The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a globally recognized English proficiency exam that evaluates speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills. So a strong vocabulary for PTE is essential for success as it enhances comprehension, fluency, and coherence across all sections. To help you excel in the exam, here is a list of must-know vocabulary for PTE that you should learn.
This comprehensive guide of vocabulary will cover essential words, strategies for improving vocabulary, and practical tips to maximize your performance on the test.
Why is Enhancing Vocabulary For PTE Exam Necessary?
Vocabulary is fundamental to the PTE exam because:
- Reading Comprehension: A good vocabulary helps in understanding complex passages quickly.
- Listening Skills: Recognizing spoken words and phrases ensures better comprehension.
- Speaking Fluency: Using appropriate words enhances pronunciation and sentence construction.
- Writing Clarity: A strong vocabulary lets you express ideas clearly and concisely.
If you struggle with vocabulary, you may find it challenging to comprehend questions, respond effectively, or construct well-formed answers. Therefore, expanding your vocabulary should be a key focus in your PTE preparation.
Vocabulary for the PTE Exam
| Word | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| Abundant | Existing in large quantities | Plentiful, Ample, Bountiful | Scarce, Insufficient |
| Ambiguous | Having multiple meanings | Unclear, Vague, Obscure | Clear, Definite |
| Articulate | Expressing thoughts clearly | Eloquent, Fluent, Expressive | Inarticulate, Mumbled |
| Alleviate | Reduce or relieve pain | Ease, Mitigate, Lessen | Aggravate, Intensify |
| Benevolent | Kind and generous | Charitable, Compassionate | Malevolent, Cruel |
| Coherent | Logical and well-organized | Consistent, Rational | Confused, Illogical |
| Concise | Brief and to the point | Succinct, Short, Compact | Lengthy, Wordy |
| Controversial | Causing disagreement | Disputed, Debatable | Agreeable, Uncontroversial |
| Credible | Believable and trustworthy | Reliable, Valid, Trustworthy | Unbelievable, Untrustworthy |
| Diligent | Hardworking and careful | Industrious, Dedicated | Lazy, Negligent |
| Discrepancy | Difference or inconsistency | Variation, Deviation | Similarity, Agreement |
| Elusive | Difficult to find or catch | Evasive, Slippery | Obvious, Clear |
| Emphasize | Give special importance | Highlight, Stress, Accentuate | Downplay, Minimize |
| Exaggerate | Represent as greater than real | Overstate, Embellish | Understate, Minimize |
| Feasible | Possible and practical | Achievable, Viable | Impossible, Unworkable |
| Fluctuate | Change continuously | Vary, Shift, Oscillate | Stabilize, Remain steady |
| Impartial | Fair and unbiased | Neutral, Objective, Just | Biased, Prejudiced |
| Impeccable | Flawless or perfect | Spotless, Unblemished | Imperfect, Faulty |
| Infer | Deduce or conclude | Assume, Derive, Conjecture | Misinterpret, Misunderstand |
| Intricate | Complicated and detailed | Complex, Elaborate | Simple, Straightforward |
| Meticulous | Paying great attention to detail | Careful, Precise, Thorough | Careless, Negligent |
| Noteworthy | Worthy of attention | Remarkable, Significant | Insignificant, Unimportant |
| Obsolete | No longer in use | Outdated, Antiquated | Modern, Contemporary |
| Pragmatic | Practical and realistic | Sensible, Logical | Impractical, Unrealistic |
| Predominant | Most important or noticeable | Main, Dominant, Principal | Minor, Secondary |
| Resilient | Able to recover quickly | Tough, Adaptable | Weak, Fragile |
| Scrutinize | Examine closely | Inspect, Analyze, Examine | Ignore, Overlook |
| Superficial | On the surface, not deep | Shallow, External | Deep, Profound |
| Viable | Capable of working successfully | Feasible, Workable | Unfeasible, Impossible |
Pronunciation Guide Of Some Commonly Used Words In PTE
Categories of Connecting Words for PTE
| Category | Connecting Words | Usage |
| Adding Information | Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, Also, In addition | To add extra points |
| Giving Examples | For example, For instance, Such as, Namely, To illustrate | To introduce examples |
| Contrasting Ideas | However, On the other hand, Whereas, While, Conversely | To show contrast between ideas |
| Showing Similarity | Similarly, Likewise, In the same way, Correspondingly | To highlight similarities |
| Cause and Effect | Therefore, Thus, Consequently, As a result, Hence | To show reasons and results |
| Expressing Condition | If, Unless, Provided that, As long as, In case | To set conditions |
