IELTS Technology Vocabulary: 40 Words + Example Answers
By Miracle Team ·
Technology is the topic that has grown fastest in IELTS, and it rarely stays in its own lane — it turns up inside questions about education, work, shopping and communication. That makes it high-value: one set of words serves several topics.
It is also the topic where the register gap is widest. Technology vocabulary can drift into jargon very quickly, and jargon in Speaking sounds rehearsed. So this list marks each item W (Writing), S (Speaking) or both, and the second half of the article shows the same idea written two ways.
Nouns (16)
| Word | Use it like this | Use |
|---|---|---|
| automation | the rise of automation | W |
| artificial intelligence | advances in artificial intelligence | both |
| digital literacy | teach digital literacy in schools | W |
| screen time | limit children’s screen time | both |
| innovation | drive innovation | W |
| social media | spend hours on social media | both |
| data privacy | concerns about data privacy | both |
| cybersecurity | invest in cybersecurity | W |
| algorithm | the algorithm decides what you see | both |
| digital divide | widen the digital divide | W |
| smart device | rely on smart devices | both |
| online platform | an online platform for learning | both |
| surveillance | mass surveillance | W |
| e-commerce | the growth of e-commerce | W |
| connectivity | poor internet connectivity | W |
| network | a mobile network | both |
Verbs (12)
| Word | Use it like this | Use |
|---|---|---|
| install | install an app | both |
| upgrade | upgrade to a newer model | both |
| streamline | streamline the process | W |
| hack | hack into an account | both |
| browse | browse the internet | both |
| monitor | monitor employees’ activity | W |
| replace | machines replace human workers | both |
| adapt | adapt to new technology | both |
| disrupt | disrupt traditional industries | W |
| rely on | rely on technology too heavily | both |
| integrate | integrate technology into lessons | W |
| malfunction | the system malfunctions | W |
Adjectives (12)
| Word | Use it like this | Use |
|---|---|---|
| obsolete | become obsolete within a year | W |
| user-friendly | a user-friendly design | both |
| addictive | social media is addictive | both |
| cutting-edge | cutting-edge technology | W |
| high-tech | a high-tech solution | both |
| reliable | a reliable connection | both |
| accessible | make information accessible | W |
| wireless | wireless headphones | both |
| portable | portable devices | both |
| virtual | virtual meetings | both |
| intrusive | intrusive advertising | W |
| seamless | a seamless experience | W |
That is 16 + 12 + 12 = 40 items. Eighteen are marked W; the remaining 22 work in Speaking too.
The same idea, two registers
Here is what the register split looks like in practice. Both answers below are good English and both would score — but only in the right place.
Question theme: should schools use more technology?
Writing Task 2 body paragraph: Integrating technology into the classroom can make learning more accessible, particularly for students in remote areas who rely on online platforms for instruction they would otherwise never receive. However, this assumes reliable connectivity, and where infrastructure is poor the result is a widening digital divide rather than a narrowing one.
Speaking Part 3: I think it depends on the school, honestly. If everyone’s got a decent connection it opens things up — you can learn from anywhere. But in a lot of places the internet just isn’t reliable, so the kids who are already behind end up falling further behind.
Notice what changed. Integrating, accessible, digital divide and infrastructure became opens things up, from anywhere, falling further behind. The idea is identical. Only the register moved.
Notice also what did not change: both versions are specific. Register is about formality, not about being vaguer. “Technology is good for education” would score badly in either.
A second pair — is social media harmful?
Writing: The algorithms behind these platforms are designed to maximise engagement, which makes the product inherently addictive and raises legitimate concerns about data privacy.
Speaking: They’re designed to keep you scrolling, basically. That’s the whole business model — and it’s pretty addictive, I know I spend far too long on it.
Addictive appears in both, because it is marked both in the table above. Inherently, legitimate concerns and maximise engagement stay in the essay.
Common mistakes
- Technology is uncountable. Technologies exists but means “specific types of technology” in a technical sense. For general statements write technology — never a technology or many technologies.
- Research, information, equipment and software are all uncountable. Softwares, informations and equipments are frequent errors. Use a piece of software, a lot of information.
- Media is usually treated as plural in formal writing. The media are reporting is safer in an essay, though is is now widely accepted.
- Internet takes “the”. On the internet, not on internet.
- Rely on, not rely to. Also depend on, have access to, concerns about.
- Don’t say “high-tech” three times. Overusing one impressive adjective is more visible than not knowing it. Vary with advanced, modern, sophisticated.
- Cutting-edge is doing a lot of work. It is fine once in an essay. Twice reads as padding.
Where this topic overlaps
Technology questions frequently are questions about something else:
- Technology + education — online learning, digital literacy, screen time in classrooms. Pair this list with education vocabulary.
- Technology + work — automation replacing jobs, remote working, monitoring employees.
- Technology + environment — e-waste, energy consumption of data centres, smart grids. Pair with environment vocabulary.
Because of this overlap, technology is arguably the highest-return topic on the list after environment and education. Learning it well gives you material for questions that never mention the word “technology” at all.
Practising them
The method that works: take one item from the W column, write an essay sentence with it, then say the same idea out loud in ordinary words. Doing both trains the split directly, which is the thing this topic punishes hardest.
The S and both items need mouth practice, not just reading — these methods work without a partner.
The rest of the series, including the remaining seven topics, is in IELTS vocabulary by topic.