Task 2 · Lexical Resource
IELTS Technology Vocabulary — Words and Phrases for Band 7+
Technology is one of the most frequently tested topics in IELTS Task 2, covering artificial intelligence, social media, automation, and digital inequality. The vocabulary on this page gives you the precision and range examiners look for under Lexical Resource — so you can discuss technology with confidence and accuracy.
What you'll find here
- 65+ technology words and phrases across four vocabulary groups
- Every entry includes register label and a full IELTS-style example sentence
- 10 high-frequency tech collocations that signal Band 7+ Lexical Resource
Digital Technology & Innovation
Core terminology for naming and defining modern technologies — use these when introducing the topic, defining terms, or discussing specific innovations in body paragraphs.
| Word / Phrase | Register | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| artificial intelligence | neutral | The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has raised fundamental questions about the future of work and the nature of human creativity. |
| machine learning | formal/technical | Machine learning algorithms can now detect medical conditions from scan images with an accuracy that rivals experienced clinicians in controlled settings. |
| automation | neutral | Automation has transformed manufacturing industries by replacing repetitive manual tasks with programmable machines, dramatically raising productivity. |
| robotics | formal/technical | Advances in robotics have enabled surgical procedures to be conducted with a level of precision that was previously unattainable by human hands alone. |
| algorithm | formal/technical | Social media platforms use algorithms to prioritise content that maximises user engagement, which critics argue promotes sensationalism over accuracy. |
| big data | formal/technical | The analysis of big data has allowed governments and businesses to identify patterns and trends that were previously hidden within vast quantities of information. |
| cloud computing | formal/technical | Cloud computing has enabled small businesses to access enterprise-level software and storage without the prohibitive cost of on-site infrastructure. |
| the Internet of Things | formal/technical | The Internet of Things connects everyday objects — from household appliances to industrial sensors — to the internet, enabling real-time monitoring and remote control. |
| facial recognition | neutral | The deployment of facial recognition technology in public spaces has reignited the debate between enhancing public safety and protecting civil liberties. |
| virtual reality | neutral | Virtual reality is being used in medical training to allow students to practise complex procedures in a simulated environment without risk to real patients. |
| augmented reality | neutral | Augmented reality overlays digital information onto the physical world, offering promising applications in fields such as navigation, retail, and industrial maintenance. |
| digital infrastructure | formal academic | Countries that invest heavily in digital infrastructure — broadband networks, data centres, and smart city systems — are better positioned to compete in the knowledge economy. |
| semiconductor | formal/technical | The global shortage of semiconductors exposed the vulnerability of modern economies to disruptions in a supply chain concentrated in a small number of countries. |
| cybersecurity | neutral | As societies become increasingly dependent on digital systems, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical priority for both governments and the private sector. |
| data privacy | neutral | Legislation such as the GDPR represents a significant step towards protecting data privacy in an era when personal information has become a commercially valuable commodity. |
Social & Economic Impact of Technology
These terms describe how technology shapes society and the economy — essential for discussion essays and any prompt asking you to weigh the wider effects of technological change.
| Word / Phrase | Register | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| digital divide | formal academic | The digital divide between those with reliable internet access and those without has widened existing inequalities in education and economic opportunity. |
| technological unemployment | formal academic | Economists debate whether technological unemployment will be temporary — as new industries absorb displaced workers — or a permanent structural feature of the digital economy. |
| white-collar jobs | neutral | Unlike previous waves of automation, artificial intelligence now threatens white-collar jobs in finance, law, and medicine — not just manual labour. |
| remote working | neutral | The widespread adoption of remote working during the pandemic demonstrated that many office-based tasks can be performed effectively from home. |
| e-commerce | neutral | The growth of e-commerce has devastated traditional high-street retail, forcing many businesses to either adapt their model or cease trading altogether. |
| social media platforms | neutral | Social media platforms have fundamentally altered the way people communicate, consume news, and form political opinions. |
| online addiction | neutral | Mental health professionals have raised concerns that compulsive smartphone use and online addiction are contributing to rising rates of anxiety among adolescents. |
| screen time | neutral | Research suggests that excessive screen time in early childhood is associated with delayed language development and reduced attention spans. |
| misinformation | neutral | The rapid spread of misinformation via social media has undermined public trust in established scientific and journalistic institutions. |
| surveillance capitalism | formal academic | Critics of surveillance capitalism argue that technology companies profit by commodifying personal data without users' meaningful informed consent. |
| gig economy | neutral | The rise of the gig economy has provided workers with greater flexibility, but it has also stripped many of the employment rights and financial security associated with traditional roles. |
| platform economy | formal academic | The platform economy, in which digital intermediaries connect buyers and sellers at scale, has disrupted traditional industries from transport to hospitality. |
| disruption | neutral | Technological disruption — the displacement of established industries by new digital competitors — is accelerating across virtually every sector of the global economy. |
| tech giants | neutral | Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are scrutinising the market dominance of tech giants, questioning whether their size stifles competition and innovation. |
| data monetisation | formal academic | Data monetisation — the practice of generating revenue from users' personal information — lies at the heart of the business model of most major social media companies. |
Advantages & Benefits Language for Technology Essays
These collocations and phrases let you articulate the positive case for technology with precision — useful in opinion essays where you agree with technological advancement, or when presenting the "benefits" side of a discussion.
