FCE · vocabulary list

B2 vocabulary list for FCE: topic words, phrasal verbs and collocations

Cambridge publishes official vocabulary lists for A2 Key and B1 Preliminary, but not for B2 First. This B2 vocabulary list is our own selection of the words FCE candidates need, organised by exam task: topic words for Writing and Speaking, phrasal verbs and collocations for Use of English, and word families for word formation.

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Updated 15 November 2026 · Sources

Topic words: 216
Phrasal verbs: 98
Collocations: 79
Word families: 42

How this list works

How this list maps to the FCE exam

Every section of this page matches something B2 First tests. Parts 1–4 below are in the Reading and Use of English paper; the test focus is from the B2 First Handbook for Teachers, in our words.

What each FCE task tests and which section of this page helps
Exam task	What it tests	Use this section
Part 1: multiple-choice cloze	Collocations, fixed phrases, phrasal verbs, the pattern that follows a word, and choosing between words with similar meanings	Collocations Phrasal verbs
Part 2: open cloze	Mainly grammar, with some phrasal verbs, linking words and fixed phrases	Phrasal verbs
Part 3: word formation	Prefixes, suffixes, spelling changes inside words and compound words	Word families
Part 4: key word transformations	Grammar, vocabulary and collocation, rewritten around a key word	Phrasal verbs marked ★ Collocations
Reading Parts 5–7 and Listening	Understanding longer texts and recordings on everyday and general-interest subjects	Topic vocabulary
Writing	The Language criterion marks the range and accuracy of your vocabulary; Communicative Achievement looks at whether your register fits the task	Topic vocabulary Collocations
Speaking	Grammar and Vocabulary is one of the five marking criteria	Topic vocabulary

Topic vocabulary

B2 vocabulary list by topic

12 everyday and general-interest topics of the kind B2 First texts and tasks use, with 216 words and phrases. Each has its part of speech, a short meaning and an example sentence.

Work and careers Education and learning Travel and holidays The environment and nature Health, fitness and sport Technology and the internet Arts, entertainment and culture Home and neighbourhood Food and cooking Personality and relationships Shopping and money Media and communication

Work and careers

Practise them with the FCE email and letter guide and FCE Listening Part 4.

Work and careers: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
deadlinenoun	the time or date by which something must be finished	We stayed late to meet the deadline for the report.
promotionnoun	a move to a more senior job in the same organisation	After two years at the hotel, she got a promotion to head receptionist.
workloadnoun	the amount of work that a person has to do	Hiring an assistant has reduced my workload a lot.
shiftnoun	a set period of work in a job where people take turns to cover the day and night	Nurses at the hospital work twelve-hour shifts.
temporaryadjective	lasting or needed for a limited time only	He found a temporary job in a café for the summer.
qualificationnoun	an exam you have passed or a course you have completed, which shows you can do a job	You need a teaching qualification to work in most state schools.
candidatenoun	a person who is applying for a job or taking an exam	Three candidates were invited back for a second interview.
freelanceadjective	working for several different organisations rather than for one employer	As a freelance photographer, she chooses which projects to accept.
self-employedadjective	working for yourself, not for an employer	My uncle has been self-employed since he opened his own garage.
resignverb	to leave your job officially, by choice	She resigned after a disagreement with her manager.
be made redundantphrase	to lose your job because your employer no longer needs it	Forty workers were made redundant when the factory closed.
flexibleadjective	able to change to suit different situations or needs	The company offers flexible working hours to parents.
commuteverb	to travel regularly between home and work	I commute to the city by train every day.
be responsible forphrase	to have the job of dealing with someone or something	She is responsible for training new staff.
job satisfactionnoun	the pleasure you get from doing your job	Nurses often say that helping people gives them great job satisfaction.
earn a livingphrase	to make the money you need to live	Very few artists earn a living from painting alone.
staffnoun	all the people who work for an organisation	The museum has a staff of twenty, plus several volunteers.
volunteernoun, verb	a person who works without being paid; to work in this way	She volunteers as an usher at the local theatre at weekends.

Education and learning

Practise them with the FCE essay guide and FCE Speaking Part 1.

Education and learning: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
reviseverb	to study work again before an exam	I spent the whole weekend revising for my history exam.
tutornoun	a teacher who works with one student or a small group	Her parents found her a maths tutor before the exams.
curriculumnoun	all the subjects taught in a school or on a course	Cooking is now part of the school curriculum.
assignmentnoun	a piece of work that a student is given to do	The assignment must be handed in by Monday.
termnoun	one of the periods that the school or university year is divided into	The autumn term starts in early September.
degreenoun	the qualification you get when you complete a university course	She has a degree in engineering from Glasgow.
graduateverb	to complete a university degree successfully	He graduated from Leeds University last year.
scholarshipnoun	money given to a student to pay for their studies, usually because their work is very good	She won a scholarship to study music in Vienna.
tuition feesnoun, plural	the money students pay for their teaching at a college or university	Tuition fees have risen sharply in recent years.
attendverb	to be present at an event, or to go regularly to a school or college	Over three hundred pupils attend the school.
concentrateverb	to give all your attention to something	It's hard to concentrate when the classroom is noisy.
memoriseverb	to learn something so well that you can remember it exactly	Actors have to memorise long scripts.
academicadjective	connected with studying and education, especially at a high level	The university is known for its high academic standards.
mixed-abilityadjective	with students of different levels in the same class	Teaching a mixed-ability class takes careful planning.
hands-onadjective	involving doing something yourself rather than reading or watching	The course gives students hands-on experience of building websites.
motivatedadjective	keen to do something and willing to work hard at it	Students are more motivated when they can choose their own projects.
gradenoun	a letter or number that shows the quality of a piece of work	She got top grades in all her subjects.
distance learningnoun	studying from home, with lessons and materials delivered online or by post	Distance learning lets people study while they keep working.

Travel and holidays

Practise them with the FCE article guide and FCE Listening Part 2.

