C1 Advanced (CAE): Vocabulary List
Below you will find a sample vocabulary list divided into individual topics at the C1 level for the CAE exam.
You can also download a PDF at the very bottom of the article.
| ENVIRONMENT | |
|---|---|
| biodegradable | able to be broken down by living organisms such as bacteria, which is then safe for the environment |
| carbon-neutral | describing a state in which the carbon dioxide emission reaches zero or there is a balance between the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and absorbed |
| zero-emission | not producing gases harmful to the environment |
| crude | unprocessed and in raw form |
| ecological | related to the connection between animals, plants, and humans and their environment |
| free-range | related to a type of farming in which animals and birds can move around and eat freely, instead of being kept in a limited area |
| to contaminate | to make decayed leaves, plants, or other organic waste into a mixture that can improve the soil’s quality to help plants grow more quickly |
| to compost | when a place is covered with water |
| to dump | to get rid of waste material, particularly in an unorganized manner |
| to refine | to remove unwanted or harmful substances from another substance |
| to reuse | to use something once more, usually for a different purpose |
| conservationist | someone who makes efforts to protect the environment and wildlife from any type of harm |
| eco-anxiety | a feeling of great worry regarding the current and future state of the environment threatened by humans |
| disposal | the act of getting rid of waste material |
| dumper | a truck with a container that can elevate to unload waste material |
| logging | the act of cutting down trees to use their wood |
| carbon monoxide | an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that is produced from the burning of fossil fuels, which proves lethal in some cases |
| microplastic | very small plastic pieces in the environment that originate from personal care products, clothing, etc. and the degradation of other plastic products |
| pylon | a tall metal structure used for carrying high-voltage power lines above the ground |
| ozone layer | protective layer in the Earth’s atmosphere that protects from UV radiation |
| reactor | a large machine or structure used for producing nuclear energy |
| hydroelectricity | electricity that is produced from the power of water |
| solar cell | a device that converts the energy of the sun into electricity |
| sanctuary | an area for birds and animals to live and to be protected from dangerous conditions and being hunted |
| wildfire | a large fire that spreads fast and causes much destruction |
| tidal wave | a very large ocean wave caused by a storm or an underwater earthquake that when hits the land causes a lot of destruction |
| herbicide | a chemical substance that kills plants, used for destroying plants that are not wanted |
| pollutant | any substance that is harmful to the environment |
| to die out | to cease to exist or disappear completely |
| rot | the process of of being destroyed via natural causes |
| oil rig | a large facility used for drilling oil or gas from underground or under the sea |
| acid rain | rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, chiefly to forests and lakes. |
| typhoon | a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans |
| disposal | the act or process of getting rid of something, especially by throwing it away |
| leach | with reference to a soluble chemical or mineral- drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid, especially rainwater. |
| SCIENCE | |
|---|---|
| atomic | related to an atom or atoms |
| nucleus | (biology) the part of a cell that contains most of the genetic information |
| bond | a linking force that holds atoms or ions together in any molecule or crystal |
| charge | the physical property in matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field |
| density | (physics) the degree to which a substance is compacted, measured by dividing its mass by its volume |
| gravity | (physics) the universal force of attraction between any pair of objects with mass |
| particle | (physics) any of the smallest units that energy or matter consists of, such as electrons, atoms, molecules, etc. |
| property | a feature or quality of something |
| instinct | a reaction or behaviour whose reason is innate, not a result of thinking |
| metabolism | the chemical processes through which food is changed into energy for the body to use |
| evolutionary | related to evolution or the slow and gradual development of something |
| organic | produced by or from or related to living things |
| evolution | (biology) the slow and gradual development of living things throughout the history of the earth |
| genome | the complete set of genetic material of any living thing |
| mutation | (biology) a change in the structure of the genes of an individual that causes them to develop different physical features |
| embryo | an unhatched or unborn offspring in the process of development, especially a human offspring roughly from the second to the eighth week after fertilization |
| hybrid | an animal or plant with parents that belong to different breeds or varieties |
