What is the Academic Word List (AWL)?

The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Dr Averil Coxhead at Victoria University of Wellington in 2000. It contains 570 word families that frequently appear in academic texts across 28 subject areas. These words account for about 10% of all words in academic writing, making them essential for IELTS Academic candidates.

How should I study the Academic Word List for IELTS?

Start with Sublist 1, which contains the 60 most frequent academic word families, then progress to Sublist 2, and so on. For each word, learn all its forms (noun, verb, adjective, adverb). Use each word in a sentence, learn its collocations, and review using spaced repetition. Aim to learn 10-15 AWL words per day with deep understanding rather than memorising the entire list quickly.

How many AWL words do I need for IELTS Band 7?

For Band 7+, you should be comfortable with at least the first 5 sublists (300 word families). For Band 8+, aim to know all 570 word families. However, knowing a word means being able to use it correctly in writing and speaking with proper collocations, not just recognising it in reading. Focus on quality of knowledge over quantity.

Academic Word List (AWL) for IELTS | 570 Essential Words in 10 Sublists

Sublist 1 Most Frequent Academic Words (60 words)

These are the 60 most common academic word families. Master these first — they appear in almost every academic text.

#	Headword	Definition
1	analyse	To examine something in detail to understand it
2	approach	A way of dealing with something; to come near
3	area	A subject or range of activity; a geographical region
4	assess	To evaluate or estimate the nature or quality of something
5	assume	To suppose something to be true without proof
6	authority	The power to give orders or make decisions; an expert
7	available	Able to be used or obtained
8	benefit	An advantage or profit gained from something
9	concept	An abstract idea or general notion
10	consist	To be composed or made up of
11	constitute	To be a part of a whole; to form or compose
12	context	The circumstances or background surrounding an event or statement
13	contract	A formal agreement; to decrease in size
14	create	To bring something into existence
15	data	Facts and statistics collected for analysis
16	define	To state the exact meaning of something
17	derive	To obtain something from a source; to originate
18	distribute	To give shares of something; to spread over an area
19	economy	The system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods
20	environment	The natural world; the surrounding conditions
21	establish	To set up on a firm basis; to prove
22	estimate	To roughly calculate or judge the value of something
23	evident	Clearly seen or understood; obvious
24	export	To send goods to another country for sale
25	factor	A circumstance that contributes to a result
26	finance	The management of money; to provide funding for
27	formula	A mathematical relationship; a method or procedure
28	function	The purpose or role of something; to work or operate
29	identify	To recognise or establish what something is
30	income	Money received from work or investments
31	indicate	To point out or show
32	individual	A single person; relating to one person
33	interpret	To explain the meaning of something
34	involve	To include or contain as a part
35	issue	An important topic for discussion; a problem
36	labour	Work, especially physical effort; the workforce
37	legal	Relating to the law; permitted by law
38	legislate	To make or enact laws
39	major	Important, serious, or significant
40	method	A particular procedure for accomplishing something
41	occur	To happen; to be found or exist
42	percent	One part in every hundred
43	period	A length or portion of time
44	policy	A course of action adopted by a government or organisation
45	principle	A fundamental truth or belief; a rule of conduct
46	proceed	To begin or continue a course of action
47	process	A series of actions to achieve a particular result
48	require	To need something; to demand as necessary
49	research	Systematic investigation to establish facts
50	respond	To say or act in reply
51	role	The function assumed by someone or something
52	section	A distinct part of something
53	sector	An area or portion; a distinct part of an economy
54	significant	Important enough to have an effect; meaningful
55	similar	Resembling without being identical
56	source	A place from which something comes or is obtained
57	specific	Clearly defined or identified; particular
58	structure	The arrangement of parts; the way something is organised
59	theory	A set of principles intended to explain something
60	vary	To differ or change

Sublist 2 High-Frequency Academic Words (60 words)

