Academic Word List

Sublist 3

Band 5-6

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

    alternativenoun / adjective/ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/

    a different choice or option; (adj) serving as a substitute

    Faced with a funding cut, the university searched for an alternative that kept the course running.

  2. 2

    consequencenoun/ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/

    a result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

    One consequence of urbanisation is the reduction of green spaces.

  3. 3

    approximateadjective / verb/əˈprɒksɪmət/

    close to the actual number or truth; (v) to estimate or come near

    The approximate cost of the project is $5 million.

  4. 4

    challengenoun / verb/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/

    a task or situation that tests someone's abilities; (v) to question or dispute, or to try to take part in something difficult

    One of the biggest challenges of urban planning is balancing development and sustainability.

  5. 5

    commentnoun / verb/ˈkɒment/

    a remark or observation; (v) to say something about or express an opinion

    She made a brief comment on the author's conclusions during the discussion.

  6. 6

    componentnoun/kəmˈpəʊnənt/

    one part of a system or mixture that together with other parts makes something

    The software has three main components: input, processing and output.

  7. 7

    assessverb/əˈses/

    judge or decide the quality, importance, amount, or value of something

    Examiners assess students' essays according to clear criteria.

  8. 8

    sectornoun/ˈsektə/

    a distinct part of the economy or society, such as industry or public services

    The manufacturing sector has grown faster than services this year.

  9. 9

    justifyverb/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/

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

    You must justify your position with evidence in Task 2.

  10. 10

    maintainverb/meɪnˈteɪn/

    to keep something in the same state, to preserve, to continue to assert something

    The council maintains the city's parks every month.

  11. 11

    contributeverb/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

    give something (money, effort, ideas) or help cause something to happen

    Students are encouraged to contribute ideas during seminars.

  12. 12

    clarifyverb/ˈklærɪfaɪ/

    make something clear or easier to understand

    Can you clarify what you mean by "sustainable" in this context?

  13. 13

    communitynoun/kəˈmjuːnəti/

    a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

    The local community organised a beach clean-up last weekend.

  14. 14

    implyverb/ɪmˈplaɪ/

    suggest something without saying it directly

    The study implies that many students prefer online resources.

  15. 15

    contextnoun/ˈkɒntɛkst/

    the circumstances or setting which help explain the meaning of something

    The speech must be understood in its historical context.

  16. 16

    contributeverb/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

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

    Students can contribute ideas during the seminar.

  17. 17

    interpretverb/ɪnˈtɜːprət/

    to explain the meaning of something; to decide what something means

    How you interpret the results depends on your research method.

  18. 18

    estimateverb / noun/ˈestɪmət/

    to make an approximate calculation of a value (verb); an approximate calculation (noun)

    They estimate the cost of the project at around $2 million.

  19. 19

    constrainverb/kənˈstreɪn/

    to limit someone's actions or restrict something; to force someone to behave in a particular way

    Financial difficulties constrain the company's expansion plans.

  20. 20

    criterianoun (plural)/kraɪˈtɪəriə/

    standards or principles by which something is judged; plural of criterion

    Admission criteria include academic performance and personal statements.

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