Travel and holidays: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
destinationnoun	the place someone is travelling to	Venice is a popular destination for weekend breaks.
accommodationnoun, uncountable	a place to stay, such as a hotel room or a flat	Accommodation in the city centre is expensive in summer.
itinerarynoun	a detailed plan of a journey, with the places you will visit	Our itinerary includes three days in Lisbon.
sightseeingnoun	visiting famous or interesting places as a tourist	We did some sightseeing in the old town before lunch.
excursionnoun	a short trip, often organised for a group	The hotel organises excursions to the nearby islands.
landscapenoun	everything you can see when you look across an area of land	The landscape changed from forest to bare rock as we climbed.
scenerynoun, uncountable	the natural features of an area, such as hills and lakes, especially when they are beautiful	The train is slow, but the scenery is spectacular.
remoteadjective	far away from towns and other people	The hostel is in a remote valley with no phone signal.
packedadjective	extremely full of people	By ten o'clock the beach was packed.
delaynoun, verb	a period of waiting because something happens later than planned; to make something happen later	Fog caused long delays at the airport.
jet lagnoun	tiredness and confusion after a long flight across different time zones	It took me three days to get over the jet lag.
package holidaynoun	a holiday in which travel and accommodation are sold together	A package holiday is often cheaper than booking everything separately.
self-cateringadjective	with a kitchen, so that you cook your own meals	We rented a self-catering cottage by the sea.
fully bookedadjective	with no rooms, seats or places left	The campsite was fully booked, so we had to drive on.
routenoun	the way you go to get from one place to another	We took the coastal route because of the views.
breathtakingadjective	extremely beautiful or impressive	The view from the top was breathtaking.
guided tournoun	a visit to a place with someone who shows you round and explains things	The castle offers guided tours every hour.
tourist trapnoun	a place that attracts a lot of tourists and charges them too much	The café by the harbour is a bit of a tourist trap.

The environment and nature

Practise them with the FCE essay guide and FCE Speaking Part 3.

The environment and nature: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
endangeredadjective	at risk of disappearing completely	These endangered birds nest on only two small islands.
habitatnoun	the natural home of a plant or animal	Draining the marsh destroyed the frogs' habitat.
wildlifenoun	animals, birds and insects living in natural conditions	The new pond soon attracted wildlife, from dragonflies to frogs.
speciesnoun (same in the plural)	a group of animals or plants of the same kind	More than sixty species of bird visit the reserve.
wastenoun	things that are thrown away because they are no longer wanted or useful	Restaurants produce huge amounts of food waste.
renewableadjective	(of energy) coming from sources that do not run out, such as wind and sunlight	Wind and solar power are renewable sources of energy.
fossil fuelsnoun, plural	fuels such as coal, oil and gas, formed in the earth over millions of years	Most electricity used to be produced by burning fossil fuels.
emissionsnoun, plural	gases or other substances sent out into the air	The city aims to halve traffic emissions.
droughtnoun	a long period with little or no rain (rhymes with out)	The drought left the reservoirs almost empty.
conservationnoun	the protection of plants, animals and natural areas	She works for a conservation charity that protects coastal birds.
sustainableadjective	able to continue for a long time without harming the environment	We need more sustainable ways of producing food.
litternoun	rubbish that people leave on the ground in public places	Volunteers collected six bags of litter from the footpath.
carbon footprintnoun	the amount of carbon dioxide that a person's activities produce	Taking the train instead of flying cuts your carbon footprint.
extinctadjective	no longer existing	Several of these plants could soon become extinct.
disposableadjective	made to be thrown away after use	The festival has banned disposable cups.
environmentally friendlyadjective	not harmful to the environment	Refill points are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bottles.
harmfuladjective	causing damage	Harmful chemicals from the factory reached the river.
global warmingnoun	the rise in the earth's temperature caused by gases that trap heat	Scientists link the melting ice to global warming.

Health, fitness and sport

Practise them with the FCE Speaking Part 1 and FCE Listening Part 1.

Health, fitness and sport: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
symptomnoun	a sign that someone has an illness	A high temperature is a common symptom of flu.
recoververb	to get better after an illness, injury or shock	It took her six weeks to recover from the operation.
injurynoun	physical damage to someone's body	He missed the final because of a knee injury.
prescriptionnoun	a doctor's written instruction saying which medicine you need	You can only get this medicine with a prescription.
treatmentnoun	medical care for an illness or injury	The new treatment has helped thousands of patients.
balanced dietnoun	food that contains everything your body needs in the right amounts	A balanced diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.
fitnessnoun	the state of being physically strong and healthy	Swimming is great for general fitness.
staminanoun	the physical energy to keep going for a long time	Long-distance runners need a lot of stamina.
stressfuladjective	causing worry and pressure	Moving house can be very stressful.
sprainverb	to injure a joint, such as an ankle, by twisting it suddenly	I sprained my ankle playing basketball.
pull a musclephrase	to injure a muscle by stretching it too much	Warm up properly or you might pull a muscle.
refereenoun	the official who controls a game such as football and makes sure the rules are followed	The referee sent off two players.
spectatornoun	a person who watches an event, especially a sports event	Ten thousand spectators watched the final.
opponentnoun	the person or team you are playing against	She beat her opponent in straight sets.
amateuradjective, noun	doing something for enjoyment, not as a paid job	He plays for an amateur football club on Sundays.
wellbeingnoun	the state of feeling healthy and happy	Regular walks in the countryside are good for your wellbeing.
GPnoun	a family doctor who treats general health problems (general practitioner)	If the cough doesn't go away, make an appointment with your GP.
infectiousadjective	(of a disease) easily passed from one person to another	Flu is highly infectious, so stay at home until you feel better.

Technology and the internet

Practise them with the FCE essay guide and FCE Reading Part 5.

Technology and the internet: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
devicenoun	a machine or piece of equipment made for a particular purpose	Please switch off all electronic devices during the performance.
updatenoun, verb	a newer version of software or information; to add the newest information or features	My phone keeps asking me to install an update.
user-friendlyadjective	easy to use or understand	The new online shop is far more user-friendly than the old one.
browseverb	to look at information online, or at things in a shop, without a clear aim	I spent the evening browsing travel websites with no particular trip in mind.
datanoun, uncountable	facts and information, especially when stored on a computer	The app collects data on how far you walk each day.
cutting-edgeadjective	the newest and most advanced	The studio uses cutting-edge recording equipment.
screen timenoun	time spent looking at phones, computers or television	Many parents try to limit their children's screen time.
artificial intelligencenoun	computer systems that can do tasks that usually need human intelligence (AI)	The app uses artificial intelligence to recognise bird calls.
out of dateadjective	old and no longer useful or correct (out-of-date before a noun)	The software on this laptop is badly out of date.
faultyadjective	not working properly	The shop replaced the faulty charger free of charge.
battery lifenoun	how long a battery lasts before it needs charging	Battery life is the first thing I check when I buy a phone.
gadgetnoun	a small, clever machine or tool	My dad loves kitchen gadgets but rarely uses them.
virtualadjective	created by computers rather than existing in the physical world	The museum offers a virtual tour on its website.
addictedadjective	unable to stop doing or using something	He admits that he's addicted to his phone.
cyberbullyingnoun	using the internet or phones to hurt or frighten someone	The school has a clear policy on cyberbullying.
privacynoun	the right to keep your personal life and information to yourself	Some users worry that the app is a threat to their privacy.
go viralphrase	to spread very quickly across the internet	Her video of the night sky went viral overnight.
technicaladjective	connected with machines, equipment or practical knowledge	The concert started late because of technical problems.

