ToolsTOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards
TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards
Learn 100 academic words that come up again and again in TOEFL iBT reading passages, talks and campus conversations. Flip each card to check the meaning, mark what you know, then review the words you missed.
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How to use these flashcards
Read the word and say its meaning to yourself before you flip the card. If you were right, choose “I know it”. If you hesitated or got it wrong, choose “Still learning”. When you reach the end, review only the words you are still learning and repeat until none are left. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can stop and continue later.
Knowing a meaning is the first step. The TOEFL iBT Reading section includes Complete the Words, where you type the missing letters of words in a short academic paragraph, so practise spelling each word as well. Then try using it in a sentence of your own, the way you would in the Academic Discussion post or the interview.
For the full list with study advice, read the TOEFL vocabulary list. To see where vocabulary is tested, see the guide to the TOEFL format.
All 100 TOEFL vocabulary words in this deck
Academic core
Words that appear in academic texts on any subject.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| analyze | verb | to examine something in detail in order to understand it |
| approach | noun | a way of dealing with a problem or task |
| assess | verb | to judge the quality, size or value of something |
| assume | verb | to accept that something is true without proof |
| concept | noun | an idea or principle |
| consistent | adjective | always happening or behaving in the same way; in agreement with something |
| context | noun | the situation or surrounding text that helps explain something |
| derive | verb | to get or develop something from a source |
| establish | verb | to set up something, or to show that something is true |
| evaluate | verb | to judge how good, useful or successful something is |
| evident | adjective | easy to see or understand; obvious |
| factor | noun | one of the things that influences a result |
| hypothesis | noun | an idea that explains something but has not yet been proved |
| illustrate | verb | to make something clear by giving an example or picture |
| imply | verb | to suggest something without saying it directly |
| indicate | verb | to show that something exists or is likely to be true |
| interpret | verb | to explain or decide what something means |
| significant | adjective | large or important enough to have an effect |
| subsequent | adjective | happening or coming after something else |
| valid | adjective | based on good reasons or facts; officially acceptable |
Science and nature
Common in biology, geology and environment passages and talks.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| abundant | adjective | existing in large amounts |
| adapt | verb | to change in order to suit new conditions |
| climate | noun | the usual weather conditions of a place over a long period |
| contaminate | verb | to make something dirty or harmful by adding a substance to it |
| drought | noun | a long period with little or no rain |
| ecosystem | noun | all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and their environment |
| emit | verb | to send out light, heat, gas or sound |
| erosion | noun | the gradual wearing away of soil or rock by water, wind or ice |
| evolve | verb | to develop gradually over a long time |
| extinct | adjective | no longer existing as a living species |
| fossil | noun | the remains or mark of an ancient plant or animal preserved in rock |
| habitat | noun | the natural home of a plant or animal |
| migrate | verb | to move from one region to another, often with the seasons |
| molecule | noun | the smallest unit of a substance, made of two or more atoms |
| nutrient | noun | a substance that living things need in order to live and grow |
| organism | noun | a living thing, especially a very small one |
| phenomenon | noun | something that is observed to exist or happen, especially something unusual |
| predator | noun | an animal that hunts and eats other animals |
| sediment | noun | sand, mud and small stones that settle at the bottom of water |
| species | noun | a group of plants or animals of the same kind that can breed together |
Society and history
Common in history, economics and social science passages and talks.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| agriculture | noun | the practice of farming |
| civilization | noun | a society with its own developed culture and organization |
| colony | noun | a territory that is controlled by another country |
| conflict | noun | a serious disagreement or a period of fighting |
| decline | noun | a gradual decrease in number, quality or importance |
| democracy | noun | a system of government in which people vote for their leaders |
| economy | noun | the system by which a country produces and uses goods and money |
| emerge | verb | to appear or become known |
| immigrant | noun | a person who comes to live in a different country |
| inherit | verb | to receive money, property or a characteristic from someone who came before you |
