In IELTS Writing, repeating the word “increase” too often can make your writing less diverse and negatively impact your Lexical Resource score. To improve your vocabulary range and boost your performance, you should expand your list of increase synonyms in IELTS. This article from IDP IELTS compiles the most common and effective synonyms for “increase” in IELTS Writing Task 1.
1. Common Increase Synonyms in IELTS
Vocabulary | Meaning | Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
Grow | To increase in number or size | Used for population, figures, economy | The student population at the university grew steadily from 2010 to 2020. |
Rise | To go up | Common with prices, data, percentages | The unemployment rate rose to 8 percent in the second quarter. |
Go up | To increase (informal tone) | Used in general conversations | The number of tourists going to the island went up significantly during summer. |
Escalate | To rise rapidly (usually negative) | Used for crime, conflict, sharp price increases | Operational costs escalated sharply due to rising fuel prices. |
Rocket | To increase very quickly | Sudden spikes in numbers or costs | Building costs have rocketed by 70 percent. |
Soar | To rise quickly or strongly | Neutral or positive tone | House prices have soared this year. |
Expand | To grow in scope or scale | Businesses, products, markets | We are hoping to expand our range of products. |
Extend | To increase in time or area | Timeframes, territories | The exhibition was extended by two weeks due to high public interest. |
Maximize | To make as large as possible | Profits, productivity | The factory adopted new technology to maximize production efficiency. |
Double | To increase by two times | Used with statistics and data | The number of international students doubled between 2010 and 2020. |
Triple | To increase by three times | Significant growth in figures | Sales of smartphones tripled within just three years. |
2. Phrases to Replace “Increase” in IELTS Writing Task 1
In IELTS Writing Task 1, you often describe trends, changes over time, or comparisons. Overusing the word “increase” can lower your score in Lexical Resource. Using a variety of phrases makes your writing more natural and engaging.
Phrase | Meaning & Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
A rise in | General increase | There was a rise in unemployment in the first quarter. |
A growth in | Used for quantity, size, or economic growth | The report shows a growth in the companys profits. |
An upward trend in | Describes a rising pattern over time | There was an upward trend in the number of students enrolling in higher education. |
A surge in | A sudden, strong increase | There was a significant surge in demand for online learning platforms following the pandemic. |
A climb in | A gradual or steady increase | There was a noticeable climb in the unemployment rate between 2023 and 2024. |
A jump in | A quick rise (less strong than surge) | The company reported a significant jump in sales after the new product launch. |
A leap in | A dramatic increase | The stock market witnessed a considerable leap in value. |
See an upward trend | Emphasizing a general rise | The data saw an upward trend over the five-year period. |
Witness a rise/growth/increase | Highlights observed growth | Vietnam is witnessing a significant rise in exports. |
3. Practice Exercise on Increase Synonyms (With Answers)
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence:
From 2010 to 2020, the number of tourists visiting the island ______________ steadily. a) rose b) maximised c) escalated
The price of housing ______________ dramatically in 2021, reaching an all-time high. a) soared b) grew c) doubled
There was a sharp ______________ in fuel costs after the supply chain disruptions. a) surge b) extend c) expand
The company aims to ______________ its revenue by launching new digital services. a) maximise b) rocket c) rise
Fuel prices __________ after the announcement of new taxes, jumping from $1.5 to $3 per litre. a) doubled b) soared c) tripled
Answer Key:
rose
soared
surge
maximise
doubled
Expand Your Vocabulary and Boost Your IELTS Writing Score with IDP
Using a wide range of increase synonyms for IELTS not only enriches your writing but also demonstrates a strong vocabulary—one of the key scoring criteria in IELTS Writing. To improve this skill, regular practice with IDP’s learning materials is highly recommended.
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