VOCABULARY LIST

Business English Certificate (BEC)

Preliminary

BEC Preliminary Wordlist

UCLES 2006
Introduction to the BEC Preliminary Wordlist
The BEC Preliminary Wordlist gives teachers a guide to the vocabulary needed when preparing students
for the BEC Preliminary examination.

Background to the list

The BEC Preliminary Vocabulary list was originally developed by Cambridge ESOL in consultation with
external consultants to guide item writers who produce materials for the BEC Preliminary examination. It
includes vocabulary from the Council of Europes Threshold (1990) specification and business-related
vocabulary which corpus evidence shows is high frequency.

The list covers vocabulary appropriate to this level of English and includes receptive vocabulary (words
that the candidate is expected to understand but which is not the focus of a question), and productive
vocabulary (words that the candidate needs to know to answer a question).

The list does not provide an exhaustive list of all words which appear on BEC Preliminary question
papers and candidates should not confine their study of vocabulary to the list alone.

How the list is updated

Usage of business language can change rapidly, as shown by the growth of email correspondence and
associated vocabulary in the last ten years. In order to maintain its currency, the wordlist is updated on
an annual basis by the addition and removal of words, using a corpus-based approach. Suggested
additions to the wordlist are collated and the frequency of these words is obtained by reference to
established corpora (electronic databases). The corpora in question represent receptive and productive
language in business and general contexts. The main corpora used for the validation of the BEC
Preliminary wordlist are:
the Cambridge Learner corpus (CLC) which includes over 20 million words of written learner
English at six levels;
the British National Corpus (BNC) which includes 100 million words of written and spoken native
speaker data, including four million business-oriented words;
a web-derived corpus of business-related articles which includes 120,000 words from US and UK
business articles.

How the list is organised

Word sets

Some categories of words which a learner at this level might be expected to know are not
included in the alphabetical list but appear separately in Appendix 1. These include word sets
such as numbers; days of the week; months of the year; countries and languages.

Exemplification

Example phrases and sentences are given only where words which can be used with different
meanings have been restricted in the extent of their usage at BEC Preliminary level. For
example, trust is exemplified as it will only be used on a BEC Preliminary paper with the meaning
of having confidence in someone or something, and not with the meaning of a financial
arrangement (such as trust fund or trust unit).

Prefixes and suffixes

A list of possible prefixes and suffixes is provided in Appendix 2 and these may be combined with
the vocabulary items in the list as appropriate. Unemployment, for example, is not included on
the alphabetical list, as it is formed from a word on the list employ in combination with two of
the allowable affixes un and ment.

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 Words with an affix which is not included in the appendix appear within the alphabetical list.
Reliability, for example, is listed, as the suffix ity is not included in Appendix 2, as it is
considered to be difficult for this level.

Compound words

Compound words are not included in the list where both individual words are present and where
the meaning of the compound is literal and transparent, eg businessman. A similar approach has
been adopted for two-word and hyphenated compounds, for example, leisure centre and hand-
made.

Multi-word verbs

Multi-word verbs are not included in the list if they have a literal meaning and are composed of
verbs and particles already in the list. Examples of literal multi-word verbs are come into and sit
down. If the meaning of the verb is not transparent, eg put through, get along, the verb is listed
and an example of usage given.

Topic Lists

As Business English is considered to be a domain in itself, there are no separate topic lists for
BEC Preliminary.

Personal Vocabulary

The content of the BEC Preliminary wordlist is unlikely to cover completely the productive vocabulary that
may be required by all candidates. Candidates should know the specific lexis they will need to describe
themselves, their lives and their work.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations used in the Vocabulary List are:

abbrev abbreviation or acronym

adj adjective
adv adverb
Am Eng American English
Br Eng British English
conj conjunction
det determiner
exclam exclamation
int interjection
n noun
phr v phrasal verb
pl plural
prep preposition
prep phr prepositional phrase
pron pronoun
sing singular
v verb

Summary of points to be noted

The list does not include every word that may appear on a BEC Preliminary paper.
The list covers receptive and productive vocabulary.
Prefixes and suffixes used at this level appear in an appendix.

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 With his experience, he will be a
A useful addition to the team.
additional (adj)
a.m. (before noon) (adv) address (n & v)
abbreviation (n) Could I have your email address?
ability (n) (n)
able (adj) The MD addressed the
able to go conference. (v)
about (adj & prep) adjust (v)
The company has about 500 administration (n)
employees. (adj) administrative (adj)
The report is about share prices. administrator (n)
(prep) admire (v)
above (adj & prep) admission (n)
abroad (adv) Admission to the conference is by
absence (n) ticket only.
absent (adj) admit (v)
accept (v) He admitted there were production
access (n & v) problems.
accident (n) This ticket admits two people to the
accommodation (n) exhibition.
accompany (v) adult (adj & n)
according to (prep) advance (n)
account (n) Could you let me know in
Id like to open a bank account. advance?
Our company has an account at Id like to make an advance
Transport Solutions. booking.
accountancy (n) advanced (adj)
accountant (n) We need someone with advanced-
accounting (n) level word-processing skills.
accounts (n) advantage (n)
accuracy (n) advert (n)
accurate (adj) advertise (v)
achieve (v) advertising (n)
acknowledge (v) advice (n)
acquaintance (n) advice note (n)
acquire (v) advise (v)
acquisition (n) aeroplane (n)
across (prep) affair (n)
act (v) He had a lot of important affairs to
action (n) take care of.
The company has reasons for its affect (v)
actions. afford (v)
Industrial action has affected afraid (adj)
production. after (prep)
We need to develop an action plan. after-sales service (n)
active (adj) afternoon (n)
activity (n) afterwards (adv)
actor (n) again (adv)
actual (adj) against (prep)
ad (abbrev) (advertisement or advert) age (n)
adapt (v) aged (adj)
add (v) agency (n)
addition (n) Lets use an advertising agency.
In addition, Id like to order a new agenda (n)
printer. agent (n)

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 Ive been to the travel agent to anniversary (n)
book a flight to Hong Kong. The company celebrated its 50th
Hes our agent in Japan. anniversary.
ago (adv) announce (v)
agree (v) annoy (v)
agricultural (adj) annual (adj)
agriculture (n) annual report (n)
aim (n & v) annual return (n)
His aim was to become MD. (n) another (adj)
We aim to increase turnover by 5% answer (n & v)
this year. (v) answer phone (n)
air (n) antique (adj & n)
Hes going by air instead of by anxious (adj)
train. any (adj & pron)
air-conditioned (adj) anybody (pron)
air-conditioning (n) anyhow (adv)
airline (n) anyone (pron)
airmail (n) anything (pron)
airplane (n) anyway (adv)
airport (n) anywhere (adv)
alarm (n) AOB (abbrev) Any Other Business
The bank installed a new security apart from (prep)
alarm. apartment (n) (Am Eng)
alike (adv & adj) apologise (v)
They think alike. (adv) apology (n)
The two products are very alike. appear (v)
(adj) appearance (n)
all (adj, adv, det & pron) applicant (n)
allow (v) application (n)
allowance (n) application form (n)
holiday allowance apply (v)
almost (adv) appoint (v)
alone (adv) approach (n & v)
along (adv & prep) What approach are you going to
aloud (adv) take? (n)
alphabet (n) We may approach the bank for a
already (adv) loan. (v)
alright (adv/adj) appropriate (adj)
also (adv) approval (n)
alternative (n & adj) approve (v)
although (conj) approx. (abbrev) approximate(ly)
altogether (adv) approximate (adj)
always (adv) architect (n)
amazing (adj) area (n)
ambassador (n) Were looking for extra
ambition (n) warehousing in the Leeds area.
ambitious (adj) He became area manager after
among (amongst) (prep) two years.
amount (n) argue (v)
amusing (adj) They argued about the marketing
analyse (v) strategy.
analysis (n) arithmetic (n)
and (conj) around (adv & prep)
anger (n) arrange (v)
angry (adj) arrival (n)
arrive (v)

