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

One of the most effective strategies to improve your IELTS Writing and Speaking band scores is learning how to use collocations. Some natural word combinations like the collocations that make your English sound fluent and perfect. 

Examiners clearly look for lexical range and precision, and when you use the exact collocations helps you achieve a higher band score, mainly in the Lexical Resource criterion.

The collocations related to the keyword “ban” is a particularly useful and versatile word that usually appears in the IELTS questions related to government rules, environment, education, or even in technology. This means to officially or legally stop something. However, to use it casually and naturally, you must first understand how it relates with other words. 

So, in this blog, we shall explore these collocations related to “Ban,” and practice some exercises based on this to improve your lexical resource IELTS band score!

Practice Exercise: Key Word - Ban

Verb+Ban

1. Use the correct form of these verbs:

1. The Football Association______a three-match ban on the player for unprofessional behaviour.
2. Thousands of students______the ban on political meetings. They held a mass demonstration in the main square demanding freedom of speech and free elections.
3. After the failure of the pay negotiations, the union______a ban on overtime.
4. The government will______the ban on fishing for scallops when scientists assure them that the shellfish are safe to eat.
5. Do you remember which airline was the first to______a smoking ban on all its flights?
6. All delegates except the Japanese______the worldwide ban on whaling.

A Complete Ban on Something

2. Complete the sentences below with these ideas:

1. From Monday there is to be a total ban on______for personal purposes in office time. Anyone caught booking flights, for example, will be dismissed on the spot.
2. Thousands of children lost limbs in the aftermath of the war. All political parties are calling for a ban on the production and use of______.
3. In the aftermath of Dunblane and the American high school shootings, there were calls for a complete ban on the______.
4. In order to discourage young people from smoking, many western governments have imposed a blanket ban on______.
5. Many famous biologists believe that there should be an outright ban on______.
6. The African elephant is only surviving today because of the worldwide ban on______.

Go back and underline all the expressions meaning a complete ban.

Put+A Ban on

3. Notice the difference between these sentences:

1. They’ve banned the advertising of alcohol.
2. They’ve put a ban on the advertising of alcohol.

Change the following sentences so that they follow the pattern of sentence 2:

1. They’ve banned the sale of alcohol at the match.
2. They’ve banned the importing of UK lamb.
3. They’ve banned all flights into North Korea.
4. They’ve banned the sale of pornography.

Answer Key: Key Word - Ban

Ex 1:

1. imposed
2. defied
3. announced
4. lift
5. introduce
6. supported

Ex 2:

1. using e-mail
2. land mines
3. sale of handguns
4. tobacco advertising
5. human cloning
6. the trade in ivory

Complete = total, blanket, outright, worldwide

Ex 3:

1. They’ve put a ban on the sale of alcohol at the match.
2. They’ve put a ban on the import of UK lamb.
3. They’ve put a ban on all flights into North Korea.
4. They’ve put a ban on the sale of pornography.

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