| clone | a cell or a group of cells created through a natural or artificial process from a source that they are genetically identical to |
| to reproduce | (of a living being) to produce offspring or more of itself |
| stimulus | something that encourages an activity or causes a reaction in a person or thing |
| synthesis | the act of producing a substance that exists in living beings |
| to accelerate | to increase the velocity of something |
| to dissolve | (of a solid) to become one with a liquid |
| acid | a water-soluble chemical substance that contains Hydrogen and has a sour taste or corrosive feature with a PH less than 7 |
| aluminum | a light silver-gray metal used primarily for making cooking equipment and aircraft parts |
| copper | a metallic chemical element that has a red-brown color, primarily used as a conductor in wiring |
| lead | a heavy soft metal, used in making bullets, in plumbing and roofing, especially in the past |
| conductor | a substance that permits heat or electricity to pass through it or along it |
| crystal | a substance of small size and equal sides, formed naturally when turns to solid |
| gunpowder | a type of powder that is explosive, used in making bullets, bombs, etc. |
| dynamite | an explosive that is very powerful |
| composition | the different elements that form something or the arrangement of these elements |
| to emit | to release heat, light, sound, radiation, etc. |
| ray | a narrow beam of light, heat, or other form of energy |
| laser | a device that produces a powerful and concentrated beam of light that can be used in medical procedures, for cutting metal objects, etc. |
| magnet | an object that makes iron come toward it because of the magnetic field that it produces |
| thermal | referring to anything related to heat or temperature |
| to compress | to press two things together or be pressed together to become smaller |
| generator | a machine that produces electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy |
| to evaporate | to become gas or vapour from liquid |
| vacuum | a space that is utterly devoid of matter |
| THE ARTS | |
|---|---|
| amateur | lacking skill or not done in a professional way |
| authentic | real and not a copy |
| decorative | intended to look attractive rather than being of practical use |
| symbolic | consisting of or employing symbols |
| auction house | a company in the business of selling items at auction |
| bronze | a statue or any other artwork made of bronze |
| ceramic | an object such as a pot, bowl, etc. that is made by heating clay |
| canvas | an oil painting done on a canvas |
| mural | a large painting done on a wall |
| oil painting | the art or technique of painting with oil paint |
| silhouette | a drawing that depicts the outline of someone or something that is in a single black colour and against a light background, often from the side |
| still life | a painting or drawing, representing objects that do not move, such as flowers, glassware, etc.; an artwork created using this method |
| a picture or design created by pressing an engraved surface onto a paper or any other surface | |
| depth | the characteristic that gives an artwork or picture a three-dimensional aspect |
| finish | the last layer that is put on the surface of something as a way of protection or decoration or the substance that does this |
| harmony | a pleasing combination of things in a way that forms a coherent whole |
| patron | an individual who financially supports an artist, charity, cause, etc. |
| sculptor | someone who makes works of art by carving or shaping wood, clay, metal, etc. into different forms |
| palette | a thin oval board that a painter uses to mix colours and hold pigments on, with a hole for the thumb to go through |
| reproduction | the act or process of making a copy of an artistic or literary piece, a document, etc. |
| restoration | the act of repairing something such as an artwork, building, etc. to be in its original state |
| viewpoint | a certain way of thinking about a subject |
| watercolour | a painting that is created using paints that are water-soluble |
| impressionism | a movement in painting originated in 19th-century France that uses light and colour in a way that gives an impression rather than a detailed representation of the subject |
| modernism | a style or movement in art, literature, and architecture developed at the beginning of the 20th century that greatly differs from ones that are traditional |
| realism | a literary or artistic style that gives a lifelike representation of people, events, and objects |
| surrealism | a 20th-century style of art and literature in which unrelated events or images are combined in an unusual way to represent the experiences of the mind |
| to carve | to shape or create by cutting or sculpting, often using tools or a sharp instrument |
| to mold | to give a soft substance a particular shape or form by placing it into a mold or pressing it |
| to pose | to maintain a specific posture in order to be photographed or painted |
| to shade | to darken part of a picture or drawing using pencils, etc. |
| SPORTS | |
|---|---|
| an athletics meeting | an event where various athletics sports are held |
| an athletics track | a running track |
| an away game | a football match played in the opposing teams stadium |
