37 Advanced Words to Score 30/30 on TOEFL Reading and Listening
Learn these crucial academic vocabulary words to maximize your score on the TOEFL reading and listening sections.
Why Vocabulary Is Critical for a Perfect TOEFL Score
"I need to score a 30 out of 30 on the TOEFL reading and listening sections, but I have no idea how to do it."
If this sounds like you, you're not alone. Many TOEFL test-takers struggle to achieve perfect scores in these sections, and there's a clear reason why: vocabulary limitations.
This is the second most common reason for mistakes in any section of the test. You may know many words from the TOEFL reading passages and lectures, but there are still some that are unfamiliar to you—and they're preventing you from getting the right answers.
You may speak English in your family, live in an English-speaking country, or even work in English, but that doesn't necessarily mean you know words like "arduous," "mitigate," "decay," "hamper," and others. These words are typically used in academic articles and texts, so unless you've studied in English for a while, these words might be intimidating.
But we don't want that! We want to make sure you ace the TOEFL test and know exactly the words you need to answer all the questions and understand texts and lectures well.
For this article, we've collected 37 words you'll frequently encounter on the TOEFL reading and listening sections that will help you get the score you want. You'll also see many of them on the writing and speaking parts of the test.
Study Tip
As you read through this list, take a piece of paper and make two columns:
- In one column, put a + for the words you know
- In the second column, put a - and write the word itself for those you don't know
This will help you remember the words you didn't know, and at the end, you'll have a personalized study list of the terms you need to focus on.
Category 1: Time and Change
These words help describe how things change over time or happen suddenly.
Abruptly
Definition: Suddenly or unexpectedly
Example: The car stopped abruptly when the driver slammed on the brake.
Date back to
Definition: To have existed since a certain time in the past
Example: The ancient ruins date back to the Roman Empire.
Accumulate
Definition: To gather or collect over time
Example: Solar panels accumulate energy from the sun throughout the day.
Decay
Definition: To rot or disintegrate over time
Example: The old leaves on the forest floor began to decay.
Category 2: Relationships and Dependencies
These words describe how things are connected to or depend on each other.
Derive from
Definition: To come from or originate from something
Example: Many of our modern technologies derive from scientific discoveries made in the 20th century.
Rely on
Definition: To depend on or trust something or someone
Example: I rely on my smartphone to stay organized and keep track of important tasks.
Contribute
Definition: To give or add something to a larger whole
Example: Volunteers contributed their time and effort to help clean up the park.
Attribute
Definition: To regard something as being caused by something else
Example: We attribute the success of the event to the hard work of the volunteers.
What's the #1 Reason for Low TOEFL Scores?
At the beginning of this article, we mentioned that vocabulary is the second most common reason for not reaching your target score on the reading and listening sections. So what's the first?
It's not being familiar with the strategies for each type of question and not knowing how to use them effectively in each situation.
A typical TOEFL student might know many advanced words and understand the text perfectly, but they:
- Can't apply strategies in different situations
- Struggle with time management
- Put too much effort into each type of question
- Don't know how to avoid common pitfalls on the test
- End up frustrated at the end of each section
Category 3: Actions and Processes
These words describe different types of actions or processes.
Facilitate
Definition: To make a process easier or more efficient
Example: Using a calendar application can facilitate keeping track of your appointments.
Abandon
Definition: To leave something or someone behind or to give up on something
Example: When the car stopped working, the driver had to abandon it and call for help.
Adjust
Definition: To change something slightly to make it better or more suitable
Example: I had to adjust the car seat so that I could reach the pedals comfortably.
Curtail
Definition: To stop something before it's finished or to reduce or limit something
Example: The company decided to curtail its spending.
Address
Definition: To deal with or tackle a problem or issue
Example: The manager asked the team to address the issue of the broken equipment.
Extract
Definition: To remove or take something out of a larger whole
Example: The chef had to extract the juice from the lemon for the recipe.
Category 4: Qualities and Characteristics
These words describe the qualities or characteristics of people, things, or situations.