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art (n) She was awarded the title
The company buys and sells work Businessperson of the Year. (v)
of art. The court awarded damages of
article (n) 5,000. (v)
The newspaper article criticised the Our company won an award for
company. exports. (n)
as (adv & conj) aware (adj)
ASAP (abbrev) as soon as possible away (adv)
ashamed (adj) The MDs away on business until
ask (v) Thursday.
aspect (n) He threw away the documents by
What aspect of your work do you mistake.
like most?
assembly (n)
assembly line (n) B
assembly plant (n)
assembly point (n) back (adv & n)
assess (v) When are you going back to work?
assistant (n) (adv)
associate (n & v) I gave back the laptop I had
association (n) borrowed. (adv)
assure (v) The cables at the back of the
at (prep) computer are not connected. (n)
at all (prep phr) background (n)
at first (prep phr) backwards (adv)
at last (prep phr) bad (adj)
at least (prep phr) bag (n)
at once (prep phr) baggage (n)
at present (prep phr) balance (v & n)
at the same time (prep phr) The countrys balance of payments
attach (v) is up this month because of
attack (n & v) increased exports. (n)
attend (v) The balance is due within two
attendance (n) weeks. (n)
attempt (n & v) She spent hours trying to balance
attention (n) the companys accounts. (v)
attitude (n) Do the books balance? (v)
attract (v) balance sheet (n)
attraction (n) ballpoint (adj & n)
attractive (adj) ban (v & n)
audience (n) bank (n & v)
audit (v) bank account (n)
author (n) bank balance (n)
authorise (v) bank card (n)
authority (n) bank charge (n)
automatic (adj) bank clerk (n)
availability (n) bank loan (n)
available (adj) bank manager (n)
average (adj & n) bank statement (n)
Can you find the average of these bank transfer (n)
three numbers? (n) banking (n)
Hes not a particularly effective rep. banknote (n)
just average. (adj) bankrupt (v & adj)
avoid (v) bankruptcy (n)
awake (adj) bar (n)
award (n & v)

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 The bar chart shows sales from last bike (n)
year. bill (Am Eng) (n)
bargain (n & v) billion (n)
Did you get a bargain? (n) biography (n)
Bargain with him. (v) birth (n)
base (n & v) Whats her date of birth? (n)
Our customer base is rather weak. black (adj)
(n) The company ended the year in
The base rate is low so more the black. (n)
people are borrowing. (n) The true size of the black economy
My new job is based in central cannot be known. (adj)
Europe. (v) blame (n & v)
What did you base the sales blank (adj & n)
projections on? (v) I need a blank piece of paper. (adj)
basement (n) Write the correct word in each
basic (adj) blank. (n)
basis (n) blank cheque (n)
basket (n) blind (n)
battle (n) The blind needs repairing.
There was a boardroom battle over block (n)
strategy. Its opposite the office block on the
bay (n) corner.
The factory needs another loading blow up (phr v)
bay. The gas heater blew up.
be (v) blue (adj)
beat (v) Theres been a decline in the
We can beat our competitors on number of blue-collar workers.
quality but not price. board (n & v)
because (conj) a noticeboard, a wooden board (n)
because of (adv) on board a ship/aircraft (n)
become (v) board a plane (v)
before (prep) a board of directors (n)
beg (v) board meeting (n)
I beg your pardon. boarding card (n)
I begged her not to resign. boarding pass (n)
begin (v) board room (n)
behave (v) boat (n)
He always behaves in a body (n)
professional manner. bold (adj)
behaviour (n) bonus (n)
behind (prep & adv) an annual bonus
believe (v) book (n & v)
I believe well win the contract. Im reading a book on marketing at
Do you believe in the product? the moment. (n)
bell (n) Wed better book a flight. (v)
belong (v) bookcase (n)
below (adv & prep) bookkeeping (n)
bend (n & v) booking desk (n)
beneath (adv & prep) booking form (n)
benefit (n & v) booking office (n)
beside (adv & prep) bookshop (n)
between (prep & adv) boost (n & v)
beyond (prep) boot (n)
bicycle (n) My cases are in the boot of the car.
big (adj) border (n & v)

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bored (adj) bring forward (phr v)
boring (adj) Well have to bring the time of the
born (adj) meeting forward to 10.00 a.m.
borrow (v) broad (adj)
boss (n) brochure (n)
both (adj & pron) brush (n & v)
bottom (n & adj) B.Sc. (abbrev) (Bachelor of Science)
at the bottom of the page (n) budget (n & v)
the bottom left-hand corner (adj) buffet (adj & n)
box (n) bug (n)
I ordered three boxes of floppy This software has a bug in it.
disks. build (v)
Tick the box. building (n)
brain (n) bulk (n)
branch (n) Bulk purchasing has allowed us to
The bank has a network of cut costs.
branches in the North. bullet (n & v)
brand (n) a bullet point (n)
own brand (n) Bullet point this list for the meeting.
brand name (n) (v)
brand-new (adj) bureau (n)
brave (adj) Ill get some dollars from the
break (n & v) foreign exchange bureau.
during the (lunch) break (n) burglar (n)
What time shall we break for burglary (n)
lunch? (v) bus (n)
break down (n & phr v) bus station (n)
Could you let me have a bus stop (n)
breakdown of last months sales business (n)
figures? (n) He runs a business. (n)
The packing machine has broken company business (n)
down. (phr v) do business (v)
break in (n & phr v) be in/on business (v)
Someone broke in to the factory get down to business (phr v)
and stole some equipment. (phr v) go into business (phr v)
There was a break-in at the go out of business (phr v)
companys head office. (n) set up in business (phr v)
break up (phr v) business card (n)
The Lexford Group was broken up business hours (n)
into smaller companies. business plan (n)
The glass bottles are broken up business school (n)
before entering the recycling busy (adj)
machine. but (conj)
breakfast (n) button (n)
Could we arrange a breakfast The on/off button isnt working
meeting? properly.
brick (n) buy (n & v)
brief (adj) We bought 300 files. (v)
The MD made a brief visit to the It was a good buy. (n)
factory. buyer (n)
Here is the business news in brief. by (prep)
briefcase (n) by accident (prep phr)
bright (adj) by air (prep phr)
brilliant (adj) by all means (prep phr)
bring (v) by car (prep phr)