Arts, entertainment and culture

Practise them with the FCE review guide and FCE Speaking Part 2.

Arts, entertainment and culture: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
exhibitionnoun	a public display of art or other objects	The gallery's new exhibition features local photographers.
performancenoun	an act of playing music, acting or dancing for an audience	Her performance in the lead role was outstanding.
standing ovationnoun	a long period of clapping by an audience who stand up to show how much they enjoyed something	At the end, the audience gave the cast a standing ovation.
castnoun	all the actors in a play or film	The cast rehearsed for six weeks before the first night.
rehearsalnoun	a practice of a play, concert or other performance	The final rehearsal went on until midnight.
playwrightnoun	a person who writes plays	The playwright was in the audience on the opening night.
plotnoun	the series of events that form a story	The plot was so complicated that I got lost halfway through.
reviewnoun	an article giving someone's opinion of a book, film, play, etc.	The film received excellent reviews in the national press.
masterpiecenoun	an excellent piece of work, especially the best an artist has made	Many critics consider it her masterpiece.
criticnoun	a person whose job is to give opinions about books, films, art, etc.	Theatre critics praised the clever set design.
sculpturenoun	a work of art made by shaping stone, wood, metal or clay	A bronze sculpture stands in the middle of the square.
portraitnoun	a painting, drawing or photograph of a person	The museum has a fine collection of portraits.
sound effectsnoun, plural	sounds made artificially for a play, film or radio programme	The sound effects in the storm scene were incredibly realistic.
venuenoun	the place where an event such as a concert or a match happens	The old cinema has become a popular music venue.
box officenoun	the place in a theatre or cinema where tickets are sold	Tickets are on sale at the box office.
talentedadjective	having a natural ability to do something well	She's a very talented illustrator.
movingadjective	causing strong feelings, especially of sadness or sympathy	The final scene was so moving that several people cried.
thought-provokingadjective	making people think seriously about a subject	It's a thought-provoking documentary about modern farming.

Home and neighbourhood

Practise them with the FCE Speaking Part 3 and FCE email and letter guide.

Home and neighbourhood: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
household choresnoun, plural	regular jobs at home, such as cleaning and washing up	In our flat, household chores are shared equally.
flatmatenoun	a person you share a flat with	My flatmate and I take turns to cook.
landlordnoun	a person who owns a house or flat and rents it to other people	Our landlord finally repaired the broken heating.
tenantnoun	a person who pays rent to live in a house or flat	The tenants complained about noise from the building site.
depositnoun	money you pay when you start renting, which you get back if nothing is damaged	You'll get your deposit back when you move out.
suburbnoun	an area where people live on the edge of a city	They moved to a quiet suburb when their children were born.
neighbourhoodnoun	the area around where you live	It's a friendly neighbourhood with a good local market.
residentialadjective	used for homes rather than for shops, offices or factories	Lorries are banned from residential streets.
spaciousadjective	large, with plenty of room	The flat is small, but the kitchen is surprisingly spacious.
crampedadjective	too small for the people or things in it	Five of us shared a cramped two-bedroom flat.
soundproofadjective	not allowing sound to pass through	The music room has soundproof walls.
renovateverb	to repair and improve an old building	They spent a year renovating the farmhouse.
move housephrase	to leave your home and go to live somewhere else	We've moved house three times in five years.
independentadjective	not needing help or money from other people	Living alone has made me much more independent.
local communitynoun	the people who live in a particular area	The library is at the heart of the local community.
facilitiesnoun, plural	buildings, services or equipment provided for a particular purpose	The town has excellent sports facilities.
pedestriannoun	a person who is walking, not travelling in a vehicle	The high street is now closed to traffic and open only to pedestrians.
DIYnoun	making or repairing things in your home yourself (do-it-yourself)	He's very good at DIY and built all the shelves himself.

Food and cooking

Practise them with the FCE article guide and FCE Listening Part 3.

Food and cooking: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
ingredientnoun	one of the foods used to make a dish	Fresh ingredients make all the difference to this soup.
dishnoun	food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal	Paella is a traditional Spanish dish.
home-madeadjective	made at home, not bought from a shop	The café is famous for its home-made cakes.
vegannoun, adjective	a person who eats no animal products at all; suitable for such a person	There's at least one vegan option on the menu.
portionnoun	the amount of food served to one person	The portions were so big that we couldn't finish them.
leftoversnoun, plural	food that has not been eaten at the end of a meal	We had the leftovers for lunch the next day.
best-before datenoun	the date after which food may no longer be at its best	Food is often thrown away just because it's past its best-before date.
nutritiousadjective	containing the substances your body needs to stay healthy	Lentils are cheap and very nutritious.
processedadjective	(of food) changed in a factory, often with added chemicals	Doctors advise us to eat less processed food.
blandadjective	without much flavour	The sauce was rather bland, so I added some chilli.
savouryadjective	salty or spicy rather than sweet	I prefer savoury snacks to sweet ones.
starternoun	a small dish eaten as the first part of a meal	We shared a starter and then both had fish.
takeawaynoun	a hot meal you buy from a restaurant and eat at home	We were too tired to cook, so we ordered a takeaway.
appetitenoun	the feeling that you want to eat	Walking in the fresh air gave us a huge appetite.
stirverb	to mix something by moving a spoon round and round in it	Stir the sauce gently until it thickens.
ripeadjective	(of fruit) ready to eat	These tomatoes aren't ripe yet.
seasonaladjective	available or happening only at a particular time of year	The chef builds the menu around seasonal vegetables.
cuisinenoun	a style of cooking from a particular country or region	I'd love to learn more about Japanese cuisine.

Personality and relationships

Practise them with the FCE Speaking Part 2 and FCE article guide.

