · scientific method involves · scientific method of inquiry
space exploration noun phrase · academic
The investigation of space using spacecraft, satellites and other technology.
Space exploration can lead to scientific discoveries, although its high cost remains controversial.
Collocations: space exploration programme · space exploration mission · space exploration research
theory noun · academic
A set of ideas that explains something, often based on evidence.
The theory provides a useful explanation for why some people respond differently to treatment.
Collocations: scientific theory · develop a theory
theory of evolution noun phrase · academic
The scientific explanation of how living things change over generations.
The theory of evolution helps explain the diversity of life on Earth.
Collocations: theory of evolution · support the theory of evolution · evidence for the theory of evolution
variable noun · academic
A factor that can change and may affect the results of a study.
Age was an important variable in the experiment, so the researchers recorded each participant’s details.
Collocations: independent variable · dependent variable · control a variable
verify verb · formal
To check that something is true, accurate or correct.
Scientists must verify their measurements before drawing conclusions from the results.
Collocations: verify the results · verify information · verify the accuracy
Band 8+ words
climate model noun · academic
A computer-based representation used to study or predict climate patterns.
A climate model can help researchers estimate how rising temperatures may affect coastal areas.
Collocations: climate model projections · climate model simulations · develop a climate model
empirical adjective · academic
Based on evidence gathered through observation or experiments rather than theory alone.
Empirical evidence is needed to determine whether the policy has reduced air pollution.
Collocations: empirical evidence · empirical research · empirical data
methodology noun · academic
The system of methods used in a particular study or area of research.
The researchers explained their methodology so that others could assess the reliability of the study.
Collocations: research methodology · methodology used · methodology section
replicate verb · academic
To repeat a study or experiment to check whether its results can be reproduced.
Other researchers should replicate the experiment before its conclusions are widely accepted.
Collocations: replicate a study · replicate an experiment · replicate the results
specimen noun · academic
A sample taken for scientific study or examination.
The scientists analysed each specimen to determine how the disease had spread.
Collocations: collect a specimen · examine a specimen · specimen analysis
validate verb · academic
To show that a method, result or idea is reliable or acceptable.
Researchers tested the device on a larger sample to validate its accuracy.
Collocations: validate a method · validate the results · validate a model
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