| a brisk walk | a fast walk |
| football fan | someone who likes football |
| to set a record | to achieve the best result in a sport |
| strenuous exercise | exercise that needs a lot of physical effort |
| a home game | a football match played in the teams own stadium |
| commit a foul | break the rules of the game |
| defense | the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. |
| dribble | the act of moving the ball along with you by short kicks, bounces or hits in a game of football, basketball etc |
| striker | a player who mainly attacks and scores goals, rather than defends |
| penalty area | in football, the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. |
| centre circle | the circle marked at the centre of a playing surface (as in basketball, hockey, lacrosse, or soccer) where a centre jump, face-off, or kickoff takes place |
| boundaries | limits of the playing field that the players must stay within |
| serve | the act of hitting the ball to the other player or team to start play |
| passing the ball | an intentional transfer of the ball from one player to another of the same team |
| gain control | take over or win the ball, lead |
| bounce | bouncing describes the ball moving, rapidly up, back, or away after hitting the surface |
| hurdling | the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. |
| durability | time of onset and magnitude of deterioration in physiological-profiling characteristics over time during prolonged exercise |
| amateur | amateur sports or activities are done by people as a hobby and not as a job |
| to cheer on | praise or encourage a player or competitor with shouts |
| umpire | a person who controls play and makes sure that players act according to the rules in a sports event |
| sports memorabilia | collectables associated with sports |
| personal best | to achieve the best personal result so far in a sport |
| trophy | object such as a silver cup or plate that someone receives as a prize for winning a competition |
| HEALTH | |
|---|---|
| antiseptic | a substance that prevents infection when applied to a wound, especially by killing bacteria |
| abortion | the intentional ending of a pregnancy, often done during the early stages |
| anaesthetic | a type of drug that makes the whole or part of the body unable to feel pain when administered |
| blood type | any of the types into which human blood is divided |
| thermometer | a device used to measure a person’s body temperature to assess for fever or abnormal temperature using various methods like oral, ear, armpit, or forehead readings |
| crutch | one of a pair of sticks that people with movement difficulties put under their arms to help them walk or stand |
| healing | the process of making or becoming healthy once more |
| hospitalization | the fact of being placed in a hospital for medical treatment |
| informed consent | permission given by a patient to receive a particular treatment, informed of all the possible consequences and risks |
| injection | the action of putting a drug into a person’s body using a syringe |
| placebo | a medicine without any physiological effect that is given to a control group in an experiment to measure the effectiveness of a new drug or to patients who think they need medicine when in reality they do not |
| remedy | a treatment or medicine for a disease or to reduce pain that is not severe |
| specimen | a small amount of something such as urine, blood, etc. that is taken for examination |
| nose job | a surgical procedure performed on someone’s nose that changes its appearance to make it look more attractive |
| physician | a medical doctor who specializes in general medicine, not in surgery |
| caregiver | someone who looks after a child or an old, sick, or disabled person at home |
| to administer | to give someone medicines, drugs, etc. |
| to cleanse | to completely clean something, particularly the skin |
| to diagnose | to find out the cause of a problem or what disease a person has by examining the symptoms |
| to vaccinate | to protect a person or an animal against a disease by giving them a vaccine |
| to admit | (of a hospital) to take in a patient so that they can receive treatment |
| to discharge | (of a wound or body part) to slowly release an infectious liquid, called pus |
| to immunize | to protect an animal or a person from a disease by vaccination |
| to stitch | to join the edges of a wound together by a thread and needle |
| to revive | to make a person become conscious again |
| to soothe | to reduce the severity of a pain |
| dumb | unable to speak |
| pharmaceutical | related to the production, use, or sale of medicines |
| deaf | partly or completely unable to hear |
| hygiene | the steps one takes to promote health and avoid disease, particularly by cleaning things or being clean |
| to glow | (of a person’s face) to look lively and healthy, specifically as a result of training and exercising |
| blues | a temporary state of feeling severe sadness and dejection |
| sighted | capable of seeing unlike a blind person |
| restrict | put a limit to |
| terminally ill | an illness or condition which can’t be cured and is likely to lead to someone’s death |
| Hospital Ward | a ward is a room in a hospital which has beds for many people, often people who need similar treatment. |
