noun phrase · academic

intrinsic motivation

UK/ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən/US/ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk ˌmoʊtɪˈveɪʃən/in·TRIN·sic mo·ti·VA·tion

Band 7+speakingtask2

motivation that comes from internal satisfaction or interest rather than external rewards

Examples

Students with strong intrinsic motivation study for interest, so they persist even when tasks are hard.

Teachers try to foster intrinsic motivation by making tasks relevant to students' lives.

Intrinsic motivation is a better predictor of long-term learning than temporary rewards.

Band 8 sentence

Curricula that nurture intrinsic motivation—by offering autonomy and meaningful tasks—tend to produce deeper learning.

Collocations

  • foster intrinsic motivation
  • intrinsic motivation to learn
  • enhance intrinsic motivation

Word family

intrinsic adjectivemotivation nounmotivate verb

Common mistakes

intrustic motivationintrinsic motivation

have motivation insidehave intrinsic motivation

Say it for a higher band

5self-motivation6internal motivation7+intrinsic motivation

Synonyms

internal motivation

Easily confused

extrinsic motivation

While extrinsic motivation can boost short-term performance, intrinsic motivation sustains long-term learning.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Education & Study

Learn it with its set