| labor | noun | work, especially physical work, or the people who do it |
| legislation | noun | a law or a set of laws |
| population | noun | all the people who live in a particular area |
| reform | noun | a change made to improve a system or law |
| revolution | noun | a sudden, great change, especially in government or in ways of working |
| rural | adjective | connected with the countryside rather than towns |
| settlement | noun | a place where people have come to live and build homes |
| trade | noun | the activity of buying and selling goods |
| tradition | noun | a custom or belief that has been passed down over a long time |
| urban | adjective | connected with a town or city |
Arguments and opinions
Useful for the Academic Discussion post and the interview.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| acknowledge | verb | to accept or admit that something is true |
| advocate | verb | to publicly support an idea or plan |
| alternative | noun | another choice or possibility |
| benefit | noun | an advantage or helpful effect |
| consequence | noun | a result of an action, often a bad one |
| contrast | noun | a clear difference between two things |
| contribute | verb | to help cause something, or to give something to a shared effort |
| controversial | adjective | causing a lot of public disagreement |
| crucial | adjective | extremely important |
| drawback | noun | a disadvantage or problem |
| emphasize | verb | to give special importance to something |
| enhance | verb | to improve the quality or value of something |
| justify | verb | to give a good reason for something |
| objective | adjective | based on facts rather than personal feelings |
| oppose | verb | to disagree with something and try to stop it |
| outcome | noun | the final result of a process or event |
| perspective | noun | a particular way of thinking about something |
| persuade | verb | to make someone agree to do or believe something by giving reasons |
| priority | noun | something that is more important than other things and should be dealt with first |
| reasonable | adjective | fair and sensible |
Campus and daily life
Common in emails, notices, announcements and campus conversations.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| assignment | noun | a piece of work given to a student as part of a course |
| available | adjective | able to be used, obtained or reached |
| deadline | noun | the latest time by which something must be finished |
| dormitory | noun | a building where students live at a college or university |
| enroll | verb | to officially join a course or school |
| extension | noun | extra time allowed to finish something |
| faculty | noun | the teaching staff of a university or department |
| inquiry | noun | a request for information |
| lecture | noun | a talk given to a class, especially at a university |
| mandatory | adjective | required by a rule or law |
| postpone | verb | to move an event to a later time or date |
| prerequisite | noun | a course you must complete before you can take another one |
| register | verb | to put your name on an official list for a course or event |
| reimburse | verb | to pay back money that someone has spent |
| schedule | noun | a plan that lists when things will happen |
| scholarship | noun | money given to a student to help pay for their studies |
| semester | noun | one of the two main teaching periods in an academic year |
| syllabus | noun | a document that lists the topics, readings and rules for a course |
| transcript | noun | an official record of a student's courses and grades |
| tuition | noun | the money paid for teaching at a school or university |
TOEFL vocabulary flashcards FAQ
How many words are in the TOEFL vocabulary flashcards?
The deck has 100 words in 5 groups of 20: academic core, science and nature, society and history, arguments and opinions, and campus and daily life. Each card has the word, its part of speech, a plain-English meaning and an example sentence.
Are these the exact words that appear on the TOEFL?
No one can promise that. ETS does not publish an official TOEFL word list. These are words that come up often in university textbooks, lectures and campus life, which are the kinds of English the TOEFL iBT is built on, so learning them helps across Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. The words you mark as known or still learning are saved in this browser, so they are there when you come back. Nothing is sent to a server and you do not need an account. Clearing your browser data, or using a different device, starts you from zero.
How should I use flashcards to learn TOEFL vocabulary?
Say the meaning to yourself before you flip the card, then mark the word honestly. Finish one group, then use the review button to go through only the words you marked as still learning. Short daily sessions of 10 to 15 minutes work better than one long session a week.
Does spelling matter for TOEFL vocabulary?
Yes. The Reading section includes Complete the Words, where you type the missing letters of words in a short paragraph, so you need to be able to spell a word and not only recognise it. After you can recall the meaning of a card, try writing the word out from memory.