The Importance of Vocabulary

In modules two and three of this course, we learned what the reading and listening
sections of the iBT look like. As you may have noticed, vocabulary plays a very
important role in getting your desired scores. Although, as mentioned, you don’t
need to know extensive technical vocabulary, you still need to know a sufficient
amount of academic vocabulary.

Academic vocabulary might be confused with difficult vocabulary. Academic

vocabulary is not necessarily difficult. It consists of words that are necessary to
understand academic passages or conversations. For example, when you read a
magazine like “People,” which covers a lot of celebrity news, you see different words
than in “National Geographic,” which contains articles about science, geography,
history, and world culture.

In this lesson, we will learn some new academic vocabulary that will help you
improve your score on the iBT test.The words that are used in this reading can help
you understand iBT questions, prompts, listening conversations, as well as 
academic readings passages and lectures. This is not the only list that is available.
There are many different word lists you can find on the web. Also, this list is not the
most comprehensive either, but it will help you prepare for the test and the words
that you may read or hear. Try to work on at least five new words per day, and in less
than one week, you will know all these words by heart. 

30 Essential Words for the TOEFL Test

Here are 30 words that you’ll probably see on the TOEFL test—in prompts, passages,
questions or listening sections.

1. Considerable  (adjective):  large or great in size, distance or amount

Robert ate a considerable amount of pizza. He couldn’t choose between sausage or

extra cheese pizza, so he ate them both. 

2. Interpret (verb): to explain the meaning of something especially between two

languages

If your parents have weak English skills and you visit Los Angeles together, please
interpret anything they don’t understand. 

3. Attitude (noun): manner, feeling or position, sometimes with regard to a person or

thing

Flight attendants show their welcoming attitude by greeting their passengers and
showing concern. 

4. Estimate (verb): to form an approximate judgment or opinion

I estimate that we will walk about four hours a day when we are touring New York City.

5. Authority (noun): the power or right to control

Police officers have the authority to write traffic tickets.

6. Demonstrate (verb): to describe, explain or show using actions or reasoning

Bakers with the most popular baking shows demonstrate clearly how to make
wonderful cakes, cookies and bread.

7. Proceed (verb): to move or go forward

As soon as every student arrives, the class can proceed.  

8. Stable (adjective): to show a secure and steady position

A chair with one weak leg is not stable for anyone to use.

9. Contribute  (verb): to give; frequently used when referring to providing money or

ideas

Since he didn’t have a job currently, Albert decided to contribute his time instead of
money to the project.

10. Risk (noun): a situation with the chance to lose something or to be injured

The risk of falling trees is high in a windstorm, so I stay indoors. 

11. Prior (adjective): something that happens before another event in time

Prior to having mobile phones, everyone depended on landlines. 

12. Shift (verb): to move, usually in an undramatic but noticeable way

The stock market investor shifted some money from one fund to another.

13. Benefit (noun): an advantage or helpful result

The applicant accepted the job offer that included the benefit of working from home
three days a week. 

14. Impact (noun): the result of something influencing or making strong contact with
something or someone else

The impact of America’s Great Depression in the 1930s greatly affected businesses and
families.

15. Distribute (verb): to divide or give out

Before Bill held a barbeque party, he distributed invitations to all his neighbors.

16. Challenge (verb): to question a statement’s truth or to invite someone to

compete

Many residents challenged the mayor’s suggestion of raising taxes in the city.   

17. Evaluate (verb): to determine the value or significance

My instructor evaluates my essays and gives me helpful feedback on my writing. 

18. Former (adjective): previous in time or order 

When Rebecca left her job, she called Ms. Whitson her “former” supervisor.

19. Interfere (verb): to interrupt or when something conflicts with another

The children’s new puppy interfered with getting their homework finished.  As the
puppy grew, the situation improved. 

20. Issue (noun): a significant topic or problem that people debate

Even after years of discussion, the issue of global warming continues to be debated.

21. Reinforce (verb): to strengthen or support physically or through ideas

The official reinforced her campaign promise by lowering taxes when she took office.   

22. Significantly (adverb): in a great or important way

My pronunciation in English improved significantly during my speaking class.

23. Widespread  (adjective): found or distributed over a large area or group

When a popular music concert is cancelled, fans react with widespread

disappointment.

24. Imply (verb): to suggest but not directly say

The unhappy look on the coach’s face implied that she was unhappy with the team’s
performance.

25. Increase (verb): to become greater in size or quantity

The size of cities increased greatly when young people left farming work in the
countryside.

26. Effective  (adjective): successful at producing the desired result

Vaccines have been effective in preventing harmful viruses from spreading.

27. Debate (verb): to argue about a subject, sometimes in a formal manner

My best friend and I debated over which restaurant to visit:  he wanted vegetarian;  I
wanted seafood. 

28. Sustain (verb): to maintain mental or physical strength over time

He was able to sustain keeping a job and going to school at the same time because his
family did all the household chores.

29. Support (verb): to agree with or approve of, or to give financial help

Voters frequently support candidates who inspire them and promise to help the
community.

30. Measure  (verb): calculate the size, amount or degree of something

Before Rocky asked the teacher to delay the test, he measured how many other
students agreed with him.