4000 CPE Vocabulary List

Preparing vocabulary for the CPE (C2, Cambridge Proficiency) test is a smart move! Since vocabulary plays a huge role in all parts of the exam (Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking), here’s a focused vocabulary to help you build and remember the right words effectively.

In addition to the vocabulary, we also provide online tools and exercises to support your studies, along with helpful tips and printable materials.

We organize these 4000 words into 14 groups. Group one is open to all visitors. The rest of the groups are only fully accessible to VIP users.

aquatic  
a. consisting of, relating to, or being in the water
Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
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arable  
a. fit for growing crops, as by plowing
The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow.
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arboreal  
a. tree-dwelling; treelike; living in trees
Learn about the arboreal emblems that represent the provinces and territories of Canada.
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arc  
n. the continuous portion of a circle; something curved in shape
Why are rainbows in an arc shape?
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archaeology  
n. study of artifacts and relics of early humankind
The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
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archetype  
n. prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans connecting Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
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