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B2 vocabulary for the First exam: what to learn and how to remember it

B2 vocabulary for the First exam is less about rare words and more about using everyday words precisely: the right collocation, the right word form and the right register. Learn words in topic sets, always with their partners (collocations) and their word family, and review them with spaced repetition so they are there when you need them in every paper.

By Eleanor BennettLast updated:

What 'B2 vocabulary' really means

Many students think a bigger vocabulary means more difficult words. At B2 level that is only half true. Examiners and markers are mostly looking for range used accurately: can you say heavy traffic instead of a lot of cars, take up a hobby instead of start a hobby, or it's not worth the money instead of it's too expensive for what it is? These are not rare words. They are common words used in the way that native speakers combine them.

So when you build your B2 vocabulary, think in three layers:

  • The word itself: its meaning, spelling and pronunciation (including word stress).
  • Its partners: the verbs, adjectives and prepositions that usually go with it. You make a decision, you do research, you are interested in something.
  • Its family and register: employ, employer, employee, employment, unemployed; and whether it sounds formal (purchase), neutral (buy) or informal (get).

If you know a word on all three layers, you can use it in an essay, recognise it in a reading text, hear it in a listening and change its form in a word-formation task. That is why the topic pages below always give you collocations, word families and example sentences, not just single words with translations.

Where vocabulary is tested in B2 First

There is no separate vocabulary paper, but vocabulary is in every part of the exam:

  • Reading and Use of English. Part 1 tests collocations, fixed phrases, phrasal verbs and words with similar meanings. Part 3 tests word families directly. Part 4 often needs a phrasal verb or a fixed expression. In Parts 5 to 7, you need to recognise paraphrases: the text says exhausted, the question says very tired.
  • Writing. Language is one of the four marking criteria. A range of topic vocabulary, used correctly, is one of the clearest ways to show B2 level in an essay, article or review.
  • Listening. Speakers rarely use the words printed in the questions. You hear I couldn't afford it and the option says the price was too high.
  • Speaking. Grammar and Vocabulary is one of the speaking criteria. In Part 4 especially, topic words help you give developed opinions instead of short, general answers.

How to learn B2 vocabulary so it stays

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    1. Learn in topic sets, not random lists

    Exam tasks are built around everyday topics: education, work, the environment, technology, health, travel, the media, relationships and money. Learning 40 to 60 words around one topic means the words support each other, and you can use them together in a speaking answer or a piece of writing. Work through one topic page a week rather than five at once.

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    2. Always write down the collocation, not the single word

    Don't write decision = decisión. Write make a (difficult / final) decision and one example about your own life. Most vocabulary errors at B2 are collocation errors (do a mistake, say a lie), so recording the partners is the fastest way to stop them. Our collocations guide has the most useful patterns.

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    3. Add the word family

    For every useful word, note at least two related forms: succeed – success – successful – unsuccessfully. This prepares you for word formation and helps you paraphrase in writing. Use the word formation list and test yourself with the word formation trainer.

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    4. Make it personal and say it aloud

    A word you have used in a true sentence about yourself is much easier to remember than one you only read. Say the sentence aloud, then write it. If you can, use three new words from the week in a short speaking answer to a Part 4 question and record yourself.

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    5. Review with spaced repetition

    Review new words after one day, then three days, then a week, then two weeks. Each time, test yourself from your language into English (production), not only from English into your language (recognition). Flashcard apps do this automatically, but a paper notebook with dates works too. Phrasal verbs are perfect for this: try the phrasal verb trainer.

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    6. Recycle words in exam tasks

    After learning a topic set, do one exam-style task on the same topic: an essay, a Part 4 discussion with a friend, or a reading text. Words you have used under exam-like conditions are the ones that come back to you in the real exam.

Our B2 vocabulary topic lists

Each page has 40 or more useful words, collocations, phrasal verbs and phrases with original examples, a section on false friends for speakers of Spanish, Italian, Polish, German and Greek, a sample Speaking Part 4 answer, a writing tip and practice questions.

Alongside the topic pages, two reference lists from the Use of English section are worth bookmarking: the phrasal verbs list and the collocations guide.

Common vocabulary-learning mistakes

  • Trap: Learning long alphabetical lists of single words with translations.

    Fix: Learn small topic sets with collocations and an example sentence. Ten words you can use are worth more than fifty you only recognise.

  • Trap: Using 'impressive' words you are not sure about to impress the examiner.

    Fix: Accuracy matters. A simple word used correctly is better than an advanced word in the wrong context. Check the collocation and register before you use a new word in writing.

  • Trap: Translating word for word from your language.

    Fix: Watch out for false friends such as actually (= in fact, not 'currently') and sensible (= practical, not 'sensitive'). Each topic page lists the most common ones.

  • Trap: Filling essays with idioms.

    Fix: Most idioms are informal. Use one or two in an informal email or a story, and almost none in an essay or report. See our idioms page for register advice.

  • Trap: Learning a word once and never seeing it again.

    Fix: Use spaced repetition: review after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, and use the word in speaking or writing at least once.

B2 vocabulary: FAQ

How many words do I need for B2 First?

There is no official word count, and you don't need to count. Focus on using common topic words accurately with their collocations, word families and the right register. Being able to use a word matters much more than recognising it.

What is the best way to learn vocabulary for FCE?

Learn words in topic sets, record each one with its collocation and an example, add the word family, and review with spaced repetition. Then use the words in speaking and writing tasks so they become active.

Are phrasal verbs important for B2 First?

Yes. They appear in Reading and Use of English (especially Parts 1 and 4) and they make your speaking sound natural. Learn them by topic and in example sentences, and practise with our phrasal verb trainer.

Should I use idioms in the B2 First exam?

Use a few in speaking and in informal writing, where they sound natural. Avoid them in essays and reports, which need a neutral or formal style. One correct idiom is better than three forced ones.

Which topics come up most in B2 First?

Everyday topics such as education, work, the environment, technology, health, travel, the media, relationships and shopping come up again and again across all four papers, which is why our topic pages focus on them.