| injure | hurt |
| SOCIAL ISSUES | |
|---|---|
| run-down areas | used to describe a building or area that is in poor condition |
| illiteracy | the inability to read or write. |
| political asylum | the protection granted by a state to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee. |
| labour migration | Movement of persons from one state to another, or within their own country of residence, for the purpose of employment |
| homeless people | people who do not have a home, usually because they are poor |
| poverty | the state of being very poor |
| to make a plea | a serious and emotional request for something |
| to be in desperate need | in distress and having a great need or desire. moved by or showing despair or hopelessness; despairing. |
| to breed crime | refer to a situation that encourages criminal activity |
| public disorder | any behaviour in a public place which is likely to cause or intends to cause harassment, alarm or distress |
| vigilant | keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties |
| voluntary | done, given, or acting of one’s own free will |
| unfit for human habitation | any dwelling found to be unsafe or unhealthy for people to live in |
| affordable housing | houses, flats, etc. that can be bought or rented by people who do not earn a lot of money |
| urgent short-term measures | a temporary way to deal with a problem or situation |
| permitted | officially allow (someone) to do something |
| draconian measures | laws or rules that are really harsh and repressive |
| charitable projects | the help, money, etc., given to the needy |
| street children | poor or homeless children who live on the streets of a city, town, or village |
| deprived children | a child who lacks proper parental care or control, subsistence, education, or other care and control for their physical, mental, or emotional well-being |
| deep poverty | the state of being extremely poor |
| poverty line | the estimated minimum level of income needed to secure the necessities of life |
| force for change | major sources of social change include population growth and composition, culture and technology, the natural environment, and social conflict. |
| to incite violence | when someone encourages people to behave aggressively or illegally |
| natural disasters | a natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great damage or loss of life |
| poor sanitary conditions | a serious threat to the health of men, women and children living in these communities. |
| famine | extreme scarcity of food |
| to claim benefits | to request payment for money from a government department or company |
| destitute people | people without money, food, a home, or possessions |
| poverty alleviation | aims to improve the quality of life for those people currently living in poverty |
| margin of society | those people who live outside of socially accepted norms |
| penury | the state of being very poor; extreme poverty |
| irreversible damage | not possible to change; impossible to return to |
| life expectancy | the average period that a person may expect to live |
| force for good | action inspired by a genuine concern for others |
| low-income families | families whose incomes do not exceed eighty percent of the median income for the area |
| to sleep rough | sleep in uncomfortable conditions, typically outdoors |
| the social fabric | the relationships and connections we make with one another; making us all a part of the common thread of society as a whole |
| asylum seeker | a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another |
| riots erupt | an occasion when a large number of people behave in a noisy, violent, and uncontrolled way in public, often as a protest |
| social exclusion | a situation where not everyone has equal access to the opportunities and services |
| antisocial behaviour | behaviour that causes nuisance, annoyance or distress in society |
| to live below the breadline | means living at a low standard, having an income at which one is considered poor |
| to live from hand to mouth | when you spend all the money you earn on basic needs such as food and do not have anything left |
| WORK | |
|---|---|
| to ace | to perform extremely well in something, especially a test |
| to appoint | to give a responsibility or job to someone |
| to collaborate | to work with someone else in order to create something or reach the same goal |
| to commence | to start something or to start happening |
| to follow up | to discover more about something |
| to multitask | to simultaneously do more than one thing |
| to postpone | to arrange or put off an activity or an event for a later time than its original schedule |
| to recruit | to employ people for a company, etc. |
| to resign | to officially announce one’s departure from a job, position, etc. |
| hectic | busy and full of activity |
| intensive | (in business) concentrating on or using something a lot, such as equipment, etc. |
| monotonous | boring because of being the same thing all the time |
| one-on-one | (of an activity) between only two people |
| rewarding | (of an activity) making one feel satisfied by giving one a desirable outcome |
| stimulating | causing excitement |
| tedious | continuing for too long and boring |