Personality and relationships: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
reliableadjective	able to be trusted to do what you expect	Tom is very reliable: he has never missed a shift.
outgoingadjective	friendly and keen to meet new people	She's so outgoing that she made friends on her first day.
stubbornadjective	refusing to change your opinion or behaviour	My grandad is too stubborn to ask for directions.
sensitiveadjective	easily upset by what other people say or do	He's quite sensitive about his singing, so don't laugh.
considerateadjective	thinking about other people's feelings and needs	It was very considerate of you to turn the music down.
bossyadjective	always telling other people what to do	My older sister was very bossy when we were little.
easy-goingadjective	relaxed and not easily worried or annoyed	Our new teacher is very easy-going about late homework.
ambitiousadjective	having a strong wish to be successful	She's ambitious and wants to run her own company one day.
self-confidentadjective	sure of yourself and your abilities	Joining the drama club made him more self-confident.
sympatheticadjective	showing that you understand and care about someone's problems (it does not mean 'nice')	My manager was very sympathetic when my father was ill.
acquaintancenoun	a person you know, but not well	He isn't really a friend, just an acquaintance from work.
loyaladjective	always supporting your friends, family or beliefs	A loyal friend stands by you when things go wrong.
have a lot in commonphrase	to share many interests or opinions	Although we're very different ages, we have a lot in common.
siblingnoun	a brother or sister	I have three siblings, all older than me.
bondnoun	a close connection that joins people	The project created a strong bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
rownoun, informal	a noisy argument (rhymes with cow)	Our neighbours had a terrible row last night.
peer pressurenoun	the influence that people of your own age have on how you behave	Some teenagers start smoking because of peer pressure.
upbringingnoun	the way a child is cared for and taught by their parents	She had a strict upbringing in a small village.

Shopping and money

Practise them with the FCE email and letter guide and FCE report guide.

Shopping and money: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
bargainnoun	something bought for much less than its usual price	At ten pounds, the coat was a real bargain.
refundnoun	money given back to you, for example when you return something to a shop	I took the shoes back and asked for a refund.
receiptnoun	a piece of paper that shows you have paid for something (the p is silent)	Keep your receipt in case you need to return anything.
affordverb	to have enough money to pay for something	We can't afford a new car this year.
budgetnoun	the amount of money you have available to spend on something	We have a budget of fifty pounds for decorations.
discountnoun	a reduction in the usual price	Students get a ten per cent discount at the museum shop.
second-handadjective, adverb	already owned or used by someone else	Most of my books are second-hand.
consumernoun	a person who buys goods or services	Consumers are becoming more interested in where their clothes are made.
purchasenoun, verb (formal)	something you buy; to buy	You can return your purchase within thirty days.
overpricedadjective	costing more than it is worth	The drinks at the stadium are ridiculously overpriced.
loannoun	money that you borrow, usually from a bank	They took out a loan to buy a van.
savingsnoun, plural	money you have kept, especially in a bank	She spent all her savings on a trip round South America.
debtnoun	money that you owe (the b is silent)	It took him years to get out of debt.
contactlessadjective	(of a payment) made by holding a card or phone near a reader	Most shops now accept contactless payments.
brandnoun	the name a company gives to a product	Supermarket brands are often just as good as famous ones.
window-shoppingnoun	looking at things in shop windows without planning to buy them	We had no money, so we went window-shopping.
haggleverb	to argue about the price of something before you agree to buy it	In the market, you're expected to haggle.
value for moneyphrase	worth the price you pay	The guided tour was excellent value for money.

Media and communication

Practise them with the FCE report guide and FCE Reading Part 7.

Media and communication: B2 words with meanings and examples
Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
broadcastverb, noun	to send out a programme on radio or television; a programme sent out in this way	The station broadcasts local news every hour.
presenternoun	a person who introduces a radio or television programme	The presenter interviewed three local farmers.
headlinenoun	the title of a news story, printed in large letters	The story made the headlines across the country.
editornoun	a person in charge of a newspaper or magazine, or who corrects and improves texts	The editor cut my article from 800 to 500 words.
advertising campaignnoun	a planned series of adverts with one aim	The advertising campaign aims to get teenagers reading.
social medianoun	websites and apps that people use to share content and messages	Many young people get their news from social media.
influencernoun	a person who uses social media to affect what their followers buy or think	The influencer was paid to promote the trainers.
documentarynoun	a film or programme that gives facts about a real subject	I watched a fascinating documentary about whales.
biasedadjective	unfairly supporting one side	The report was biased in favour of the new road.
sourcenoun	a person, book or document that provides information	Always check the source before you share a story.
fake newsnoun	false stories made to look like real news	Fake news often spreads faster than the truth.
subscribernoun	a person who pays to receive a magazine or service regularly	The magazine has over fifty thousand subscribers.
coveragenoun	the reporting of an event on television, on the radio or in newspapers	There was live coverage of the marathon on local TV.
gossipnoun	talk about other people's private lives, which may not be true	The office was full of gossip about who would get the promotion.
keep in touchphrase	to keep communicating with someone	We keep in touch by video call every Sunday.
fluentadjective	able to speak a language easily and well	She's fluent in three languages.
tabloidnoun	a newspaper with small pages, short stories and a lot of celebrity news	The tabloids published photos of the singer's wedding.
viewernoun	a person who watches television	Millions of viewers watched the final.

Phrasal verbs

B2 phrasal verbs for FCE

98 phrasal verbs in 8 groups. ★ marks verbs that are useful in FCE key word transformations, because they can replace a single verb or a longer phrase (postpone → put off, tolerate → put up with).

Where does the object go? separable: before or after the particle, but a pronoun must go in the middle (put it off). inseparable: always after the particle (look into it). three-part: after the last particle (put up with it). no object: the verb stands alone (the plane took off).

Plans and arrangements

B2 phrasal verbs: plans and arrangements
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
put off (useful in key word transformations)separable	postpone; delay until later	They've put off the meeting until next Thursday.
call off (useful in key word transformations)separable	cancel	The organisers called off the outdoor concert because of the storm warning.
set offno object	start a journey	We set off at dawn to avoid the traffic.
turn up (useful in key word transformations)no object	arrive or appear, often unexpectedly or late	Only six people turned up to the meeting.
look forward to (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	feel pleased about something that is going to happen (+ noun or -ing)	We're looking forward to meeting the new students.
carry on (useful in key word transformations)no object	continue (carry on + -ing, or carry on with + noun)	Carry on reading while I make a quick call.
go aheadno object	happen as planned; start	The festival will go ahead despite the rain.
sort outseparable	solve a problem or organise something	Can you sort out the tickets for Saturday?
come upno object	(of a problem or opportunity) appear unexpectedly	Something urgent has come up, so I can't make it tonight.
look into (useful in key word transformations)inseparable	investigate	The council has promised to look into our complaint.
fill inseparable	complete a form by writing information in it	Please fill in the form and give it to reception.

