Research and discovery
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| conduct research | carry out a study | Scientists conduct research in laboratories and in the field. |
| breakthrough | an important new discovery | The discovery of antibiotics was a major breakthrough. |
| hypothesis | an idea to be tested | The team tested the hypothesis with a series of experiments. |
| empirical evidence | proof based on observation or experiment | Policies should rest on empirical evidence. |
| findings | results of a study | The findings were published in a medical journal. |
| peer-reviewed | checked by other experts before publication | Peer-reviewed studies are more reliable than blog posts. |
| cutting-edge | very advanced and modern | The lab uses cutting-edge technology. |
Funding and priorities
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| research funding | money given for research | Research funding often depends on government priorities. |
| scientific community | scientists as a group | The scientific community agrees on the causes of climate change. |
| practical applications | real-life uses | Pure science often has unexpected practical applications. |
| allocate resources | decide how to distribute money or staff | Governments must allocate resources between health and space. |
| long-term benefits | advantages that come after many years | Basic research has long-term benefits for industry. |
| private sector | businesses not owned by the state | The private sector now invests heavily in robotics. |
| brain drain | loss of skilled people to other countries | Low salaries cause brain drain among young researchers. |
Technology and innovation
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| technological advances | improvements in technology | Technological advances have transformed communication. |
| artificial intelligence | computer systems that imitate human thinking | Artificial intelligence can analyse medical scans quickly. |
| renewable energy | energy from sources that do not run out | Renewable energy is becoming cheaper every year. |
| genetic engineering | changing the genes of living things | Genetic engineering raises both hopes and fears. |
| automation | using machines instead of people | Automation can raise productivity but cut jobs. |
| prototype | a first model of a product | Engineers built a prototype before mass production. |
| revolutionise | change something completely | The internet revolutionised the way we shop. |
Ethics and risks
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ethical concerns | worries about right and wrong | Cloning raises serious ethical concerns. |
| unintended consequences | unplanned results | New chemicals can have unintended consequences for wildlife. |
| safeguards | protections against harm | Strict safeguards are needed for data used in research. |
| animal testing | using animals in experiments | Animal testing is controversial, even in medicine. |
| misuse | wrong or harmful use | Powerful software can be open to misuse. |
| regulation | official rules that control an activity | Stronger regulation of drones is needed. |
| scepticism | doubt about whether something is true | Healthy scepticism is part of the scientific method. |
How to use these words well
- Use evidence-based words (findings, evidence, studies) instead of inventing figures in your essay.
- Learn the noun and verb forms: discovery and discover, invention and invent, innovation and innovate.
- Balance a benefit with a risk in one sentence using while or although for higher cohesion.
- Do not use technical terms you cannot explain; a simple accurate phrase is better than a wrong specialist word.
Study guides
Computer-Delivered IELTS: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Thinking about taking IELTS on a computer? Here is what stays the same, what feels different in Writing, Reading and Listening, and how to prepare for the screen.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.