| underemployed | (of a person) not having much work to do in their job or being unable to use their full potential |
| boardroom | a room where the board of directors meet |
| internship | the period during which a student or recent graduate starts working somewhere specific, sometimes without receiving any money, in order to meet some requirements to qualify for something or to gain work-relate |
| vacancy | a position or job that is available |
| co-worker | someone who works with someone else has the same job |
| supervisor | someone who observes or directs a person or an activity |
| amateur | someone who is not skilled or experienced enough for a specific activity |
| interviewee | someone who answers the questions during an interview |
| sick leave | a specific period of time granted to a person who is ill to temporarily leave work |
| maternity leave | a period of time when a woman can take a break from working and stay home before and after the birth of her child |
| multitasking | (of people) the ability to perform more than one task simultaneously |
| labour | work, particularly difficult physical work |
| discrimination | the practice of treating a person or different categories of people less fairly than others |
| pension | a monthly payment that a retired person receives from the government or a private company, for which they used to work |
| reference | a letter written by a former employer about a former employee who has applied for a new job, giving information about them |
| schedule | a plan of all objectives and their specific time to be carried out by someone |
| workforce | all the individuals who work in a particular company, industry, country, etc. |
| workload | the amount of work that a person or organization has to do |
| notice | a formal statement or letter declaring that one intends to end an agreement, especially an employment or residential contract |
| increment | an increase in someone’s salary that happens at regular intervals |
| professional courtesy | free service that people of the same profession provide for each other, especially common among physicians |
| BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS | |
|---|---|
| acquisition | the act of buying or obtaining something, especially something that is valuable |
| MBA | a second university degree in business management |
| associate | a member of an organization with limited membership |
| retailer | a store, person, or business that sells goods to the public for their own use, not for resale |
| commodity | (economics) a basic product or raw material that can be purchased or sold |
| merchandise | goods offered for sale or the ones bought or sold |
| cooperative | an organization or business that is jointly owned and run by its members |
| audit | a formal inspection of a business’s financial records to see if they are correct and accurate or not |
| deficit | the difference between the needed amount that is higher than the amount that is available, especially money |
| expenditure | the act of using money |
| invoice | a list of goods or services received and their total cost |
| margin | (business) the difference between the amount of money spent to buy or produce something and the amount of money gained from its sale |
| turnover | the overall amount of profit made by a business or company over a specific period of time |
| yield | an amount of profit gained from an investment or business |
| enterprise | a company or business |
| franchise | a permission granted to a person or group by a government or company that enables them to sell their services or products in a specific area |
| start-up | a business or company that has just begun operation |
| Ltd | used after the name of a company to indicate that its owners are not legally responsible for all the money that the company owes but only for the amount they have invested in it |
| venture | a business activity that is mostly very risky |
| net | final amount after the deduction of all costs |
| cooperative | involving the partnership of a group of people working toward a common goal |
| incorporated | having become a legal business company |
| managerial | related to managers and their work |
| profitable | (of a business) making or yielding profit |
| to administer | to be responsible for a company, organization, etc. and manage its affairs, including financial matters |
| to close | to finalize a business deal |
| to endorse | to publicly state that one supports or approves of someone or something |
| to merge | to join together or make things do so |
| to publicize | to draw the public’s attention to something by giving information about it as an act of advertisement |
| to take over | to take control of a company or business, particularly by buying more shares |
| patent | a formal document that gives someone the right to be the only one who makes, uses, or sells an invention or product for a limited amount of time |
| pr | the work of creating a good image of a person, product, or company among people |
| shipping | the act of transporting goods, particularly by sea |
| operational | related to the way in which a business, organization, machine, etc. functions |
| PSYCHOLOGY | |
|---|---|
| stamina | the mental or physical strength that makes one continue doing something hard for a long time |
