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TOEFL iBT Academic English

TOEFL Academic Core

A focused core of verbs and nouns for reading, lectures, evidence, and academic discussion.

Independent TOEFL iBT study resource — not official exam material.

  • Teens and up
  • Academic English
  • Confident · B2
  • 30 words

The words

Every word in this set, with what it means. Tap a word to hear it.

analyze
to examine something carefully by separating it into parts
“The class will analyze the results before drawing a conclusion.”
approach
a way of dealing with a task, question, or problem
“The team tried a different approach to the research question.”
assume
to accept something as true without proof
“Do not assume that a higher number always means a better result.”
concept
an idea used to explain or organize something
“The lecture introduced the concept of shared responsibility.”
consequence
a result that follows from an action or situation
“One consequence of the policy was a shorter waiting time.”
contribute
to help cause a result or give something to a shared effort
“Several factors contribute to student success.”
define
to explain the exact meaning of a word or idea
“The writer defines the term in the first paragraph.”
derive
to get something from a source or process
“The researchers derive the estimate from three years of data.”
emerge
to appear or become known gradually
“A clear pattern began to emerge during the second experiment.”
establish
to show or prove something clearly; to create something firmly
“The study establishes a link between sleep and concentration.”
evaluate
to judge the quality, value, or importance of something
“Students must evaluate whether the source is reliable.”
factor
one of the facts or conditions that affect a result
“Cost is an important factor in the decision.”
indicate
to show that something is true or likely
“The figures indicate a gradual increase in demand.”
interpret
to explain the meaning of information or an event
“Readers may interpret the graph in different ways.”
involve
to include someone or something as part of an activity or situation
“The project involves interviews with local residents.”
occur
to happen, especially unexpectedly or at a particular time
“The largest change occurred after the new system was introduced.”
require
to need something for a particular purpose
“The assignment requires students to compare two sources.”
significant
large or important enough to have a noticeable effect
“The difference was statistically significant in the final test.”
theory
a set of ideas that explains how something works
“The lecture compared two theories of language learning.”
evidence
facts or information that support an idea or conclusion
“The argument is convincing because it is supported by evidence.”
abstract
about ideas rather than physical objects or events
“The article presents an abstract model of how memory works.”
alternative
another possibility or choice
“The researchers considered an alternative explanation for the result.”
context
the situation or information that helps explain something
“The quotation is easier to understand in its historical context.”
data
facts or measurements collected for study
“The team checked the data before making a recommendation.”
domain
an area of knowledge, activity, or responsibility
“The study focuses on the domain of public health.”
hypothesis
an idea that can be tested to see whether it is true
“The experiment was designed to test the hypothesis.”
objective
a result that someone aims to achieve
“The main objective is to understand how the two groups differ.”
retain
to keep something or continue to have it
“The material is designed to help students retain new terms.”
sufficient
enough for a particular purpose
“The sample was sufficient for a preliminary comparison.”
vary
to change or be different in size, amount, or degree
“Results vary depending on the age of the participants.”