While preparing for the PTE, students spend hours learning vocabulary and grammar rules, but still don’t score high. And the main reason is collocation. To shape fluency, coherence, and accuracy, you must have a good command of collocation. If you are still wondering what these are and how they will help you, then here is everything you need to know about Collocation for PTE.
Below is a clear, practical breakdown of collocations—what they are, why they matter in PTE, and how you can master them.
What Exactly Are Collocations?
Collocations are simply word pairs or groups of words that English tends to use together. Not because of a grammar rule, but because that’s just how the language has developed.
Some combinations sound right:
- make a decision, not do a decision
- heavy rain, not strong rain
- take responsibility
- conduct research
- highly recommended
If you’ve grown up around English, these feel obvious. But for learners, they’re easy to miss—and missing them makes sentences sound slightly unnatural, even when nothing is technically wrong.
Why Collocations for PTE Matter?
Instantly improve fluency and coherence:
When you already know word chunks, you don’t have to build sentences from scratch. Your speech moves faster and feels more connected.
Boost your vocabulary score:
PTE rewards natural, appropriate word use. Collocations show that you understand how English words actually behave together.
Reduce grammar mistakes:
A surprising number of “grammar errors” are really just wrong word pairings. Collocations give you safe, reliable structures.
Help you understand PTE recordings and passages:
Most academic content relies heavily on fixed word patterns. If you recognize them, you process meaning faster.
Make your writing sound more academic:
Good writing in PTE isn’t about fancy words. It’s about using common academic combinations that read naturally.
How Collocations for PTE Help in Different Tasks
- In Read Aloud, collocations help with natural stress and rhythm. You don’t sound robotic because the words flow as a unit.
- When you describe visuals or summarize information, collocations give you ready-made language for trends, causes, comparisons, and outcomes. You spend less time searching for wording.
- During long speaking responses, knowing common pairings keeps you moving. You hesitate less and stay focused on the message.
- In writing, collocations make your sentences cleaner and more professional. Even short responses benefit from them.
- In reading, recognizing familiar word groups helps you understand long academic sentences without slowing down.
- In listening, collocations act like signposts. They help you catch the speaker’s meaning more quickly because the language feels familiar.
- And in fill-in-the-blank tasks, collocations often tell you which option “sounds right” when two or three choices look grammatically fine.
List of Collocation Words For PTE
Collocation Words for PTE Writing:
| Categories | Collocations |
| Education | quality education, academic performance, learning outcomes, higher education, educational reforms, student engagement, curriculum design, teacher training, access to education, inclusive learning, lifelong learning, skill development, classroom environment, educational policy, literacy rate |
| Technology | technological advancement, digital transformation, data privacy, emerging technologies, automation systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-tech solutions, software applications, internet penetration, virtual learning, online platforms, tech-driven economy, cloud computing, cybersecurity measures |
| Environment | climate change, environmental impact, carbon emissions, sustainable practices, renewable energy, global warming, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, deforestation issues, waste management, pollution control, energy efficiency, natural resource management, environmental sustainability, ecological balance |
| Health | public health, disease prevention, medical treatment, mental well-being, health risks, chronic illness, healthcare system, life expectancy, nutritional value, epidemic control, healthcare accessibility, health awareness, physical fitness, medical research, lifestyle diseases |
| Economy | economic growth, market competition, financial stability, consumer demand, global market, business expansion, profit margin, economic downturn, investment opportunities, corporate sector, fiscal policy, trade relations, financial crisis, economic development, employment rate |
| Society | social norms, cultural diversity, changing lifestyles, population growth, community development, public awareness, gender equality, social inequality, urban development, cultural heritage, societal values, community engagement, human rights, social responsibility, civic participation |
| Government & Policy | public policy, policy reforms, government intervention, strategic planning, regulatory framework, law enforcement, taxation system, policy implementation, public expenditure, governance standards, administrative efficiency, legislative measures, national security, governmental accountability, infrastructure planning |
| Research & Science | scientific evidence, research methodology, experimental findings, data analysis, peer review, evidence-based research, theoretical framework, innovative solutions, controlled experiments, academic study, laboratory testing, scientific observation, research-based approach, technological innovation, research conclusions |
Collocation Words for PTE Reading:
| Categories | Collocations |
| Education | academic achievement, student engagement, curriculum design, access to education, learning environment, teaching strategies, assessment methods, literacy programs, vocational training, skill enhancement, study habits, classroom participation, exam performance, educational institutions, knowledge acquisition |
| Technology | cyber threats, software applications, internet penetration, high-speed connectivity, technological innovation, automation systems, digital tools, virtual reality, online learning platforms, data analytics, AI development, technology adoption, tech infrastructure, mobile technology, information systems |
| Environment | ecosystem balance, biodiversity loss, natural resources, waste management, environmental degradation, pollution levels, deforestation rates, conservation efforts, climate crisis, sustainable development, energy conservation, carbon footprint, environmental regulations, water scarcity, renewable resources |
| Health | nutritional value, chronic illness, healthcare system, life expectancy, medical research, public health campaigns, mental health awareness, disease outbreak, vaccination programs, epidemic prevention, healthcare accessibility, medical technology, health monitoring, hygiene practices, lifestyle diseases |
| Business & Economy | profit margin, economic downturn, investment opportunities, business expansion, corporate sector, global trade, financial performance, market trends, supply chain management, business strategy, economic policy, trade balance, employment opportunities, consumer behavior, fiscal responsibility |
| Society & Culture | population growth, social inequality, cultural heritage, urban development, community support, social inclusion, public awareness campaigns, demographic changes, cultural integration, civic responsibility, societal norms, human behavior, gender equity, social cohesion, community welfare |