| trauma | a medical condition of the mind caused by extreme shock, which could last for a very long time |
| breakdown | a condition in which a person becomes so anxious or depressed that they can no longer handle their everyday life |
| amnesia | the loss of memories, including facts, information and experiences |
| anxiety | a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome |
| neurosis | a mental condition that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress (depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, hypochondria) but not a radical loss of touch with reality |
| human behaviour | the potential and expressed capacity for physical, mental, and social activity throughout human life |
| ready-made personality | prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action |
| personality assessment | the measurement of personal characteristics |
| semantic memory | a type of long-term memory involving the capacity to recall words, concepts, or numbers |
| hypocritical | behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. |
| lenient | more merciful or tolerant than expected |
| narrow-minded | not willing to listen to or tolerate other people’s views |
| patronising | treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority. |
| pushy | excessively or unpleasantly self-assertive or ambitious. |
| vindictive | having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge |
| self-consciousness | undue awareness of oneself, one’s appearance, or one’s actions |
| self-centred | preoccupied with oneself and one’s affairs |
| bad-tempered | easily annoyed or made angry. |
| bundle of nerves | someone who is extremely anxious or tense |
| boisterous | noisy, energetic, and cheerful. |
| humiliating | the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone makes you appear stupid, or when you make a mistake in public |
| self-pitying | sadness for yourself because you think you have a lot of problems or have suffered a lot |
| anxiety disorders | a type of mental health condition, psychological problems |
| a stimulus/stimuli | a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue. |
| inherit traits | the traits or characteristics that are transferred from parents to the offspring, genetically |
| conformity | when people change their beliefs, attitudes or actions to more closely match those held by groups to which they belong or want to belong |
| mindset | the established set of attitudes held by someone |
| obedience | compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another’s authority |
| peer group | a group of people of approximately the same age, status, and interests |
| self-esteem | confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect |
| self-image | is how you perceive yourself |
| INVENTIONS | |
|---|---|
| indispensable | absolutely necessary |
| harness the power | use the maximum of something |
| ingenuity gap | the disparity between the technical knowledge and expertise needed to solve environmental, social, and behavioural problems |
| necessity | the state or fact of being required |
| blueprint | a design plan or other technical drawing |
| feasible | possible to do easily or conveniently |
| artisan | a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand |
| breakthrough | an important invention or discovery that can help deal with a problem or improve something |
| cutting edge | the most advanced stage in the development of something |
| state-of-the-art | the most modern of its type |
| obsolete | no longer in use or valid |
| perpetual motion | a state in which movement or action is or appears to be continuous and unceasing |
| radiation | the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles which cause ionization. |
| pendulum clock | a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element |
| padlock | a detachable lock hanging by a pivoted hook on the object fastened |
| light bulb | a glass or transparent container, usually rounded, with something inside that produces light |
| electric current | a flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space |
| steam engine | an engine that uses the expansion or rapid condensation of steam to generate power |
| the industrial revolution | a period of global transition of the human economy towards more efficient |
| to carry information | the action of taking information to a certain place or person |
| binoculars | an optical instrument with a lens for each eye, used for viewing distant objects |
| lens | a curved piece of glass, plastic, or other transparent material, used in cameras, glasses |
| touch screen | a display device which allows the user to interact with a computer by touching areas on the screen |
| discover a cure for sth | invent a medicine |
| genetically modified foods | foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering |
| to emerge | become apparent or prominent |
| to simplify | make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand |
| case | a container or box for storing something in |
| hard drive | an internal or external computer component that stores data, such as the operating system, applications, and user files |
| motherboard | a computer’s central communications backbone connectivity point |