'An Act of' Collocation for IELTS: A List to Boost Your Score

Kasturika Samanta

5 min read

Updated On Oct 06, 2025

Improve your exam performance with advanced ‘an act of’ collocations for IELTS! Learn their meanings, study examples, and practice through targeted exercises to refine your vocabulary, clarity, and coherence for a top IELTS band score.

Lists of ‘An Act of’ Collocations for IELTS to Boost Your Score
‘An Act of’ Collocation for IELTS: Practice Exercise
Answer Key for Practice Exercises ‘An Act of’ Collocations

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In IELTS Writing and Speaking, using precise collocations shows that you can express complex ideas naturally. One powerful structure to master is ‘an act of’ collocations. This structure is often used to describe a single instance of behaviour, emotion, or decision, whether positive or negative. It allows you to sound more formal and academic, which is exactly what examiners expect in higher bands.

In this blog, we will explore the academic collocation list of ‘an act of’ collocations for IELTS, divided into key categories with meaning and examples.

Lists of ‘An Act of’ Collocations for IELTS to Boost Your Score

The ‘an act of’ collocations for IELTS are essential for multiple reasons: they show lexical flexibility, help you sound formal and natural, which is perfect for IELTS essays, describe moral or emotional actions clearly that is excellent for IELTS Speaking Part 2 or 3 (e.g., talking about good deeds, crime, or faith) and enrich your expression, especially useful when discussing ethics, society, law, or religion-related topics.

Therefore, let us go through some ‘an act of’ collocations with their meaning and usage in the tables below.

‘An Act of’ + Noun Collocations

This is the most common and useful structure of ‘an act of’ collocations. It connects ‘act’ with a noun that represents a quality, emotion, or deed. These collocations can be used in both positive and negative contexts.

Act of + Noun	Meaning	Example Sentence
Act of generosity	a kind or giving action	Donating to charities during disasters is an act of generosity.
Act of terrorism	a violent act intended to cause fear	The explosion was condemned as an act of terrorism by global leaders.
Act of revenge	a retaliatory or vengeful deed	Destroying the competitor’s reputation was an act of revenge.
Act of mercy	a compassionate or forgiving gesture	Granting him early release was seen as an act of mercy.
Act of faith	a decision based on belief rather than proof	Investing in that project was an act of faith in the future of technology.
Act of treason	a crime of betraying one’s country	The general was accused of an act of treason against the state.
Act of desperation	a reckless action taken when one feels hopeless	He sold his property in an act of desperation to pay his debts.
Act of God	an event caused by natural forces beyond human control	The insurance policy did not cover damage from acts of God like floods.
Act of defiance	a bold action showing resistance	Protesting against censorship was seen as an act of defiance.
Act of violence	a harmful or aggressive deed	The government condemned the recent acts of violence in the region.
Act of kindness	a generous or thoughtful action	Helping a lost tourist find their way is a small act of kindness.
Act of courage	a brave or heroic action	Saving the child from the burning house was a true act of courage.
Act of betrayal	an action that breaks trust	Leaking confidential information was considered an act of betrayal.
Act of vandalism	intentional destruction of property	Spray-painting the monument was an act of vandalism.
Act of cruelty	a deliberately harmful act	Animal abuse is an unforgivable act of cruelty.

Common Expressions with ‘An Act of’

These phrases are commonly used in both spoken and written English, and are especially valuable for IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, when you discuss moral or social issues.

Expression	Meaning	Example Sentence
An act of sheer …	emphasizing the total quality of an action	The soldier’s rescue mission was an act of sheer bravery.
A deliberate act of …	a planned or intentional action	It was a deliberate act of sabotage against the company.
A random act of …	an unplanned or spontaneous deed	A random act of kindness can brighten someone’s day.
A heroic act of …	a brave and selfless action	Jumping into the river to save the child was a heroic act of courage.
A selfless act of …	an unselfish action	Volunteering during the pandemic was a selfless act of compassion.
An unlawful act of …	an illegal or criminal deed	Vandalizing public property is an unlawful act of aggression.
An immoral act of …	a morally wrong action	Cheating in an exam is considered an immoral act of dishonesty.
A symbolic act of …	a gesture representing a larger idea	Raising the flag was a symbolic act of national pride.
An impulsive act of …	a sudden action without thinking	Quitting the job without notice was an impulsive act of frustration.
A final act of …	the last action before something ends	His apology was a final act of reconciliation before leaving the country.

‘An Act of’ Collocation for IELTS: Practice Exercise

We have provided you with an exercise below to assist in improving your understanding and ability to use 'an act of' collocations during the IELTS test.

Exercise A: Complete the sentences with these nouns.

generosity	terrorism	revenge	mercy
faith	treason	desperation	God

The hijackers released two elderly hostages as an act of______. Both had serious heart conditions and needed urgent medical attention.
The gift of his whole art collection to the nation was an act of incredible______.
Police believe that the murder of two policemen last night was an act of______for the shooting of two gangsters in the recent bank robbery.
The attacks of September 11th were the worst acts of______ever committed on American soil.
Colonel Briggs was found guilty of selling information to the enemy. The punishment for such an act of______could only be execution by firing squad.
I’m not sure that your project has much chance of succeeding, but as an act of______I will lend you the money you require to get started.
In order to escape from the hunters, the tiger leapt from a 100-metre cliff into the river below. It was an act of sheer______.
We’re insured against things like fire, burglary, earthquakes or what insurance companies call an act of______!

Answer Key for Practice Exercises ‘An Act of’ Collocations

Exercise A

mercy
generosity
revenge
terrorism
treason
faith
desperation
God

To conclude, using ‘an act of’ collocations in your IELTS responses demonstrates a mature command of English. It allows you to describe moral actions, emotional choices, and human behaviour with sophistication, exactly what examiners look for in Band 8+ candidates. So, practice these expressions for a higher IELTS band score, as they not only enrich your writing but also make your speaking authentic, academic, and fluent.

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