B2 language deals heavily with abstract concepts—things you cannot touch. These words are essential for essays, professional emails, and serious discussions.
Moving beyond "study" and "class."
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Compulsory | Required by law | In most countries, education is compulsory until age 16. | | Curriculum | The subjects taught in a course | The school's curriculum includes math, science, and history. | | Assignment | A task given to students | Our history assignment is to write a 500-word essay. | | Plagiarism | Copying someone else's work | Plagiarism is a serious offense in universities. | | Tuition fees | Money paid for instruction | University tuition fees have risen dramatically. | | Scholarship | Money awarded to study | She won a scholarship to study abroad. | | Drop out | Leave school before finishing | He dropped out of college to become an actor. | | Intake | The number of students accepted | The university's annual intake is 2,000 students. | | Lecture | A talk to a large class | I have a physics lecture at 9 AM. | | Seminar | A small discussion-based class | In the seminar, we debated climate change. | | Qualification | A degree or certificate | What qualifications do you need for that job? | | Distance learning | Studying online, not in person | I prefer distance learning because it's flexible. | english vocabulary b2 list best
B2 learners must master tone. Two words can have the same definition but opposite effects.
Polite (B2 Softener) | Direct (B1 Blunt) | Context --- | --- | --- I’d suggest we wait. | We must wait. | In a meeting with equals. I’m concerned about… | I’m angry about… | Giving feedback. That’s unfortunate. | That’s bad. | Sympathizing with a friend. He’s quite stubborn. | He’s an idiot. | Professional criticism. Moving beyond "study" and "class
Key Insight: B2 isn’t just more words; it’s more appropriate words for the social situation.
At B2, you need to discuss jobs beyond "I work in an office." At B2, you need to discuss jobs beyond "I work in an office
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | To be laid off | Lose job due to company issues (not your fault) | The factory closed, and 200 workers were laid off. | | To resign | Voluntarily leave a job | She decided to resign to start her own business. | | Career path | The progression of jobs in a field | Studying law is a common career path for politicians. | | Workload | The amount of work to do | My workload has doubled since my colleague left. | | Deadline | A time limit for finishing a task | We have a tight deadline; the report is due tomorrow. | | Flexible hours | Ability to choose start/finish times | My company offers flexible hours, so I start at 10 AM. | | Overtime | Extra hours beyond normal schedule | He worked overtime every day last week. | | Promotion | A move to a higher position | After two years, she got a promotion to manager. | | Employee | A person who works for someone | The company has 500 employees. | | Employer | The person/company that pays workers | My employer provides health insurance. | | Colleague | A co-worker | I get along well with all my colleagues. | | Occupation | A job or profession | Please state your occupation on the form. | | Salary | Fixed regular pay (usually monthly) | The average salary for a teacher is $40,000. | | Wage | Hourly pay | He earns a minimum wage of $15 per hour. | | C.V. (resume) | A document listing your qualifications | You should attach your CV to the email. |
A B2 speaker knows that "heavy rain" is correct, but "strong rain" is unnatural. For each word, learn two common partners: