Check Your English Vocabulary For Toefl May 2026

Audit your recent practice essays. How many times did you use "very," "nice," "bad," or "thing"? The Upgrade: Instead of important →right arrow essential, crucial, or pivotal. Instead of change →right arrow alter, modify, or transform. Instead of show →right arrow illustrate, demonstrate, or elucidate. 4. Master Transitions (Cohesion)

To score high on the Speaking and Writing sections, you need "lexical resource" (variety). If you use the word important five times in one essay, your score will stall.

In the Reading section, you’ll often face "Vocabulary in Context" questions. These ask you to pick a synonym for a word as it's used in the passage. Check Your English Vocabulary for TOEFL

Start using furthermore, conversely, consequently, and nevertheless . These show a sophisticated command of logic. 5. Use the "Goldilocks" Rule

Preparing for the TOEFL isn't just about knowing grammar; it’s about mastering the specific "academic" flavor of English that ETS loves. If you can’t tell the difference between corroborate and collaborate , it’s time for a vocabulary check-up. 1. The "Academic Word List" (AWL) is Your Best Friend Audit your recent practice essays

Don’t use a "big" word if you aren’t 100% sure how to use it. Using a complex word incorrectly hurts your score more than using a simple word correctly.

Can you identify when a simple word has a complex meaning? For example, the word discipline can mean a "field of study," not just "punishment." Instead of change →right arrow alter, modify, or transform

The TOEFL doesn’t usually test "slang" or extremely obscure poetry words. It focuses on high-level academic vocabulary—words you’d hear in a biology lecture or read in a psychology textbook.