Academic Word List: 570 Essential Word Families
The Academic Word List (AWL) is a practical starting point when everyday English is no longer enough. It contains 570 word families that appear frequently across university-level texts, from psychology and economics to science and history. These are not specialist terms such as mitochondria or jurisdiction. They are the general-purpose words that help academic texts explain, compare, measure, and argue.
Learning the AWL will not automatically make an essay academic. It gives you the building blocks to understand lectures, read research more efficiently, and express ideas with more precision. The key is to learn the words as families and use them in real sentences.
What Is the Academic Word List?
The AWL was developed by linguist Averil Coxhead from a large collection of academic texts. Its 570 word families were selected because they occur often in academic writing but are less common in everyday general-English lists.
A word family groups related forms around one base word. When you learn one family well, you gain several useful forms at once.
| Word family | Useful forms | Example |
|---|---|---|
| analyse | analysis, analytical, analytically | The report analyses the causes of the decline. |
| assess | assessment, reassess | The tutor assessed the evidence carefully. |
| define | definition, defined | The introduction defines the key term. |
| indicate | indication, indicative | The results indicate a clear pattern. |
| significant | significance, significantly | The change was statistically significant. |
The list is especially useful if you are:
- preparing for IELTS Academic, TOEFL, or university entry;
- reading articles, textbooks, or reports in English;
- writing essays, research summaries, and formal emails;
- moving from B2 toward C1.
Start with the B2 grammar and vocabulary guide if you still need a strong general-English base. For structured practice, browse the C1 vocabulary library.
The Academic Word Families to Learn First
Do not study all 570 families as one long alphabetical list. Group them by the job they do in a text. That helps you recognize them while reading and choose them while writing.
Describing ideas and information
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| concept | an idea or principle | The course introduces the concept of supply and demand. |
| context | the situation around something | The quote must be understood in its historical context. |
| factor | something that influences a result | Cost was an important factor in the decision. |
| function | purpose or role | The main function of the chart is to compare results. |
| issue | an important subject or problem | The article addresses the issue of public transport. |
| principle | a basic rule or idea | The method is based on a simple principle. |
| theory | a set of ideas that explains something | The evidence supports the theory. |
| structure | the way parts are organized | Use clear headings to improve the structure of your essay. |
Explaining research and evidence
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| analyse | examine carefully | The researchers analysed data from 800 participants. |
| assess | judge quality, value, or effect | The study assesses the risks of the policy. |
| data | facts or measurements used for analysis | The data were collected over six months. |
| derive | get something from a source | The figures are derived from a national survey. |
| evident | clear or easy to see | It became evident that the first plan would fail. |
| identify | recognize and name | The report identifies three main causes. |
| interpret | explain the meaning of information | Be careful not to interpret one result too broadly. |
| method | a way of doing something | The paper explains its research method in detail. |
Showing relationships and change
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| affect | influence | Sleep can affect memory and concentration. |
| benefit | advantage or helpful result | One benefit of the system is faster feedback. |
| consist of | be made of | The sample consisted of adult learners. |
| contribute to | help cause or produce | Poor planning contributed to the delay. |
| increase | become or make greater | The new rule increased costs. |
| occur | happen | Most errors occur at the final stage. |
| vary | change or be different | Results vary across age groups. |
| impact | strong effect | The change had a major impact on demand. |
Building an argument
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| assume | accept as true without proof | Do not assume that one example proves a rule. |
| claim | say something is true | The author claims that the reform will reduce costs. |
| establish | show clearly or create firmly | The study establishes a link between the two factors. |
| indicate | show or suggest | The graph indicates steady growth. |
| justify | give a good reason for | You need to justify your conclusion with evidence. |
| require | need | The task requires careful comparison. |
| respond | react or answer | The paper responds to a common criticism. |
| significant | important or large enough to matter | There was a significant difference between the groups. |
How to Use Academic Vocabulary Naturally
Academic words should make meaning clearer, not make a sentence sound more complicated. Compare these two versions:
Basic: The study looked at why students left the course and found that money was important.
More precise: The study analysed the factors that contributed to students leaving the course and identified financial pressure as a significant issue.
The second version is not better because every word is difficult. It is better because each word has a clear job: analysed explains the research action, factors names causes, contributed to expresses a relationship, and identified reports a finding.
Use these four checks before adding a new academic word:
- Is the meaning exact? Choose affect only when you mean “influence,” not simply “happen near.”
- Does the word fit the grammar? Learn its common pattern: analyse data, contribute to a problem, be significant for.
- Is the register appropriate? Academic words suit an essay or report; a conversation may need simpler language.
- Can you make your own example? If not, return to the context and try again.
A Practical AWL Study Method
Study ten to fifteen word families each week. For each family, learn one central form, one related form, one common collocation, and one example from your own subject.
| Day | Task | Example with the family analyse |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notice | underline analysis in a text |
| 2 | Map forms | analyse, analysis, analytical |
| 3 | Learn a collocation | analyse data / conduct an analysis |
| 4 | Write | This analysis compares two approaches. |
| 5 | Review | recall the meaning without looking |
| 6–7 | Use | include the word naturally in a summary |
Keep a personal list in Linglify rather than a passive notebook. Add the words you meet, review them over time, and make short sentences about topics you actually study. For exam-focused vocabulary, also see the complete IELTS vocabulary guide and the IELTS Band 8–9 vocabulary guide.
Vocabulary Snippet: Academic Words to Save
Add these words to your Linglify dictionary. Read the examples, then use at least three of them in a short paragraph about a topic you know.
uneven
adjective
Not level or smooth; uneven.
