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

In IELTS Writing and Speaking, vocabulary flexibility is key to achieving a higher band score. The word “benefit” is frequently used when discussing advantages, progress, or positive outcomes. However, many test-takers use it repetitively or incorrectly.

By mastering collocations with “benefit,” you’ll be able to express ideas naturally, such as “derive benefit from education” or “reap the benefits of hard work.” Let’s explore how you can effectively use this word in your IELTS responses.

Verb + Benefit

Verb collocations show how something provides or results in an advantage. They are useful in IELTS essays discussing education, health, or environmental issues.

Use the correct form of these verbs: bring, derive, feel, reap, include, outline, outweigh

1. Tourism has brought many benefits to the area.
2. I think the risks of the scheme outweigh any potential benefits.
3. Book your holiday with us. The benefits include full medical cover while you’re abroad.
4. Too many children from poor social backgrounds don’t derive much benefit from school.
5. The doctor said that I would start to feel the benefits of the new treatment in a few months’ time.
6. There’s an article in this morning’s paper outlining the benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables every day.
7. Joanne is now a millionaire. She’s finally reaping the benefits of all those years of writing.

How to Use in IELTS Writing and Speaking?

• “Government investment in healthcare brings enormous benefits to society.”
• “The advantages of renewable energy clearly outweigh the disadvantages.”
• “After months of practice, I finally felt the benefits of daily English study.”

Using these combinations makes your IELTS Writing coherent and your speech fluent.

Benefit + of + Noun

When explaining what kind of benefit something provides, use “benefit of + noun.” This form is common when discussing advantages in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Complete the sentences with these nouns: education, exercise, hard work, helmet, scheme, organic food

1. He’s just beginning to see the benefits of all his hard work and dedication.
2. Most cyclists are aware of the safety benefits of wearing a helmet.
3. Getting a good job was easy as I had the benefit of a university education.
4. The report emphasised the likely benefits of the new traffic scheme, but said little about the costs.
5. My two unmarried aunts have been keen swimmers ever since they read about the benefits of regular exercise.
6. I’m a great believer in the benefits of organic food.

IELTS Usage Examples

• “The benefits of education extend beyond employment to include personal growth.”
• “The benefits of exercise are widely recognised in promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

These expressions help you sound confident when presenting ideas about public health, education, or environmental awareness.

Benefit (Payment)

In financial or employment contexts, “benefit” refers to monetary support or job perks. Knowing these collocations is helpful when discussing social welfare systems, economic inequality, or employment policies in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Complete the sentences with these words: welfare, housing, unemployment, fringe, child, means-tested

1. In the UK, all families with children under 18 years of age are entitled to child benefit.
2. Our neighbor lost his job ten years ago and has been claiming unemployment benefit ever since.
3. A company car and first-class air travel are the main fringe benefits I get in my job.
4. Everyone used to get child benefit – irrespective of income. Now we’re changing to a system of means-tested benefits.
5. You’re not eligible for housing benefit, so you’ll have to pay the full rent.
6. All employees pay into a fund for welfare benefits such as unemployment and sickness pay.

IELTS Usage Examples

• “The government should expand housing benefits to assist low-income families.”
• “Fringe benefits such as healthcare or bonuses improve employee satisfaction.”

Such vocabulary is especially relevant for IELTS Writing Task 2 essays about economic support or social equality.

Notes and Advanced Usage

Here are some common expressions and idioms with “benefit” that can help you sound more fluent in both Writing and Speaking.

Idiomatic and Expressive Uses

• Give someone the benefit of the doubt: Accept what they say, even if unsure.
  Example: “I wasn’t certain he was honest, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.”
• Extol the benefits: Speak highly of advantages.
  Example: “His book extols the benefits of vegetarianism.”
• Wax lyrical about the benefits: Speak enthusiastically.
  Example: “He’s always waxing lyrical about the benefits of cold-water swimming.”

Prepositional Phrases

• “This project is to our mutual benefit.”
• “She repeated the instructions again for my benefit.”

These structures are common in formal English and demonstrate strong lexical control in IELTS Speaking Part 3 or Writing Task 2.

Overall, Learning how to use collocations with “benefit” allows you to talk about advantages, welfare, and success in a more sophisticated way. Whether describing how people derive benefits from education or how initiatives bring benefits to society, these expressions elevate your vocabulary range. Practice using them naturally in your IELTS Speaking and Writing responses. The more accurately you use such collocations, the closer you’ll be to achieving a Band 7.0 or higher for lexical resource.

Also Check: 

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• 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)