Reading · Unit 3: Core strategies
R34: Academic words that keep appearing in Reading
Target band 6.5 to 7
IELTS Academic passages come from books, journals and serious magazines. These texts use a special set of words again and again, whatever the topic. Words like significant, factor, approach and evidence. Linguists have collected the most common ones into a list called the Academic Word List. Knowing these words makes every passage feel easier.
Why this matters
You can't predict the topic of a passage. But you can predict the type of language. Academic words show up in history passages, science passages and business passages alike. Learning them is one of the best vocabulary investments you can make, and they help your Writing too.
40 academic words to start with
| Word | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| approach | a way of dealing with something |
| assess | judge or measure |
| assume | think something is true without proof |
| benefit | an advantage |
| concept | an idea |
| consequence | a result, often negative |
| considerable | large |
| contribute | help cause something |
| crucial | very important |
| data | facts and numbers |
| decline | a fall or decrease |
| demonstrate | show clearly |
| distinct | clearly different |
| emerge | appear or come out |
| establish | set up, or prove |
| estimate | a rough calculation |
| evidence | facts that show something is true |
| factor | one cause or part of a situation |
| feature | an important part or quality |
| function | a purpose or job |
| identify | recognise or find |
| impact | a strong effect |
| indicate | show or suggest |
| interpret | explain the meaning of |
| maintain | keep, or claim strongly |
| method | a way of doing something |
| obtain | get |
| occur | happen |
| potential | possible in the future |
| previous | earlier |
| primary | main |
| process | a series of steps |
| range | a variety, or limits |
| relevant | connected to the topic |
| require | need |
| significant | important or large |
| source | where something comes from |
| theory | an idea that explains something |
| traditional | old and usual |
| vary | be different, change |
Watch the double meanings
Some academic words have two meanings, and IELTS loves using the less common one.
- maintain can mean "keep" or "say strongly". "He maintains that the theory is wrong" means he claims it.
- establish can mean "set up" or "prove". "Scientists have not yet established a link" means they haven't proved it.
- significant can mean "important" or, in research, "not likely to be by chance".
How to learn them
- Five words a day. Eight days for this list.
- Learn word families. Analyse, analysis, analytical. Signify, significant, significance.
- Find them in passages. When you check a Cambridge test, highlight every academic word you see.
- Use them in Writing. Using a word helps you remember it.
Try it yourself
Choose the right word: evidence, decline, factor, crucial
- Poor diet is one __________ in the rise of heart disease.
- There is little __________ that the drug works.
- Clean water is __________ for good health.
- The town saw a __________ in population after the factory closed.
Show the answers
1) factor. 2) evidence. 3) crucial. 4) decline.
Honest note
Vocabulary lists only help if you meet the words again in real reading. A list learned and never seen again is forgotten in two weeks. Pair this lesson with your daily reading habit (R40).
Your task today
Learn the first five words. Find each one in a real English article online.