Academic Word List: Tier 2 Vocabulary
Same idea, higher register — the vocabulary that examiners reward
From Sourov’s world: During my IELTS preparation work, I discovered a key pattern: the word help appears everywhere in student writing — in every essay, every task. But IELTS examiners reward vocabulary range and precision. The word facilitate carries the same core meaning as help, but signals academic awareness and a higher register. Same idea. Completely different impact. Knowing when to upgrade your vocabulary is as important as knowing the words themselves.
📚 Word Focus
These six words come from the Academic Word List (AWL) — high-frequency words used across academic and professional writing. Each has a common everyday equivalent.
| Academic Word | Everyday Equivalent | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|
| facilitate | help / make easier | education, business, policy |
| significant | important / big | data, research, findings |
| demonstrate | show / prove | evidence, argument, skills |
| establish | start / create / set up | organisations, systems, facts |
| indicate | show / suggest / point to | data, trends, research |
| obtain | get | qualifications, data, permission |
CCQ — Register check: In a text message to a friend, which is better — “get” or “obtain”? ✅ get. In an IELTS essay, which is better — “show” or “demonstrate”? ✅ demonstrate. Register is about choosing the right word for the right situation.
💡 Examples in Context
- Technology can facilitate language learning by giving learners instant feedback. ✅
- The data shows a significant increase in remote working since 2020. ✅
- The study demonstrates a clear link between sleep and academic performance. ✅
- The school was established in 1987 and has grown to over 2,000 students. ✅
- Early results indicate that the new method is more effective. ✅
- Candidates must obtain a minimum score of 6.5 to be eligible. ✅
✏️ Quick Check
Replace the underlined word with a more academic word from this lesson:
- Good lighting can help concentration in a classroom.
- The results show that diet plays a major role in health.
- There was a big drop in sales during the second quarter.
- She managed to get a scholarship for her postgraduate studies.
- The committee set up new guidelines in January.
Show answers ▼
- facilitate
- demonstrate / indicate
- significant
- obtain
- established
🗣️ Try It Yourself
Take any paragraph you’ve written recently — an email, an essay, or even a social media post. Identify three words that could be upgraded for a more formal or academic register. Rewrite those sentences. Does the paragraph feel different? Share your before-and-after in the comments!
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