Essential words for the TOEFL exam | Here’s how to memorize them!

Essential words for the TOEFL exam | Here’s everything you should know to ace your exam!

TOEFL encourages improving your vocabulary, but you’re wondering where to start. News regarding Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam being the ultimate list is widespread. Still, is that sufficient to help you prepare for the TOEFL exam? You might be tempted to use every possible list available on the internet, but myriad options exist. Furthermore, not every list you lay your eyes upon needs to be the ultimate list of essential words for the TOEFL exam. 

Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam have set a standard for TOEFL. Besides referring to Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam, we recommend creating your personal list. Learning vocabulary is a subjective play. All learners have varying learning paces, and the time to memorize specific words differs. It is not always the same for every learner, which is why we recommend creating a list of your own that is customized to meet your learning requirements. 

We will start by understanding the value Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam brings to your learning aspect. Following this, we will explore the importance of creating your list of essential words for the TOEFL exam.

Should you buy Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam?

Top questions regarding Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam have been answered below – 

1. What is the structure of the book?

Chapters one to four consist of tips and tricks related to TOEFL vocabulary. These are based on previous exams that occurred. From chapter five onward, you will face practice exercises. The following two chapters will be the lengthiest in Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam. It is good to have these handy, as each lesson consists of 17 different vocabulary words. 

2. What is the key highlight of the book?

From chapter seven onward, the focus will be on the significance of practicing reading for TOEFL exams. The most critical part of Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam is perhaps its index chapter right at the end. Herein, the list of essential words for the TOEFL exam is presented in alphabetical order, making it easy for you to refer to them. 

3. Is it worth buying Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam?

Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL pdf version are available on Amazon for roughly 800 INR – it sure is a helpful book but is it worth buying it? Suppose you are confident about your vocabulary knowledge and will practice creating your personal vocabulary list. In that case, you may not need this book. At the same time, if you wish to raise your vocabulary knowledge a notch higher, it might be worth investing in the book. 

Tips to customize your own TOEFL vocabulary list

It may sound complex to create your own TOEFL vocabulary list. Still, it isn’t! Creating your vocabulary list has numerous benefits. For instance, it can save you a lot of time and effort you may put in while improving your vocabulary. 

Following given are the top tips to keep in mind while customizing your own TOEFL vocabulary list –

Take it easy

Different TOEFL vocabulary books, including Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam, may end up consisting of thousands of recommended words you should learn. We all know it is impossible to memorize all the words mentioned in all reference books. 

Take baby steps 

When scramming words in your memory, you should take baby steps. We recommend starting with grasping five new words each day. Starting with five words will help you focus on them better. It cannot be taken from a random list, but it should be words from a list you are unaware of! 

Don’t aim for 100% 

It is not practical for you to aim for 100%. After all, you are not a machine. You are only human. You will take years of practice to get something in your everyday life. So while you grasp many words, you don’t need to remember 100% of them daily. 

Eliminate familiar words 

One of the most important things you need to do is remove all the words familiar to you when creating a list. These words will only end up cluttering your space even further. When you remove the words familiar to you, you will be better at placing them well throughout your speech. 

Create categories 

When working on putting together a list of words, it is best to categorize them according to your understanding. This is perhaps the oldest trick in increasing your knowledge or learning journey. This simple trick will make memorizing so much better for you.

Memorize these top essential words for the TOEFL exam

Here’s a handy list to memorize –

• Accolade (noun): An award or achievement. 
• Dearth (noun): Scarcity of something.
• Jargon (noun): Special words used in a sentence.
• Ludicrous (adjective):  Absurd or ridiculous. 
• Mundane (adjective): Something that can be referred to as ordinary.
• Obviate (verb): Remove or prevent. 
• Obtain (verb): Acquire or procure. 
• Inscrutable (adjective): Mysterious or confusing.
• Interpret (verb): To understand or decipher a meaning.
• Scrutiny (verb): To criticize or find flaws.
• Retrieve (verb): To collect or accommodate. 
• Redolent (adjective): Suggestive or remindful.
• Proximity (noun): Closeness or nearness.
• Prior (adjective): Earlier or in advance.
• Platitude (noun): Commonplace or something that occurs commonly.
• Rebuke (verb): To undo. 
• Coalesce (verb): Merge or fuse two things.
• Candid (adjective): Casual.
• Callous (adjective): Cold-hearted or rude.
• Banter (noun): A normal conversation.
• Gibe (noun): An insult addressed to someone.
• Generate (verb): To create.
• Frustrate (verb): To cause someone to be upset or irritated.
• Fiasco (noun): A major blunder.
• Evaluate (verb): To gauge or understand something.
• Estimate (verb): An approximate value.
• Entreat (verb): Beg or request.
• Effete (adjective): Artificial or pretentious.
• Edict (noun): Commandment or an order.
• Fluctuate (verb): Change or vary drastically.
• Divulge (verb): Reveal or communicate.
• Distribute (verb): To give out amongst individuals.
• Disconcert (verb): Unsettling or upsetting.
• Diffident (adjective): Modest or introvert.
• Deplete (verb): To diminish or get over.
• Zenith (noun): At the highest point.
• Deference (noun): To regard or estimate. 

How to learn essential words for the TOEFL exam?

Mugging up different words is not the only way to improve your vocabulary. In fact, if you don’t understand a particular word well and use it in a sentence, it will become evident that you have put effort into memorizing the words. 

During TOEFL exams, they gauge your ability to grasp concepts well. Here are some tips for learning essential words for the TOEFL exam –

Memorize in chunks 

Our brain’s natural ability to remember information has been fed into our systems in chunks. So, for instance, instead of just memorizing the word “hello,” memorize the sentence that follows “hello,” like, “hello, how are you?” 

Talk to yourself

Talking to yourself does not make you crazy. You must begin using your inner voice to communicate with yourself. Visualize the words in your head and see if it makes sense in your imagination. When you identify sentences well, it becomes easier to remember them when the time comes!

Challenge yourself with games 

When challenging your brain, you stimulate your brain to respond efficiently. You are making it attractive for your brain to play along and do what you want. The internet is filled with games that aim at improving your vocabulary. They utilize different techniques to test your vocabulary or even add more words to your vocabulary. 

Key takeaways

• Besides referring to Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam, we also recommend creating your personal list for improving your TOEFL vocabulary list.
• Suppose you are confident about your vocabulary knowledge and will practice creating your personal vocabulary list. In that case, you may not need Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL pdf book. 
• We recommend creating your vocabulary list as it has numerous benefits. For instance, it can save you a lot of time and effort you may put in while improving your vocabulary. 

FAQs

Q1. Is it worth buying Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL exam?

Answer – Suppose you are confident about your vocabulary knowledge and will practice creating your personal vocabulary list. In that case, you may not need Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL pdf book. However, if you wish to strengthen your vocabulary further, go right ahead!

Q2. How much does Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL pdf cost?

Answer – Barron’s essential words for the TOEFL pdf version are available on Amazon for roughly 800 INR.

Q3. Will memorizing words help improve my vocabulary?

Answer – Mugging up different words is not the only way to improve your vocabulary. In fact, if you don’t understand a particular word well and use it in a sentence, it will become evident that you have put effort into memorizing the words.