| Word / Phrase | Register | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| enhance productivity | formal academic | Digital tools that enhance productivity allow workers to focus their cognitive capacity on complex, creative tasks rather than repetitive administration. |
| streamline processes | formal academic | Automated software can streamline processes such as invoicing, scheduling, and inventory management, reducing both human error and operational costs. |
| improve access to information | neutral | The internet has done more to improve access to information than any previous technology in human history, placing vast knowledge resources at almost everyone's fingertips. |
| bridge geographical distances | formal academic | Video-conferencing technology has the potential to bridge geographical distances, enabling specialists in one country to consult with patients or colleagues across the world. |
| facilitate communication | formal academic | Digital platforms facilitate communication between individuals and organisations across different continents with an immediacy that was unimaginable fifty years ago. |
| enable real-time collaboration | formal academic | Cloud-based tools enable real-time collaboration between geographically dispersed teams, reducing the need for costly international business travel. |
| reduce operational costs | neutral | Automation enables companies to reduce operational costs significantly, which can in theory be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices. |
| automate repetitive tasks | neutral | Software that can automate repetitive tasks frees human workers to focus on activities requiring empathy, judgement, and creative problem-solving. |
| drive economic growth | formal academic | Proponents argue that digital innovation will drive economic growth by creating entirely new industries that do not yet exist, much as the internet did in the 1990s. |
| democratise education | formal academic | Online learning platforms have the potential to democratise education by providing high-quality instruction to learners regardless of their geographical location or income level. |
Problems & Concerns Language for Technology Essays
Use these phrases when presenting the negative case, acknowledging drawbacks in a balanced essay, or writing a problem-solution response about the downsides of digital technology.
| Word / Phrase | Register | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| erode privacy | formal academic | Mass surveillance technologies erode privacy in ways that citizens rarely notice, creating a society in which every movement and communication can potentially be monitored. |
| exacerbate inequality | formal academic | Without targeted policy intervention, automation threatens to exacerbate inequality by concentrating wealth among technology owners while displacing lower-income workers. |
| displace workers | neutral | While new technologies create jobs in some sectors, they simultaneously displace workers in others, and retraining programmes have not always kept pace with the speed of change. |
| pose ethical dilemmas | formal academic | Autonomous weapons systems pose ethical dilemmas that existing international law was not designed to address, particularly regarding accountability for civilian harm. |
| blur the line between | neutral | Remote working has blurred the line between professional and personal life, making it increasingly difficult for employees to disconnect from work obligations. |
| create a dependency on | neutral | Educators argue that over-reliance on calculators and spell-checkers can create a dependency on technology that weakens fundamental cognitive skills. |
| undermine human interaction | formal academic | Critics contend that screen-based communication will ultimately undermine human interaction, replacing the richness of face-to-face contact with shallow digital exchanges. |
| stifle creativity | neutral | Some educationalists worry that if students rely on artificial intelligence to generate written work, it will stifle creativity and impede the development of original critical thought. |
| widen the digital divide | formal academic | Failing to invest in affordable internet access for rural and low-income communities will widen the digital divide and entrench existing cycles of disadvantage. |
| raise serious concerns about | formal academic | The collection of biometric data by private companies raises serious concerns about how that information might be used, shared, or misappropriated in the future. |
| a double-edged sword | neutral | Social media is a double-edged sword: it connects isolated individuals and amplifies marginalised voices, but it also enables the rapid spread of harmful content and disinformation. |
| at the expense of | formal academic | Economic efficiency gains from automation have often come at the expense of job security and workers' bargaining power in affected industries. |
10 Key Technology Collocations
These are high-frequency, natural-sounding verb-noun and adjective-noun combinations for technology essays. Mastering them shows the examiner that your vocabulary use is flexible and precise — not just memorised.
