Using Collocations to Boost Your IELTS Score – Key Word: Impression

Making the right impression plays a major role in IELTS Speaking and Writing. Examiners notice not just your ideas but how naturally and accurately you use vocabulary. Learning collocations with “impression” helps you sound fluent, confident, and native-like.

In this lesson, we’ll explore useful verb + impression, adjective + impression, and positive & negative impression collocations that will enhance your IELTS performance.

What is “Impression” in IELTS Context?

The word impression refers to the feeling or opinion someone has about something or someone, especially after the first experience.

For example:

• My first impression of the city was very positive.
• He made a bad impression by arriving late to the meeting.

In IELTS Speaking, this can be used in answers about people, travel, jobs, or experiences.
Example: My first impression of my university was that everyone was very welcoming.

Verb + Impression Collocations

These collocations are essential for expressing opinions or describing perceptions. Let’s practice using them in context.

Exercise: Choose the Correct Verb

• When I was introduced to Jill, I did my best to be friendly, but I (got / gave) the impression that she just wanted to be left alone.
  Correct: got
• It’s important to (get / create) a good impression when you meet a new customer.
  Correct: create
• During the interview, I watched and listened to the candidate and I (formed / faced) the impression that she didn’t really want the job.
  Correct: formed
• Don’t get me wrong, but I (have / feel) the impression that you’re finding the class a bit easy.
  Correct: have
• Remember that it (makes / gets) a bad impression if you’re late for an interview.
  Correct: makes
• We had a lovely meal with the Blairs, but we both (gave away / came away with) the impression that all was not well with their relationship.
  Correct: came away with
• You’re (getting / giving) the impression that you don’t really like being here.
  Correct: giving
• I really want to (get / convey) the right impression when I meet your aunt. What shall I wear?
  Correct: convey

Common Verb + Impression Collocations List

Using these collocations in  IELTS Speaking Part 2 or IELTS Speaking Part 3 can make your answers sound advanced and natural.

Common Adjective + Impression Collocations

Adjectives help describe the type or quality of impression. Let’s look at some examples.

Exercise: Fill in the Correct Adjective

1. My first impression of Istanbul was very favourable. I took an instant liking to it.
2. The best schoolteachers usually make a strong impression on their students.
3. Look, you really must get your hair cut. You don’t want to give the wrong impression on your first day in the new job.
4. My initial impressions were very positive.
5. In job interviews, successful candidates know how to make the right impression quickly.
6. Travelling through the Amazon rainforests made a deep impression on me. It also made a lasting impression on my wife.
7. As I walked along the dark lane, I had the distinct impression I was being watched.
8. The general impression she gave was one of kindness and generosity.

Adjective + Impression Collocations Table

Positive and Negative Impressions

Understanding how to describe positive and negative impressions will improve your IELTS Speaking and Writing coherence.

Negative Impressions

1. Don’t take your visitors anywhere there are beggars. You don’t want to give them a false impression of the city.
2. The way they are always laughing gives a misleading impression of their relationship.
3. If you only visit the university, you’ll get a wrong impression. The town isn’t really very nice.
4. So they’re only friends! I was under the mistaken impression that they were married.
5. The film gave the very misleading impression that Glasgow is a violent city.

Positive Impressions

1. The kids’ performance gave an excellent impression of the youth of today.
2. Monet’s paintings give a tremendous impression of light and sky.
3. Meeting the President made a great impression on me.

IELTS Tip

To summarize, in the IELTS Speaking, use these collocations to describe experiences naturally:

• My initial impression of the city was that it was peaceful and friendly.
• The lecture made a lasting impression on me because of the professor’s passion.
• I came away with the impression that teamwork was highly valued there.

These expressions demonstrate a strong vocabulary range and natural fluency, helping you score higher in lexical resource and coherence.

Also Check: 

• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Space
• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Size
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: decision 
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: a series of
• 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)