Lately, I’ve noticed that you’re not learning new vocabulary effectively. You tend to wait until the last moment, quickly glancing through the words and relying on short-term memory. But that’s not going to work — it’s just a waste of your time and energy.

Whether you like it or not, IELTS is a vocabulary test. Your success depends heavily on how well you understand and use a wide range of words.

To help you improve, I’m sharing the exact methods I use to learn vocabulary effectively. Follow these 8 steps, and you’ll not only memorize words faster but actually retain and use them with confidence.

1. Break Down Your Learning

Don’t try to learn all words at once. If you have 60 words to learn today, divide them into four sessions: morning, lunchtime, evening, and night — 15 words each. Every time you study a new set, revise the words you learned earlier in the day. This repeated exposure, spaced throughout the day, strengthens memory and helps with long-term retention.

2. Learn Words with Meaning and Context

Always study new words with their definitions and examples. Don’t skip the sample sentences in dictionaries — they are there to show you exactly how the word is used. Knowing the context improves understanding and helps you use the word correctly in speaking and writing.

3. Understand the Whole Text First

Before isolating unfamiliar words, try to grasp the general meaning of the entire text firs. If you pick out unknown words before reading the passage, you might misunderstand the actual meaning of the word in context.

4. Review Old Vocabulary Regularly

Learning a word once isn’t enough. Make it a habit to revise previously learned vocabulary every day. Many students forget old words simply because they never go back to review them. Repetition is key to mastering vocabulary.

5. Remember the Context of Each Word

Try to recall where and how you first encountered each word — the article, topic, or story it came from. This kind of “eye memory” helps solidify the word in your mind.

6. Reread Old Texts Without Notes

Go back and reread previous texts you've studied, but avoid writing translations or meanings above the words. This forces your brain to work harder and recall meanings from memory, which leads to stronger retention.

7. Make Vocabulary Learning a Daily Routine

Instead of cramming 100 words over two or three days, aim to learn a smaller number — around 40–50 — consistently each day. This approach is more effective, manageable, and helps you avoid burnout.

8. Practice with a Friend

Quiz each other on vocabulary and try giving definitions in English. This not only helps reinforce your memory but also improves your ability to explain and use words naturally.


Don't forget -- just do the way in which your brain works most effectively.

Focus on effectiveness first, then efficiency.

Do these methods and if you don't see any improvements in your reading/listening/ time management skills after a month, just come and ask me to compensate the time you wasted doing them.