Examples
- Uneven ground makes walking difficult and dangerous.
- Uneven performance shows inconsistent skill level development.
mundane
adjective
Lacking excitement or interest; dull or ordinary.
Examples
- He found the routine mundane and boring.
- The job was too mundane for his taste.
drastic
adjective
Extremely severe or intense, often leading to significant change or damage.
Examples
- The government took drastic measures to control inflation.
- They made a drastic change to the plan.
fertile
adjective
Capable of producing offspring or crops; able to support life or growth.
Examples
- Fertile lands support abundant crops.
- The soil here is very fertile.
frail
adjective
Weak or delicate in health or appearance.
Examples
- Her frail appearance worried everyone.
- The frail old man needed assistance to walk.
substantially
adverb
To a large extent or degree; significantly.
Examples
- Her performance substantially improved after additional training and practice.
- Prices have increased substantially over the past few months.
acclaimed
adjective
Describing someone or something that has been publicly praised or recognized.
Examples
- His performance was acclaimed by critics.
- The acclaimed author received many awards for her novel.
lawyer
noun
A person trained to give legal advice and represent clients in court.
Examples
- Every person accused of crime has right to lawyer representation.
- The experienced lawyer provided excellent legal advice to her clients.
memorable
adjective
Causing a strong impression or worth remembering.
Examples
- Graduation day was memorable occasion for entire family.
- The memorable speech inspired students to pursue their dreams.
traditional
adjective
Following the customs or ways of the past; not new or different.
Examples
- Traditional cooking methods preserve authentic flavors perfectly.
- Traditional music reflects cultural history and values.
DJ
noun
A person who plays and mixes recorded music, A person who plays music or mixes sounds on a radio or at events.
Examples
- The DJ played my favorite song.
- The DJ took song requests all night.
privacy
noun
The right or ability to keep personal matters or information secret.
Examples
- Hotel guests expect privacy during their stay.
- Internet privacy becomes increasingly important issue nowadays.
scenic
adjective
Related to beautiful natural views or landscapes.
Examples
- Scenic overlook provides perfect spot for photographs.
- Scenic route takes longer but offers beautiful.
conservation
noun
The protection and preservation of natural resources or the environment.
Examples
- Water conservation becomes increasingly important during periods of severe drought.
- Wildlife conservation is essential for protecting endangered species from extinction.
heritage
noun
The traditions, achievements, and qualities of a particular group or nation.
Examples
- She inherited a rich heritage of family traditions from her grandparents.
- The ancient castle is an important part of our cultural heritage.
sustainable
adjective
This adjective describes something that can be maintained or continued without depleting resources.
Examples
- Company implements sustainable business model for long-term success.
- Sustainable farming practices protect soil and water resources.
serenity
noun
A state of calm, peacefulness, and mental clarity.
Examples
- She maintained her serenity despite the chaos.
- The serenity of the lake was calming.
indication
noun
A sign or signal that points to or suggests something.
Examples
- The indication of his illness was clear after the tests.
- There was no indication that she was unhappy.
leisure
noun
Free time when someone can relax or do leisure activities.
Examples
- People enjoy various leisure activities during weekends and holidays.
- Reading books is popular leisure pursuit for many educated people.
pollution
noun
The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
Examples
- Air pollution affects public health in cities.
- Ocean pollution threatens marine life worldwide.
poetic
adjective
Relating to poetry or the qualities of poetry; expressive or imaginative in language.
Examples
- His speech had a poetic quality that moved everyone.
- The poem's poetic language captivated the audience.
discretion
noun
The ability to judge what is appropriate or prudent in a particular situation.
Examples
- He exercised discretion in his decisions.
- Use your discretion when sharing information.
cancellation
noun
The act of stopping or calling off an event, activity, or arrangement.
Examples
- Due to weather, the flight cancellation was inevitable.
- The concert's cancellation disappointed many fans.
commute
verb
To travel regularly between two places, especially to work.
Examples
- Public transportation helps people commute efficiently reducing traffic congestion.
- Workers commute daily between suburban homes and downtown offices.
broadcast
noun
A program or event of transmitting information or entertainment to a broad audience.
Examples
- Millions watched the live broadcast of the event.
- The news broadcast revealed shocking new information.
What to Do Next
- Build a stable foundation with the B2 grammar and vocabulary guide.
- Practise higher-level words in the C1 vocabulary library.
- Apply academic vocabulary to an exam goal with the IELTS vocabulary guide.
- Continue with English adverbs by category to make your writing more precise.
FAQ
Is the Academic Word List useful for IELTS?
Yes, especially for IELTS Academic reading and writing. The AWL gives you useful words for describing evidence, comparing ideas, and explaining causes. It is not a guaranteed score formula: you still need topic vocabulary, clear organization, and accurate grammar.
Should I learn all 570 Academic Word List families?
You can, but not at once. Start with the families you see repeatedly in your textbook, course, or practice tests. Deep knowledge of 100 well-used families is more valuable than recognizing 570 words without being able to use them.
What is the difference between academic vocabulary and difficult vocabulary?
Academic vocabulary is useful because it performs common jobs in formal texts: defining, analysing, comparing, and evaluating. A difficult word may be rare or highly specialist. Choose a word because it is precise and useful, not because it looks advanced.
Can I use Academic Word List words in conversation?
Some words, such as factor, benefit, and require, work in many settings. Others may sound too formal in a casual chat. Notice the setting and choose a simpler alternative when natural conversation is the goal.