#	Headword	Definition
1	achieve	To successfully reach a desired objective
2	acquire	To gain possession of something
3	administrate	To manage or direct the affairs of an organisation
4	affect	To have an influence on; to cause a change in
5	appropriate	Suitable or proper in the circumstances
6	aspect	A particular part or feature of something
7	assist	To help or support
8	category	A class or division of things with shared characteristics
9	chapter	A main division of a book or period of time
10	commission	An official group tasked with investigating; a fee for a service
11	community	A group of people living together or sharing interests
12	complex	Consisting of many interconnected parts; complicated
13	compute	To calculate or reckon a figure
14	conclude	To bring to an end; to reach a judgment after reasoning
15	conduct	To carry out or organise; behaviour
16	consequent	Following as a result or effect
17	construct	To build or form by putting parts together
18	consume	To use up or eat/drink
19	credit	Recognition; an arrangement to pay later; trust
20	culture	The customs, arts, and social institutions of a group
21	design	To plan and make something; a plan or drawing
22	distinct	Recognisably different; separate
23	element	A component or part of something
24	equate	To consider as equal or equivalent
25	evaluate	To assess the value or quality of something
26	feature	A distinctive characteristic or attribute
27	final	Coming at the end; last; decisive
28	focus	To concentrate attention or effort on something
29	impact	A strong effect or influence
30	injure	To cause physical harm or damage
31	institute	An organisation for a specific purpose; to establish
32	invest	To put money or effort into something for future benefit
33	item	An individual thing; a piece of news
34	journal	A periodical publication; a daily record
35	maintain	To keep in good condition; to assert as true
36	normal	Conforming to a standard; typical
37	obtain	To get or acquire something
38	participate	To take part in an activity
39	perceive	To become aware of through the senses; to understand
40	positive	Expressing agreement or certainty; constructive
41	potential	Having the capacity to develop into something; possible
42	previous	Coming before in time or order
43	primary	Of chief importance; first in order
44	purchase	To buy something
45	range	The extent or scope of something; a set of different things
46	region	An area of a country or the world
47	regulate	To control or direct according to rules
48	relevant	Closely connected to the matter at hand
49	reside	To live in a particular place
50	resource	A supply of something that can be used
51	restrict	To limit or control
52	secure	To obtain; to make safe; free from danger
53	seek	To attempt to find or obtain
54	select	To carefully choose from a group
55	site	A location or place
56	strategy	A plan of action designed to achieve a goal
57	survey	A detailed investigation or examination
58	text	Written or printed words; a piece of writing
59	tradition	A custom or belief passed through generations
60	transfer	To move from one place or person to another

Sublist 3 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	alternative	Another choice or option; different from the usual
2	circumstance	A condition or fact affecting a situation
3	comment	A remark expressing an opinion or reaction
4	compensate	To give something to make up for loss or suffering
5	component	A part or element of a larger whole
6	consent	Permission or agreement
7	considerable	Notably large in size, amount, or importance
8	constant	Occurring continuously; unchanging
9	constrain	To restrict or limit
10	contribute	To give something in order to help achieve a purpose
11	convention	A standard practice; a formal meeting
12	coordinate	To organise activities to work together effectively
13	core	The central or most important part
14	corporate	Relating to a large company or group
15	correspond	To match or agree with; to communicate by letters
16	criteria	Standards by which something is judged (plural of criterion)
17	deduce	To reach a conclusion by reasoning from evidence
18	demonstrate	To show clearly; to prove
19	document	A written record; to record in detail
20	dominate	To have a commanding influence over
21	emphasis	Special importance given to something
22	ensure	To make certain that something happens
23	exclude	To keep out or leave out
24	framework	A basic structure underlying a system or concept
25	fund	A sum of money for a purpose; to provide money for
26	illustrate	To explain or make clear by examples
27	immigrate	To come to live permanently in a foreign country
28	imply	To suggest without directly stating
29	initial	Existing or occurring at the beginning
30	instance	An example or occurrence of something
31	interact	To act in a way that affects another
32	justify	To show or prove to be right or reasonable
33	layer	A sheet or thickness lying over a surface
34	link	A connection or relationship between things
35	locate	To discover the exact position of; to be situated
36	maximise	To make as large or great as possible
37	minor	Lesser in importance, size, or degree
38	negate	To make ineffective; to deny
39	outcome	The result or consequence of an action
40	partner	A person who shares an activity or business
41	philosophy	The study of fundamental nature of knowledge and existence
42	physical	Relating to the body or material things
43	proportion	A part or share relative to the whole
44	publish	To make available to the public, especially in print
45	react	To respond to something
46	register	To record formally; an official list
47	rely	To depend on with confidence
48	remove	To take away from a position
49	scheme	A systematic plan or arrangement
50	sequence	A particular order of events or things
51	sex	The biological distinction between male and female
52	shift	To move or change position; a change in direction
53	specify	To state clearly and definitely
54	sufficient	Enough; adequate for the purpose
55	task	A piece of work to be done
56	technical	Relating to a particular subject or practical skill
57	technique	A way of carrying out a task or skill
58	technology	The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
59	valid	Sound, well-founded; legally acceptable
60	volume	The amount of space; the quantity or level of something

