Your IELTS words, counted back from test day.
Set your test date and Bandlio splits 950 academic words over the days you have left, shows each word with a meaning in your own language, and brings back the ones you miss. No account, works offline.
Get it on Google PlaySupported by ads · no account · data stays on your phone
Bandlio is an Android app for learning academic English vocabulary for IELTS. It has 950 academic words from the New Academic Word List 1.2 (Browne, Culligan & Phillips, CC BY-SA 4.0), grouped into topics such as Environment, Education, Technology, Health, Society, Work, Science, Economy, Media and Culture. When you set your IELTS test date, a daily plan splits the words you have not learned yet over the days left, for example "D-41 · 18 words today"; without a date you get 15 words a day, and you can change the daily maximum. Each card shows the word, its part of speech, an easy English meaning, a translation in your language, an example sentence on an IELTS essay topic and British or American pronunciation through your phone's text-to-speech. Translations for 24 languages are built in and work offline, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish and more. Tap "I know it" or "Again": known words come back after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days, and missed words come back tomorrow. Ten-question quizzes ask meaning to word, word to translation and fill-in-the-blank with shuffled choices, and missed quiz words go back to review. You see your streak and progress out of 950, and a home screen widget shows today's word and how many words are left. You can search by English word or by meaning in your language. There is no account and your progress stays on your phone.
A plan counted back from your test date
Enter your IELTS date and Bandlio divides the remaining words by the days left, like "D-41 · 18 words today". No date? 15 a day. You can set a daily maximum.
950 academic words by topic
Words from the New Academic Word List, grouped into IELTS-style topics: Environment, Education, Technology, Health, Society, Work, Science, Economy, Media and Culture.
Meanings in your language, offline
Every card has an easy English meaning plus a translation in one of 24 built-in languages, from Korean and Hindi to Arabic and Spanish. No internet needed.
Example sentences for IELTS essays
Each word comes with a sentence on a typical essay topic, so you see how it is used in academic writing.
British or American pronunciation
Hear each word in a British or American accent through your phone's text-to-speech.
Spaced review that brings words back
"I know it" schedules the word again after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days. "Again" brings it back tomorrow.
Quick 10-question quizzes
Meaning to word, word to translation and fill-in-the-blank, with shuffled choices. Missed words go straight back to review.
Streak, progress and a widget
See your streak and how many of the 950 words you know. The home screen widget shows today's word and the words left.
FAQ
- How many words a day should I learn for IELTS?
- It depends on how many days you have left. Bandlio divides the words you have not learned by the days until your test, for example 18 a day with 41 days to go. Without a test date it suggests 15 a day, and you can set a daily maximum so the plan never gets too heavy.
- Can I see meanings in Hindi, Urdu or my own language?
- Yes. Translations for 24 languages are built in: Korean, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Nepali, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Filipino, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish and Ukrainian. Each card also has an easy English meaning.
- Does it work offline?
- Yes. The words, translations, review and quizzes all work without internet. Pronunciation uses your phone's text-to-speech, which may need a voice downloaded in your phone settings.
- Is this the official IELTS word list?
- No. There is no official IELTS word list. Bandlio uses the New Academic Word List 1.2, a research-based list of words that are common in academic English, which is the kind of language IELTS Academic reading and writing use. Bandlio is an independent study app.
- Will Bandlio guarantee my band score?
- No app can promise a score. Bandlio helps you learn and keep academic words; your result depends on all four skills and your preparation.
- What happens to words I get wrong?
- Words you mark "Again" come back the next day. Words you miss in a quiz go back into review, so they keep coming back until you know them.
- Do I need an account?
- No. There is no sign-up, and your progress stays on your phone. The app is supported by ads.
- Can I search for a word?
- Yes. Search by the English word or by its meaning in your language.
Guides
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP and Cambridge. Bandlio is an independent study app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Word list: New Academic Word List 1.2 by Browne, Culligan & Phillips, CC BY-SA 4.0.