Study and work

B2 phrasal verbs: study and work
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
take on (useful in key word transformations)separable	employ someone; accept work or responsibility	The café is taking on extra staff for the summer.
hand inseparable	give work to a teacher or someone in charge	Hand in your essays by Friday, please.
catch up withthree-part, inseparable	reach the same level or place as others	I missed two weeks of school and had to catch up with the rest of the class.
drop out (of)no object	leave a course or competition before the end (drop out of + noun)	He dropped out of university after a year.
keep up with (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	stay at the same speed or level as someone or something	It's hard to keep up with all the changes in technology.
look upseparable	find information in a dictionary, online, etc.	If you don't know a word, look it up.
work outseparable	find the answer by thinking or calculating; understand	I can't work out how to open this file.
take overseparable	take control of something from someone else	She took over the business when her father retired.
set up (useful in key word transformations)separable	start a business or organisation	They set up a repair café in the village hall.
get down tothree-part, inseparable	start doing something seriously	It's time to get down to some serious revision.
fall behindno object	fail to keep up with other people or with your work	If you miss lessons, you'll soon fall behind.
brush up onthree-part, inseparable	improve a skill you have not used for a while	I need to brush up on my French before the trip.

People and relationships

B2 phrasal verbs: people and relationships
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
get on with (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	have a friendly relationship with (often get on well with)	I get on with most of my classmates.
fall out (with) (useful in key word transformations)no object	stop being friends after an argument	Jo and Sam fell out over money.
make upno object	become friends again after an argument (make up with someone)	They argued but made up the next day.
look up to (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	admire and respect	She has always looked up to her older brother.
look down onthree-part, inseparable	think that you are better than someone	He looks down on anyone who didn't go to university.
take after (useful in key word transformations)inseparable	look or behave like an older relative	Ana takes after her mother: they're both calm in a crisis.
bring up (useful in key word transformations)separable	care for a child until it is an adult	She was brought up by her grandparents.
let down (useful in key word transformations)separable	disappoint someone by not doing what you promised	He promised to help, but he let us down.
stand byinseparable	support someone in a difficult situation	Her friends stood by her when she lost her job.
put up with (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	accept something unpleasant without complaining; tolerate	How do you put up with such a long commute?
count on (useful in key word transformations)inseparable	rely on someone to help or support you	You can always count on Maria in a crisis.
fit inno object	feel accepted as part of a group	It took me a few months to fit in at my new school.
tell offseparable	speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong	The teacher told us off for talking.

Health, feelings and problems

B2 phrasal verbs: health, feelings and problems
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
get over (useful in key word transformations)inseparable	recover from an illness or a bad experience	He never really got over the disappointment of losing the final.
come down withthree-part, inseparable	start to have an illness that is not serious	I think I'm coming down with a cold.
pass outno object	faint; become unconscious	One runner passed out in the heat.
cut down on (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	reduce the amount of something you eat, use or do	I'm trying to cut down on sugar.
give up (useful in key word transformations)separable	stop doing or having something	She gave up smoking ten years ago.
take upseparable	start a new hobby or activity	I took up yoga last year.
calm downseparable, or no object	become, or make someone, less angry or excited	It took the teacher ten minutes to calm the class down.
cheer upseparable, or no object	become, or make someone, happier	A walk in the sunshine always cheers me up.
break downno object	(of a machine) stop working; (of a person) start crying	Our car broke down on the motorway.
run out of (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	use all of something so that none is left	The printer has run out of ink again.
go offno object	(of food) become bad; (of an alarm) start ringing	This milk has gone off.
throw awayseparable	get rid of something you no longer want	Don't throw those jars away: we can reuse them.

Travel and getting around

B2 phrasal verbs: travel and getting around
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
check inno object	arrive and register at a hotel or airport	We checked in at the hotel just after six.
pick upseparable	collect someone or something, usually by car	I'll pick you up from the station at eight.
get awayno object	go somewhere for a holiday	We're hoping to get away for a few days in May.
see offseparable	go to a station or airport to say goodbye to someone	My parents came to the airport to see me off.
take offno object	(of a plane) leave the ground	Our flight took off an hour late.
stop overno object	stay somewhere for a short time during a long journey	We stopped over in Singapore for two nights.
hold up (useful in key word transformations)separable	delay	Sorry I'm late: I was held up in traffic.
get aroundno object	travel from place to place	The easiest way to get around is by bike.
look roundinseparable	visit a place to see what it is like	We looked round the old town before lunch.
head forinseparable	go towards a place	At six o'clock we headed for home.
come across (useful in key word transformations)inseparable	find or meet by chance	We came across a lovely café in a side street.
drop offseparable	take someone somewhere by car and leave them there	Could you drop me off at the corner?

Communication and information

B2 phrasal verbs: communication and information
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
find out (useful in key word transformations)separable	discover a fact or piece of information	I found out that the shop had closed.
point outseparable	tell someone something they had not noticed	She pointed out a mistake in my calculations.
go on aboutthree-part, inseparable	talk about something for too long in an annoying way (informal)	He keeps going on about his new car.
turn down (useful in key word transformations)separable	refuse an offer or request; reduce the volume	She turned down the job because the pay was low.
get acrossseparable	make people understand an idea	The video gets the message across clearly.
make outseparable	manage to see, hear or understand something	I couldn't make out what she was saying.
hang upno object	end a phone call	He hung up before I could explain.
speak upno object	speak more loudly	Could you speak up? We can't hear you at the back.
come up with (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	think of an idea, plan or answer	We need to come up with a name for the band.
back upseparable	support a claim with evidence; make a copy of computer files	Can you back up your argument with an example?
get through (to)no object	manage to speak to someone on the phone	I called all morning but couldn't get through.
leave out (useful in key word transformations)separable	not include	You've left out the most important point.
sum upseparable, or no object	give the main points briefly; summarise	To sum up, the plan has more advantages than disadvantages.