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by day (prep phr) canteen (n)
by hand (prep phr) capable (adj)
by land (prep phr) capacity (n)
by mistake (prep phr) capital (n)
by name (prep phr) the capital (city) of a country
by oneself (prep phr) to raise capital for a business
by post (prep phr) capital letters
by sea (prep phr) car (n)
by sight (prep phr) car park (n)
by train (prep phr) card (n)
identity card
C credit card
cardboard (adj & n)
care (n & v)
C (abbrev) Centigrade, Celsius We take care of our customers. (n)
c (abbrev) cents Some customers care more about
c (abbrev) circa good quality than price. (v)
c/o (abbrev) care of career (n)
cab (n) cargo (n)
cabinet (n) carpet (n)
filing cabinet carry (v)
cable (n) carry a case
cable television (n) pipes carrying water
caf/cafe (n) carry on (phr v)
calculate (v)
Ill carry on working until Im 65.
calculator (n)
carry out (a task) (phr v)
calendar (n)
Weve just carried out a survey into
call (n & v)
customer satisfaction.
There was a phone call for you.
Carrying out instructions is part of
(n) the job.
Whats this product called? (v) case (n)
Mr Khan called you this morning. a difficult case
(v) a case for my laptop
call for (phr v)
In that case
Ill call for you at 3 p.m. cash (n & v)
call in (phr v) cash book (n)
Ill call in and see you next time Im cash desk (n)
in town. cash flow (n)
callbox (n) cash machine (n)
call centre (n) cash price (n)
calm (adj) cash register (n)
camera (n) cash sale (n)
campaign (n & v) cassette (n)
The advertising campaign was cassette player/recorder (n)
very successful. (n) casual (adj)
The staff campaigned for better catalogue (n)
working conditions. (v) catch (v)
can (n & v) category (n)
a can of coca-cola (n) catering (adj)
Can I go now? (v) cause (n & v)
He can speak Japanese very well. cc (abbrev) carbon copy
(v) CD (n)
canal (n) CD-ROM (n)
cancel (v) CEO (abbrev) Chief Executive Officer
cancellation (n) ceiling (n)
candidate (n)

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celebrate (v) check in (n & phr v)
celebration (n) Please proceed to check-in. (n)
cellar (n) check in to a hotel (phr v)
Celsius (n) check out (phr v)
cement (n) check out of a hotel
cent (n) checklist (n)
centigrade (adj) cheerful (adj)
centimetre (n) chef (n)
central (adj) chemical (adj)
central bank (n) the chemical industry
central heating (n) chemist (n)
centre (n) cheque (n)
century (n) cheque card (n)
certain (adj) chief (adj & n)
be certain of something the chief problem (adj)
a certain person chief executive (n)
certificate (n) child (n)
chain (n) choice (n)
a chain of supermarkets choose (v)
chair (n & v) circle (n)
We need new chairs for the office. The chairs were arranged in a
(n) circle for the meeting.
Peter is Chair of the meeting this circular (adj)
afternoon. (n) a circular letter
The Finance Director chaired the a circular table
meeting in the MDs absence. (v) circulate (v)
chairman (n) city (n)
chairperson (n) claim (n & v)
chairwoman (n) clarify (v)
challenge (n & v) class (n)
chance (n) a class of business students (n)
change (n & v) first class, second class (n)
It was a big change from my classify (v)
previous job. (n) classroom (n)
Do you have any (small) change? clean (adj & v)
(n) clear (adj & v)
He changed his idea about the Its all very clear to me now what
brochure. (v) happened. (adj)
Clear your desk before you go
She changed money before going
home. (v)
to the airport. (v)
The board decided to sell some
chapter (n)
assets in order to clear company
character
debts. (v)
charge (n & v)
The consignment hasnt cleared
His charges are too high. (n)
through customs yet. (v)
How much do you charge? (v) The bank requires four days to
in charge (of) clear the cheque. (v)
chart (n) clerical (adj)
charter (n) clerk (n)
a customer charter clever (adj)
chat (n & v) client (n)
cheap (adj) climate (n)
cheat (v) Todays economic climate doesnt
check (n & v) encourage expansion.
Ill do a quick check. (n) climb (v)
Check these sums. (v) Prices have climbed steadily.

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clock (n) committed to her work
close (adj & v) commit resources to a project
close down (phr v) committee (n)
The factory has closed down. common (adj)
close (to) (adj) a common event
My house is close to my work have something in common
place. communicate (v)
cloth (n) communication (n)
clothes (n pl) commute (v)
clothing (adj) compact (adj)
club (n) a compact disc (CD)
clue (n) a compact office
cm (abbrev) centimetres company (n)
Co (abbrev) company compare (v)
co-operate (v) comparison (n)
co-operation (n) compete (v)
co-operative (adj & n) competition (n)
He is very co-operative. (adj) a competition
This company is a co-operative. competition from another company
(n) competitive (adj)
co-ordinate (v) competitor (n)
co-ordination (n) complain (v)
coach (n & v) complaint (n)
Because of the railway strike, he complete (v & adj)
went to York by coach. (n) compliment (n & v)
The company employs a coach. component (n)
(v) composition (n)
coal (n) compromise (n & v)
coast (n) computer (n)
coffee (n) computer program(me) (n)
coffee-shop (n) computer programmer (n)
coin (n) concentrate (v)
cold (adj & n) concentration (n)
colleague (n) concern (n & v)
collect (v) The budget overspend is a matter
collection (n) of concern. (n)
colour (n & v) It doesnt concern you. (v)
combination (n) concert (n)
combine (v) conclusion (n)
come (v) condition (n)
come down (phr v) Its in good condition.
Computers have come down in under these conditions
price recently. conference (n)
comfort (n) confidence (n)
command (n & n ) confident (adj)
command a high price (v) confidential (adj)
issue a command (n) confirm (v)
comment (n & v) confirm an order
commerce (n) confirmation (n)
commercial (n & adj) waiting for a confirmation of an
a television commercial (n) order
a commercial organisation (adj) congratulations (n & int)
commission (n) connect (v)
to earn commission on a sale connecting (flight) (adj)
commit (v) connection (n)

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conservative (adj) We have to look at all the costs.
consider (v) (n)
consignment (n) The new equipment cost more
consist (v) than we planned. (v)
constant (adj) costing(s) (n)
constant level cotton (n)
construct (v) count (v)
construction (adj) country (n)
consul (n) countryside (n)
consulate (n) couple (n)
consult (v) courage (n)
consultancy (n) courier (n)
consultant (n) courier service
consultation (n) course (n)
consumer (n) an English course
consumer confidence of course
contact (n & v) court (n)
contain (v) a law court
content(s) (n) cover (n & v)
contest (n & v) Put the cover on the keyboard. (n)
continent (n) My desk is covered with papers.
continue (v) (v)
contract (n & v) insurance cover (n)
He is contracted to work 20 hours The seminar covers various topics.
per week. (v) (v)
The contract is due for renewal. (n) crash (n & v)
contribute (v) My computer has crashed again.
contribution (n) (v)
control (n & v) a stockmarket crash (n)
He has lost control of the budget. create (v)
(n) creation (n)
We cant control prices! (v) creative (adj)
convenience (n) credit (n & v)
convenience foods on credit (n)
convenient (adj) in credit (n)
conversation (n) to credit an account (v)
cool (adj & v) credit card (n)
copy (n & v) credit control (n)
Have you got a copy? (n) crime (n)
Copy this letter. (v) criminal (n)
corner (n) criticise (v)
corporate (adj) crop (n)
corporate client cross (adj, n & v)
corporate entertainment Im very cross about the two-week
corporate business delay. (adj)
corporate rate(s) Mark the box with a cross. (n)
correct (adj & v) If you cross the road, youll see our
Is this correct? (adj) office on the corner. (v)
I will correct it for you. (v) cross out (phr v)
correction (n) crossing (n)
correspond (v) a pedestrian crossing
correspond with someone crossroads (n)
correspondence (n) crowd (n)
corridor (n) crowded (adj)
cost (n & v) culture (n)

