Vocabulary
The vocabulary below is meant to help you with the more difficult words. If the word isn’t on the list then you are either supposed to know it at this level or it is too specific to be worth learning for the exam. Symbols in brackets mean part of speech(see bottom of the list). Sentences in italics give examples of usage for some more complex words and phrases.
And remember — you are not given a vocabulary list (or a dictionary) at your real exam.
Part 1
Remarkable (adj) – unusually good and therefore worth noting.
Cool-headedness (n) – the ability to maintain good judgement even in difficult, stressful situations.
Background (n) – (here) your past occupation with all the experience and qualifications. His background in finance allowed him to manage the family budget effectively.
Edge (n) – (here) an advantage.
Foster (v) – to encourage development of something. In our family, we foster free thinking and independence.
Invaluable (adj) – extremely important, integral.
Top-tier (adj) – of highest rank or quality.
Peers (n) – people of the same age, social status, or occupation. Here they mean other members of the racing team.
Stint (n) – a racing term, meaning a part of the race where you are behind the wheel (as opposed to simply observing the race, e.g. when the other driver from your team is racing).
Flourish (v) – to develop quickly and successfully.
Defy (v) – to challenge, especially if the chances of winning are low.
Part 2
Intriguing (adj) – interesting because of being mysterious or unexpected.
Meandering (adj) – wavy or curvy, as opposed to being straight.
Intervention (n) – involvement, especially one that is not asked for.
Baffle (v) – to confuse, to be impossible to explain or understand. Your refusal to attend your brother’s wedding baffles us all!
Algal (adj) – relating to algae, or seaweed.
Coating (n) – a thin outer layer that is not a part of the original object. This coating prevents the car from rusting.
Nudge (v) – a very light push. I nudged the golf ball just a little bit to put it in the last hole of the course.
Part 3, 4
Opt for (phr v) – to choose one of the given options.
Bustling (adj) – busy, full of activity. Bustling outdoor markets can be really stressful for a person who is used to the peace and quiet of smaller shops.
Hub (n) – a centre of activity or attraction. This city has become a powerful business hub thanks to massive foreign investment.
Produce (n) – fruits and vegetables. Note that the word is a noun and the first syllable is stressed.
Tangible (adj) – something that can be seen or felt; real. Although the company spent quite a lot of money on the project, there were no tangible results after six months of work.
Aisle (n) – a row or line of something. In this case, they talk about the lines of display shelves one sees in supermarkets and other large shops.
Carbon footprint – quantified (expressed in a number) amount of carbon monoxide and dioxide that a person generates. In short, it is an attempt to show how much waste we create through all of our actions.
Withstand (v) – able to endure poor conditions. Houses built in seismic regions are supposed to be able to withstand earthquakes up to a certain magnitude.
Vibrant (adj) – bright, energized.
Justification (n) – a reason or an excuse for something. My justification for buying this expensive car is that it might help me project the image of success.
It’s a pity – a phrase to show that you regret something.
Part 5
Pottery (n) – the art of making pots and dishes out of clay. The collective term for such dishes is pottery too.
Misguided (adj) – a misguided project is without a definite plan or direciton. Used negatively.
Captivated (adj) – attracted to something because you find it fascinating.
Lump (n) – a small piece of something soft with no definite shape.
Sign up (phr v) – to join, to become a member. I signed up for the annual charity marathon.
Humility (n) – the state of having no pride and realisation that you are not better than anybody else.
Hurdle (n) – barrier or obstacle on your way to your goal.
Keanding (n) – the process of pushing and moving around a soft mass of something in order to make it more even and uniform, something you would normally do with a piece of dough before baking it.
Strenuous (adj) – requiring a lot of physical effort.
Do one’s bidding – to follow orders, to obey commands.
Anchor (v) – try to keep something in one place.
Clumsy (adj) – awkward, without ease.
Shudder (v) – to shake violently. The car started shuddering, and in a few moments the engine died.
Wobble (v) – to move from one side to another due to not being steady.
Lopsided (adj) – uneven, with one side disproportionally bigger than the others.
Sludge (n) – thick mud or waste. There were puddles of weird liquid on the floor and heaps of sticky sludge.
Apron (n) – a piece of protective clothing that mostly covers the front of your body and legs, used to prevent you from staining your clothes.
Rebel (v) – to act against somebody’s will or orders. The stress in the verb form is on the last syllable.
Mindfulness (n) – the state of paying close attention to something.
Hollow (adj) – empty on the inside.
Flaw (n) – an imperfection.
To stick with something – (informal) to keep doing something, especially if you face failure or difficulty.
Commitment (n) – the idea is expressed well in the previous entry. Commitment is the act of doing something over long period of time, not quitting, especially because you made a promise or people are counting on you.
Part 6
Formidable (adj) – great to the point of being frightening.
Comission (v) – to hire a professional to perform a service for you. Often used to talk about artistic professions.
Omit (v) – to leave something out intentionally; to skip.