Viable
Definition: Having the ability to grow or function properly; workable or feasible
Example: The proposed plan is viable and can be implemented within the next few months.
Compelling
Definition: Very convincing or interesting
Example: The plot of the movie was so compelling that I couldn't stop watching it.
Deliberately
Definition: Done intentionally or on purpose
Example: She deliberately chose a bright color for the room to make it more cheerful.
Arduous
Definition: Very difficult and requiring a lot of effort
Example: Climbing the mountain was an arduous task, but the view at the top was worth it.
Fertile
Definition: Capable of producing abundant crops or vegetation
Example: The fertile soil in the valley is perfect for growing vegetables.
Dense
Definition: Tightly packed or having a lot of material in a small space
Example: The fog was so dense that you could hardly see the car in front of you.
Durable
Definition: Built to withstand wear, pressure, or damage
Example: A durable material such as stainless steel doesn't rust or break easily.
Category 5: Regulations and Restrictions
These words relate to rules, restrictions, or the elimination of something.
Ban
Definition: To officially prohibit something
Example: The school has decided to ban cell phones in class.
Extinction
Definition: When a species no longer exists
Example: The dodo bird is famous for its extinction in the 17th century.
Eradicate
Definition: To completely destroy or get rid of something
Example: Scientists are working hard to eradicate malaria from affected regions.
Hamper
Definition: To slow down or make difficult
Example: The blizzard hampered the delivery of packages.
Category 6: Perception and Understanding
These words relate to how we perceive, understand, or anticipate things.
Anticipate
Definition: To expect something to happen and perhaps even to prepare for it
Example: No one anticipated this problem.
Consensus
Definition: A general agreement among a group of people
Example: The team reached a consensus to start the project next month.
Counter
Definition: To respond to something with an opposing opinion or action
Example: The scientist countered the claim with new evidence.
Deceive
Definition: To make someone believe something that is not true
Example: The magician deceived the audience with his clever tricks.
Distinguish
Definition: To recognize the differences between two people, ideas, or things
Example: It's easy to distinguish between a cat and a dog with their size and characteristics.
Estimate
Definition: To make an approximate calculation of the cost or size of something
Example: We need to estimate how much paint is needed to cover the room.
Category 7: Improvement and Enhancement
These words relate to improving, enhancing, or enabling something.
Boost
Definition: To increase or improve something
Example: Drinking a smoothie in the morning can boost your energy for the day.
Customize
Definition: To change something to suit one's own needs or preferences
Example: You can customize your phone settings to suit your preferences.
Enable
Definition: To make something possible or to make someone able to do something
Example: The new app will enable users to track their exercise progress.
Expose
Definition: To make something visible or reveal it
Example: The documentary aims to expose the truth about wildlife trafficking.
Deficiency
Definition: A lack or shortage of something that is needed
Example: The doctor found a calcium deficiency in the patient's blood test.
Disruption
Definition: A major disturbance or interruption
Example: The power outage caused a major disruption in our workday.
Self-Assessment Quiz
Now that you've gone through all 37 words, it's time to test your knowledge. How many of these words did you already know?
If you didn't know all the words, don't worry! That's exactly why we created this list. Focus on learning the words you marked with a minus sign, and you'll be well on your way to improving your TOEFL score.
Wrapping Up: The Power of Vocabulary in TOEFL Preparation
These 37 words will definitely help you tackle the TOEFL reading and listening sections with greater confidence. As you've noticed, many of them can also be used in your writing and speaking responses, making them even more valuable for your overall TOEFL preparation.
Remember that scoring 100+ on the TOEFL isn't rocket science—it's the little things you do that make all the difference. Building your academic vocabulary is one of those crucial steps that will set you up for success.
Pro Tip: Create a study schedule that includes reviewing 10-15 new vocabulary words each day. Within a few weeks, you'll have mastered all these essential academic terms and be well on your way to TOEFL success.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other vocabulary resources and TOEFL preparation materials. With the right tools and consistent practice, you'll be well-equipped to achieve your target TOEFL score.
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