How the "Upgrade" Works (আপগ্রেড কীভাবে কাজ করে)
Band score is not about knowing "hard" words — it is about using a range of words flexibly, accurately and with the right collocation. This page takes the common words you already use and shows the stronger, more precise alternative, the collocation that makes it sound natural, and a Band 5 vs Band 7 sentence so you can see the jump.
ব্যান্ড স্কোর "কঠিন" শব্দ জানার বিষয় নয় — শব্দের বৈচিত্র্য নমনীয়ভাবে, নির্ভুলভাবে ও সঠিক collocation-সহ ব্যবহারের বিষয়। এই পৃষ্ঠা আপনার পরিচিত শব্দকে শক্তিশালী বিকল্পে বদলে দেয়, স্বাভাবিক শোনানো collocation দেখায়, ও Band 5 বনাম Band 7 বাক্য তুলে ধরে।
The #1 rule: accuracy beats ambition. One upgraded word used correctly is worth more than three fancy words used wrongly. Only upgrade a word once you know its collocation.
#১ নিয়ম: নিখুঁততা > উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা। সঠিকভাবে ব্যবহৃত একটি আপগ্রেড শব্দ > ভুলভাবে ব্যবহৃত তিনটি কঠিন শব্দ। collocation জেনে তবেই আপগ্রেড করুন।
Ready to practise? After reading the upgrades below, apply them in the Band 7 Practice Worksheet — rewrite 10 sentences and check them against a model answer key.
অনুশীলন করতে চান? নিচের আপগ্রেড পড়ে Band 7 Practice Worksheet-এ প্রয়োগ করুন — ১০টি বাক্য নতুন করে লিখে মডেল উত্তরের সঙ্গে মিলিয়ে নিন।
This page builds on our themed vocabulary (290+ words) and the module guides for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.
এটি আমাদের themed vocabulary ও মডিউল গাইডগুলোর উপর ভিত্তি করে।
Overused Words → Upgrades (অতিব্যবহৃত শব্দ)
These are the words that instantly mark an answer as Band 5–6. Replace them — and notice the collocation. এই শব্দগুলো উত্তরকে Band 5–6 বানায়। বদলে দিন — collocation খেয়াল করুন।
| Instead of… | Use (Band 7/8) | Natural collocation | বাংলা |
|---|---|---|---|
| good | beneficial · valuable · worthwhile | a worthwhile investment | উপকারী |
| bad | harmful · detrimental · adverse | a detrimental effect on health | ক্ষতিকর |
| big | significant · substantial · considerable | a substantial increase | বড়/উল্লেখযোগ্য |
| small | minor · slight · marginal | a marginal difference | সামান্য |
| important | crucial · vital · paramount | of paramount importance | গুরুত্বপূর্ণ |
| a lot of | numerous · a great deal of · a wide range of | a wide range of options | অনেক |
| very (big) | extremely · remarkably (+ a stronger adj.) | remarkably successful | খুব |
| nice | pleasant · enjoyable · appealing | a pleasant experience | চমৎকার |
| thing | aspect · factor · element · issue | a key factor | বিষয়/দিক |
| problem | issue · drawback · obstacle · challenge | a pressing issue | সমস্যা |
| people say | it is widely believed · many argue | it is widely believed that… | মানুষ বলে |
| nowadays | in recent years · at present · these days | in recent years | আজকাল |
Weak Verbs → Precise Verbs (দুর্বল → নির্ভুল ক্রিয়া)
Strong, specific verbs raise your score more than any adjective. শক্ত, নির্দিষ্ট ক্রিয়া যেকোনো বিশেষণের চেয়ে বেশি নম্বর তোলে।
| Instead of… | Use (Band 7/8) | Natural collocation | বাংলা |
|---|---|---|---|
| show | demonstrate · reveal · illustrate · indicate | the data reveal that… | দেখানো |
| help | assist · aid · facilitate · contribute to | facilitate learning | সাহায্য করা |
| make (better) | improve · enhance · boost | boost productivity | উন্নত করা |
| cause | lead to · result in · trigger · give rise to | give rise to serious problems | ঘটানো |
| increase | rise · grow · surge · soar | sales soared | বৃদ্ধি করা |
| decrease | decline · fall · drop · plummet | prices plummeted | হ্রাস পাওয়া |
| think (that) | believe · maintain · argue · be convinced | I firmly believe that… | মনে করা |
| use | utilise · employ · make use of | employ a strategy | ব্যবহার করা |