Money, shopping and change

B2 phrasal verbs: money, shopping and change
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
pay back (useful in key word transformations)separable	return money that you borrowed	I'll pay you back on Friday.
save up (for)no object	keep money so that you can buy something later	I'm saving up for a new laptop.
try onseparable	put on clothes to see if they fit	Can I try these jeans on?
take backseparable	return something to the shop where you bought it	I took the faulty phone back to the shop.
sell outno object	sell all of something, so that none is left (often be sold out)	Tickets for the concert sold out in an hour.
shop aroundno object	compare prices in different shops before buying	It pays to shop around for car insurance.
splash out (on)no object	spend a lot of money on something you enjoy (informal)	We splashed out on a meal at a smart restaurant.
bring about (useful in key word transformations)separable	cause something to happen	The internet has brought about huge changes in how we shop.
turn intoinseparable	change and become something different	The small market has turned into a three-day festival.
go upno object	increase	Bus fares have gone up again.
die outno object	disappear completely	Many traditional crafts are dying out.
use upseparable	use all of something	We've used up all the printer paper.
do withoutinseparable	manage without something	I couldn't do without my phone.

Everyday life and how things turn out

B2 phrasal verbs: everyday life and how things turn out
Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example
put upseparable	build or fix something in position, such as a tent or a shelf	We put up the tent before it got dark.
clear upseparable, or no object	make a place tidy; (of the weather) get better	We cleared up after the party.
put awayseparable	put something back where it is kept	Put your books away before dinner.
come roundno object	visit someone at their home	Why don't you come round for dinner on Saturday?
run intoinseparable	meet someone by chance	I ran into an old school friend at the market.
turn out (useful in key word transformations)no object	happen in a particular way; be discovered to be (it turned out that …)	The weather turned out better than expected.
end upno object	finally be in a place or situation that you did not plan	We got lost and ended up in the next village.
hang outno object	spend time relaxing with friends (informal)	We usually hang out in the park after school.
get round to (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	finally do something you have been meaning to do	I never got round to finishing that painting.
live up to (useful in key word transformations)three-part, inseparable	be as good as people expected	The film didn't live up to the reviews.
go throughinseparable	experience something difficult	She went through a difficult time after the move.
stand outno object	be easy to see or notice; be clearly better	Bright colours help the signs stand out.

Collocations

B2 collocations for Use of English Part 1

79 word partnerships of the kind FCE multiple-choice cloze questions are built on, and that key word transformations often need.

Verb + noun

Part 1 often gives four verbs that all mean roughly the same thing. Only one goes with the noun, so learn the pair, not the verb.

B2 collocations: verb + noun
Collocation	Meaning or note	Example
make a decision	decide (take a decision is also used in British English)	We need to make a decision by Friday.
make an effort	try hard	He made a real effort to be polite.
make progress	improve or move forward (progress is uncountable)	She has made great progress with her Spanish.
make an excuse	give a reason, often untrue, for not doing something	He always makes an excuse to leave early.
make a complaint	say officially that you are not satisfied	I'd like to make a complaint about the noise.
make the most of	get as much benefit as possible from	Make the most of the sunshine while it lasts.
do research	study a subject to discover new facts (research is uncountable)	Scientists are doing research into how birds find their way.
do damage	cause harm	The storm did a lot of damage to the coast.
do someone a favour	help someone	Could you do me a favour and water my plants?
do a course	study on a course	She's doing a course in photography.
take a risk	do something that might have a bad result	Starting your own business means taking a risk.
take advantage of	use an opportunity	Take advantage of the free museum entry on Sundays.
take responsibility for	accept that something is your duty or your fault	He refused to take responsibility for the mistake.
take place	happen (never used in the passive)	The festival takes place every August.
take something into account	consider something when you make a decision	The judges will take the conditions into account.
have an influence on	affect	Teachers can have a huge influence on young people.
have difficulty (in) doing	find something hard	Many people have difficulty remembering names.
pay someone a visit	visit someone	We paid my aunt a visit on the way home.
give advice	advise (advice is uncountable: a piece of advice)	My tutor gave me some useful advice.
give someone a hand	help, especially with something physical (informal)	Can you give me a hand with these boxes?
catch someone's eye	attract someone's attention	A bright poster in the window caught my eye.
keep a promise	do what you said you would (opposite: break a promise)	He always keeps his promises.
break a record	do better than the best result so far	She broke the national record for the 800 metres.
reach an agreement	agree after a discussion	The two sides finally reached an agreement.
raise money	collect money for a purpose	The school raised money for a new playground.
save time	need less time to do something	Planning your answer first saves time later.
waste time	use time badly	Don't waste time worrying about it.
run a business	manage a company	Her parents run a small business in the village.
achieve a goal	succeed in doing what you planned	Write down your goals and how you'll achieve them.
lose your temper	suddenly become very angry	He lost his temper and started shouting.

Adjective + noun

English chooses its adjectives by habit, not logic: heavy traffic but strong wind. Translating from your own language is where these go wrong.

B2 collocations: adjective + noun
Collocation	Meaning or note	Example
heavy traffic	a lot of traffic (not strong or big traffic)	We were stuck in heavy traffic for an hour.
strong winds	powerful winds (not heavy winds; high winds is also correct)	Strong winds closed the bridge.
strong coffee	coffee with a lot of flavour (opposite: weak)	I need a cup of strong coffee.
a narrow escape	a situation in which you only just avoid danger	We had a narrow escape when our boat nearly overturned.
high-quality	very good (hyphenated before a noun)	The shop sells high-quality tools.
a wide range of	many different kinds of	The library offers a wide range of courses.
a great deal of	a lot of (with uncountable nouns)	She spent a great deal of time on the project.
the vast majority	almost all	The vast majority of visitors arrive by car.
a slight chance	a small possibility	There's a slight chance of rain this afternoon.
fresh air	clean air outside	Let's go out and get some fresh air.
a sharp rise	a sudden, large increase	There has been a sharp rise in the number of cyclists.
a key role	an important part (often play a key role)	Volunteers play a key role in the festival.
a rough idea	a general idea, not an exact one	Can you give me a rough idea of the cost?
a strong accent	a way of speaking that clearly shows where you are from	Her strong Irish accent was hard to follow at first.
a heavy smoker	a person who smokes a lot	He used to be a heavy smoker.
a deep sleep	sleep from which you do not wake easily	I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I lay down.
a high opinion of	a very good opinion of	She has a high opinion of her manager.
a golden opportunity	an excellent chance	This is a golden opportunity to see the band live.
a heated argument	an angry argument	The meeting ended in a heated argument.
an early night	going to bed earlier than usual	I'm exhausted, so I'm having an early night.
a complete stranger	a person you have never met	A complete stranger helped me carry my bags.
a light lunch	a small, simple meal	We had a light lunch by the river.

Dependent prepositions

Part 1 also tests the word that follows: options can differ only in the preposition they take. Learn the preposition with the word.

