Stop Using “People”! 50 High-Scoring Synonyms for IELTS Writing

Tired of using the word “People”? Want to improve your vocabulary? Here are the alternative words that you can use instead of people in your IELTS writing. Strong vocabulary is one of the fastest ways to push your IELTS Writing score to Band 7+ and one of the biggest mistakes students make is overusing the word “people.” While it isn’t incorrect, repeating it in every paragraph makes your essay sound basic and limits your Lexical Resource score.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, examiners expect precise, academic language. Essays are rarely about “people” in general; they focus on specific groups like workers, consumers, commuters, teenagers, or the elderly. When you fail to replace vague words with accurate synonyms, your ideas feel repetitive and your score often gets stuck at Band 6.0.

This guide solves that problem. It provides 50+ Band 7+ people synonym for IELTS,” grouped by topic and context, and explains exactly when and how to use each one. You’ll learn how to upgrade simple sentences into examiner-friendly, high-scoring responses that sound clear, professional, and academic.

Why Overusing “People” Lowers Your Score?

Repeating the same word makes your writing dull and signals a weak lexical range. More importantly, “people” often fail to identify who you are talking about.

For example:

• Are they consumers?
• Are they commuters?
• Are they students?
• Are they senior citizens?
• Are they voters?

The more precise your noun, the more academic and specific your sentence becomes exactly what the examiner wants.

Using accurate synonyms helps you:

• Improve clarity
• Demonstrate topic awareness
• Avoid repetition
• Boost your Lexical Resource band

Top 3 Formal Synonyms for “People” (General Use)

When you need a safe academic replacement, these words work for most essay types.

1. Individuals
Perfect for essays about personal choices, lifestyle, psychology, or responsibility.
Example: “Individuals must adopt sustainable habits to reduce pollution.”

2. The Public / The General Public
Ideal for discussions involving government, policies, infrastructure, or public services.
Example: “Public transport must be improved for the general public.”

3. Citizens
Use this when discussing law, rights, or national issues.
Avoid using it for global topics.
Example: “Citizens expect transparency from their government.”

These are the safest direct replacements for “people” in formal essays. However, they are not always interchangeable.

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Synonyms by Age Group (Academic Usage in IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2 frequently discusses topics related to education, youth behaviour, and ageing populations, so using age-specific terms instead of the vague word “people” helps improve clarity and your Lexical Resource score.

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1. For Young People

• Adolescents: Biological/health topics
• Youth / The Youth: Social or cultural issues
• Juveniles: Crime or legal topics
• Students / Pupils: Education contexts

2. For Older People

• The Elderly: The safest and most academic term
• Senior Citizens: Policy and welfare topics
• Pensioners: Retirement or economic issues

Synonyms by Function (The “Doer” Strategy)

Instead of describing “people who do something,” use nouns that directly describe their role. This is one of the best ways to make your writing more precise.

1. Economic Context

Used in essays about spending, business, inflation, or consumer behaviour.

• Consumers
• Customers
• Purchasers
• Clients
• End users

2. Workplace Context

Common in essays about jobs, productivity, automation, or work culture.

• Workforce
• Employees
• Personnel
• Professionals
• Staff
• Colleagues

3. Education & Training Context

Used in education reform, skills development, or academic systems.

• Students
• Pupils
• Learners
• Graduates
• Trainees

4. Urban Life, Housing & Transport Context

Appears in essays on cities, infrastructure, pollution, and mobility.

• Residents
• Inhabitants
• Citizens
• Commuters
• Pedestrians

5. Government, Policy & Law Context

Common in essays about taxation, voting, public services, and law.

• Citizens
• The public
• Taxpayers
• Voters
• The electorate
• Law-abiding citizens

Using these words immediately raises the sophistication of your essay.

The Danger Zone: Words to Avoid in IELTS

Some words look like synonyms for “people” but are too informal or inappropriate for academic writing.

Using these words can reduce your band score because IELTS expects formal academic tone.

Upgrade Your Sentences: Band 6 to Band 7+ Examples

Here’s how a simple yet strong IELTS vocabulary change transforms your writing:

Band 6: “Many people go to work by car.”
Band 7+: “Thousands of commuters rely on private vehicles for daily travel.”

Band 6: “Old people need better hospitals.”
Band 7+: “The elderly population requires improved access to healthcare facilities.”

Band 6: “Young people spend too much money on phones.”
Band 7+: “Adolescent consumers often allocate significant funds to electronic devices.”

These upgraded sentences show precision, variety, and strong lexical control.

Conclusion

Mastering synonyms for “people” is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to improve your IELTS Writing Lexical Resource score but only when those words are used accurately. Instead of memorising long word lists, focus on choosing nouns that match the context of the question, whether you’re writing about education, work, transport, or public policy.

Before writing each paragraph in Task 2, pause and ask yourself who exactly you are referring to students, consumers, commuters, voters, or employees and select the most precise term. Avoid informal or vague language, and consistently apply the “doer strategy” to replace general words with role-based vocabulary.

If you practise this approach in every essay you write, you’ll quickly reduce repetition, sound more academic, and demonstrate the vocabulary range examiners look for at Band 7 and above.

Key Takeaways:

1. Use “Individuals” for personal choice and “Citizens” for legal contexts.
2. Use functional words like “Consumers” or “Commuters” based on the essay topic.
3. Avoid informal terms like “Folks” or “Kids.”

Mastering these synonyms will help you write with the clarity and sophistication expected of a university-level student.

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