Why a print-and-save approach beats an emailed PDF
Most TOEFL vocabulary PDFs that float around the web have two problems. First, they are taken from a 2007 textbook and have not been refreshed for the 2026 format. Second, they often hide behind an email signup that gets you on a marketing list. This page is the alternative: 300 well-curated words on a single printable page, refreshed for 2026, no signup. Hit the button above (or press Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) and choose Save as PDF as the destination. Same outcome as a downloaded file, with the benefit that the next time the list is updated, the printable page reflects the change.
What's in the 300-word list
The list combines three of our most-used vocabulary resources, chosen so each word pays off across the test:
- 180 high-yield Academic Word List headwords (Sublists 1, 2, and 3 of Coxhead's AWL) — cover roughly 7 percent of every TOEFL Reading passage
- 40 functional words across 8 rhetorical moves — essential for Writing and Speaking band 5
- 80 transition phrases across addition, contrast, cause, result, sequence, example, emphasis, conclusion — for coherence in the Academic Discussion task
For the deeper rationale and example sentences behind each block, the source pages are linked at the bottom.
PART 1 — AWL Sublist 1 (60 words, highest frequency)
AWL Sublist 1 — 60 most frequent academic words
Roughly 4 percent of every TOEFL Reading passage. Memorise this first.
PART 2 — AWL Sublist 2 (60 words)
AWL Sublist 2 — second tier of academic frequency
Add roughly another 2 percent of TOEFL Reading coverage.
PART 3 — AWL Sublist 3 (60 words)
AWL Sublist 3 — mid-frequency academic words
Cumulative coverage with Sublists 1+2 is about 7 percent of every TOEFL Reading passage.
PART 4 — 40 functional words for Writing and Speaking
Grouped by the rhetorical move each word makes in a TOEFL response.
Argument verbs
Analysis verbs
Cause-and-effect verbs
Change-and-quantity words
Structure nouns
Evaluation adjectives
Abstraction nouns
Connective transitions
PART 5 — 80 transition phrases
Ten alternatives for each of the eight rhetorical moves. Vary them across a 200-word Writing response; do not use the same connective twice.
Addition (also)
Contrast (but)
Cause (because)
Result (so)
Sequence (next)
Example (for instance)
Emphasis (importantly)
Conclusion (finally)
How to use this PDF
The 300 words are organised so each section is a separate study session.
- Week 1: AWL Sublist 1 (60 words). Use 5 a day in your own sentences.
- Week 2: AWL Sublist 2 + the 8 argument and analysis functional words.
- Week 3: AWL Sublist 3 + the 16 cause/effect, change/quantity, structure, evaluation words.
- Week 4: The 16 remaining functional words + 40 of the 80 transition phrases.
- Week 5: The remaining 40 transition phrases + full-test practice using the words.
Sources for each section
- Academic Word List for TOEFL 2026 — AWL Sublists 1 to 10 (570 headwords) with TOEFL-passage examples
- 40 high-frequency TOEFL vocabulary words — functional words with full collocation tables and example sentences
- TOEFL transition words and linking phrases — the 80 connectives with band-5 sample sentences
- TOEFL vocabulary list 2026 — broader vocabulary strategy across all four sections
- By-topic vocabulary directory — biology, economics, psychology, anthropology, and 6 more academic subject lists
Practise these words on a real test
Memorising a list is half the work; using the words under timed conditions is the other half. The TOEFLMock practice tests give you that second half free, and you'll see the AWL words you just learned showing up in the Reading passages.
FAQ
Why not give an actual PDF file?
Because the moment a PDF is downloaded it goes stale. The browser-print path always renders the latest version. Press the button at the top or Ctrl+P / Cmd+P and pick "Save as PDF" as the destination.
Is this enough vocabulary for band 5?
For Reading and Listening, supplement with AWL Sublists 4 to 6 (another 180 words). For Writing and Speaking, this list is sufficient if you can use the words productively.
How long does it take to print?
The full 300-word list fits on roughly 6 to 8 pages depending on your paper size and margins. Use the browser print preview to confirm before printing.