PTE High-Frequency Academic Core Vocabulary

To examine something carefully in order to decide how good or effective it is.

“Teachers were asked to evaluate the new curriculum after a full term.”

Collocations: evaluate the evidence, critically evaluate

To show clearly that something is true or exists by giving proof or evidence.

“The study demonstrates a strong link between sleep and memory.”

Collocations: demonstrate competence, clearly demonstrate

To set something up or prove it firmly so that it is accepted as true.

“Researchers first had to establish a baseline before testing began.”

Collocations: establish a relationship, establish a framework

To explain or decide the meaning of information, words or actions.

“Economists may interpret the same data in very different ways.”

Collocations: interpret the data, interpret the results

Large or important enough to have a noticeable effect or to be worth attention.

“There was a significant increase in enrolment over the decade.”

Collocations: significant difference, significant impact

Large in amount, size or degree, and therefore meaningful.

“The project required a substantial amount of public funding.”

Collocations: substantial evidence, substantial difference

To improve the quality, value or strength of something.

“Regular feedback can enhance student performance considerably.”

Collocations: enhance performance, enhance learning

A basic structure of ideas or rules used to plan or understand something.

“The authors propose a framework for analysing online behaviour.”

Collocations: theoretical framework, conceptual framework

To accept that something is true without having proof of it.

“The model assumes that consumers always act rationally.”

Collocations: assume responsibility, commonly assumed

Closely connected to the subject or situation being considered.

“Only studies relevant to the topic were included in the review.”

Collocations: relevant information, relevant factors

Forming the most basic and necessary part of something.

“Trust is a fundamental principle of any healthy partnership.”

Collocations: fundamental principle, fundamental difference

Extremely important because it strongly affects the outcome.

“Timing plays a crucial role in the success of the treatment.”

Collocations: crucial role, crucial importance

Including everything or nearly everything that is relevant.

“The report offers a comprehensive overview of recent research.”

Collocations: comprehensive review, comprehensive approach

Possible to do or achieve in a practical way.

“Engineers concluded that the design was technically feasible.”

Collocations: technically feasible, economically feasible

Able to work successfully and continue over time.

“Solar power has become a viable alternative to fossil fuels.”

Collocations: viable alternative, viable option

Having more than one possible meaning and therefore unclear.

“The survey question was too ambiguous to give reliable answers.”

Collocations: ambiguous result, highly ambiguous

To express an idea or feeling clearly and in words.

“The author articulates a complex argument in plain language.”

Collocations: articulate a vision, clearly articulate

Most common, noticeable or powerful within a group or situation.

“Agriculture was the predominant source of income in the region.”

Collocations: predominant view, predominant factor

Logically connected and easy to understand as a whole.

“A coherent argument links each point back to the main claim.”

Collocations: coherent argument, coherent strategy

Existing as a natural and permanent part of something.

“There are inherent risks in relying on a single data source.”

Collocations: inherent risk, inherent limitation

Based on observation or experiment rather than on theory alone.

“The claim is supported by strong empirical evidence.”

Collocations: empirical evidence, empirical research

A set of beliefs and ideas that shapes how a group sees the world.

“Economic policy in this period reflected a free-market ideology.”

Collocations: dominant ideology, political ideology

A system in which people or things are ranked by importance or level.

“Decisions move slowly through a rigid organisational hierarchy.”

Collocations: social hierarchy, hierarchy of needs

To change something so that it gives a false or misleading impression.

“A small sample can distort the overall results of a study.”

Collocations: distort the facts, distort the picture

To make an idea, feeling or structure stronger.

“These findings reinforce earlier claims about diet and health.”

Collocations: reinforce the view, reinforce stereotypes

To limit or restrict what someone or something can do.

“Tight budgets constrain the choices available to managers.”

Collocations: constrain growth, severely constrain

To move away from an expected or usual course or standard.

“Results that deviate sharply from the norm deserve closer study.”

Collocations: deviate from the norm, significantly deviate

Seeming reasonable or likely to be true.

“The author offers a plausible explanation for the decline.”

Collocations: plausible explanation, highly plausible

To make a problem or bad situation worse.

“Poor planning only exacerbated the housing shortage.”

Collocations: exacerbate the problem, exacerbate tensions

Real and clear enough to be seen, touched or measured.

“The campaign produced tangible benefits within a year.”

Collocations: tangible benefits, tangible evidence

To notice or understand something that is not immediately obvious.

“It is hard to discern a clear pattern in the early data.”

Collocations: discern a pattern, difficult to discern

To make pain, suffering or a problem less severe.

“The new policy was designed to alleviate rural poverty.”

Collocations: alleviate poverty, alleviate the burden

To examine something very carefully and in detail.

“Auditors scrutinize every transaction before approving the accounts.”

Collocations: closely scrutinize, scrutinize the evidence

To publicly support or argue in favour of a particular idea or action.

“Many economists advocate higher investment in education.”

Collocations: advocate change, strongly advocate

To begin and take responsibility for a task or piece of work.

“The university undertook a major review of its courses.”

Collocations: undertake research, undertake a study