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cup (n) make a deal (n)
cupboard (n) deal with someone/something (v)
curious (adj) deal in (v)
currency (n) dear (adj & int)
current (adj) too dear to buy (adj)
current account (n) Dear Sir (adj)
curriculum (n) Oh dear! (int)
curriculum vitae/CV (n) debit (n & v)
curve (n & v) debt (n)
custom (n) large debts
customer (n) in debt
customer base (n) decide (v)
customs (n) decimal (adj & n)
go through customs decision (n)
a customs officer decision-making (n)
customs duty declare (v)
cut (n & v) decline (n & v)
a cut in the number of jobs (n) Theres been a sharp decline in
to cut some paper (v) sales of the MK2 model. (n)
to cut costs (v) Profits declined sharply. (v)
cut back (n & phr v) decrease (n & v)
Further financial cutbacks are deduct (v)
expected next year. (n) deep (adj & adv)
Now the project is finished, we in deep trouble (adj)
have to cut back on the number of sink deep into debt (adv)
staff. (phr v) defeat (n & v)
cut down (on) (phr v) defective (adj)
We need to cut down on spending. defence (n)
cut up (phr v) defend (v)
definite (adj)
The budget hasnt been cut up
degree (n)
very fairly. (phr v)
90 degrees
cut-price (adj)
(have) a degree in
delay (n & v)
D delegate (n & v)
delete (v)
daily (adj & adv) deletion (n)
damage (n & v) delighted (adj)
danger (n) deliver (v)
dangerous (adj) delivery (n)
dark (adj & n) demand (n & v)
data (n) demonstrate (v)
data processing (n) demonstration (n)
database (n) demonstration in support of
date (n & v) someone/something
a demonstration of a new product
Whats the date today? (n)
date a letter (v)
deny (v)
date-stamp (n & v) dep (abbrev) depart(s)
day (n) depart (v)
day off (n) department store (n)
deadline (n) departure (n)
deadlock (n) depend (v)
It depends on what you want to do.
The negotiations reached
deadlock. deposit (n & v)
deal (n & v) pay a deposit (n)
a business deal (n) deposit money in an account (v)

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UCLES 2006
depressed (adj) discussion (n)
a depressed area/industry disc/disk (n)
depression (n) compact disc
economic depression hard disk
Dept (abbrev) department floppy disk
depth (n) disk drive (n)
describe (v) dislike (n & v)
description (n) dismiss (v)
desert (n) dispatch (n & v)
design (n & v) display (n & v)
desk (n) It was a good display. (n)
desktop (adj & n) She displayed her work. (v)
despatch (n & v) distance (n)
despite (prep) distant (adj)
destination (n) distribute (v)
destroy (v) distribution (n)
detail (n) district (n)
develop (v) disturb (v)
diagram (n) divide (v)
dial (n & v) division (n)
diary (n) do (v)
dictate (v) doctor/Dr (n)
dictation (n) document (n)
dictionary (n) documentary (adj & n)
die (v) documentation (n)
differ (v) dollar (n)
difference (n) domestic (adj)
different (adj) Domestic sales are down.
difficult (adj) Domestic appliances are the
dig (v) companys most profitable line.
digital (adj) door (n)
dining room (n) door-to-door (adj)
dinner (n) dotted line (n)
dip (n & v) Sign on the dotted line, please.
There was a dip in profits last double (adj & v)
year. (n) Please book a double room. (adj)
Productivity usually dips before Inflation doubled last year. (v)
lunch. (v) doubt (n & v)
diploma (n) down (adj, adv & prep)
direct (adj & v) Our computer systems down.
direct cost (n) (adv)
direct debit (n) Sales of all our products are down.
direct mail (n) (adj)
direct marketing (n) Prices have gone down. (adv)
direction (n) His office is down the corridor on
walk in the wrong direction the left. (prep)
read the directions on the box downstairs (adv)
directory (n) downturn (n)
a telephone directory downward (adj)
disabled (adj & n) dozen (n)
lifts for disabled people (adj) drama (n)
the disabled (n) dramatic (adj)
disappoint (v) a dramatic increase
discount (n & v) a dramatic rise
discover (v) dramatically (adv)
discuss (v) Sales increased dramatically.

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UCLES 2006
draw (v) economical (adj)
drawer (n) economics (n)
dream (n & v) economy (n)
dress (n & v) edge (n)
drink (n & v) educate (v)
drive (n & v) education (n)
driving licence (n) effect (n)
drop (n & v) effective (adj)
Theres been a big drop in the efficient (adj)
number of workers. (n) effort (n)
Youve dropped your papers. (v) e.g. (abbrev) for example, for instance
drug(s) (n) either (conj)
a multinational drugs company elect (v)
dry (adj & v) election (n)
dry cleaning (n) electric (adj)
DTP (abbrev) desktop publishing electrical (adj)
due (adv & adj) electricity (n)
The next payment is due in five electronic (adj)
days. (adv) electronic mail (n)
due to rising costs (adj) electronics (n)
due date (adj) elementary (adj)
The plane is due at (adv) elevator (Am Eng) (n)
The train is due to arrive. (adj) else (adv)
due to (prep phrase) email (n & v)
The fall in sales was due to the embarrass (v)
difficult economic climate. embassy (n)
dull (adj) emergency (n)
duplicate (n & v) employ (v)
during (prep) employee (n)
duty (n) employment agency (n)
pay duty on imported goods empty (adj & v)
duty-free goods enable (v)
office duties enclose (v)
DVD (n) encourage (v)
end (n & v)
E energy
engaged (adj)
The phone was engaged.
E (abbrev) east engagement (n)
each (adj & pron) I have a business engagement on
eager (adj) that day. (n)
early (adj & adv) engine (n)
go to work early (adv) engineer (n)
in the early 1990s (adj) engineering (n)
the early stages of negotiation English (adj & n)
(adj) enjoy (v)
earn (v) enormous (adj)
earnings (n pl) enough (adj, adv & n)
east (adj, adv & n) enquire (v)
eastern (adj) enquiry (n)
easy (adj) enrol (v)
eat (v) ensure (v)
e-commerce (n) enter (v)
economic (adj) entertain (v)
economic growth enthusiasm (n)
the economic situation enthusiastic (adj)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 15

UCLES 2006
entire (adj) economic expansion
entrance (n) expect (v)
entry (v) expectation (n)
envelope (n) an expectation of high growth
environment (n) expenditure (n)
environmental (adj) expense(s) (n)
equal (adj & v) the expense of hiring staff
equip (v) to claim for travel expenses
escalator (n) expensive (adj)
escape (n & v) experience (n)
especially (adv) experienced (adj)
essential (adj) experiment (n & v)
establish (v) The experiment was interesting.
estimate (n & v) (n)
The estimate for repairs was low. They experimented with new
(n) materials. (v)
We estimated the costs. (v) expert (n)
EU (abbrev) European Union explain (v)
exchange (v) explanation (n)
Euro (n) explode (v)
even (adv) Demand for our new product has
He couldnt even do that. exploded.
event (n) explore (v)
ever (adv) export (n & v)
every (adj) express (adj & v)
everybody (n) an express train (adj)
everyone (n) express delivery (adj)
everything (n) express an idea (v)
everywhere (adv) express an opinion (v)
exact (adj) express an interest in (v)
exam (abbrev) examination extend (v)
examination (n) extension (n)
examine (v) What is your extension number?
example (n) external (adj)
exceed (v) extra (adj & adv)
excellent (adj) extraordinary (adj)
except (prep & conj) extremely (adv)
excess (n) eye (n)
excess capacity (n)
exchange (v & n)
exchange controls (n)
F
exchange rate (n)
F (abbrev) Farenheit
excited (adj)
facilities (n pl)
exciting (adj)
Leisure facilities
exclude (v)
The hotel has excellent facilities.
excluding (prep)
staff facilities
excuse (n & v)
facing (v & prep)
executive (n & adj)
fact (n)
exercise (n & v)
factor (n)
exhibit (n & v)
factory (n)
exhibition (n)
fail (v)
a trade exhibition
failure (n)
exist (v)
faint (adj)
exit (n)
a faint line
expand (v)
fair (adj & n)
expansion (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 16

