Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: Advice

One most common and useful collocation you often tend to hear and read in English is, “Advice.” Collocations are groups of words that tend to appear together, and using them perfectly can definitely improve your lexical resource band score in both the IELTS Writing and Speaking modules. 

If you are someone wanting to sound more natural and fluent during your IELTS exam, learning collocations is really important. Therefore, learning the perfect usage of the collocations related to the word, “Advice” will surely help you to express your opinions clearly and confidently. 

This will also show that you can understand how words work together in real life contexts and those are what the IELTS examiners value highly. So, in this blog, we shall explore these collocations related to “Advice,” and practice some exercises based on this to improve your lexical resource IELTS band score!

Why Learn Collocations For “Advice?”

• Learning collocations related to the word “Advice” will undoubtedly make your IELTS language delivery more precise and natural. 
• Just remember that, learning chunks of a language rather than single words would make you sound like a native.
• You can easily use it in contexts related to relationships, children, family, life upskilling, daily life, etc. 
• Practicing them in both the IELTS speaking and writing tasks for a better final day performance is the key. 
• This will make you sound more fluent, confident, and perfectly ready to impress your examiner. 
• For example, using collocations like, give advice, receive advice, expert advice, or a piece of advice, will help your ideas to flow smoothly and show that you have a strong lexical resource in hand to the examiner as well! 

Tips to Remember While Using the Collocation of “Advice”

• Using the collocation, “a piece of advice” is uncountable. As in, we say that it is a piece of advice and not an advice.
• Varying your expressions by not just repeating the “give advice” Using - offer, seek, take, and follow the advice will clearly show a range.
• Practicing it in a proper context as you write sample sentences or certain IELTS answers using these collocations will boost your score. 

Collocations Related to the Word, “Advice”

Practice Exercise: Key Word - Advice

Verb + Advice

Exercise 1: Use the correct form of these verbs:

1. If you had ­­­­___________ my advice, you wouldn’t have lost all your money.
2. Can I ­­­­___________ you a piece of advice? =>Sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
3. Matt knows what he’s talking about. He has a lot of experience in dealing with this kind of situation so we can’t afford to­­­­___________ his advice.
4. We’re not sure if our plan to start up a new fast- food restaurant in this area is likely to succeed or not and we would ­­­­___________ your advice on the matter.
5. Jim had no close friends, so he had no one to ­­­­___________ for advice when he needed it most.

Exercise 2: Mark the following sentences:

I-if it means ‘ignoring advice’

G-if it means ‘giving advice’

T-if it means ‘accepting advice’

1. He simply won’t listen to any advice from me.
2. He just follows his parents’ advice blindly.
3. They just completely disregarded my advice.
4. My offer of advice is still open.
5. Sam’s 16 and is actually very good at taking advice.
6. Heed my advice – or take the consequences!

Prepositions with Advice

Exercise 3: Use the following prepositions in the sentences:

1. He went back to work­­­­___________ the advice of his doctor. He should have stayed off longer.
2. I bought some technology shares­­­­___________ the advice of my brother, who’s an accountant.
3. We went to India in July ­­­­___________ the advice of all our friends who told us to wait till February when the weather would be cooler.
4. Can you give me some advice ­­­­___________ where to find a good hotel in Rome?
5. My advice ­­­­___________ you would be to go and see your solicitor first before doing anything.
6. Here’s a leaflet with some good advice ­­­­___________ starting your own business.

Go back and underline all the complete prepositional expressions.

Common Adjective Collocations

Exercise 4: Use the following adjectives in these sentences:

1. The legal system is so complex nowadays that it is often impossible to understand it without ­­­­___________
2. I often ask my teacher for advice when I have a big decision to make. He’s full of ­­­­___________, based on common sense.
3. I’ve been given ­­­­___________ by two different financial advisors – one told me to sell my shares while the other told me to hold onto them. What am I supposed to do?
4. I wouldn’t say anything to him. He doesn’t like ­­­­___________. He’ll just tell you that if he needs your advice he’ll ask for it!
5. It’s really difficult to get ­­­­___________ nowadays, but your solicitor is bound by rules to give this kind of help.
6. You might not want to hear this, John, but as somebody who knows you well and cares about you, can I give you some ­­­­___________ – I really don’t think Mary’s the right woman for you.

Note:

1. In 2-4 and 2-6 ‘about’ is also possible.
2. In 3-2 you could also say ‘good advice’.
3. You can ‘ask’ someone’s advice or ‘ask for’ advice

Example:

• Ask Stuart’s advice about where to stay in Paris.
• I wouldn’t ask him for advice on where to eat!

Note these expressions about giving advice:

• I’d appreciate any advice you can give me.
• Let me give you a piece of advice.

Note this more formal expression:

• Before you write to your landlord, you should seek proper legal advice.

We use the expression ‘a word of advice’ to warn someone:

• A word of advice. I’d keep away from Susan.
• She’s trouble! Take it from one who knows!

Answer Key: Key Word - Advice

Exercise 1:

1. taken
2. give
3. ignore
4. welcome
5. turn to

Exercise 2:

1. I
2. T
3. I
4. G
5. T
6. G

Exercise 3:

1. against
2. on
3. against
4. on
5. to
6. on

Exercise 4:

1. Professional advice
2. Sound advice
3. Contradictory advice
4. Unsolicited advice
5. Impartial advice
6. Friendly advice

Also check:

• IELTS Vocabulary
• IELTS Vocabulary books
• IELTS Grammar
• IELTS Listening words
• Sports Vocabulary IELTS
• English Pronunciation in use Intermediate pdf
• Work Vocabulary IELTS
• Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS