Academic Word List Sec 1–4 | 570 Word Families

Academic Word List study becomes useful in Secondary 1 to 4 when students treat the 570 entries as word families rather than 570 isolated spellings. The Academic Word List developed by Averil Coxhead contains 570 families divided into ten sublists by frequency, and the high-value learning move is to connect each headword to related forms, grammar, collocation and real academic sentences.

Searches for the academic word list, AWL 570 words, secondary school vocabulary, academic vocabulary and essay words often lead to raw lists. A raw list is a map, not a curriculum. Students need to know that analyse, analysis, analytical and analytically belong to one family, and that the useful form depends on the sentence slot. The same principle turns hundreds of entries into manageable networks.

This page preserves the full 570 headword structure while teaching a practical Sec 1-to-4 learning system: prioritise the higher-frequency sublists, build word-family matrices, learn collocations, retrieve across word forms and transfer the vocabulary into comprehension, summary, oral and essay writing. Use it with the Singapore Vocabulary Guide.

Quick Read

570 AWL headwords in ten sublists.
Sublists 1–9 contain 60 families each; Sublist 10 contains 30.
Learn families, not isolated forms.
Prioritise meaning, part of speech and collocation.
Use the list for academic reading and writing, not as a weekly spelling dump.

AWL Sublist 1: 60 word families

analyse
approach
area
assess
assume
authority
available
benefit
concept
consist
constitute
context
contract
create
data
define
derive
distribute
economy
environment
establish
estimate
evident
export
factor
finance
formula
function
identify
income
indicate
individual
interpret
involve
issue
labour
legal
legislate
major
method
occur
percent
period
policy
principle
proceed
process
require
research
respond
role
section
sector
significant
similar
source
specific
structure
theory
vary

Study this sublist as families. For each headword, add the forms you actually meet in reading, mark part of speech, record one natural collocation and write one sentence. Do not assume every possible family member is equally common or equally useful.

AWL Sublist 2: 60 word families

achieve
acquire
administrate
affect
appropriate
aspect
assist
category
chapter
commission
community
complex
compute
conclude
conduct
consequent
construct
consume
credit
culture
design
distinct
element
equate
evaluate
feature
final
focus
impact
injure
institute
invest
item
journal
maintain
normal
obtain
participate
perceive
positive
potential
previous
primary
purchase
range
region
regulate
relevant
reside
resource
restrict
secure
seek
select
site
strategy
survey
text
tradition
transfer

AWL Sublist 3: 60 word families

alternative
circumstance
comment
compensate
component
consent
considerable
constant
constrain
contribute
convene
coordinate
core
corporate
correspond
criteria
deduce
demonstrate
document
dominate
emphasis
ensure
exclude
framework
fund
illustrate
immigrate
imply
initial
instance
interact
justify
layer
link
locate
maximise
minor
negate
outcome
partner
philosophy
physical
proportion
publish
react
register
rely
remove
scheme
sequence
sex
shift
specify
sufficient
task
technical
technique
technology
valid
volume

AWL Sublist 4: 60 word families

access
adequate
annual
apparent
approximate
attitude
attribute
civil
code
commit
communicate
concentrate
confer
contrast
cycle
debate
despite
dimension
domestic
emerge
error
ethnic
goal
grant
hence
hypothesis
implement
implicate
impose
integrate
internal
investigate
job
label
mechanism
obvious
occupy
option
output
overall
parallel
parameter
phase
predict
principal
prior
professional
project
promote
regime
resolve
retain
series
statistic
status
stress
subsequent
sum
summary
undertake

AWL Sublist 5: 60 word families

academy
adjust
alter
amend
aware
capacity
challenge
clause
compound
conflict
consult
contact
decline
discrete
draft
enable
energy
enforce
entity
equivalent
evolve
expand
expose
external
facilitate
fundamental
generate
generation
image
liberal
licence
logic
margin
medical
mental
modify
monitor
network
notion
objective
orient
perspective
precise
prime
psychology
pursue
ratio
reject
revenue
stable
style
substitute
sustain
symbol
target
transit
trend
version
welfare
whereas

AWL Sublist 6: 60 word families

abstract
accurate
acknowledge
aggregate
allocate
assign
attach
author
bond
brief
capable
cite
cooperate
discriminate
display
diverse
domain
edit
enhance
estate
exceed
expert
explicit
federal
fee
flexible
furthermore
gender
ignorant
incentive
incidence
incorporate
index
inhibit
initiate
input
instruct
intelligent
interval
lecture
migrate
minimum
ministry
motive
neutral
nevertheless
overseas
precede
presume
rational
recover
reveal
scope
subsidy
tape
trace
transform
transport
underlie
utilise

AWL Sublist 7: 60 word families

adapt
adult
advocate
aid
channel
chemical
classic
comprehensive
comprise
confirm
contrary
convert
couple
decade
definite
deny
differentiate
dispose
dynamic
eliminate
empirical
equip
extract
file
finite
foundation
globe
grade
guarantee
hierarchy
identical
ideology
infer
innovate
insert
intervene
isolate
media
mode
paradigm
phenomenon
priority
prohibit
publication
quote
release
reverse
simulate
sole
somewhat
submit
successor
survive
thesis
topic
transmit
ultimate
unique
visible
voluntary