Sublist 4 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	access	The right or opportunity to use something
2	adequate	Sufficient for a specific requirement
3	annual	Occurring once every year
4	apparent	Clearly visible or understood; seeming
5	approximate	Close to the actual but not completely accurate
6	attitude	A settled way of thinking or feeling
7	attribute	A quality or feature; to regard as caused by
8	civil	Relating to citizens; polite and courteous
9	code	A system of words, figures, or rules
10	commit	To pledge oneself; to carry out an action
11	communicate	To share information or ideas
12	concentrate	To focus all attention on something
13	confer	To discuss; to grant or bestow
14	contrast	The state of being strikingly different
15	cycle	A series of events that repeat regularly
16	debate	A formal discussion on a topic
17	despite	Without being affected by; in spite of
18	dimension	A measurable extent; an aspect or feature
19	domestic	Relating to the home or one’s own country
20	emerge	To come into view or existence
21	error	A mistake; an inaccuracy
22	ethnic	Relating to a group with shared cultural traditions
23	goal	An aim or desired result
24	grant	To give or allow; a sum of money given for a purpose
25	hence	As a consequence; for this reason
26	hypothesis	A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, to be tested
27	implement	To put into effect; a tool or instrument
28	implicate	To show involvement; to convey indirectly
29	impose	To force something to be accepted
30	integrate	To combine into a unified whole
31	internal	Existing or occurring within
32	investigate	To carry out a systematic inquiry
33	job	A paid position of employment
34	label	A tag or identifier; to classify
35	mechanism	A system of parts working together; a process
36	obvious	Easily perceived or understood; clear
37	occupy	To reside in; to fill or take up space
38	option	A thing that may be chosen; an alternative
39	output	The amount produced; the result of a process
40	overall	Taking everything into account; comprehensive
41	parallel	Occurring at the same time; similar or corresponding
42	parameter	A limit or boundary; a measurable factor
43	phase	A distinct stage in a process of change
44	predict	To say what will happen in the future
45	principal	First in importance; the head of a school
46	prior	Coming before in time, order, or importance
47	professional	Relating to or connected with a profession
48	project	A planned undertaking; to estimate or forecast
49	promote	To support or encourage; to advance in rank
50	regime	A government or system of rules; a prescribed course
51	resolve	To settle or find a solution to a problem
52	retain	To continue to have or hold
53	series	A number of events or things coming one after another
54	statistic	A fact or piece of data obtained from a study
55	status	The position or rank of someone relative to others
56	stress	Pressure or tension; to emphasise
57	subsequent	Coming after in time or order
58	sum	The total amount; to calculate the total
59	summary	A brief statement of the main points
60	undertake	To commit oneself to begin a task

Sublist 5 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	academy	A place of study or training; a scholarly society
2	adjust	To alter or move slightly to achieve a desired result
3	alter	To change or modify
4	amend	To make changes to improve or correct
5	aware	Having knowledge or perception of a situation
6	capacity	The maximum amount something can contain or produce
7	challenge	A demanding task; to question or dispute
8	clause	A section of a legal document; a unit of a sentence
9	compound	Made up of two or more parts; to make worse
10	conflict	A serious disagreement or struggle
11	consult	To seek information or advice from someone
12	contact	Communication or a meeting; to get in touch with
13	decline	To decrease; to politely refuse
14	discrete	Individually separate and distinct
15	draft	A preliminary version of a piece of writing
16	enable	To make possible or give the means to do
17	energy	The capacity for activity; power from physical resources
18	enforce	To compel compliance with a law or rule
19	entity	A thing with distinct and independent existence
20	equivalent	Equal in value, function, or meaning
21	evolve	To develop gradually over time
22	expand	To become or make larger or more extensive
23	expose	To reveal or make visible; to subject to risk
24	external	Coming from outside; relating to the exterior
25	facilitate	To make an action or process easier
26	fundamental	Forming a necessary base; of central importance
27	generate	To cause something to exist; to produce
28	generation	All people born at a similar time; production
29	image	A visual representation; a mental picture
30	liberal	Open to new ideas; willing to respect different behaviour
31	licence	Official permission to do, use, or own something
32	logic	Reasoning conducted according to strict principles
33	margin	The edge or border; a difference or amount by which something differs
34	medical	Relating to the practice of medicine
35	mental	Relating to the mind
36	modify	To make partial changes to
37	monitor	To observe and check progress or quality over time
38	network	A group of interconnected people or things
39	notion	A conception or belief about something
40	objective	A goal; not influenced by personal feelings
41	orient	To align or position relative to a point of reference
42	perspective	A particular attitude or way of regarding something
43	precise	Exact, accurate, and careful about details
44	prime	Of the first importance; of the best quality
45	psychology	The scientific study of the mind and behaviour
46	pursue	To follow or chase; to continue with an activity
47	ratio	The quantitative relation between two amounts
48	reject	To refuse to accept or consider
49	revenue	Income, especially from business or government taxation
50	stable	Not likely to change; firmly established
51	style	A manner of doing something; a distinctive appearance
52	substitute	A person or thing acting in place of another
53	sustain	To support or maintain over a period of time
54	symbol	A thing representing something else
55	target	An objective or result aimed at
56	transit	The carrying of people or goods from one place to another
57	trend	A general direction of change or development
58	version	A particular form or variant of something
59	welfare	The health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group
60	whereas	In contrast or comparison with the fact that

