English vocabulary word lists: A1 to C2
Choose a vocabulary collection by level, from everyday English to specialist topics. See what each collection covers and how to use it for practice.
Free beta · for children aged 8–11 · works on iPad and computer
Which English vocabulary word list should I choose?
Choose a collection that includes useful words you recognise alongside words you still need to practise. VocabGecko groups vocabulary into six CEFR levels, from A1 to C2. Start with the guide below, then preview the collection in the parent area. You can enrol in more than one list and stop a list later.
| Collection | Entries | Focus of the level guide |
|---|---|---|
| A1 vocabulary word list | 1,010 | Familiar people, places and everyday needs |
| A2 vocabulary word list | 1,226 | Routine activities and simple descriptions |
| B1 vocabulary word list | 1,712 | Experiences, plans and connected explanations |
| B2 vocabulary word list | 3,156 | Opinions, detail and more complex topics |
| C1 vocabulary word list | 4,924 | Precise meaning, register and demanding reading |
| C2 vocabulary word list | 14,319 | Specialist topics and fine distinctions |
Counts checked on 31 October 2026. They describe entries in each VocabGecko collection, including multiword entries. A word can belong to several levels for different uses, so adding these figures does not give a count of unique words.
Start practising on the site with the public selections in the B1 guide and B2 guide, then try the B1 exercises with answers. For 11+ practice, use our synonyms and antonyms questions.
What do A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 mean?
A1 to C2 are the six main levels in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR. They describe what a person can do with a language. A vocabulary collection helps organise practice, but completing one list does not establish a learner's overall speaking, listening, reading or writing level.
The Council of Europe's CEFR global scale groups A1 and A2 as basic use, B1 and B2 as independent use, and C1 and C2 as proficient use. These are language proficiency levels, not school years or age bands.
Where do these vocabulary collections come from?
VocabGecko combines headwords and level classifications from Oxford's British and American 3000/5000 lists and its topic lists. The topic material expands A1–C1 and supplies C2. Oxford's classifications organise the vocabulary; VocabGecko generates its own practice content. These collections are not a complete official CEFR syllabus or a requirement to learn every entry.
See Oxford's explanation of its word lists and Oxford's topic browser. VocabGecko is independent of Oxford University Press and is not endorsed by it. Oxford dictionary definitions and examples are not reproduced in these guides.
How can families practise a complete word list?
In the signed-in parent area, select one or more complete lists for a child or for your own practice. New words are prepared in daily batches within the learner's limit. For children, a parent reviews and approves each generated entry before practice. Stopping a list keeps words already prepared and their progress.
The full collections are available in the parent area. These public guides explain their coverage and use. Adults have a separate personal practice area; family AI allowances are shared. Spaced review brings words back over time, while extra practice lets learners revisit prepared material.
Which CEFR level should a child use for the 11+?
There is no single CEFR level that every child must complete for the 11+. Choose vocabulary from the reading and practice work your child is doing, and use level lists as an additional source. A higher label does not make a collection a better fit for a child's next practice session.
Our 11+ vocabulary guide explains how to work with unfamiliar words from practice. Begin with a manageable amount, keep reading alongside word practice, and review whether the chosen topics are useful for your child.
Ready to try it with your child's own words?
Join the free beta waitlist. Once you have a place, you type in the words from your next practice test and check the first cards. Joining takes about a minute. VocabGecko is free during the beta, needs no card, and works alongside the prep platform or tutor you already use.
Free beta · no card needed