Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – Key Word: Difference

Mastering collocations with the word “difference” helps you express contrast, opinion, and comparison naturally in IELTS Speaking and Writing. Whether describing trends in Writing Task 1 or expressing views in Task 2, knowing how to use adjective, verb, and prepositional collocations with “difference” enhances your vocabulary range and accuracy.

Adjective + Difference

Common Adjectives Used with “Difference”

Here are some adjectives that naturally collocate with “difference” to show degree, importance, or type: big, broad, considerable, dramatic, enormous, great, huge, large, major, profound, radical, real, sharp, substantial, vast, wide

Example:

• A little extra care makes a big difference.
• I noticed a real difference in his attitude.

Adjectives Showing Importance or Degree

Use these to express the scale or significance of a difference: basic, essential, fundamental, crucial, important, key, significant, clear, distinct, marked, notable, noticeable, obvious, striking, minor, slight, subtle

Example:

• There was a subtle difference in tone between the two speakers.
• The policy changes made a significant difference in the economy.

Adjectives Showing Type of Difference

You can also use adjectives that categorize differences: national, regional, age, class, cultural, ethnic, gender, genetic, physical, psychological, racial, sex, social, historical, ideological, political

Example:

• There are cultural differences between eastern and western societies.
• The study revealed gender differences in communication styles.

Exercise 1: Common Adjective Collocations

Use the following adjectives in the sentences below: fundamental, irreconcilable, no, real, striking, subtle

1. I couldn’t tell the two paintings apart until an expert pointed out the very ___________ differences between them.
2. I don’t think Charles and Edward will ever see eye-to-eye again. Over the years, ___________ differences of opinion have developed between them.
3. Please give generously to our charity. A donation of just £1 can make a ___________ difference to the quality of life of children in poor countries.
4. There are ___________ differences between the capital and the rest of the country.
5. It makes ___________ difference to me whether she goes or stays.
6. The ___________ difference between you and me is that you like spending money and I like saving it.

Answer Key: 1. subtle 2. irreconcilable 3. real 4. striking 5. no 6. fundamental

Verb + Difference

Verbs Commonly Used with “Difference”

Use these verbs to show impact, recognition, or emphasis when describing differences in IELTS answers:

make a difference
emphasize, focus on, stress, underline a difference
appreciate, be aware of, know, notice, see, spot, tell a difference

Examples:

• The new central heating has made an enormous difference.
• We should focus on what we have in common rather than emphasizing our differences.
• Could you spot the difference between these two photos?

Exercise 2: Match the Two Halves

Match each sentence with its ending:

1. Putting in central heating made
2. There’s a substantial difference
3. Although there were marked differences on how to spend the money,
4. There’s a big difference between
5. When my brother said sorry for what he had said about me,

a. between the opinions of men and women on the issue of abortion.
b. a world of difference to my parents’ house.
c. the service on the two airlines.
d. it made all the difference.
e. the finance group made a decision in a surprisingly short time.

Answer Key: 1-b, 2-a, 3-e, 4-c, 5-d

Exercise 3: Spot the Verb + Difference Collocations

1. I used margarine instead of butter, so __________
2. This coffee is half the price of that one and yet __________
3. As humans we can __________
4. It looks and feels exactly like a genuine five-pound note, but I’m sure anybody with a trained eye will __________
5. The medical treatment he’s receiving seems to be working and __________

a. you can certainly see a difference.
b. spot the difference immediately.
c. I hope nobody notices the difference.
d. you really can’t tell the difference.
e. detect small differences in smell but a dog’s nose is more sensitive.

Answer Key: 1-c, 2-d, 3-e, 4-b, 5-a

Difference + Preposition

Common Prepositional Collocations with “Difference”

Understanding prepositions that pair with “difference” can make your speech and writing more natural.

Exercise 4: Fill in the Preposition

Complete each sentence with the correct preposition:

1. There are significant differences _______ the legal systems of England and Scotland.
2. The difference _______ price is so small it’s not worth arguing about.
3. He doesn’t earn much, so the extra money will make a big difference _______ him.
4. If you’re thinking of a holiday _______ a difference, why not try Finland?

Answer Key: 1. between 2. in 3. to 4. with

Mastering collocations with “difference” is an effective way to enhance your IELTS performance. It helps you develop a stronger lexical resource, allowing you to compare ideas, opinions, or trends naturally in both Writing and Speaking. Using phrases such as “make a big difference” or “spot the difference” adds fluency and precision to your speech, while expressions like “there is a significant difference between” make your essays sound more academic and cohesive.

In short, collocations such as “a striking difference,” “make all the difference,” and “difference between” are frequently used in IELTS tasks. Incorporate them into your responses to demonstrate advanced vocabulary control and make a noticeable difference in your overall band score.

Also Check: 

• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Space
• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Size
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: decision 
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: a series of
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 1
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 2)
• Using Contrast in IELTS Speaking & Writing: Advanced Grammar in IELTS
• 100+ Advanced Vocabulary Word List for IELTS (PDF Available)