Sublist 6 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	abstract	Existing in thought or as an idea; a summary
2	accurate	Correct in all details; exact
3	acknowledge	To accept or recognise the existence of
4	aggregate	Formed by combining several elements; total
5	allocate	To distribute for a particular purpose
6	assign	To designate or give a task to someone
7	attach	To fasten or join to something
8	author	A writer of a book or document
9	bond	A connection or tie; a financial certificate
10	brief	Short in duration; a summary of facts
11	capable	Having the ability or quality to do something
12	cite	To quote or refer to as evidence
13	cooperate	To work together towards a shared goal
14	discriminate	To recognise differences; to treat unfairly
15	display	To show or exhibit; a visual presentation
16	diverse	Showing a great deal of variety
17	domain	An area of territory or knowledge
18	edit	To prepare written material for publication by correcting
19	enhance	To improve the quality, value, or extent of
20	estate	Property consisting of land and buildings; total assets
21	exceed	To go beyond a limit or expectation
22	expert	A person with extensive knowledge in a field
23	explicit	Stated clearly and in detail
24	federal	Relating to a central government in a federation
25	fee	A payment made for professional services
26	flexible	Able to bend or change easily
27	furthermore	In addition; moreover
28	gender	The state of being male or female
29	ignorance	Lack of knowledge or information
30	incentive	Something that motivates action
31	incidence	The occurrence, rate, or frequency of something
32	incorporate	To include or contain as part of a whole
33	index	An alphabetical list of subjects; a measure of change
34	inhibit	To hinder, restrain, or prevent
35	input	What is put in; contribution of resources or data
36	instruct	To direct or command; to teach
37	intelligence	The ability to acquire and apply knowledge
38	interval	A space of time between events
39	lecture	An educational talk to an audience
40	migrate	To move from one region to another
41	minimum	The least amount possible or required
42	ministry	A government department headed by a minister
43	motive	A reason for doing something
44	neutral	Not supporting either side; impartial
45	nevertheless	In spite of that; however
46	overseas	In or to a foreign country
47	precede	To come before in time or order
48	presume	To suppose something to be true based on probability
49	rational	Based on reason rather than emotion
50	recover	To return to a normal state; to regain
51	reveal	To make previously unknown information known
52	scope	The extent or range of something
53	subsidiary	Less important; a company controlled by another
54	tape	A narrow strip of material; to record
55	trace	To find or discover; a mark or sign left behind
56	transform	To change completely in form or character
57	transport	To carry from one place to another
58	underlie	To be the cause or basis of
59	utilise	To make practical and effective use of
60	vision	The ability to see; a mental image of the future