AWL Sublist 8: 60 word families

abandon
accompany
accumulate
ambiguous
append
appreciate
arbitrary
automate
bias
chart
clarify
commodity
complement
conform
contemporary
contradict
crucial
currency
denote
detect
deviate
displace
drama
eventual
exhibit
exploit
fluctuate
guideline
highlight
implicit
induce
inevitable
infrastructure
inspect
intense
manipulate
minimise
nuclear
offset
paragraph
plus
practitioner
predominant
prospect
radical
random
reinforce
restore
revise
schedule
tense
terminate
theme
thereby
uniform
vehicle
via
virtual
visual
widespread

AWL Sublist 9: 60 word families

accommodate
analogy
anticipate
assure
attain
behalf
bulk
cease
coherent
coincide
commence
compatible
concurrent
confine
controversy
converse
device
devote
diminish
distort
duration
erode
ethic
format
found
inherent
insight
integral
intermediate
manual
mature
mediate
medium
military
minimal
mutual
norm
overlap
passive
portion
preliminary
protocol
qualitative
refine
relax
restrain
revolution
rigid
route
scenario
sphere
subordinate
supplement
suspend
team
temporary
trigger
unify
violate
vision

AWL Sublist 10: 30 word families

adjacent
albeit
assemble
collapse
colleague
compile
conceive
convince
depress
encounter
enormous
forthcoming
incline
integrity
intrinsic
invoke
levy
likewise
nonetheless
notwithstanding
odd
ongoing
panel
persist
pose
reluctance
so-called
straightforward
undergo
whereby

60 model family explanations from Sublist 1

1. analyse

analyse: verb; family includes analysis, analyst, analytical. Use it for systematic examination of evidence or parts. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

2. approach

approach: noun or verb; can mean a method or the act of moving towards something. Common academic phrase: approach to a problem. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

3. area

area: noun; can refer to physical space or a field/topic of study. Context controls the sense. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

4. assess

assess: verb; judge or evaluate using evidence or criteria. Family: assessment. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

5. assume

assume: verb; accept as true for the purpose of reasoning, sometimes without proof. Family: assumption. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

6. authority

authority: noun; can mean official power or an expert source. Evaluate which sense the text uses. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

7. available

available: adjective; accessible or able to be used. Family: availability. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

8. benefit

benefit: noun or verb; advantage, or to gain advantage. Common patterns: benefit of, benefit from, beneficial to. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

9. concept

concept: noun; an abstract idea used to organise understanding. Family: conceptual. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

10. consist

consist: verb; common pattern: consist of. Family includes consistent, but note the meaning shift. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

11. constitute

constitute: verb; form, make up, or amount to. Often used in analytical statements. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

12. context

context: noun; surrounding situation or textual environment that shapes meaning. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

13. contract

contract: noun or verb; formal agreement or become smaller. Academic context decides the sense. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

14. create

create: verb; bring into existence or produce. Family: creation, creative, creativity. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

15. data

data: noun; information used for analysis. Note singular/plural conventions can vary by discipline. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

16. define

define: verb; state the meaning or boundaries of a term. Family: definition. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

17. derive

derive: verb; obtain from a source or infer from something. Common pattern: derive from. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

18. distribute

distribute: verb; spread or allocate. Family: distribution. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

19. economy

economy: noun; system of production and consumption. Family: economic, economical, economics; keep their meanings distinct. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

20. environment

environment: noun; surroundings or conditions. Family: environmental. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

21. establish

establish: verb; set up, show to be true, or create firmly. Meaning depends on object. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

22. estimate

estimate: noun or verb; approximate judgement or calculation based on available information. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

23. evident

evident: adjective; clear or apparent from evidence. Family: evidence, evidently. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

24. export

export: noun or verb; send goods/services abroad, or the goods themselves. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

25. factor

factor: noun; element contributing to a result. Common analytical frame: one factor is. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

26. finance

finance: noun or verb; money management or provide funding. Family: financial. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

27. formula

formula: noun; established rule, expression or method. Family: formulate. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

28. function

function: noun or verb; purpose/role or operate. Useful across Science and Mathematics. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

29. identify

identify: verb; recognise and name. Family: identification, identity. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

30. income

income: noun; money received over a period, often from work or investment. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

31. indicate

indicate: verb; show, point to, or suggest. Often weaker than prove. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

32. individual

individual: noun or adjective; one person/thing or relating to a single case. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

33. interpret

interpret: verb; explain meaning or understand evidence. Family: interpretation. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

34. involve

involve: verb; include as a necessary part or engage someone in an activity. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

35. issue

issue: noun or verb; topic/problem, or officially give. Academic context often uses the topic/problem sense. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

36. labour

labour: noun or verb; work, workers collectively, or effort. British spelling used here. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