| Research & Science | evidence-based research, controlled experiment, scientific community, research-based approach, theoretical framework, data analysis, academic study, experimental data, peer-reviewed articles, innovative solutions, scientific investigation, research methodology, laboratory testing, statistical analysis, research outcomes |
| Policy & Governance | public expenditure, national security, tax regulations, public services, legislative process, policy evaluation, government regulations, strategic planning, administrative efficiency, regulatory compliance, governance standards, public accountability, law enforcement, political stability, policy formulation |
Collocation Words for PTE Listening:
| Categories | Collocations |
| Education | teacher training, learning outcomes, academic success, student participation, educational policies, skill development programs, classroom management, online education, curriculum updates, assessment techniques, educational research, study habits, lifelong learning initiatives, learning strategies, academic support |
| Technology | digital revolution, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data security, technological disruption, emerging technologies, automation systems, online platforms, virtual learning, cybersecurity measures, tech innovation, cloud computing, digital economy, high-speed internet, software development |
| Environment | global warming, climate crisis, sustainable development, carbon footprint, renewable resources, ecosystem conservation, environmental policies, pollution control, water conservation, climate adaptation, deforestation issues, biodiversity protection, energy efficiency, natural resource management, environmental hazards |
| Health | medical intervention, public health concern, virus transmission, healthy lifestyle, disease outbreak, vaccination campaigns, healthcare accessibility, mental health programs, nutritional awareness, epidemic control, healthcare infrastructure, lifestyle management, health monitoring, medical treatment options, chronic disease prevention |
| Economy | economic policies, inflation rate, global trade, market trends, financial crisis, investment strategies, fiscal measures, business opportunities, economic development, supply chain analysis, corporate governance, unemployment rate, consumer spending, international trade, economic planning |
| Society & Culture | demographic changes, cultural integration, social behavior, public opinion, societal impact, community engagement, population dynamics, social reform, civic participation, social cohesion, gender equity, cultural adaptation, urbanization trends, societal norms, human rights |
| Research & Science | scientific observation, experimental data, research conclusion, academic study, innovative discovery, peer-reviewed research, data collection, laboratory testing, evidence-based findings, theoretical analysis, statistical evaluation, controlled experiments, scientific methodology, research insights, technological advancement |
| Government & Policy | policy implementation, government regulations, international relations, political stability, national agenda, administrative efficiency, legislative measures, public governance, regulatory framework, taxation policy, strategic planning, governmental oversight, public expenditure, law enforcement, policy evaluation |
Collocation Words for PTE Speaking:
| Categories | Collocations |
| Data/Charts | steady increase, sharp decline, gradual growth, significant difference, upward trend, downward trend, peak value, moderate fluctuation, slight variation, consistent pattern, noticeable change, rapid growth, slow decline, comparative analysis, trend observation |
| Lectures | the speaker explains, the lecture highlights, the main point is, the concept refers to, according to the speaker, the study suggests, research indicates, key findings include, the presenter emphasizes, the report demonstrates, important observations, the data reveals, critical argument, discussion points, the conclusion states |
| Education | learning process, academic system, teaching methods, knowledge development, student progress, educational initiatives, classroom interaction, academic success, skill acquisition, online learning, assessment strategies, learning outcomes, study techniques, curriculum improvement, educational standards |
| Technology | rapid innovation, digital tools, advanced systems, technological trend, increasing automation, online platforms, software development, virtual collaboration, emerging technologies, AI solutions, data management, high-tech devices, tech integration, machine learning applications, cloud solutions |
| Environment | environmental issues, rising temperatures, ecological balance, conservation efforts, climate challenges, renewable resources, pollution levels, global warming, sustainable practices, ecosystem preservation, energy efficiency, biodiversity protection, environmental awareness, natural disaster impact, environmental policies |
| Health | healthy habits, medical advancements, health concerns, disease control, lifestyle changes, public health initiatives, mental well-being, nutritional awareness, healthcare access, epidemic prevention, vaccination programs, physical fitness, medical research, healthcare infrastructure, chronic disease management |
| Economy | economic activity, business opportunities, income levels, market growth, global economy, consumer demand, financial trends, investment potential, corporate growth, trade analysis, economic development, fiscal policies, employment opportunities, market fluctuations, financial stability |
| Society | social structure, human behavior, cultural practices, community values, public interest, demographic changes, civic participation, social norms, urban lifestyle, societal development, cultural awareness, social responsibility, population trends, community engagement, social equity |
How to Learn Collocations Effectively (Without Memorizing Long Lists)
- Read short, high-quality academic content daily. Articles from The Guardian, BBC Future, or Scientific American are ideal. Pay attention to repeated word pairings.
- Practice speaking in “chunks.” Instead of learning single words, learn phrases like:
- “Play a vital role in…”
- “As a result of…”
- “It can be argued that…”
- Practicing with 79Score’s PTE practice tests naturally exposes you to repeated collocations found in actual tasks. Over time, your brain starts recognizing these patterns automatically.
- Write summaries using only collocations. Pick any topic and force yourself to frame sentences using 10–12 collocations. This will build lexical fluency fast.
- Record yourself describing images using collocations. Focus on:
- Trend descriptions
- Comparisons
- Cause–and–effect structures
You can keep these collocations handy while practicing with PTE mock tests on 79Score. Make full use of the unlimited practice questions to sharpen each task type at your own pace. Our full-length mock tests are designed by seasoned PTE experts and follow the real exam pattern closely, so you get an experience that feels almost identical to test day.
Also Read:
- Tips to Score 79+ in PTE: Smart Strategies You Should Try
- Top 10 PTE Practice Test Websites to Boost Your Exam Score
- Crack PTE Pie Chart Questions – Tips, Template & Samples
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