IELTS Vocabulary: Reliable vs. Trustworthy (Know the Difference!)

Hey there, and welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for IELTS confidence and skill. I’m Teacher Phil, your friendly IELTS mentor, and today we’re zooming in on two words that pop up everywhere on the exam: reliable and trustworthy.

If you want to boost your vocabulary score fast, this one’s for you. Knowing the difference between these two words can really set your English apart from the average Band 6. So, let’s dive in."

IELTS Vocabulary Focus

First, what’s the difference between reliable and trustworthy? 

These words are close cousins, but they’re not twins. Reliable means something or someone you can depend on to do what they say, or to work correctly. Think of a reliable car – it starts every morning, even in winter. Trustworthy is about honesty and integrity. 

If someone is trustworthy, you can trust them with your secrets, your money, or your house keys. They won’t let you down.

Let’s see how these play out in IELTS Speaking or Writing.

Model Sentences

Here are two Band 7+ sentences you might use:

1. ‘My best friend is a very reliable person. Whenever I need help, I know I can count on her, whether it’s picking me up from the airport or lending a hand with my homework.
2. ‘I believe teachers should be trustworthy, since students need to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and asking questions without fear of being judged.’

Notice the difference? In the first, reliable is about actions – showing up, helping out. In the second, trustworthy is about character – keeping confidence, being honest.

Let me break down the structure for you.

Teaching & Analysis

Both sentences use natural collocations – that’s how native speakers really talk.

• ‘A reliable person’ and ‘count on her’ – these go together all the time.
• ‘A trustworthy teacher’ and ‘feel comfortable sharing’ – again, very natural.
• ‘Without fear of being judged’ – this is a great phrase for IELTS Speaking and Writing.

And the best part? You can steal these sentence frames for your own answers:

• ‘I know I can count on [person] because they’re very reliable.’
• ‘It’s important for [profession] to be trustworthy, since…’

Try using these in your next mock test, or even in daily conversation. The more you practice, the more natural they’ll sound.

Quick Practice Challenge

Alright, it’s your turn. Here’s a one-minute challenge:

Write one sentence using reliable and one using trustworthy. Say them out loud, like you’re in the Speaking test.

Pause the episode, take a minute, and really try to make your sentences personal – maybe about a friend, a teacher, or even a product you use.

Remember, your fluency isn’t born – it’s built. Let’s build it together.

Nice work today. Keep practicing those sentences, and you’ll sound more natural and confident in no time. Tomorrow, we’ll tackle another vocabulary pair that can help you sound like a Band 7 speaker.

This is IELTS on Fire – no fluff, just real, useful IELTS tips. Let’s set your English on fire.

See you next time.