UCLES 2006
 The way of calculating bonus Could you file the papers from this
payments is not fair. (adj) mornings meeting? (v)
The sales figures were only fair. filing cabinet (n)
(adj) fill (v)
The trade fair usually takes place fill something to the top
in May. (n) fill in (phr v)
faithfully (adv) I must fill in this form.
Yours faithfully fill up (phr v)
fall (n & v) Well fill up the car with petrol
There was a sharp fall in profits. before we leave.
(n) film (n & v)
Share prices were falling very final (adj)
quickly. (v) final demand (n)
false (adj) finalise (v)
a false statement finance (n & v)
family (n) financial (adj)
famous (adj) financial advisor (n)
fan (n) financial year (n)
The fan isnt working. find (v)
fantastic (adj) find out (phr v)
far (adv) I must find out when Mr Tanaka is
fare (n) arriving.
The return fare is 252. fine (adj, n & v)
fashion (n) finish (n & v)
fast (adj & adv) fire (n & v)
fasten (v) Fire completely destroyed an old
fault (n) warehouse. (n)
Its Johns fault that the report is There was a small fire at the
late. factory. (n)
Theres a technical fault. The company has a hire and fire
favourite (adj & n) approach. (n)
fax (n & v) He was fired for not meeting sales
fax machine (n) targets. (v)
fear (n & v) fire alarm (n)
fee (n) firm (adj & n)
feedback (n) a firm offer (adj)
feel (v) a good firm to work for (n)
feel like (v) first (adj, adv, n & pron)
female (n & adj) Fill in your first name. (adj)
ferry (n) first aid (n)
festival (v) first of all (adv)
fetch (v) He was the first to draw attention
few (adj) to the mistake. (pron)
fiction (n) Could you do the filing first? (adv)
Sales of non-fiction have fit (adj & v)
increased. He fitted into the team very well.
field (n) (v)
in the field of engineering Her main business was a keep-fit
fight (n & v) centre. (adj)
figure (n) fitness (n & adj)
the figure 6 fitness centre (n)
sales figures health and fitness sector (n)
file (n & v) fix (v)
Could you get me the file on Could you fix the shelf to the wall?
Unicorn Holdings? (n) She managed to fix the broken
photocopier.

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 17

UCLES 2006
 My PA has fixed a date for the forgetful (adj)
meeting. forgive (v)
fixed cost (n) form (n & v)
fixed-term contract (n) fill in a form (n)
flag (n) order form (n)
flat (adj & n) to form a company (v)
fleet (n) formal (adj)
a fleet of trucks/cars/ships former (adj)
flexible (adj) fortnight (n)
flexibility (n) fortunate (adj)
flight (n) forward (v)
direct flight forward(s) (adv)
non-stop flight founder (n)
flip chart (n) free (adj)
float (v) free gift (n)
float a new company/shares free market (n)
flood (n & v) free sample (n)
floor (n) free trade (n)
floppy disk (n) freelance (adj & v)
flotation (n) freeze (n & v)
flotation on the Stock Exchange a price freeze (n)
flowchart (n) to freeze prices (v)
fluctuate (v) freight (n & v)
fluctuation (n) frequent (adj)
fly (v) fresh (adj)
focus (n & v) fridge (n)
fold (n & v) friend (n)
follow (v) frighten (v)
following (adj & prep) from (prep)
The following people are needed front (adj & n)
at the presentation. (adj) fuel (n)
Following the meeting, he made full (adj)
changes to the report. (prep) full-time (adj)
fond (adj) full time (adv)
food (n) fun (n)
Food is becoming more expensive. function (n & v)
The fast-food sector is growing. fund (n & v)
foot/feet (n) funding (n)
six foot/feet tall funny (adj)
at the foot of the page furnish (v)
for (prep) furniture (n)
forbid (v) future (adj & n)
force (n & v)
market forces (n)
I was forced to resign. (v) G
forecast (n & v)
We forecast a growth in this gain (n & v)
sector. (v) gallery (n)
The sales forecast is very positive. an art gallery
(n) gallon (n)
foreign (adj) game (n)
foreign currency (n) gap (n)
foreign exchange (n) garage (n)
foreigner (n) gas (n)
foreman (n) She works as an engineer in the oil
forget (v) and gas industry.

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 18

UCLES 2006
 Could you put some gas in the give up (phr v)
car? (Am Eng) David is planning to give up his job
gate (n) and go freelance.
general (adj) glad (adj)
generous (adj) glance (n & v)
gentle (adj) Ive glanced at the figures. (v)
gentleman (n) glass (n & adj)
Ladies and gentlemen glasses (n pl)
genuine (adj) global (adj)
geography (n) global market
get (v) go (v)
get along with (phr v) go down (phr v)
I get along quite well with my boss. Sales went down last year.
get around (phr v) go for (phr v)
Weve got around that problem. He went for the job.
get back (phr v) go off (phr v)
When did you get back from New He went off to work in Australia.
York? Suddenly the lights went off.
get down (phr v) The alarm went off.
Can you get down from the go on (phr v)
ladder? The meeting went on until six
Did you manage to get all the oclock.
notes down? Whats going on?
get in (phr v) The lights suddenly went on.
Can visitors get in through the staff go out (phr v)
entrance? The fire has gone out.
get into/out of (phr v) Were going out with a new client
She got into/out of the taxi. this evening.
get off (phr v) go with (phr v)
We get off at the next stop. The new colours dont go with our
get on (phr v) company image.
How is the business getting on? goal (n)
Get your coat on and then we can career goals
leave. gold (adj & n)
get on with (phr v) gold watch (adj)
How are you getting on with the made of gold (n)
report? good (adj)
Do you get on well with your goodbye (int)
colleagues? goods (n pl)
get rid of (phr v) govern (v)
Could you get rid of these old grade (n & v)
files? We need high grade oil. (n)
get up (phr v) What grade is the job? (n)
What time did you get up this Staff were re-graded. (v)
morning? gradual (adj)
gift (n) graduate (n & v)
gift voucher (n) Hes a maths graduate. (n)
girl (n) She graduated in 2001. (v)
give (v) graduation (n)
give in (phr v) gram(me) (n)
Have you given in last months grammar (n)
sales figures yet? grant (n & v)
He gave in to their demands. He was given a grant to study new
give out (phr v) management methods. (n)
Will you give out these papers for The MD granted his request to
me, please? attend the conference. (v)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 19

UCLES 2006
graph (n) Can you hand out the minutes of
graphics (n) the last meeting?
grateful (adj) handbag (n)
great (adj) handbook (n)
green (adj) handle (n & v)
a green policy The door handle is broken. (n)
greet (v) The goods were damaged
grey (adj) because they were handled
a grey area roughly. (v)
the grey economy She handles telephone enquiries.
gross (adj) (v)
a gross profit He handled the situation badly. (v)
gross weight handwriting (n)
ground (adj & n) hang (v)
group (n & v) He decided to hang the calendar
The group was large. (n) on the wall.
Trainees are grouped together for hang up (phr v)
discussion activities. (v) She hung up at the end of the
grow (v) phone call.
Profits grew very quickly last year. happen (v)
Its a fast-growing company. happy (adj)
They wanted to grow their harbour (n)
company/business/profits/sales. The harbour is being extended due
growth (n) to an increase in shipping.
guarantee (n & v) hard (adj & adv)
guard (n & v) hardly (adv)
guess (n & v) There was hardly any time.
guest (n) He could hardly wait.
guest-house (n) hardware (n)
guide (n & v) hardware store
He has experience as a tour computer hardware
guide. (n) hate (v)
Ill guide you around the factory. have (v)
(v) have got (v)
guilty (adj) have to (v)
gymnasium (n) he (pron)
head (n & v)
at the head of the company (n)
H the head of marketing (n)
head a team/group (v)
habit (n) headgear (n)
hair (n) head office (n)
half (adj, adv & n) headline (n)
hall (n) headquarters (n)
hallo/hello (exclam) health (n)
hand (n & v) health and safety (n)
shake hands (n) hear (v)
He handed the book to her. (v) heart (n)
second-hand in the heart of the city
on hand the heart of the problem
in hand heat (n & v)
by hand Water retains heat longer than air.
to hand (n)
hand in (phr v) The market is overheated. (v)
Could you hand in your report heating (n)
tomorrow. heavy (adj)
hand out (phr v)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 20

