Advanced · C1–C2
Advanced Collocations
Advanced collocations are word combinations typical of formal, academic, and professional English. Mastering them signals a high level of fluency and precision.
Academic collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| conduct research / a study / an investigation / a survey | The team conducted extensive research into the phenomenon. |
| draw a conclusion / distinction / comparison | It is difficult to draw firm conclusions from this data. |
| raise awareness / concerns / questions / an issue | The report raised serious concerns about safety. |
| pose a challenge / threat / question / problem | Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity. |
| reach a conclusion / agreement / consensus / a verdict | The committee reached a unanimous decision. |
| yield results / insight / data | The experiment yielded unexpected results. |
Business and professional collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| meet a deadline / target / expectations | The team consistently meets its targets. |
| implement a strategy / policy / solution / change | The company implemented a new HR policy. |
| allocate resources / funds / time | The budget was allocated to marketing. |
| sustain growth / momentum / a position | It is difficult to sustain rapid growth. |
| mitigate risk / damage / the impact | Measures were taken to mitigate the risk. |
Adjective + noun collocations (formal)
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| compelling evidence / argument | There is compelling evidence to support this. |
| profound impact / effect / change | The decision had a profound impact on the industry. |
| stringent measures / regulations / criteria | Stringent safety measures were introduced. |
| viable alternative / solution / option | No viable alternative was presented. |
| inherent risk / flaw / tension | There are inherent risks in this approach. |
Tip: When preparing for academic exams (IELTS, CAE, CPE), focus on verb + noun collocations — they are the most frequently tested. Learn the nouns that go with: conduct, draw, pose, raise, reach, yield.