IELTS Academic Word List Group 2

Mr. Herring (Turkey)
This list was taken from the Academic Word List (AWL) which developed by Averil Coxhead at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains some of the 570 word families which were selected because they appear with great frequency in a broad range of academic texts. The list does not include words that are in the most frequent 2000 words of English (the General Service List), thus making it specific to academic contexts.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. achieve
    gain with effort
    Announce new measures to achieve quick – but lasting and non-inflationary – economic growth.
    CEFR-level: B1

    verb (noun: achievement)
  2. acquire
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
    One legal expert suggested Google's legal tussles demonstrated how difficult it was to value its acquired assets.
  3. acquisition
    something gained
    Motorola Mobility is looking like one of the worst acquisitions ever.
  4. acquisition
    the act of contracting or assuming possession of something
    The company said the money would be used to repurchase stock, make acquisitions and repay existing debt.
  5. administration
    a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a group
    That will not, however, ease pressure on administration officials over a relentless gantlet of hurdles to put the provisions in place.
    CEFR-level: C2

    noun
  6. administration
    the act of governing or exercising authority
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  7. affect
    act physically on
    Public transport is expected to be badly affected, ferries to and from Greek islands halted and hospitals will work on skeleton shifts.
    CEFR-level: B2

    verb
  8. affect
    have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
    Impulsive behaviors, lack of empathy, sense of humor, and mood are similarly affected. Slate (Apr 27, 2013)
    CEFR-level: B2

    verb
  9. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
    Furthermore, it can only say that "these reports have agreed that hydraulic fracturing can be done safely, given appropriate guidelines and monitoring".
    CEFR-level: B2

    adjective (noun: appropriateness)
  10. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
    There is no use of talking about the country’s negative aspects.
    CEFR-level:B2

    noun
  11. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
    "Funds are more difficult to track when they go through multilateral institutions rather than through bilateral assistance programs," she said.
    CEFR-level: B2

    noun
  12. categorize
    place into or assign to a class
    These days, though, Americans of Russian or Chechen descent are unambiguously categorized as “white” by the U.S. Salon (Apr 22, 2013)
  13. category
    a collection of things sharing a common attribute
    Although patients were there to talk about blood pressure, not weight, most fell into the overweight or obese category.
    CEFR-level: B2
  14. category
    a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  15. commission
    the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
    It's the first time an artist has worked on the outside of the pyramid, commissioned by former President Francois Mitterrand nearly 30 years ago. Seattle Times (Apr 24, 2013)
  16. commission
    a special group delegated to consider some matter
    The Sri Lankan High Commission in London rejected the group's allegations, saying that a rehabilitation process is under way after years of conflict.
  17. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
    The community, high in the Massif Central hills, is blessed with natural spring water.
    CEFR-level: B2
  18. complex
    complicated in structure
    The system relies on a complex computer system, with claims made online.
    CEFR-level: B2

    adjective
  19. complex
    a whole structure made up of interconnected structures
    The blast injured 200 people, flattened 50 homes and destroyed an apartment complex and two schools.
    CEFR-level: C1

    noun; countable
  20. complex
    a combination of emotions and impulses influencing behavior
    "Beginning to get a complex," Dec teases under his breath.
    CEFR-level: C2

    noun; countable
  21. conclusion
    a position or opinion reached after consideration
    Both conclusions, later investigations concluded, were likely erroneous.
    CEFR-level: B1

    noun; countable
  22. conclusion
    event whose occurrence ends something
    But I felt like tonight’s conclusion totally vindicated last week's show. Slate (Apr 12, 2013)
    CEFR-level: C2

    noun; countable
  23. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    He has also been disciplined by the Law Society for "conduct unbecoming ."
    CEFR-level:C2

    verb AND noun (uncountable)
  24. conduct
    direct the course of; manage or control
    Loblaw has said it regularly conducts audits to ensure its garments are manufactured responsibly, but focuses on labor practices and not building construction.
    CEFR-level: B2

    verb
  25. conduct
    lead musicians in the performance of
    Through it all, Mr. Volkov was tireless and omnipresent, not only conducting and performing, but also giving informal chats, moving furniture and directing traffic.
    CEFR-level: B2

    verb; noun (conductor)
  26. consequence
    the outcome of an event
    No wonder Obama never spelled out the consequences of crossing his ‘red line.’
    CEFR-level: B2

    noun; countable

    connotation: usually NEGATIVE
  27. consequence
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
  28. construction
    the act of building something
    This week: A new jobs report is released, as well as data on housing, construction and personal income.
    CEFR-level: B2

    noun; uncountable
  29. construction
    repairing old structures or building new ones
    Those being held face charges of faulty construction and causing unlawful death.
    CEFR-level: B2
  30. construction
    a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence
    “We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.”
  31. consumer
    a person who uses goods or services
    Higher spending on utilities does not signal consumer confidence as purchases of household goods, like appliances and furniture, typically do.
    CEFR-level: B2

    noun; countable
  32. credit
    money available for a client to borrow
    Inefficient, subsidized state-owned enterprises gobble up credit while more nimble private firms starve.
    CEFR-level: B1

    noun; countable AND uncountable
  33. credit
    arrangement for deferred payment for goods and services
    Jessop acquired the property on a credit bid, Bailey said.
    CEFR-level: B1

    noun; uncountable
  34. credit
    used to indicate an achievement deserving praise
    To his credit, James recognized the opportunity cost  – easy baskets — and starting working on his low-block moves.
    CEFR-level: C2