UCLES 2006
height (n) huge (adj)
helicopter (n) human (n & adj)
hello/hallo (exclam) hundred (n)
help (n & v) hurry (n & v)
helpdesk (n) hr (abbrev) hour
helpline (n)
her (adj & pron)
here (adv) I
hers (pron)
herself (pron) I (pron)
hi-fi (n) ice (n)
hi(gh)-tec(h) (adj) idea (n)
hidden (adj) identity (n)
hidden agenda identity card
hidden profits ID (abbrev) Identity
hide (v) i.e. (abbrev) that is to say
high (adj, adv & n) if (conj)
highway (n) (Am Eng) ill (adj)
hill (n) illegal (adj)
him (pron) illness (n)
himself (pron) image (n)
hire (n & v) imagination (n)
hire a car (v) imagine (v)
for hire (n) immediate (adj)
a hire and fire approach (n) immigration (n)
hire more staff (v) import (v)
his (adj & pron) import duty (n)
history (n) importance (n)
hit (n & v) important (adj)
a hit on a website (n) impossible (adj)
hit sales targets (v) impress (v)
hobby (n) impression (n)
hold (v) impressive (adj)
hold up (n & phr v) improve (v)
He was held up in heavy traffic for in(s) (abbrev) inch(es)
over two hours. (phr v) in (adv & prep)
There was a hold-up at customs. in a hurry (prep phr)
(n) in advance (prep phr)
hole (n) in any case (prep phr)
holiday (n) in case of (prep phr)
in case of fire
home (adv & n)
in case of delays
honest (adj)
in charge (of) (prep phr)
hope (n & v)
in danger (prep phr)
horrible (adj)
in debt (prep phr)
hospitality (n)
in difficulties (prep phr)
host (n)
in fact (prep phr)
hot (adj)
in front of (prep phr)
hotel (n)
in general (prep phr)
hour (n)
in half (prep phr)
hourly rate (n)
in ink (prep phr)
hourly fee (n)
in order (prep phr)
house (n)
in order to (prep phr)
how (adv)
in pencil (prep phr)
how do you do? (int)
in pieces (prep phr)
how much (adv)
in place (prep phr)
however (adv)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 21

UCLES 2006
in private (prep phr) instalment plan
in public (prep phr) instance (n)
in secret (prep phr) instead (adv)
in sight (prep phr) instead of (adv)
in stock (prep phr) instructions (n)
in the end (prep phr) instructor (n)
in time (prep phr) insurance (n)
in town (prep phr) insurance policy (n)
in turn (prep phr) insure (v)
incentive (n) intelligent (adj)
inch (n) intend (v)
include (v) interest (n & v)
including (prep) interest rate (n)
income (n) intermediate (adj)
inconvenience (n) internal (adj)
inconvenient (adj) internal promotion
incorrect (adj) internal correspondence
increase (n & v) international (adj)
indeed (adv) internet (n)
independent (adj) interpret (v)
index (n) interrupt (v)
index of a book interval (n)
indicate (v) interview (v)
indication (n) into (prep)
individual (adj & n) introduce (v)
indoor (adj) introduction (n)
indoors (adv) introductory (adj)
industrial (adj) invent (v)
industry (n) invention (n)
the steel industry invest (v)
inflation (n) invitation (n)
influence (n & v) invite (v)
She was a bad influence on the invoice (n & v)
other staff. (n) involve (v)
Her first boss greatly influenced iron (n)
her. (v) made of iron
inform (v) island (n)
information (n) issue (n & v)
informal (adj) issue of a magazine (n)
information technology (IT) (n) issues about pay (n)
inhabitant (n) to issue a statement (v)
in-house (adj & adv) IT (abbrev) Information Technology
injure (v) it (pron)
injury (n) item (n)
ink (n) Several items were damaged
innovation (n) during transportation.
innovative (adj) The first item will be a discussion
inquiry (n) of the recent sales figures.
inside (adv, prep & adj) its (pron)
insist (v) itself (pron)
inspect (v)
inspection (n)
install (v)
J
installation (n)
instalment (n) jealous (adj)
by instalments jet (plane) (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 22

UCLES 2006
 go by jet knock (n & v)
job (n) knock down (phr v)
job description (n) They knocked down the building to
job satisfaction (n) make way for the new road.
job security (n) know (v)
join (v) knowledge (n)
I joined the company last year.
joint (adj)
joint venture L
joke (n)
journal (n) label (n & v)
journalist (n) lab (abbrev) laboratory
journey (n) laboratory (n)
judge (n & v) labour (n)
jump (n & v) manual labour
Theres been a big jump in the labour market
prices. (n) lack (n & v)
Share prices have jumped by ladder (n)
200%. (v) career ladder
junction (n) lady (n)
just (adv) Ladies and Gentlemen
lamp (n)
land (n & v)
K landlady (n)
landlord (n)
keen (adj) language (n)
Im not keen on the new product. laptop (n)
Hes keen to increase sales. large (adj)
keep (v) laser (n)
Costs keep rising. laser disk (n)
keep on (phr v) laser printer (n)
They kept on advertising even last (adj, adv & v)
though profits were falling. late (adj)
keep up (phr v) later (adv)
Keep up the good work! laugh (n & v)
He has to keep up with new launch (v & n)
technological developments. The company is holding a product
key (n & adj) launch for the XPL2. (n)
key to a lock (n) We are launching a new service.
key to success (n) (v)
This is a key post. (adj) laundry (n)
key in (phr v) The hotel has a laundry service.
She keyed in the data very quickly. lavatory (n)
keyboard (n) law (n)
computer keyboard lawyer (n)
kg (abbrev) kilogram lay (v)
kilo/kilogram/kilogramme (n) layout (n)
km (abbrev) kilometer/kilometre office layout
kilometre (n) page layout
kph (abbrev) kilometres per hour lazy (adj)
kind (adj & n) lb (abbrev) pound weight
My boss is a very kind person. lead (v)
(adj) Where does this road lead?
What kind of work do you do? (n) We lead the market in computer
kiosk (n) games.
kitchen (n) leader (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 23

