Academic Word List

Sublist 8

Band 6-7

The full list of 20 words in this set. Open any word for its pronunciation, collocations, a band 8 sentence and the mistakes Vietnamese learners make.

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20 words

  1. 1

    justifyv/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/

    to show or prove that something is right, reasonable, or necessary

    You need to justify your choice of methodology in the Methods section.

  2. 2

    fluctuateverb/ˈflʌktʃueɪt/

    to change or vary irregularly, especially up and down

    Prices fluctuate depending on supply and demand.

  3. 3

    adjacentadj/əˈdʒeɪsənt/

    next to or very near something

    The library is adjacent to the student centre, so I often study there between classes.

  4. 4

    aggregateverb / noun/ˈæɡrɪɡət/

    (v) to collect or gather into a whole; (n) the total formed from separate parts

    The researchers aggregated the data from five different studies.

  5. 5

    ensureverb/ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/

    to make certain that something will happen or be the case

    You should ensure you understand the question before you start writing your essay.

  6. 6

    analogousadj/əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs/

    showing a similarity, especially in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared

    The brain and a computer are often seen as analogous in their ways of processing information.

  7. 7

    revealv/rɪˈviːl/

    to make something known that was previously hidden or unknown

    Table 2 reveals a significant correlation between study time and test scores.

  8. 8

    proportionnoun/prəˈpɔːʃən/

    a part or share of a whole, often expressed as a ratio or percentage

    A large proportion of respondents preferred working from home.

  9. 9

    alleviateverb/əˈliːvieɪt/

    to make a problem, pain, or difficulty less severe

    Policies were introduced to alleviate the housing shortage.

  10. 10

    contributeverb/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

    to give something (time, money, ideas) to help achieve or provide something

    Many factors contribute to climate change, including industrial emissions.

  11. 11

    reversev/adj/n/rɪˈvɜːs/

    to change something to the opposite direction, order, or result

    Government policy had to be reversed after the public outcry.

  12. 12

    emphasizeverb/ˈemfəsaɪz/

    to give special importance or attention to something

    In your introduction, emphasize the main point you will discuss.

  13. 13

    retentionn/rɪˈtɛnʃən/

    the act of keeping something or continuing to have something; ability to remember information

    Student retention rates at the university have improved after the support programme.

  14. 14

    spectrumnoun/ˈspɛktrəm/

    a range or continuous sequence of different but related qualities, ideas, or activities

    Public opinion on the policy covers a broad spectrum.

  15. 15

    citeverb/saɪt/

    to mention something (especially an example or source) as proof or support

    In Task 2 you should cite studies to support your argument when appropriate.

  16. 16

    paradoxnoun/ˈpærədɒks/

    a statement or situation that seems absurd or self-contradictory but may be true

    It is a paradox that some of the poorest countries have the highest birth rates.

  17. 17

    monitorverb/noun/ˈmɒnɪtə(r)/

    to regularly check or watch something; (n) a device or person that watches or checks

    Teachers monitor students' progress through regular quizzes.

  18. 18

    deduceverb/dɪˈdjuːs/

    to reach a logical conclusion from given facts or evidence

    From the footprints, the police deduced that the intruder was wearing heavy boots.

  19. 19

    complementnoun / verb/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

    something that completes or goes well with something; to complete or enhance by providing something additional

    The new evidence complements previous studies by offering data from a different region.

  20. 20

    discreteadjective/dɪˈskriːt/

    separate and distinct; not continuous or connected

    The study analysed discrete categories of employment rather than a single continuous scale.

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