    grammatical construction
  35. credit
    recognition that a course of studies has been completed
    Passing scores make students eligible for credit at many colleges and universities.
    CEFR-level: B2

    noun; countable
  36. credit
    ascribe an achievement to
    He credits his line of thought to his Chinese background.
    CEFR-level: C1

    verb
  37. cultural
    relating to the shared knowledge and values of a society
    In Malta, hunting birds is a cultural tradition, governed by strict rules, but some protected birds are illegally killed. BBC (Apr 24, 2013)
    CEFR-level: B1

    adjective
  38. design
    the act of working out the form of something
  39. design
    the way something is arranged or organized
  40. design
    a preliminary sketch indicating the plan for something
  41. design
    something intended as a guide for making something else
  42. design
    a decorative or artistic work
  43. design
    make or work out a plan for; devise
  44. design
    plan out in systematic, often graphic form
  45. design
    an anticipated outcome that is intended
  46. design
    intend or have as a purpose
  47. distinction
    a discrimination between things as different
    A variety of technology advances are quickly erasing the distinctions, making the Department’s apples-to-oranges comparisons anachronistic at best.  Forbes (Apr 16, 2013)
    CEFR-level:B2

    noun (countable or uncountable)
  48. distinction
    a differentiating quality
    Dunne says it's an important distinction: "Interpreters listen to spoken language and translate orally, while translators work on written text," according to the Babelverse website.
    CEFR-level: C2

    noun (uncountable)
  49. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  50. element
    one of the individual parts making up a composite entity
  51. element
    an abstract part of something
  52. equation
    a mathematical statement that two expressions are the same
  53. evaluation
    the act of ascertaining or judging the quality of
  54. feature
    a prominent attribute or aspect of something
  55. feature
    the characteristic parts of a person's face
  56. feature
    have as a prominent attribute
  57. feature
    the main full-length movie shown in a theater
  58. feature
    a special or prominent piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine
  59. feature
    wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner
  60. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  61. focus
    special emphasis attached to something
  62. focus
    become concentrated
  63. impact
    the striking of one body against another
  64. impact
    a forceful consequence; a strong effect
  65. impact
    a strong influence
  66. in conclusion
    the item at the end
    We’re going to be talking about Keystone for a long time, so I’ll just note a few things in conclusion.
    CEFR-level: B2

    grammatical construction
  67. injury
    physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident
  68. institute
    an association organized to promote art or science
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  69. investment
    money that is committed with an expectation of profit
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  70. investment
    the commitment of something other than money to a project
  71. item
    an isolated fact considered separately from the whole
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  72. item
    a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group
  73. journal
    a daily written record of experiences and observations
  74. journal
    a periodical dedicated to a particular subject
  75. maintenance
    activity involved in keeping something in good working order
  76. normal
    being approximately average or within certain limits
  77. normal
    conforming with a standard, level, or type
  78. obtain
    come into possession of
  79. on-site
    taking place or located at the site
  80. participation
    the act of sharing in the activities of a group
    community • resident • range • construction • strategies • elements • previous • conclusion • security • aspects • acquisition • features • text • commission • regulations • computer • items • consumer • achieve • final • positive • evaluation • assistance • normal • relevant • distinction • region • traditional • impact • consequences • chapter • equation • appropriate • resources • participation • survey • potential • cultural • transfer • select • credit • affect • categories • perceived • so
  81. participation
    the condition of sharing in common with others
  82. perceived
    detected by instinct or inference
  83. perceived
    detected by means of the senses
  84. positive
    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
  85. positive
    tending to indicate increase, progress, or onward motion
  86. positive
    involving advantage or good
  87. positive
    indicating presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
  88. potential
    existing in possibility
  89. potential
    the inherent capacity for coming into being
  90. previous
    just preceding something else in time or order
  91. primary
    of first rank or importance or value
  92. purchase
    acquire by means of a financial transaction
  93. purchase
    acquire by means of a financial transaction
  94. purchase
    something acquired by buying
  95. range
    a variety of different things or activities
    Ford said it would offer a range of cars and trucks across various vehicles segments in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar.
  96. range
    a series of hills or mountains
  97. range
    the limit of capability
  98. range
    a variety of different things or activities
  99. range
    the limits within which something can be effective
  100. range
    be different within limits
  101. range
    the set of values that is the output of a function
  102. region
    a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth
  103. region
    the approximate amount of something
  104. regulation
    an authoritative rule
  105. regulation
    the state of being controlled or governed
  106. relevant
    having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
  107. resident
    someone who lives at a particular place for a long period
    Miami resident Hemley Gonzalez was so shocked by his volunteer experience that he has founded an accountable charity to provide better care. Salon (Apr 30, 2013)
  108. resource
    aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
  109. restricted
    subject to an act of limitation
  110. restricted
    limited in meaning
  111. security
    the state of being free from danger or injury
  112. security
    measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage
  113. security
    freedom from anxiety or fear
  114. select
    pick out or choose from a number of alternatives
  115. site
    the piece of land on which something is located
  116. site
    an Internet address providing information to others
  117. strategy
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
  118. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
  119. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
  120. survey
    ask people questions in order to gather data
  121. text
    the words of something written
  122. traditional
    consisting of or derived from a practice of long standing
  123. transfer
    move from one place to another
  124. transfer
    send from one person or place to another
  125. transfer
    move somebody to a different position or location of work
  126. transfer
    the act of moving something from one location to another
Created on Tue Apr 30 10:14:14 EDT 2013 (updated Thu May 02 11:09:49 EDT 2013)

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