| Clarifying | In other words, That is to say, To clarify, Simply put | To explain in a different way |
| Emphasizing | Indeed, Above all, Most importantly, Without a doubt | To stress an important point |
| Summarizing | In conclusion, To summarize, To sum up, Overall | To conclude an argument |
| Sequencing Ideas | First, Next, Then, After that, Finally | To indicate order or sequence |
| Giving Reasons | Because, Since, As, Due to, Owing to | To explain why something happens |
| Contradicting Statements | Yet, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Even though | To show unexpected results |
| Expressing Purpose | In order to, So that, For the purpose of, With the aim of | To indicate a goal |
| Comparing Ideas | Compared to, In comparison, Similarly, Just as | To show similarities between things |
| Highlighting Key Points | Notably, Significantly, Above all, Importantly | To emphasize key information |
| Illustrating a Point | To demonstrate, To show, To clarify, Such as | To give more details about an idea |
| Presenting an Alternative | Instead, Alternatively, Rather, Else | To introduce another possibility |
| Expressing Probability | Probably, Possibly, Likely, Maybe, Perhaps | To indicate uncertainty or possibility |
| Expressing Certainty | Clearly, Certainly, Undoubtedly, Without a doubt | To show confidence in a statement |
| Referring to a Previous Point | As mentioned earlier, As stated before, As previously discussed | To recall something mentioned before |
📝 How to Improve Your Vocabulary for PTE
📚 Read Regularly:
Reading newspapers, academic journals, and books helps you encounter new words in context. Some useful sources include:
🔹 The Guardian
🔹 The New York Times
🔹 BBC News
🔹 National Geographic
🔹 Scientific American
🎴 Use Flashcards:
Flashcards are an effective tool for memorizing new words. Apps like Anki and Quizlet can help strengthen vocabulary. You can also check the Vocabulary guide on Gurully’s mobile application for free.
🔠 Practice Word Formation:
Understanding how words change in different contexts improves comprehension. For example:
🔗 Learn Collocations
Collocations are words that naturally go together in English. Using them correctly can enhance your fluency.
✅ Make a decision (❌ NOT do a decision)
✅ Take a risk (❌ NOT make a risk)
✅ Strong coffee (❌ NOT powerful coffee)
✅ Heavy rain (❌ NOT strong rain)
🎧 Listen to English Content
Watching English news, TED Talks, or podcasts can expose you to academic and conversational vocabulary.
🔹 The Daily (by The New York Times)
🔹 BBC Learning English
🔹 The Tony Robbins Podcast
📝 Practice Writing & Speaking
Writing essays and recording your speech can help reinforce new words. You can practice for free on Gurully’s website and mobile application.
📖 Use a Thesaurus
A thesaurus helps you find synonyms and expand your vocabulary. However, always ensure that the synonyms fit the context correctly.
Vocabulary Tips for Each PTE Section
📖 Reading Section
🔹 Focus on academic words to understand complex passages.
🔹 Look for context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words.
🔹 Recognize word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to guess meanings.
🎧 Listening Section
🔹 Listen for paraphrased words (e.g., “beneficial” instead of “useful”).
🔹 Take quick notes using abbreviations to capture key points.
🔹 Identify word stress and intonation to understand meaning.
🗣️ Speaking Section
🔹 Use varied vocabulary to sound more fluent and natural.
🔹 Avoid repetition—use synonyms where possible.
🔹 Incorporate linking words for better sentence flow.
✍️ Writing Section
🔹 Use formal vocabulary and avoid slang.
🔹 Incorporate collocations and precise words to make writing more academic.
🔹 Proofread for word choice mistakes before submitting.
Apart from learning vocabulary for PTE, practicing with Gurully’s mock tests is essential to boost your overall scores. Gurully’s PTE practice platform offers full-length mock tests that closely simulate the actual exam. You can also focus on section-wise tests or prepare question by question. With instant and accurate AI scoring, you can effectively evaluate your performance. Stay updated with regular tips by joining our Telegram group and subscribing to our YouTube channel.
Conclusion:
A strong vocabulary for PTE is key to excelling in reading, listening, speaking, and writing. You can improve fluency and comprehension by learning essential words, practicing with flashcards, and engaging with English content. Boost your preparation with Gurully’s AI-powered PTE mock tests for real-time scoring and targeted practice. Start your PTE prep today on Gurully!
