Level C2 (approx. band 8.5-9) · Academic and General Training At band 8 your vocabulary is wide and precise, with the odd slip. At band 9 it is natural and sophisticated, and errors are extremely rare. The difference isn't a list of exotic words. In this episode: • Affect, effect, impact, influence • More sets that carry nuance • Register shifting • Collocation density • Listening lab • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • Affect changes, effect is the result, impact hits hard, influence shapes slowly. • Near-synonyms differ in strength, attitude or use, so choose for meaning, not variety. • Match the register to the listener or reader, and keep it consistent. • Learn and use words in their natural partnerships, not one at a time. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.