| say | claim · state · argue · point out | critics point out that… | বলা |
| get (skills) | gain · obtain · acquire · develop | acquire new skills | অর্জন করা |
| fix / solve | address · tackle · resolve · combat | tackle the problem | সমাধান করা |
| stop | prevent · curb · restrict · deter | curb pollution | থামানো |
Everyday → Academic (দৈনন্দিন → একাডেমিক)
Precise adjectives make description sound mature and controlled. নির্দিষ্ট বিশেষণ বর্ণনাকে পরিণত ও নিয়ন্ত্রিত করে।
| Instead of… | Use (Band 7/8) | Natural collocation | বাংলা |
|---|---|---|---|
| happy | content · satisfied · delighted | satisfied with the outcome | সন্তুষ্ট |
| tired | exhausted · worn out · drained | physically exhausted | ক্লান্ত |
| hard (difficult) | challenging · demanding · daunting | a demanding job | কঠিন |
| easy | straightforward · effortless · manageable | a straightforward task | সহজ |
| rich | wealthy · affluent · well-off | affluent families | ধনী |
| poor | deprived · disadvantaged · underprivileged | disadvantaged communities | দরিদ্র |
| old (thing) | outdated · obsolete · antiquated | obsolete technology | পুরোনো |
| new | innovative · cutting-edge · novel | an innovative approach | নতুন |
| dangerous | hazardous · perilous · risky | hazardous waste | বিপজ্জনক |
| famous | renowned · prominent · celebrated | a renowned scientist | বিখ্যাত |
| expensive | costly · pricey · prohibitive | prohibitively expensive | দামি |
| cheap | affordable · inexpensive · low-cost | affordable housing | সস্তা/সাশ্রয়ী |
| crowded | congested · overcrowded · packed | congested city roads | ভিড়পূর্ণ |
| worried | concerned · anxious · apprehensive | deeply concerned about… | উদ্বিগ্ন |
Collocations — The Real Band 7 Signal (collocation-ই আসল সংকেত)
A collocation is words that naturally go together. Wrong collocation is the most common Band-6 error. collocation = স্বাভাবিকভাবে একসাথে বসা শব্দ। ভুল collocation-ই সবচেয়ে সাধারণ Band-6 ভুল।
The make / do / take / have families
- make a decision
- make progress
- make an effort
- make a difference
- do research
- do harm / damage
- do business
- do your best
- take action
- take responsibility
- take part in
- take advantage of
- have an impact on
- have access to
- have an opportunity
- have a tendency to
- pay attention to
- pay a visit
- pay the price
- raise awareness
- raise concerns
- meet a deadline
- meet demand
Strong adjective + noun pairs
heavy rain strong argument deep concern a key role growing concern widespread belief extensive experience a major factor a serious drawback rapid growth a significant impact a viable solution
Fix these common wrong collocations
| ❌ Wrong (ভুল) | ✅ Right (সঠিক) |
|---|---|
| do a mistake | make a mistake |
| say a lie | tell a lie |
| give an exam | take / sit an exam |
| strong rain | heavy rain |
| high experience | extensive experience |
| make a research | do / conduct research |
| gain money | earn / make money |
| discuss about it | discuss it (no "about") |
Band 5 vs Band 7 — Side by Side (পাশাপাশি তুলনা)
Same idea, two levels. Notice the upgraded words and the tighter, more accurate grammar. একই ভাব, দুই স্তর। আপগ্রেড শব্দ ও নিখুঁত ব্যাকরণ খেয়াল করুন।
| Band 5–6 (weak) | Band 7–8 (strong) |
|---|---|
| Task 2 · opinionI think cars are a very big problem because they make a lot of pollution. | Task 2 · opinionIn my view, private cars pose a serious problem, as they generate substantial air pollution. |
| Task 1 · trendThe number went up a lot and then it went down a bit. | Task 1 · trendThe figure rose sharply before declining gradually towards the end of the period. |