B2 collocations: dependent prepositions
Collocation	Meaning or note	Example
keen on	interested in; liking	She's keen on photography.
aware of	knowing about	Are you aware of the risks?
capable of	able to do	He's capable of much better work.
fond of	liking someone or something	My grandmother is very fond of gardening.
ashamed of	feeling bad about something you did	He was ashamed of his behaviour at the party.
similar to	almost the same as	Your idea is very similar to mine.
jealous of	unhappy because someone has something you want	She's jealous of her sister's success.
fed up with	bored or annoyed with something that has lasted too long (informal)	I'm fed up with waiting for the bus.
suitable for	right for a purpose or person	The walk is suitable for all ages.
familiar with	knowing something well	Make sure you're familiar with the format before the exam.
involved in	taking part in	She's involved in several community projects.
depend on	be decided by; need	It depends on the weather.
apologise (to someone) for	say sorry	He apologised for being late.
insist on	say firmly that something must happen (+ -ing)	She insisted on paying for dinner.
approve of	think that something is good or right	My parents don't approve of my new haircut.
blame someone for	say that someone is responsible for something bad	Don't blame me for your mistakes.
complain about	say that you are not happy about something	Neighbours complained about the noise.
object to	be against (+ noun or -ing)	Many residents object to paying for parking.
specialise in	concentrate on one area of work or study	The restaurant specialises in seafood.
protect from	keep safe from	Sunscreen protects your skin from damage.
congratulate someone on	praise someone for a success	We congratulated her on her new job.
the reason for	why something happens	What's the reason for the delay?
an increase in	a rise in	There's been an increase in tourism.
the cause of	what makes something happen	Nobody knows the cause of the fire.
a solution to	an answer to a problem (with problem, use to, not for)	There's no easy solution to the problem.
access to	the right or chance to use something	All students have access to the library.
a demand for	the need or wish to have something	There's a growing demand for electric bikes.

Word formation

B2 word families for word formation (Part 3)

42 base words with their noun, verb, adjective, adverb and negative forms, for FCE word formation. ⚠ marks a family with an irregular or easily confused form, explained in the last column. A dash means there is no common form.

B2 word families: noun, verb, adjective, adverb and negative forms
Base word	Noun	Verb	Adjective	Adverb	Negative forms	Watch out
able	ability, inability	enable	able, unable	ably	unable, inability	The noun is inability, not 'unability'.
accept	acceptance	accept	acceptable, unacceptable	acceptably	unacceptable
achieve	achievement, achiever	achieve	achievable, unachievable	—	unachievable
agree	agreement, disagreement	agree, disagree	agreeable, disagreeable	agreeably	disagree, disagreement, disagreeable	Agreeable means pleasant, not 'in agreement'.
appear	appearance, disappearance	appear, disappear	apparent	apparently	disappear	The adjective changes: appear → apparent.
attract	attraction	attract	attractive, unattractive	attractively	unattractive
believe	belief, disbelief	believe	believable, unbelievable	unbelievably	unbelievable	Noun belief, verb believe: f and v swap.
care	care	care	careful, careless, caring	carefully, carelessly	careless	Caring means kind; careless is the opposite of careful.
comfort	comfort, discomfort	comfort	comfortable, uncomfortable, comforting	comfortably	uncomfortable, discomfort
compete	competition, competitor	compete	competitive, uncompetitive	competitively	uncompetitive	The e becomes i: compete → competition.
courage	courage, encouragement	encourage, discourage	courageous, encouraging, discouraging	courageously	discourage, discouraging	The verb needs a prefix: encourage.
decide	decision, indecision	decide	decisive, indecisive	decisively	indecisive	d changes to s: decide → decision.
deep	depth	deepen	deep	deeply	—	Noun depth: the double e becomes one.
differ	difference	differ	different	differently	—	Indifferent means 'not interested', not 'the same'.
economy	economy, economics, economist	economise	economic, economical, uneconomical	economically	uneconomical	Economic is about the economy; economical means not wasting money.
employ	employment, unemployment, employer, employee	employ	employed, unemployed	—	unemployed, unemployment	An employer gives work; an employee does it.
energy	energy	energise	energetic	energetically	—	-ic adjectives add -ally for the adverb.
explain	explanation	explain	explanatory, unexplained	—	unexplained	The i disappears: explanation.
fame	fame	—	famous, infamous	famously	—	Infamous means famous for something bad, not 'not famous'.
forget	forgetfulness	forget	forgetful, forgettable, unforgettable	—	unforgettable	Double t before -able.
friend	friend, friendship	befriend	friendly, unfriendly	—	unfriendly	Friendly is an adjective with no adverb: say 'in a friendly way'.
help	help, helper	help	helpful, unhelpful, helpless	helpfully, helplessly	unhelpful	Helpless means unable to help yourself; the opposite of helpful is unhelpful.
high	height	heighten	high	high, highly	—	Highly means 'very' (highly recommended); high means at a high level (fly high).
hope	hope	hope	hopeful, hopeless	hopefully, hopelessly	hopeless
imagine	imagination	imagine	imaginative, imaginary, unimaginable	imaginatively	unimaginable	Imaginary means not real; imaginative means creative.
know	knowledge	know	knowledgeable, known, unknown	knowingly	unknown	Spelling: knowledge, knowledgeable (keep the e).
like	dislike, likelihood	like, dislike	likely, unlikely, likeable	likely (most likely, very likely)	unlikely, dislike	Likely is usually an adjective (it's likely to rain); as an adverb it comes with most or very: she'll most likely win.
lose	loss, loser	lose	lost	—	—	The noun is loss. Lose (verb) is not loose (not tight).
necessary	necessity	—	necessary, unnecessary	necessarily, unnecessarily	unnecessary	One c, double s.
obey	obedience, disobedience	obey, disobey	obedient, disobedient	obediently	disobey, disobedient
origin	origin, original, originality	originate	original, unoriginal	originally	unoriginal	Original can be a noun (the first version) or an adjective.
patient	patience, impatience	—	patient, impatient	patiently, impatiently	impatient, impatience	Im- before p. A patient is also a person receiving medical care.
please	pleasure	please	pleased, pleasant, unpleasant, displeased	pleasantly	unpleasant, displeased	Pleasant describes things; pleased describes how people feel.
possible	possibility, impossibility	—	possible, impossible	possibly	impossible
prefer	preference	prefer	preferable	preferably	—	Say preferable to, not 'more preferable than'.
proud	pride	pride yourself on	proud	proudly	—	The noun is pride; the verb is used in pride yourself on.
regular	regularity, irregularity	—	regular, irregular	regularly, irregularly	irregular	Ir- before r.
safe	safety	—	safe, unsafe	safely	unsafe	The usual noun is safety.
strong	strength	strengthen	strong	strongly	—	The vowel changes: strong → strength.
succeed	success, successor	succeed	successful, unsuccessful	successfully	unsuccessful	A successor is the person who comes after someone in a job.
thought	thought	think	thoughtful, thoughtless	thoughtfully, thoughtlessly	thoughtless
true	truth	—	true, untrue, truthful	truly, truthfully	untrue	Truly has no e.