| Collocation | Notes |
|---|---|
| harness the power of | "Harness" (not "use" or "utilise") — conveys purposeful, controlled exploitation of technology's potential. Exam favourite for a reason. |
| embrace new technology | "Embrace" signals willing adoption — use when describing societies or industries that actively welcome change rather than being forced to change. |
| pose a threat to | A versatile collocation: "pose a threat to employment", "pose a threat to privacy". "Present a threat" is also correct but less idiomatic. |
| drive technological change | "Drive" is the natural verb — not "cause" or "make". Also works as "drive innovation", "drive economic growth". |
| address ethical concerns | "Address" (not "solve") — ethical concerns are addressed or tackled, not simply solved. Signals awareness that these are complex, ongoing issues. |
| bridge the digital divide | A fixed collocation — always "bridge the digital divide", never "close" or "fix". Demonstrates awareness of technology inequality discourse. |
| automate routine tasks | "Routine tasks" (not "normal" or "regular") is the precise collocation here. Also: "mundane tasks", "repetitive tasks" are both acceptable alternatives. |
| invade personal privacy | "Invade privacy" is idiomatic; "violate privacy" is equally correct. Both are Band 7+ collocations. Do not write "damage privacy". |
| regulate tech companies | "Regulate" is correct; "control" is acceptable but weaker. "Govern tech companies" works in a policy context. The key is the verb-noun pair. |
| foster innovation | "Foster" (not "encourage" or "grow") is the most academic and precise verb here. Use when describing the conditions that support creative technological development. |
Download the complete IELTS Technology Vocabulary PDF
All 65 words and phrases, collocations, and example sentences from this page in a printable A4 PDF — free.
Frequently asked questions
What technology vocabulary impresses IELTS examiners?+
Examiners are not looking for technical jargon — they reward precise, well-collocated vocabulary used accurately. Phrases such as 'harness the power of technology', 'exacerbate inequality', or 'erode personal privacy' demonstrate range and control. Using common words with precision and appropriate register is far more impressive than dropping specialist terms you cannot deploy correctly.
How do I avoid repeating the word 'technology' too much in my essay?+
Build a bank of natural synonyms and related terms: 'innovation', 'technological advances', 'digital tools', 'modern developments', 'automation', and 'digital infrastructure' can all substitute depending on context. The key is to vary your phrasing without forcing awkward alternatives — examiners penalise both over-repetition and obviously unnatural paraphrasing.
Can I use technical terms like 'blockchain' or 'AI' in an IELTS essay?+
You may use technical terms if you are confident you can deploy them with complete accuracy. Examiners penalise incorrect word choice under Lexical Resource. 'Artificial intelligence' and 'automation' are safe because they are now mainstream. Narrow technical terms like 'blockchain' carry risk unless your example sentence uses them precisely and in a way a general educated reader would recognise.
Are technology topics common in IELTS Task 2?+
Technology is one of the highest-frequency Task 2 topic areas. Common prompts include the impact of automation on employment, whether social media is beneficial or harmful, privacy versus security trade-offs, whether technology widens or narrows inequality, and whether artificial intelligence poses risks. Preparing dedicated technology vocabulary significantly increases your readiness for a broad range of real exam questions.
How do I effectively discuss both sides of a technology argument in IELTS?+
Structure each body paragraph with a clear position marker ('Proponents argue that…' / 'Critics contend that…'), then use topic-specific collocations to add precision. For advantages, use phrases like 'enhance productivity' or 'democratise access to information'. For disadvantages, use 'erode privacy', 'displace workers', or 'exacerbate inequality'. Balanced essays require equal lexical precision on both sides.
See how well you use technology vocabulary in IELTS writing
Paste your Task 2 essay into our free IELTS writing checker to get instant feedback on your Lexical Resource — including whether your vocabulary choices are precise, appropriately formal, and naturally collocated.