| Speaking · Part 1I like my city because it is very nice and has many things to do. | Speaking · Part 1I'm really fond of my city — it has a vibrant atmosphere and a wide range of things to do. |
| Task 2 · argumentEducation is good and helps people get good jobs. | Task 2 · argumentEducation is invaluable, as it equips people with the skills needed to secure rewarding employment. |
| Speaking · Part 3Technology is good but it is also bad sometimes. | Speaking · Part 3While technology brings undeniable benefits, it also carries certain drawbacks. |
| Task 2 · problemMany people think the government must fix this problem fast. | Task 2 · problemIt is widely believed that the government should take decisive action to address this issue. |
| Speaking · Part 2It was a very good day and I was very happy. | Speaking · Part 2It was a truly memorable day, and I felt absolutely delighted. |
| Task 2 · conclusionIn conclusion, I think this is a good thing for everyone. | Task 2 · conclusionIn conclusion, this development is, on balance, highly beneficial for society as a whole. |
Idioms & Phrasal Verbs (স্বাভাবিক idiom ও phrasal verb)
Band 7 asks for "less common and idiomatic" language. Use phrasal verbs freely; use idioms sparingly and only where natural. Band 7-এ "idiomatic" ভাষা চায়। phrasal verb অবাধে ব্যবহার করুন; idiom অল্প ও স্বাভাবিক জায়গায়।
| Phrasal verb | Formal meaning | Collocation / বাংলা |
|---|---|---|
| bring about | cause | bring about change (পরিবর্তন আনা) |
| carry out | conduct / perform | carry out research (গবেষণা করা) |
| put forward | propose / suggest | put forward a proposal (প্রস্তাব দেওয়া) |
| cut down on | reduce | cut down on waste (কমানো) |
| come up with | think of / devise | come up with a solution (বের করা) |
| deal with | handle / address | deal with stress (সামলানো) |
| rely on | depend on | rely on technology (নির্ভর করা) |
| look into | investigate | look into the causes (খতিয়ে দেখা) |
| Natural idiom (Speaking) | Meaning / বাংলা |
|---|---|
| a double-edged sword | has both good and bad sides. ভালো-মন্দ দুই দিক। |
| in the long run | over a long period. দীর্ঘমেয়াদে। |
| the tip of the iceberg | a small visible part of a big problem. সমস্যার সামান্য অংশ। |
| a blessing in disguise | a hidden benefit. ছদ্মবেশে আশীর্বাদ। |
| hit the nail on the head | to be exactly right. ঠিক কথাটা বলা। |
Register matters. Idioms belong in Speaking. In Writing Task 2 (formal essay), avoid idioms and slang — but phrasal verbs like carry out, bring about are fine.
Register জরুরি। idiom Speaking-এ; Writing Task 2-এ idiom এড়ান, তবে carry out/bring about-এর মতো phrasal verb ঠিক আছে।
Don't Over-Upgrade (অতিরিক্ত আপগ্রেড নয়)
Trying too hard can lower your score. Avoid these traps. অতিরিক্ত চেষ্টা নম্বর কমাতে পারে। এই ফাঁদ এড়ান।
| ❌ Over-upgraded / wrong | ✅ Natural & correct |
|---|---|
| a plethora of a myriad of problems | numerous problems / many problems |
| My childish behaviour helped me. | My childlike curiosity helped me. (thesaurus trap) |
| The government must utilise the toilet. | use the toilet (wrong register) |
| It is a good, great, wonderful, fantastic idea. | It is an excellent idea. (no word-piling) |
| a detrimental and beneficial effect (contradiction) | a mixed effect / both benefits and drawbacks |
A safe method: learn each upgraded word as a 3-word chunk, not alone — "a substantial increase", "pose a problem", "address the issue". Chunks stop collocation errors.
নিরাপদ উপায়: প্রতিটি আপগ্রেড শব্দ একা নয়, ৩-শব্দের chunk হিসেবে শিখুন। chunk collocation-ভুল থামায়।
Practise these upgrades in real answers with our Cambridge IELTS companions, and revise the module vocabulary: Reading · Listening · Speaking · Writing.
অনুশীলন করুন আমাদের Cambridge IELTS গাইড ও মডিউল ভোকাবুলারিতে।