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English•University Academic English

Academic vocabulary

University 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What academic vocabulary means

This skill helps you choose words that sound clear, formal, and exact in academic writing. It matters because precise language makes your ideas easier to follow and your arguments more credible.

What you will practise

  • Choose formal words instead of informal everyday ones
  • Select verbs that fit reports, essays, and research writing
  • Use careful phrases when the result is not certain
  • Match research vocabulary to the meaning in context

Before you start

You should already be able to read short academic texts and understand common sentence meaning. You should also be comfortable with basic grammar and simple context clues.

Not confident yet? Work through Argument and cohesion first.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

A formal synonym for "show" (in results) is:

  • demonstrate
  • flash
  • point
  • wave
Answer: demonstrate

Working: Demonstrate is the academic choice for showing evidence.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using casual words like show when a formal verb such as demonstrate fits better
  • Treating significant as just important, instead of checking its research meaning
  • Writing too strongly when the evidence only suggests a possible pattern
  • Choosing a word by memory alone, without checking the sentence context

Curriculum and exam alignment

Tertiary foundation coursework

In University and tertiary foundation English, this usually appears in academic writing, reading, and study skills work. It supports tertiary coursework and professional entrance tests by helping you use the careful language expected in formal tasks.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other University Academic English skills in English, at the same point in the course.

Other English topics

Early Reading and WritingSHS English and LiteratureAcademic and Professional WritingGrammarVocabularyReading Comprehension

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Exams that assess academic vocabulary

University work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the English topics that appear on it.

BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the WASSCE practice page.GESGES practice questionsListed as a related subject on the GES practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
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Practise academic vocabulary

6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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