Sublist 7 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	adapt	To adjust to new conditions
2	adult	A fully grown person
3	advocate	To publicly support; a person who supports a cause
4	aid	Help or support; to assist
5	channel	A medium for communication; a waterway
6	chemical	A substance produced by chemistry; relating to chemistry
7	classic	Judged to be of the highest quality; traditional
8	comprehensive	Complete and including all elements
9	comprise	To consist of; to include
10	confirm	To establish the truth of something
11	contrary	Opposite in nature or direction
12	convert	To change from one form to another
13	couple	Two; a pair; to combine
14	decade	A period of ten years
15	definite	Clearly stated or decided; certain
16	deny	To refuse to accept as true
17	differentiate	To recognise differences between things
18	dispose	To get rid of; to arrange
19	dynamic	Characterised by constant change and activity
20	eliminate	To completely remove or get rid of
21	empirical	Based on observation or experience rather than theory
22	equip	To supply with necessary items
23	extract	To remove or take out; a passage taken from a text
24	file	A collection of documents; to submit officially
25	finite	Having limits or bounds; not infinite
26	foundation	The basis on which something is built; an organisation
27	globe	The earth; a spherical representation of the world
28	grade	A level of quality; to classify by quality
29	guarantee	A formal assurance; to promise
30	hierarchy	A system of ranking according to status or authority
31	identical	Exactly alike; the same
32	ideology	A system of ideas forming the basis of a political theory
33	infer	To deduce from evidence and reasoning
34	innovate	To introduce new methods or ideas
35	insert	To place or put something into
36	intervene	To come between in order to alter an event
37	isolate	To set apart from others
38	media	The main means of mass communication
39	mode	A way or manner in which something occurs
40	paragraph	A distinct section of writing
41	phenomenon	A fact or event observed to exist or happen
42	priority	The condition of being regarded as more important
43	prohibit	To formally forbid by law or rule
44	publication	The preparation and issuing of a book or journal
45	quotation	A phrase or passage repeated by someone other than the author
46	release	To set free; to make available
47	reverse	To move backwards; to change to the opposite
48	simulate	To imitate the appearance or character of
49	sole	One and only; single
50	somewhat	To some extent
51	submit	To present for consideration; to yield to authority
52	successor	A person who follows another in a position
53	survive	To continue to live or exist
54	thesis	A statement or theory put forward to be maintained
55	topic	A subject of discussion or study
56	transmit	To pass on from one person or place to another
57	ultimate	Being the best or most extreme; final
58	unique	Being the only one of its kind
59	visible	Able to be seen
60	voluntary	Done by choice, not compulsion

Sublist 8 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	abandon	To give up completely; to leave behind
2	accompany	To go together with
3	accumulate	To gather or build up over time
4	ambiguous	Open to more than one interpretation; unclear
5	append	To add to the end of a document
6	appreciate	To recognise the value of; to be grateful for
7	arbitrary	Based on random choice rather than reason
8	automate	To convert to automatic operation
9	bias	Prejudice in favour of or against something
10	chart	A graphical representation of data
11	clarify	To make something clearer or easier to understand
12	commodity	A raw material or product that can be bought and sold
13	complement	To add to something to enhance or improve it
14	conform	To comply with rules or standards
15	contemporary	Living or occurring at the same time; modern
16	contradict	To deny the truth of a statement; to be inconsistent
17	crucial	Of great importance; critical
18	currency	A system of money used in a country
19	denote	To be a sign of; to indicate
20	detect	To discover or identify the existence of
21	deviate	To depart from an established course
22	displace	To move from the usual place; to replace
23	drama	A play for theatre or television; an exciting event
24	eventual	Occurring at the end of a process; final
25	exhibit	To display publicly; a public showing
26	exploit	To utilise fully; to take unfair advantage of
27	fluctuate	To rise and fall irregularly
28	guideline	A general rule or recommendation
29	highlight	To emphasise or draw attention to
30	implicit	Implied though not directly expressed
31	induce	To bring about or cause
32	inevitable	Certain to happen; unavoidable
33	infrastructure	The basic physical systems of an organisation or country
34	inspect	To look at closely; to examine officially
35	intense	Of extreme force, degree, or strength
36	manipulate	To handle or control skilfully; to influence unfairly
37	minimise	To reduce to the smallest possible amount
38	nuclear	Relating to atomic energy; central
39	offset	To counterbalance or compensate for
40	paragraph	A distinct section of writing dealing with a single theme
41	plus	In addition to; an advantage
42	practitioner	A person actively engaged in a profession
43	predominantly	Mainly; for the most part
44	prospect	The likelihood of something happening; a potential customer
45	radical	Relating to fundamental change; far-reaching
46	random	Without definite pattern; by chance
47	reinforce	To strengthen or support
48	restore	To bring back to a former condition
49	revise	To alter or amend; to study again
50	schedule	A plan for carrying out activities
51	tense	Stretched tight; a form of a verb indicating time
52	terminate	To bring to an end
53	theme	The subject of a talk, writing, or exhibition
54	thereby	By that means; as a result of that
55	uniform	Remaining the same; a distinctive set of clothes
56	vehicle	A thing used for transporting people or goods
57	via	By way of; through
58	virtual	Almost; simulated by computer
59	visual	Relating to seeing or sight
60	widespread	Found or distributed over a large area