37. legal

legal: adjective; relating to law or permitted by law. Family includes illegal and legality. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

38. legislate

legislate: verb; make laws. Family: legislation, legislative. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

39. major

major: adjective/noun; important or larger, or a field of study in some systems. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

40. method

method: noun; organised way of doing something. Family: methodology has a more specific research meaning. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

41. occur

occur: verb; happen or exist. Family: occurrence. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

42. percent

percent: noun/adjective; per hundred. Distinguish percent from percentage in sentence structure. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

43. period

period: noun; span of time or a punctuation mark, depending on context. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

44. policy

policy: noun; formal principle or course of action adopted by an organisation or government. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

45. principle

principle: noun; fundamental rule or belief. Distinguish from principal. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

46. proceed

proceed: verb; continue or move forward. Family: procedure is related but not interchangeable. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

47. process

process: noun or verb; series of actions or to treat/handle through a system. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

48. require

require: verb; need or make necessary. Family: requirement. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

49. research

research: noun or verb; systematic investigation to establish knowledge. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

50. respond

respond: verb; answer or react. Family: response, responsive. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

51. role

role: noun; function or position within a system or situation. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

52. section

section: noun; part of a larger whole. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

53. sector

sector: noun; distinct part of an economy, society, or system. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

54. significant

significant: adjective; important or, in statistics, having a technical meaning. Do not treat the senses as identical. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

55. similar

similar: adjective; alike but not necessarily identical. Family: similarity. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

56. source

source: noun; origin of information, material or evidence. Academic writing evaluates source quality. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

57. specific

specific: adjective; precise or particular. Family: specifically, specification. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

58. structure

structure: noun or verb; arrangement of parts or organise them. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

59. theory

theory: noun; explanatory framework or set of ideas; in Science, not simply a guess. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

60. vary

vary: verb; differ or change. Family: variable, variation, varied. Write one sentence in an academic context, then rewrite the sentence using another family form where grammar allows. Compare what changes.

What a word family is

A word family groups a headword with related forms built from the same base. The practical value is grammatical flexibility. A student who knows analyse but not analysis may recognise an essay question yet struggle to write the noun form needed in a sentence.

Choose ten families from two different sublists. Build a word-family matrix, add one collocation per form, and use five of the families in a paragraph on a familiar school topic. The next day, retrieve the same families without the list.

Why the sublists matter

The ten AWL sublists are ordered by frequency in the academic corpus used to build the list. That makes earlier sublists a sensible priority. Frequency is not a guarantee of usefulness in every school subject, so combine the order with the student’s actual reading demands.

AWL is general academic vocabulary

The list was designed to capture vocabulary that appears across academic disciplines rather than technical terms tied to one subject. That makes words such as analyse, significant, method, evidence-related families and process useful across English, Science and Humanities.

The Fencing Method

Fence family members by grammar and meaning. Economy/economic/economical/economics look related but do different jobs. Significant/significance/significantly shift word class. A family is a network, not a bag of interchangeable forms.

Collocation

Store family members with natural partners: analyse data, significant difference, establish a relationship, conduct research, relevant evidence. Collocations turn abstract headwords into usable phrases.

Reading

Highlight AWL words in a real passage and ask what function they serve. Are they naming a process, comparing evidence, indicating certainty, describing method or organising an argument? Academic vocabulary often carries the logic of the text.

Writing

Do not force AWL words into every sentence. Use them where precision requires them. An essay with ten accurate academic words can be stronger than one crowded with thirty misused forms.

Revision

Use spaced retrieval by sublist and family. Give the headword and ask for noun, verb, adjective and adverb forms where they exist; then reverse the cue. Mix old and new families so selection becomes part of practice.

30 AWL transfer drills

Drill 1

Select five headwords from the next sublist in sequence. For each, identify part of speech, add one common family member, write one collocation and one sentence. Then close the page and retrieve the five from definitions or sentence gaps. Finish by using two in a short analytical paragraph.

Drill 2

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Frequently asked questions

Does a student need all 570 families for O-Level?

No single examination requires the list as a checklist. The AWL is a broad academic vocabulary resource; prioritise useful high-frequency families and real reading.

Are the sublists school levels?

No. They are frequency bands within the AWL, not Secondary 1 to 4 grade labels.

Should students memorise every family member?

No. Learn high-value forms encountered in authentic texts and add forms progressively.

Is the AWL the newest academic vocabulary list?

It remains influential, but later lists and critiques exist. Use it as one useful resource rather than the only model of academic English.

How should parents use this?

Select a small set, ask for family forms and sentences, and return after a delay.

How should teachers use it?

Connect families to current texts, genres and subjects rather than teaching the list in isolation.

What is the fastest route to productive use?

Meaning + word class + collocation + sentence + spaced retrieval + transfer.

What shows mastery?

The student can recognise a family in reading and choose the correct form naturally in new writing.

Continue through the Singapore Vocabulary Guide.

eduKate SG

The Academic Word List for Sec 1 to 4: 570 Word Families Explained