Fathom - Word of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Expressing your ideas in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections is crucial for which the word ‘Fathom’ can be an addition. This term will help the assessment of the key IELTS parameters Lexical Resource, Task Response, and even Coherence & Cohesion in the IELTS Exam. Adding a new term to your vocabulary toolkit will help you to improve your skills at incorporating appropriate and advanced terms to describe it. In this way, you can efficiently express situations, especially those where you can handle abstract ideas and analyze situations and express quiet reflections of a situation.

Let’s check out the meaning of the word and get familiar with its usage in your answers.

What is the Definition of the Word ‘Fathom’?

Precise and expressive vocabulary can make your arguments clearer and showcases a high degree of language mastery. In Lexical Resource, you will be assessed based on your skills in terms of range, accuracy, and flexibility with IELTS Vocabulary. A well-chosen and appropriate word can improve your answer where you can communicate complex ideas with confidence. Knowing this word's usage will help you to transform your responses from basic descriptions to thoughtful, impactful expressions which can be done by diving into the table below.

Check out the video below to learn 9 Vocabulary Tips to IMPROVE Your Score for the IELTS Writing Task 2!

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using ‘Fathom’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing

As you get familiar with the meaning of the word ‘Fathom', it is quite common to get confused with its usage in a sentence. Incorporating it inappropriately in terms of its meaning, or forcing it into contexts where it does not belong, can affect your overall meaning of the answers. Therefore, it is crucial for you to avoid such mistakes so that you can use precise and natural usage of uncommon vocabulary under the parameter of Lexical Resources. Before you start using the term as a synonym for confusion, insight, or emotional understanding, let’s find out the frequent errors and check out the strategies to utilize it correctly in the actual IELTS Speaking and Writing scenarios.

• Using “fathom” for very simple matters

The term is meant for only heavy or hard to grasp understanding.

• Using it in non-emotional situations

It will generally be for emotional or complex topics, not for simple, casual understanding.

• Using the term as a noun

This word is used as a verb only and never as a noun.

• Using it for physical things

It is restricted to non-physical, abstract concepts, emotions, or decisions. You cannot use it for literal or tangible items.

• Incorrect preposition usage

This word is used directly with a clause, but you need to use the correct preposition.

• Redundancy in using the term

Overuse doesn’t fit the word in context and lowers the level of precision in vocabulary.

Exercise on the Word ‘Fathom’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

After getting to know the meaning of the term ‘Fathom’, you can focus on how this word can be applied in a sentence. This will help improve in precision control, which is crucial in showcasing a higher level of proficiency in the language and directly influences a strong Lexical Resource score. Let’s look at the exercise given below and take a step towards your desired band scores. 

1 Many students feel _____________ about the choice of their university major as many feel a mix of different subjects.

2 Her attendance in class has been _____________ which made it hard for the teachers to keep track of her progress.

3 The bright scarlet mural on the gray wall was highly  _____________  and drew everyone’s attention.

4 The researcher worked in a  _____________  by going through every source and every citation.

5 It was hard to  _____________  which is why the trial kept failing, even after multiple attempts.

6 The government enacted new policies to  _____________ the effects of the increasing pollution in cities.

Describe a disagreement you had with a friend

You should say:

• Who you disagreed with
• What the disagreement was
• How it happened
• And explain how this disagreement was resolved

SAMPLE ANSWER:

When I was a teen of 17 years old, I used to make more friends due to my 1 _______________________ nature. But unfortunately, I also had the most misunderstanding with them. However, I have not lost any of my friends because of the disagreements.

Once I bought a few novels to read in my leisure hours during the summer vacation of college. During the vacation, one evening two of my college friends reached my home. After having some chats, one of them started looking at my library that I have built since my childhood (I love reading books from an early age and has a huge collection of different types of books). He picked one of the books that I had just started reading since the morning that day.

It was Nam, my 2 _______________________ friend at the college. I helped him greatly in mathematics and physics on the exam before the college closure in the summer. The disagreement began with him when he wanted to take the novel to his home for reading. The novel named – The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown was his first choice.

I tried to make him realise that I had started reading the novel before they arrived at my home and had already read a 3 _______________________ portion of the book. But he was determined to take the book. Thus the disagreement continued. Samuel, the other friend of us sat motionlessly and observed us exchanging words with each other.

The argument continued for about 15 minutes, and I tried to persuade him to take some other books but he was determined. He did not change his mind and said that once he started reading the novel but could not finish the book for some reasons. Now he did not want to miss the chance to complete the book and tried to 4 _______________________ the reason for his actions.

I had completed reading one fourth of the book and as a quick reader, I proposed to him to take the book on the very next day. But he was unchanged in his attitude. He blackmailed me emotionally saying that if I do not allow him to take the book, then he should not consider me as his friend.

Finally, I had to give up on his 5 _______________________ and let him take the book on one condition that he should return the book just after he finishes reading and also will not lend someone else (he had lost most of his books by lending others for his extraordinary 6 _______________________) as he did earlier with my books.

Answer to the Exercise on ‘Fathom’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Let's check your level of understanding for the word ‘Fathom’ by looking at the answers provided below. Observe the mistakes, understand the reasons behind them, and then apply the corrections intentionally. This would help you to acquire stronger vocabulary precision while taking a step towards a higher IELTS Band Score of 8+.

EXERCISE 1.

EXERCISE 2.

Learning a versatile vocabulary word such as fathom can help in discussing topics such as a difficult situation, trend analysis, comparison of ideas, or anything related to education, technology, environment, or sociology. The use of such terminology would help you to critically think, explain, and persuade more effectively in the Speaking and IELTS Writing answers.

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Also Check: 

• Five Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary
• 1200 Common Words in IELTS Listening
• IELTS Vocabulary Words List for Band 8 or 9
• How to Build Vocabulary for the IELTS Exam: Practical Tips
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+