Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – KeyWord: Reaction

Collocations play a crucial role in achieving a higher IELTS band score, especially in Speaking and Writing. One such versatile word is “reaction”, which often appears in daily English, academic contexts, and IELTS tests. In this lesson, you’ll learn common collocations with reaction, how to use them correctly, and practice exercises to boost your vocabulary range and accuracy.

Understanding the Word Reaction

The word reaction refers to how someone responds to a situation, event, or stimulus. It can be emotional, physical, medical, or even scientific. In IELTS, you may use it to describe your feelings in IELTS Speaking Part 1 or 2, explain public responses in IELTS Writing Task 2, or understand references in Reading passages.

Verb Collocations with Reaction

Certain verbs naturally combine with reaction. Mastering these helps you sound fluent and accurate in IELTS Speaking and Writing.

Exercise: Complete the Sentences

Use the correct form of these verbs: affect, give, predict, get, be, require, vary, watch

1. I always loved to __________ the reactions of my children when they opened their Christmas presents.
   Answer: watch
2. Driving after drinking even a small amount of alcohol is difficult as it __________ your reactions.
   Answer: affects
3. It is often difficult to __________ people’s reactions to a new idea in advance.
   Answer: predict
4. What sort of reaction did you __________ when you told them you were the new inspector?
   Answer: get
5. The President __________ his reaction to the crisis in a carefully worded press statement.
   Answer: gave
6. Table tennis is a sport that __________ very fast reactions.
   Answer: requires
7. I understand there’s __________ no reaction to my letter.
   Answer: been
8. People’s reaction to the film __________ a lot. Some loved it, while others simply hated it.
   Answer: varied

IELTS Tip: Use verb + reaction collocations in IELTS Speaking Part 2 when narrating experiences. Example: “I didn’t know how my parents would react, but luckily I got a positive reaction.”

Adjective Collocations with Reaction

Adjectives help describe the type of reaction more precisely. This is particularly useful in IELTS Writing Task 2 when presenting opinions and describing public responses.

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with these adjectives

angry, delayed, favourable, immediate, violent, instinctive, mixed, natural

1. The proposal has received a generally __________ reaction. Most people seem to accept the need for change.
   Answer: favourable
2. There has been a very __________ reaction to the plans to cut benefits to single mothers.
   Answer: angry
3. When I heard the news of my friend’s death, my __________ reaction was one of utter shock.
   Answer: immediate / instinctive
4. There has been a __________ reaction to the new timetable. Some people like it, but others don’t.
   Answer: mixed
5. Don’t worry. Everyone feels lonely when they first leave home. It’s a perfectly __________ reaction.
   Answer: natural
6. I fainted twenty minutes after leaving the doctor’s surgery. I suffered a __________ reaction to the injection.
   Answer: delayed
7. When things go wrong, the __________ reaction of most people is to look for somebody to blame.
   Answer: instinctive
8. As soon as he took the medicine, he had a __________ reaction to it, and died within hours.
   Answer: violent

IELTS Example: “The government’s decision to raise fuel prices received a mixed reaction from the public.”

Types of Reactions in English

Different expressions with reaction carry specific meanings. These are common in news reports, academic texts, and even IELTS Reading passages.

Match the meaning

• an allergic reaction → a negative medical reaction (rash, swelling, etc.)
• a chain reaction → one event which sets off many linked reactions
• a gut reaction → an instinctive reaction
• a knee-jerk reaction → an immediate and automatic reaction
• a subconscious reaction → a reaction you are not fully aware of

Practice Sentences

1. Whenever there is a brutal attack, there is the usual __________ reaction, demanding strict punishment.
   Answer: knee-jerk reaction
2. I don’t know what your response is, but my __________ reaction is to ignore the gossip.
   Answer: gut reaction
3. Drinking milk can cause an __________ reaction such as coughing or sneezing in children.
   Answer: allergic reaction
4. There is a danger that this dispute could trigger a __________ reaction, endangering peace.
   Answer: chain reaction
5. I am sure that all these headaches are just a __________ reaction to the stress I’ve been under.
   Answer: subconscious reaction

IELTS Writing Tip: Instead of writing “People responded quickly,” try “There was an immediate reaction from the public.” This shows lexical variety.

Notes on Usage

• In place of first reaction, you can also use initial reaction.
  • Example: “Her initial reaction to the proposal was positive.”
• Useful patterns:
  • in reaction to something → “The policy was changed in reaction to public criticism.”
  • imagine my reaction → “You can imagine my reaction when I saw my score.”
• Scientific use:
  • “The energy is generated by a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.”

To sum up, learning collocations with reaction not only enriches your vocabulary but also helps you express yourself more clearly in IELTS. Whether you’re explaining emotional responses in Speaking, analyzing social trends in Writing, or interpreting contexts in Reading, these phrases will give you the lexical range needed for a higher IELTS Band Score.  For those aiming for top scores, following the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ can further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Grammar For IELTS: Expressions Of Quantity
• 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)
• Especially vs Specially for IELTS Grammar: Lessons, Examples, Usage & Exercises