Sublist 9 60 Words

#	Headword	Definition
1	accommodate	To provide lodging; to adjust to suit
2	analogy	A comparison between two things for explanation
3	anticipate	To expect or predict
4	assure	To tell confidently; to make certain
5	attain	To succeed in achieving
6	behalf	In the interest of someone
7	bulk	The mass or majority of something
8	cease	To come to an end; to stop
9	coherent	Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole
10	coincide	To occur at the same time; to correspond
11	commence	To begin
12	compatible	Able to exist or work together without conflict
13	concurrent	Existing or happening at the same time
14	confine	To keep within certain limits; to restrict
15	controversy	Prolonged public disagreement
16	converse	Opposite or reversed; to talk informally
17	device	A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose
18	devote	To give time or resources to a purpose
19	diminish	To make or become less
20	distort	To twist out of the true meaning or shape
21	duration	The length of time something lasts
22	erode	To gradually wear away or diminish
23	ethic	A set of moral principles
24	format	The way something is arranged or presented
25	found	To establish or originate an institution
26	inherent	Existing as a natural or permanent quality
27	insight	An accurate and deep understanding
28	integral	Essential or fundamental to a whole
29	intermediate	Coming between two things in time, place, or character
30	manual	Done with the hands; a handbook
31	mature	Fully developed; to reach full development
32	mediate	To intervene between parties to bring about agreement
33	medium	A means of communication; middle in size
34	military	Relating to the armed forces
35	minimal	Of a minimum amount or degree
36	mutual	Experienced or done by each of two parties
37	norm	A standard that is expected
38	overlap	To extend over and partly cover
39	passive	Accepting without resistance; not active
40	portion	A part or share of something
41	preliminary	Coming before the main part; introductory
42	protocol	The official procedure or system of rules
43	qualitative	Relating to quality rather than quantity
44	refine	To improve by making small changes
45	relax	To make or become less tense; to ease restrictions
46	restrain	To hold back; to prevent from acting
47	revolution	A fundamental change; an overthrow of government
48	rigid	Unable to bend; not flexible
49	route	A way or course taken to reach a destination
50	scenario	A postulated sequence of possible events
51	sphere	An area of activity or interest; a round shape
52	subordinate	Lower in rank or position
53	supplement	Something added to complete or enhance
54	suspend	To temporarily stop or delay
55	team	A group working together
56	temporary	Lasting for a limited time only
57	trigger	To cause an event or process to begin
58	unify	To make or become united
59	violate	To break or fail to comply with a rule or agreement
60	vision	The ability to think about the future with imagination

Sublist 10 Least Frequent AWL Words (30 words)

These words appear less frequently than Sublists 1–9 but are still important for Band 7+ reading comprehension and academic writing.

#	Headword	Definition
1	adjacent	Next to or adjoining something else
2	albeit	Although; even though
3	assemble	To gather together; to fit parts together
4	collapse	To fall down suddenly; to fail completely
5	colleague	A person with whom one works
6	compile	To collect and assemble information
7	conceive	To form an idea; to become pregnant
8	convince	To cause someone to believe firmly
9	depress	To make unhappy; to reduce the level of activity
10	encounter	To unexpectedly meet or experience
11	enormous	Very large in size or quantity
12	forthcoming	About to happen; willing to give information
13	incline	To lean or tend towards; a slope
14	integrity	The quality of being honest and having moral principles
15	intrinsic	Belonging naturally; essential
16	invoke	To cite or appeal to as an authority
17	levy	To impose a tax, fee, or fine
18	likewise	In the same way; also
19	nonetheless	In spite of that; nevertheless
20	notwithstanding	In spite of; despite
21	odd	Strange or unusual; not divisible by two
22	ongoing	Continuing; still in progress
23	panel	A flat section; a group of experts
24	persist	To continue firmly despite difficulty
25	pose	To present or create a problem; to assume a position
26	reluctance	Unwillingness to do something
27	so-called	Used to show that a name or description is questionable
28	straightforward	Easy to understand; uncomplicated
29	undergo	To experience something, especially something unpleasant
30	whereby	By which; through which

Academic Word List (AWL) for IELTS

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Sublist 1 Most Frequent Academic Words (60 words)

Sublist 2 High-Frequency Academic Words (60 words)

Sublist 3 60 Words

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Sublist 7 60 Words

Sublist 8 60 Words

Sublist 9 60 Words

Sublist 10 Least Frequent AWL Words (30 words)

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