TOEFL core academic vocabulary
596 words in this theme, levelled so you can tell what is worth your time at your band.
Core academic vocabulary is the language that structures an argument in any subject — words like *allocate*, *duration*, *derive* and *constitute*. It is the largest theme in the TOEFL vocabulary bank because these words appear in every section, whatever the passage is about.
Why this theme earns your time
This is the theme to learn first, and it is not close. A word that appears in biology, economics and history passages alike earns its place ahead of any single field’s terminology — and Complete the Words, which asks you to produce a word from context, draws on exactly this register.
What the words look like
Every entry carries its part of speech, pronunciation, CEFR level, the collocations it actually appears in, and a sentence using it. A sample from the bank:
| Word | CEFR | Meaning | In use |
|---|---|---|---|
| abandonv. /əˈbændən/ | B2 | to leave a person, place or plan completelyabandon a plan · abandoned building | The team had to abandon the field study when the storm hit. |
| articulatev./adj. /ɑːrˈtɪkjuleɪt/ | C1 | to express clearly; able to speak clearlyarticulate an idea · an articulate speaker | The essay articulates a position the talks only hinted at. |
| collapsev./n. /kəˈlæps/ | B2 | to fall down suddenly; a sudden failurecollapse under · economic collapse | The old footbridge collapsed in the flood. |
| correspondv. /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːnd/ | B2 | to match, or to be similar or equivalent to somethingcorrespond to · correspond closely | The layers of rock correspond to different periods of ancient volcanic activity. |
| eliminatev. /ɪˈlɪməneɪt/ | B2 | to completely remove or get rid of somethingeliminate the need · virtually eliminate | The vaccination program helped eliminate the disease from the entire region. |
| finiteadj. /ˈfaɪnaɪt/ | C2 | having a limit or enda finite resource · finite number | Fossil fuels are a finite resource. |
| inspectv. /ɪnˈspekt/ | B2 | to look at something carefully to check its conditioninspect closely · safety inspection | Each sample is inspected under a microscope before testing. |
| mountv./n. /maʊnt/ | C1 | to increase gradually; to organize; to fix in placemount an exhibition · mounting costs | Pressure mounted as the deadline neared. |
| phasen. /feɪz/ | B2 | one stage in a process of developmentthe initial phase · phase out | The first phase of the project runs until December. |
| realmn. /relm/ | C2 | an area of activity or knowledge; a kingdomthe realm of · beyond the realm of possibility | That question belongs to the realm of ethics. |
| siftv. /sɪft/ | C2 | to pass through a sieve; to examine carefullysift through · sift flour | Researchers sift the records for early mentions. |
| taskn. /tæsk/ | B1 | a piece of work that must be donecarry out a task · a difficult task | Break the essay into smaller tasks so it feels manageable. |
What to learn at your level
Most of this theme sits at CEFR B2 (34% of its words). At band 4 the B1 and B2 entries are the ones that move your score; grinding C1 vocabulary before the B2 layer is solid is the most common way to spend weeks and gain nothing.
| Level | Words | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | 21 | 4% |
| B1 | 84 | 14% |
| B2 | 205 | 34% |
| C1 | 175 | 29% |
| C2 | 111 | 19% |
Recognising a word is not knowing it
Complete the Words asks you to *produce* a word from context with only its opening letters shown, and the writing tasks ask you to produce it from nothing. That is why the PrepScore drill makes you write the word rather than flip a card, and counts it mastered only after two correct productions in a row. See how the vocabulary drill works.
Drill this theme free
Twenty words a day at no cost, tested by production rather than recognition.
Frequently asked questions
What is academic vocabulary on the TOEFL?
The subject-neutral words that carry reasoning — establish, indicate, subsequent, comprise. They are not technical terms; they are the words the argument is built from.
Should I learn academic words before subject words?
Yes. Subject vocabulary helps on the passages that happen to use it; core academic vocabulary helps on all of them.
Keep reading
By PrepScore · Last reviewed · Editorial standards