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

In IELTS Speaking and Writing, using the right collocations can significantly boost your score. One such useful collocation is “concern”, which helps you naturally express worries, priorities, and important issues. In this blog, we explore how to use concern with verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and common expressions, along with examples, so you can confidently include it in your responses and essays.

What is Concern?

Concern is used to express worry, care, or interest about something. Knowing its collocations can make your language more precise and sophisticated.

Using Concern with Verbs

1. Many doctors have __________ deep concern about the safety of this new drug.
2. The build-up of enemy troops on the country’s southern border is __________ great concern.
3. I__________ your concern, but don’t worry – I’m all right. I know what I’m doing.
4. Public concern is __________ over the number of children who leave school without any formal qualification.
5. The headmaster and the staff __________ your concern about what happened on the trip to the zoo.
6. Our concern for the safety of the children must__________ all other concerns.

Answer Key:

1. expressed
2. causing
3. appreciate
4. growing
5. share
6. override

Concern with Prepositions

1. We view the situation developing in the Middle East__________ grave concern.
2. The little girl hasn’t been seen for two days and there is now growing concern__________ her safety.
3. The availability of drugs in schools is__________ great concern to parents.
4. There is widespread concern __________ rising crime rates in our cities.

Answer Key:

1. with
2. for
3. of
4. over

Expressing Main Concerns

1. As a CEO my major concern is
2. As aid workers, our overriding concern is
3. The Chancellor’s primary concern is
4. This hospital’s main concern is

Options:
a. to improve the quality of care to our patients.
b. to reduce inflation and improve the economy.
c. to make this company more efficient.
d. to care for the hungry and the homeless.

Answer Key:
1 → c
2 → d
3 → b
4 → a

Adjectives meaning “most important”: major, overriding, primary, main

Common Expressions and Idioms with Concern

1. My private life is no concern of yours.
2. Your private life is of no concern to me.
3. I’d keep out of this argument if I were you. It’s a family matter and it’s none of your concern.
4. I was surprised and angered by his lack of concern for his sick mother.
5. You’ve been given the all-clear. The test results were negative, so there’s no cause for concern.
6. In his speech, he said that global pollution should be a matter of concern to us all.

Expressing doubt:

1. My only concern about Beckham is whether he’ll be fit to play on Saturday.

Expressing sole concern:

1. The safety of the hostages is our sole concern.
2. Our only concern is for the safety of the hostages.

How to Use “Concern” in IELTS Speaking & Writing?

1. Speaking Part 1 & 2: Talk about worries, priorities, or personal issues using concern collocations.
2. Speaking Part 3 & Writing Task 2: Discuss social, environmental, or educational issues using phrases like matter of concern, growing concern, overriding concern.
3. Writing Task 1: Can describe data or trends that show public or governmental concerns.
4. Idiomatic Expressions: Using expressions like no cause for concern or sole concern adds variety and fluency.

Using collocations with concern correctly can make your IELTS answers sound natural, fluent, and sophisticated. Practice combining verbs, prepositions, adjectives, and idiomatic expressions to express worries, priorities, and doubts accurately. This approach will improve both your Speaking and Writing scores.