UCLES 2006
 J & K Electrics are the market limited company (Ltd.) (n)
leaders. line (n)
leadership (n) the production line
leading (adj) lines on a page
a leading brand railway line
leaflet (n) line manager (n)
learn (v) link (n & v)
least (adj & adv) internet link (n)
the least amount (adj) The computers are linked to a
at least (adv) server. (v)
leave (n & v) liquid (n & adj)
leave out (phr v) list (n & v)
He left out several important facts listen (v)
from his report. litre (n)
lecture (n & v) little (adj & pron)
left (n, adj & adv) live (v & adj)
legal (adj) living (adj)
leisure (n) cost of living
leisure industry (n) load (n & v)
lend (v) The load was heavy. (n)
length (n) Load the goods onto the lorry. (v)
less (adj, adv & pron) loan (n)
lesson (n) local (adj)
let (v) locate (v)
Her boss wouldnt let her attend location (n)
the conference. lock (n & v)
Im going to let my house for six locker (n)
months. logo (n)
lets (v) lonely (adj)
Lets finish the meeting early. long (adj)
letter (n) long-term/long term (adj & n)
letter-box (n) in the long term (n)
level (adj & n) a long-term strategy (adj)
level off (phr v) look (n & v)
Growth in the economy has look after (phr v)
levelled off. Whos looking after the packaging?
level out (phr v) look ahead (phr v)
Sales have started to level out. look forward to (phr v)
liberal (adj) I look forward to seeing you.
a liberal style of management look like (phr v)
library (n) The new model looks just like the
licence (n) old one.
an export licence look out (phr v)
lie (n & v) Look out or youll have an
life (n) accident.
shelf life look up (phr v)
lifestyle (n) Look up the meaning of the word
lift (n & v) in the dictionary.
Can you give me a lift, please? (n) loose (adj)
The lift is going up. (n) lorry (n)
Please help me lift this package. lose (v)
(v) loss (n)
light (adj, n & v) lost property (n)
like (prep & v) lot (n)
likely (adj) loud (adj)
limit (n & v) lounge (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 24

UCLES 2006
love (n & v) She bought some flowers from the
low (adj, n & adv) market. (n)
lower (v) They marketed their goods
loyal (adj) overseas. (v)
loyal staff market leader (n)
loyalty (n) market research (n)
customer loyalty market share (n)
luck (n) market value (n)
luggage (n) marketplace (n)
lunch (n) marketing (n)
lunchtime (n) Ive applied for a job in marketing.
luxury (n & adj) married (adj)
mass (adj)
mass market (n)
M mass media (n)
mass-produce (v)
m (abbrev) metre mass production (n)
MA (abbrev) Masters degree master (v)
machine (n) match (n & v)
machinery (n) The agency matches staff to
mad (adj) vacancies. (v)
madam (n) Its important to find a job which
Dear Sir/Madam matches your skills. (v)
magazine (n) The two companies in the merger
mail (n) are a good match. (n)
mailbox (Am Eng) (n) mate (n)
mail order (n) a workmate
mailing list (n) material (n)
mailshot (n) training material(s)
main (adj) construction materials
maintain (v) raw materials
maintenance (n) mathematics (n)
major (adj) maths (abbrev) mathematics
major client matter (n & v)
major exports Is anything the matter? (n)
majority (n) It doesnt matter. (v)
make (n & v) mature (adj)
make up (n & v) mature attitude
male (adj & n) mature student
man (n) mature investment
manage (v) mature sector of the market
manage a business max (abbrev) maximum
manage to do something maximum (adj & n)
managerial (adj) may (v)
managing director (MD) (n) maybe (adv)
manner (n) MBA (abbrev) Masters in Business
manual (adj) Administration
manufacture (n & v) MD (abbrev) Managing Director (n)
many (adj & pron) me (pron)
map (n) meal (n)
margin (n) mean (v)
profit margin What do you mean?
mark (n & v) What does it mean?
market (n & v) meaning (n)
Theres a good market for fax means (n)
machines here. (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 25

UCLES 2006
 Use whatever means you like but minute (n)
sell the product. minutes (n & pl)
measure (v) the minutes of the meeting
measure the length of something misc (abbrev) miscellaneous
mechanic (n) miscellaneous (adj)
media (n) miserable (adj)
medicine (n) miss (n & v)
medium (adj) mistake (n)
meet (v) misunderstand (v)
Could we meet on Thursday mix (n & v)
morning? mixture (n)
Pleased to meet you! mobile (adj & n)
Are we meeting the needs of I need a new mobile (phone).
consumers? He isnt mobile at the moment.
member (n) model (adj & n)
membership (n) Its cheap because its last years
memo (abbrev) memorandum model. (n)
memorandum (n) Shes a model employee. (adj)
memory (n) modern (adj)
have a good/poor memory moment (n)
computer memory money (n)
mend (v) monopoly (n)
mend a faulty machine month (n)
mention (n & v) more (adj, adv & pron)
menu (n) morning (n)
merge (v) most (adj, adv & pron)
message (n) motivate (v)
metal (n) motivation (n)
method (n) motor (n)
production methods motorbike (n)
metre (n) motorcycle (n)
microphone (n) motorway (n)
midday (n) mountain (n)
middle (adj & n) a mountain of paperwork
middle-aged (adj) mouse (n)
middle management (n) The mouse on my computer isnt
midnight (n) working.
might (v) move (n & v)
mild (adj) movie (Am Eng) (n)
mile (n) mph (abbrev) miles per hour
millimetre (n) Mr (n)
mind (n & v) Mrs (n)
His mind was on other things. (n) Ms (n)
Would you mind if I postponed the much (adj, adv & pron)
meeting? (v) multinational (adj & n)
Whos minding the machine for multiply (v)
you? (v) multiply 14 by 2
Mind your head! (v) music (n)
mine (pron) musical (adj & n)
mineral (adj) musician (n)
mineral water (n) must (v)
min (abbrev) minimum my (pron & adj)
minimum (adj & n) myself (pron)
minor (adj)
minus (conj)
min (abbrev) minute

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 26

UCLES 2006
 north (adj, adv, & n)
N north east (adj & n )
north west (adj & n)
N (abbrev) north not/nt (adv)
name (n & v) not at all (adv)
narrow (adj) note (n & v)
national (adj) notebook (n)
nationality (n) notepad (n)
nationwide (adj) notepaper (n)
natural (adj) nothing (n & pron)
nature (n) notice (n & v)
NB (abbrev) note well notice-board (n)
NE (abbrev) north east now (adv)
NW (abbrev) north west nowadays (adv)
near (adv & prep) nowhere (adv)
neat (adj) nr (abbrev) near
necessary (adj) nuclear (adj)
need (n & v) number (n)
negative (adj) nylon (adj & n)
negative attitude
negotiable (adj)
negotiate (v) O
negotiation (n)
neighbour (n) oclock (adj & adv)
neighbourhood (n) object (n & v)
neither (adj & pron) objective (n)
nervous (adj) observe (v)
net (n & adj) obtain (v)
have a net income of 20,000 a occupation (n)
year (adj) occur (v)
network (v & n) of (prep)
to network computers (v) of course (adv)
a computer network (n) off (adv & prep)
network of agents (n) offer (n & v)
networking (n) office (n)
never (adv) officer (n)
new (adj) official (adj & n)
news (n) often (adv)
newsagent (n) OHP (abbrev) overhead projector
newsletter (n) OHT (abbrev) overhead transparency
newspaper (n) oil (n & v)
next (adj, adv & pron) OK/O.K./okay (int, adj & adv)
next to (prep) old (adj)
nice (adj & adv) omit (v)
night (n) on (adv & prep)
nil (n) on a journey (prep phr)
no (adv) on a visit (prep phr)
no. (abbrev) number (n) on business (prep phr)
no one (n) on fire (prep phr)
nobody (n & pron) on foot (prep phr)
noise (n) on holiday (prep phr)
none (n, adj & pron) on sale (prep phr)
nor (conj) on time (prep phr)
neither management nor workers once (adv or adj)
Nor do I. one (n & pron)
normal (adj) one-way (adj)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 27