Distort (v) – to change the original shape of something for the worse. The broken mirror distorted our reflections.
Narrative (n) – a way of presenting some idea or set of ideas. The pro-immigration political narrative seems to be losing momentum.
Meticulously (adv) – done carefully and with great attention to detail.
Protagonist (n) – the main character of a work of fiction.
Artisan (n) – a professional in a certain craft. Becoming an artisan is not just a matter of training – a certain degree of talent is necessary to succeed.
Integrity (n) – having strong principles that you stick with and do not change depending on the situation.
Ponderous (n) – used negatively here in the meaning of being unnecessarily slow.
Vessel (n) – a person with a particular quality or trait of character.
Inquiry (n) – used figuratively here, an inquiry can mean either a question or an investigation.
Excel (v) – if you excel at something, it means you are extremely good at it.
Damp (adj) – unpleasantly wet.
Naive (adj) – without experience and as a result having more idealized picture of the world.
Disillusioned (adj) – dissapointed because something you liked or believed in turned out to be not as good as you had thought.
Complicit (adj) – Involved in a crime.
Deception (n) – the act or plan of trying to deceive (give somebody wrong information in order to benefit from it).
Shrewd (adj) – able to see and understand a situation for what it is and benefit from this understanding.
Counterpoint (n) – an contrasting or opposing idea, element, or theme that is presented alongside another to highlight differences or create a more complex whole. The cheerful melody serves as a counterpoint to the song’s sad lyrics, creating a bittersweet feeling.
Chore (n) – a routine or tedious task, especially a household one; something that is unpleasant or boring to do. For him, grocery shopping isn’t a chore but a pleasant way to relax and clear his head.
Seismic (adj) – relating to or characteristic of an earthquake; used to describe a very sudden, dramatic, and far-reaching change. The invention of the internet caused a seismic shift in how we communicate and access information.
Evocation (n) – the act of bringing a feeling, memory, or image strongly into the mind; a powerful recreation of an atmosphere or idea. The novel’s evocation of 1920s Paris is so vivid you can almost smell the bakeries and hear the jazz.
Manipulative (adj) – behaving in a way that cleverly controls or influences others to your advantage, often unfairly or unethically.
Throughout (prep/adv) – in every part of a place, or during the whole of a period of time. The theme of redemption is present throughout the entire film.
Viscerally (adv) – in a way that is felt deeply and instinctively, not intellectually; relating to the gut feelings. I am viscerally afraid of heights; my body reacts with panic before my mind can even process it.
Thesis (n) – the main idea, theory, or argument that is presented in a piece of academic writing or other work and is supported by evidence. The central thesis of her book is that technology is fundamentally changing human nature.
Aftertaste (n) – a taste, often unpleasant, that remains in the mouth after eating or drinking; (here) a lingering feeling or impression left by an experience. The meeting ended politely, but the disagreement left a bitter aftertaste.
Haunting (adj) – beautiful, sad, or mysterious in a way that is difficult to forget and remains in your thoughts. The haunting sound of the cello stayed with me long after the concert had ended.
Esoteric (adj) – intended for or understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge; obscure and difficult for most to understand.
Evocative (adj) – strongly evoking or creating a feeling, memory, or image; full of atmosphere. The old, faded photograph was evocative of a summer I had long forgotten.
Redemption (n) – the act of saving or being saved from a fault, error, or evil state; atoning for a past mistake and improving yourself.
Compelling (adj) – powerfully capturing your attention and interest; convincing and persuasive.
Deafening (adj) – extremely loud; a silence or absence of sound that is so profound it feels overwhelming.
Part 7
Relentless (adj) – continuing without stopping or becoming less intense, often in a way that seems harsh or demanding.
Overflowing (adj) – so full that the contents spill over; used to describe a place or a person that has an abundance of something, like an emotion.
Momentum (n) – the force or speed that allows something to continue moving or developing, making it easier to keep going. After winning the first three games, the team had the momentum and felt they could win the championship.
Prevailing (adj) – the most common, influential, or widespread one at a particular time. Despite some opposition, the prevailing opinion in the company was to expand into the Asian market.
Performative (adj) – an action or statement done mainly for public show or to create a specific impression, rather than being a sincere expression.
Overwhelmed (adj) – feeling unable to think clearly or act effectively because you have too many things to deal with or something is too intense.
Badge of honor (n) – something that is worn or treated as a mark of pride, especially something that others might see as a disadvantage. For many startup founders, surviving on little sleep was seen as a badge of honor.
Core philosophy (n) – the central, most important set of beliefs or principles that guide a person’s or organization’s actions. The company’s core philosophy is that happy employees create happy customers.
Single-mindedness (n) – the quality of being focused on only one goal or purpose, ignoring distractions. Her single-mindedness in pursuing an Olympic medal was an inspiration to the entire team.
Frantic (adj) – done in a state of wild, hurried, and disorganized activity, often because of fear or anxiety. There was a frantic search for the missing documents minutes before the important meeting.
