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

As you are preparing for your IELTS test, as a dedicated test-taker you must focus mainly on the grammar and structure of a sentence, but also must not overlook the importance of natural vocabulary usage. 

In order to score well in the lexical resources part, you must clearly showcase that you can use a wide range of vocabulary perfectly. One of the most powerful way to achieve it is by learning collocations related to the key words like, “Attempt.” 

This word is a perfect example since it is used in various contexts, from trying to grow like, “he made continuous attempts to crack the medical exam.” When one is able to use words like “attempt” as they respond, it will enhance their IELTS Speaking and Writing responses. 

Practice Exercise: Key Word - Attempt

The examiners tend to specifically notice when you use natural expressions, and the collocations related to the word, “attempt” may instantly make your ideas clearer and more impactful. Hence in this article we will highlight the most important demand collocations you must know and showcase how to use them in an IELTS exam setting effectively.

1          Verb + attempt

Use the correct form of these verbs :

abandon               fail               foil            make

1. Acting on information from the French, customs officials have ___________ an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of heroin into the country.
2. Because of bad weather conditions, we were forced to___________ our attempt to reach the summit of Mt Everest.
3. I wonder what’s wrong with Andy. Last night he ___________ a few half-hearted attempts to join in our conversation, and then he left early.
4. All my attempts to start the car ___________ so we ended up getting a taxi.

Go back and underline all the other interesting collocations in this exercise.

2          Common adjective collocations

Complete the sentences below with the following :

half-hearted                repeated

brave                              unsuccessful

desperate                     deliberate

final                                 first

1. I was pleased when I passed my driving test at the ___________ attempt.
2. The driver of the train died at the scene of the accident despite___________ attempts by the paramedics to revive him.
3. Despite falling and injuring his leg, Jim made a ___________ attempt to finish the marathon.
4. I made a rather ___________ attempt to apologise for my behaviour, but it was obvious that I didn’t really mean it.
5. I’ve made several ___________ attempts to speak to the manager, but he is always ‘out of his office at the moment’.
6. For two weeks the army made ___________ attempts to break through enemy lines, all of which ended in failure.
7. If the weather holds, the Chinese team are going to make a ___________ attempt to reach the summit tomorrow.
8. The Foreign Secretary’s speech on the GulfWar was a ___________ attempt to embarrass the government.

3          In an attempt to + verb

Match the two halves of these sentences :

1. Two factories were closed
2. Talks are taking place at this very moment
3. Politicians on both sides have called for a ceasefire
4. Anne’s very upset. I’m afraid I failed
5. He has succeeded

a  in a last-ditch attempt to avert a strike.

b  in my attempt to persuade her to come to the party.

c  in a desperate attempt to cut costs.

d  in his latest attempt to break the world land speed record.

e  in an attempt to prevent further bloodshed.

Go back and underline all the expressions with attempt in this exercise

Answer Key: Key Word - Attempt

Ex 1 :

1. foiled      2. abandon      3. made       4.failed

Ex 2 :

1 first 2. desperate 3. brave 4. half-hearted

5 unsuccessful 6. repeated 7. final 8. deliberate

Ex 3 :

l-c        2-a       3-e       4-b       5-d

Also check :

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