Self-test

B2 vocabulary self-test

18 questions in the style of Reading and Use of English, using words from this page. Write your answers down, then open each one to check.

A. Choose the right word

Like Reading and Use of English Part 1: only one option fits the gap.

The driver had a gap escape when a tree fell across the road.
A thinB narrowC smallD tight
Show the answer
B narrow: A narrow escape is the fixed collocation for only just avoiding danger.
If you want to improve, you'll have to gap more of an effort.
A doB makeC takeD give
Show the answer
B make: We make an effort. Do, take and give don't go with effort.
The concert will gap place in the old town square.
A takeB makeC haveD hold
Show the answer
A take: Take place means happen. You can hold a concert, but not 'hold place'.
He has a strong Scottish gap.
A accentB voiceC soundD tone
Show the answer
A accent: An accent shows where someone is from. Voice and tone describe how a voice sounds.
Are you gap with this software, or shall I show you how it works?
A familiarB awareC usedD known
Show the answer
A familiar: Familiar with means knowing something well. Aware takes of, and used takes to.
Booking your tickets online will gap you a lot of time.
A spendB saveC passD waste
Show the answer
B save: Something can save you time. Spend, pass and waste can't be used with you in this pattern.

B. Word formation

Like Part 3: change the word in capitals so that it fits the sentence.

Thank you for your clear gap; now I understand the problem. EXPLAIN
Show the answer
explanation: A noun is needed after 'your clear'. Explain → explanation: the i disappears.
We tried for hours, but it was gap to open the door without the key. POSSIBLE
Show the answer
impossible: 'But' shows the result was negative. Im- goes before p.
Seeing the sunrise from the summit was an gap experience. FORGET
Show the answer
unforgettable: 'An' needs a word starting with a vowel sound: un- + forget + -able, with a double t. An unforgettable experience is one you will always remember.
The gap of the lake is about forty metres at its deepest point. DEEP
Show the answer
depth: A noun is needed after 'the'. Deep → depth.
My uncle has been gap since the factory closed last spring. EMPLOY
Show the answer
unemployed: 'Since the factory closed' tells you he has no job, so the negative adjective is needed.
The children ran gap around the playground after the long lesson. ENERGY
Show the answer
energetically: An adverb describes how they ran. Energy → energetic → energetically (-ic adjectives add -ally).

C. Phrasal verbs

Like Part 2: write one word in each gap.

I can't put gap with this noise any longer.
Show the answer
up: Put up with means tolerate. It has three parts, so the object comes after with.
We've run gap of milk, so I'll pop to the shop.
Show the answer
out: Run out of means have none left.
Everyone says Leo takes gap his grandfather, who was also a painter.
Show the answer
after: Take after means look or behave like an older relative.
The match was called gap because of the snow.
Show the answer
off: Call off means cancel.
I'm really looking gap to seeing you next week.
Show the answer
forward: Look forward to is followed by -ing (seeing) because to is a preposition here.
It took me weeks to get gap the flu.
Show the answer
over: Get over means recover from an illness or a shock.

Study tips

How to learn and use this list

Learn chunks, not single words

Write make progress, not just progress; keen on photography, not just keen. Parts 1 and 4 reward words that go together, so record the whole pattern with an example sentence of your own.

Space out your reviews

Look at a new item again the next day, then a few days later, then after a week and after a month. Short, spaced reviews keep words longer than one long session. A flashcard app that schedules reviews does this for you.

Learn the whole family

When you learn decision, add decide, decisive and indecisive. Part 3 gives you one form and asks for another, so knowing the family is exactly the skill being tested.

Use new words within a day

Put two or three new items into your next practice essay, or say them aloud when you practise Speaking Part 2. Using a word in your own sentence is what turns recognition into recall.

Let your mistakes choose the words

After each practice test, go back through Parts 1 and 3 and add every item you got wrong to your list. Those are the gaps that cost you marks, and they are different for everyone.

Little and often

Ten to fifteen new items a day, plus reviews, is easier to keep up than a hundred at the weekend. Cover the meaning column in the tables above and test yourself.

Test the words under exam conditions with our FCE practice tests, and fit vocabulary into a weekly routine with the 8-week FCE and CAE study plan.

FAQ

B2 vocabulary questions

How many words do you need for B2 First?

There is no official number. The CEFR describes vocabulary by what you can do with it, such as talking about most general topics, not by a word count, and Cambridge does not publish one for B2 First. Researchers have estimated vocabulary sizes for each CEFR level, but the figures depend on the learners and the test used, so treat any single number with caution. A better target is to know the words on this page well enough to use them, with their collocations and word families.

Is there an official Cambridge B2 First vocabulary list?

No. Cambridge publishes vocabulary lists for some of its exams below B2, including A2 Key and B1 Preliminary, and says that exams at B2 and above do not have them. The B1 Preliminary list is a useful check of the words you should already know. This page is our own selection for B2 First, organised by exam task.

What topics come up in B2 First?

B2 First uses everyday and general-interest topics rather than specialist ones: work and study, travel, the environment, health and sport, technology, the arts, home life, food, relationships, shopping and the media. The twelve topic sets on this page follow those themes and the subjects of our own mock tests, such as theatre, food waste, community radio and living independently.

Are phrasal verbs important for B2 First?

Yes. The B2 First handbook lists phrasal verbs among the things Reading and Use of English Part 1 tests, and they can be tested as the whole verb, the verb alone or the particle alone. Part 2 tests some phrasal verbs too, and they are a natural way to rephrase a sentence in key word transformations, which is why the verbs marked ★ are worth learning first.

Will using difficult words improve my Writing score?

Only if you use them accurately and appropriately. The Language criterion looks at the range and the accuracy of your vocabulary together, so a precise B2 collocation used correctly does more for you than a rare word used wrongly. Choose words that fit the task and the reader.

Sources

The test focus for each part is from the B2 First Handbook for Teachers. The selection of words, the meanings and the example sentences are our own. CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

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