Origins (n) – the point, place, or situation where something begins or is created; its source or cause.
Mindset (n) – a person’s established way of thinking, their attitudes and opinions.
Conscious (adj) – aware of something; or done with deliberate thought and intention.
Pushback (n) – a negative reaction or resistance to a plan, idea, or change. The management’s new policy received a lot of pushback from the employees.
Hustle culture (n) – a social environment that emphasizes constant work, productivity, and side projects, often at the expense of personal time and well-being.
To establish boundaries (v) – to set clear limits regarding what is acceptable behavior from others to protect one’s own well-being. It’s important to establish boundaries with your clients to prevent them from calling you at all hours.
Downtime (n) – time when one is not working or busy; time for rest and relaxation.
Palpable (adj) – so intense that it seems able to be touched or felt physically. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone waited for the final decision.
Proponents (n) – people who argue in favor of or support a particular idea, theory, or policy.
Purposeful (adj) – having a clear aim or purpose; determined and intentional in your actions. She walked into the meeting with a purposeful stride, ready to present her proposal.
Consolidate (v) – to combine several separate items, especially businesses, debts, or information, into a single more effective or coherent whole. The company decided to consolidate its three regional offices into one national headquarters.
To champion (v) – to publicly support, defend, or argue for a particular cause, idea, or person. She has long championed the cause of environmental protection in parliament.
Shallow (adj) – not exhibiting serious thought or depth of feeling; concerned only with what is obvious or superficial.
Colloquial (adj) – used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.”To kick the bucket” is a colloquial expression meaning “to die.”
Reactive (adj) – acting in response to a situation or problem rather than creating or controlling it; the opposite of proactive. The government’s approach was reactive, only implementing safety measures after the accident had occurred.
Part 8
Reservations (n) – doubts or feelings of uncertainty that make you hesitant to fully accept or agree with something. I have serious reservations about the feasibility of their plan; it seems too risky.
Unrelated (adj) – having no connection or relationship to something else. The police determined that the two crimes were completely unrelated and carried out by different people.
Frustration (n) – the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something. There is a growing sense of frustration among the team due to the constant delays.
Deter (v) – to discourage or prevent someone from doing something by making them doubt it or fear the consequences. The heavy rain deterred us from going on the hike we had planned.
Rediscover (v) – to find something again, or to find value or enjoyment in something you had forgotten or ignored. After years of eating fast food, he started to rediscover the joy of cooking at home.
Upfront (adj) – (here) paid or given in advance.
Sturdy (adj) – strongly built and not easily broken or damaged; robust. You’ll need a sturdy pair of boots for walking in the mountains.
Steep (adj) – excessive and difficult to meet. The restaurant charges a steep price for a simple salad.
Recoup (v) – to regain something lost, especially money or costs. It will take the company two years to recoup its initial investment.
Deliberate (adj) – (adj) done consciously and intentionally.
Close pass – an instance where a vehicle, especially a bicycle or car, passes another with very little space between them. The cyclist had a scare when a bus made a close pass.
Cast a shadow (idiom) – to create a feeling of sadness, worry, or doubt that affects a situation. The recent layoffs have cast a shadow over the office morale.
Inconvenience (v) – trouble or difficulty that causes minor discomfort or annoyance.
Self-reliance (n) – the ability to depend on one’s own capabilities and resources, without needing help from others. Living alone for the first time taught her a great deal about self-reliance.
Reclaim (v) – to retrieve or recover something that was lost or taken away.
Sedentary (adj) – involving a lot of sitting and not much physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle, spent mostly at a desk, can lead to health problems.
Persevere (v) – to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little prospect of success. You must persevere with your language studies, even when it feels challenging.
Spontaneous (adj) – performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse, without premeditation or external stimulus. We made a spontaneous decision to drive to the coast and watch the sunrise.
Sealed off from something (phr v) – to be completely isolated or separated from something, preventing entry or exit. During the investigation, the entire street was sealed off from the public.
Near miss (n) – an instance where something almost hits something else or a disaster almost happens. The two planes had a near miss over the airport, which prompted a full safety review.
Unrelenting (adj) – not yielding in strength, severity, or determination; constant. The drought was unrelenting, with no rain for months on end.
To switch off (figurative) (v) – to consciously stop thinking about work or problems in order to relax. After a stressful day, I find it hard to switch off and go to sleep.
Anticipate (v) – to regard something as probable or likely to happen and act accordingly. A good manager can anticipate problems before they arise.
Spatial awareness (n) – the conscious knowledge of where your body is in relation to the objects and space around you. Parking a large car requires good spatial awareness.
Congested (adj) – so crowded with traffic or people that normal movement is very difficult or impossible. We were an hour late because the roads were heavily congested.
Chronic (adj) – (of an illness or problem) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. (Often contrasted with ‘acute’). He suffers from chronic back pain that prevents him from sitting for long periods.