UCLES 2006
oneself (pron) own brand (n)
online/on-line (adv & adj)
only (adj & adv)
onto (prep) P
open (adj & v)
opening hours (n) p (abbrev) pence
operate (v) PA (abbrev) Personal Assistant
They operate from an old pa (abbrev) per annum
warehouse. pc (abbrev) personal computer
Shall I show you how to operate p./pp. (abbrev) page/pages
the machine? pack (n & v)
operation (n) package (n & v)
opinion (n) packaging (n)
opportunity (n) packet (n)
oppose (v) packing (n)
opposite (adj, n & prep) packing department
option (n) page (n)
or (conj) paid leave (n)
order (conj, n & v) paint (n & v)
order form (n) pair (n)
ordinary (adj) paper (n)
organisation (n) paperclip (n)
organise (v) paperwork (n)
original (adj) paragraph (n)
originality (n) parcel (n)
other (adj & pron) pardon (n)
ought (v) Pardon?
ounce (n) park (n & v)
our (adj) parking (n)
ours (pron) parliament (n)
ourselves (pron) part (n)
out (adv) part-time/part time (adj & adv)
out of (prep) participant (n)
out of date (prep phr) participate (v)
out of doors (prep phr) participation (n)
out of order (prep phr) particular (adj)
out of stock (prep phr) a particular problem
out of work (prep phr) partner (n)
outdoor (adj) party (n)
outdoors (adv) pass (n & v)
outlet (n) security pass (n)
output (n & v) passenger (n)
outside (adv, n & prep) passport (n)
oval (adj) past (adj, n & prep)
over (adv & prep) path (n)
overall (adj) patient (adj)
overalls (n) pattern (n)
overdraft (n) pause (n & v)
overdrawn (adj) pavement (n)
overheads (n) pay (n & v)
overnight (adj & adv) payroll (n)
overseas (adj & adv) peace (n)
overtake (v) peak (n & v)
overtime (n) pen (n)
owe (v) pence (n)
own (adj & v) pencil (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 28

UCLES 2006
pension (n) What a pity!
people (n pl) place (n & v)
per (prep) plain (adj)
per annum (adv) Its plain to me.
per cent (%) (adj, adv & n) plain blue
percentage (n) plan (n & v)
perfect (adj) plane (n)
perform (v) planning (n)
The company is performing well. plant (n & v)
performance (n) The firm has made huge
a strong performance on the stock investment in new plant. (n)
market A strike at the new manufacturing
perhaps (adv) plant held up production. (n)
period (n) Farmers need to plant crops this
I will be away for the whole period month. (v)
of her visit. plastic (adj & n)
The period before the break has platform (n)
been cancelled. play (n & v)
the beginning/middle/whole/end of plc (abbrev) public limited company
the period pleasant (adj)
permanent (adj) please (int & v)
permission (n) Come in, please. (int)
permit (v & n) He tried hard to please his boss.
person (n) (v)
personal assistant (n) pleasure (n)
personal computer (n) plenty (adj & pron)
personality (n) plug (n)
personnel (n) electric plug
personnel management (n) plug in (phr v)
persuade (v) The photocopier isnt plugged in.
petrol (n) plus (conj)
petrol station (n) pm (adv)
petty cash (n) pocket (n)
pharmaceutical (adj) point (n & v)
the pharmaceutical industry point of view (n)
pharmacy (n) police (n)
phase (n) police station (n)
phone (n & v) policy (n)
photocopier (n) polite (adj)
photocopy (n & v) political (adj)
photograph (n & v) politician (n)
photography (n) politics (n)
pick (v) pollution (n)
pick up (phr v) pool (n)
Ill pick you up from the airport. The company sells swimming
picture (n) pools.
piece (n) poor (adj)
pile (n & v) She is very poor and earns hardly
pilot (n) any money at all.
pin (n & v) Hes rather poor at maths.
drawing pins (n) popular (adj)
pin something to the notice-board. population (n)
(v) port (n)
pipe (n) portable (adj)
a water pipe porter (n)
pity (n) position (n)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 29

UCLES 2006
positive (adj) process (n & v)
possibility (n) produce (n & v)
possible (adj) product (n)
post (n & v) production (n)
post office (n) productive (adj)
postage (n) productivity (n)
postcard (n) profession (n)
postcode (n) professional (adj & n)
poster (n) professor (n)
postman (n) profile (n & v)
postpone (v) profit (n)
potential (n & adj) profit margin
pound (n) profit level
pour (v) profitability (n)
power (n) profitable (adj)
PR (abbrev) Public Relations programme (n & v)
practice (n) progress (n)
The exercises in the book provide project (n)
plenty of practice. promise (n & v)
out of practice promote (v)
good business practice promotion (n)
practise (v) promotional (adj)
praise (n & v) prompt (adj)
precious (adj) pronounce (v)
predict (v) pronunciation (n)
prediction (n) proof (n)
prefer (v) proofread (v)
preference (n) proper (adj)
preliminary (adj) property (n)
premises (n) proportion (n)
preparation (n) proposal (n)
prepare (v) We all listened to her proposal.
prescription (n) propose (v)
present (adj, n & v) propose an idea
presentation (n) protect (v)
president (n) protection (n)
press (n & v) proud (adj)
pretty (adj & adv) prove (v)
prevent (v) provide (v)
previous (adj) PS (abbrev) postscript
price (n & v) PTO (abbrev) please turn over
price list (n) public (adj & n)
primary (adj) public holiday (n)
of primary importance public limited company (n)
prime minister (n) public opinion (n)
principal (n & adj) public relations (PR) (n)
college principal (n) publication (n)
principal activity (adj) publicise (v)
print (n & v) publicity (n)
printout (n) publish (v)
priority (n) pull (n & v)
private (adj) punctual (adj)
prize (n) punish (v)
probable (adj) pupil (n)
problem (n) purchase (n & v)
procedure (n) pure (adj)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 30

UCLES 2006
purpose (n & adj)
push (n & v) R
put (v)
put away (phr v) race (n & v)
Put the file away before you leave. radio (n)
put back (phr v) rail (n)
The meeting was put back until railway (n)
Wednesday. raise (n & v)
put down (phr v) range (n & v)
She put her name down for the rank (n & v)
conference. a taxi rank (n)
put off (phr v) Wavell & Arnold plc ranks in the
Lets put the meeting off until next top 100 companies. (v)
week. rapid (adj)
put on (phr v) rare (adj)
Could you put on the light? rate (n)
put out (phr v) rather (adv)
He put out the light. Rd (abbrev) road
put through (phr v) re (abbrev) regarding
Could you put me through to the reach (v)
Finance Director? react (v)
put up (phr v) reaction (n)
Petrol companies are putting up read (v)
their prices next week. ready (adj)
real (adj)
realise (v)
Q rearrange (v)
reason (n)
receipt (n)
qualification (n) receive (v)
qualify (v) receiver (n)
qualify as an accountant
telephone receiver
qualify for a discount
recent (adj)
quality (n) reception (n)
quality control (n) reception desk in a hotel or an
quality controller (n) office
quantity (n) a business reception for delegates
quarrel (n & v) receptionist (n)
quarter (n) reclaim (v)
quay (n) recognise (v)
query (n & v) recommend (v)
question (n & v) recommendation (n)
questionnaire (n) record (n, adj & v)
queue (n & v) a record of the meeting (n)
quick (adj) record profits (adj)
quiet (adj) record your comments (v)
quite (adv) recorder (n)
quiz (n) a cassette recorder
quotation (n) recover (v)
The quotation is higher than Have you recovered from the long
expected. (n) flight?
quote (n & v) recovery (n)
Could you quote me a price for recruit (n & v)
printing 1,000 brochures? (v) rectangular
The quote hasnt come in yet. (n) red (adj & n)
in the red

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 31

UCLES 2006
reduce (v) representative (n)
reduction (n) reputation (n)
redundant (adj) request (n & v)
make someone redundant require (v)
ref (abbrev) with reference to rescue (n & v)
refer (v) research (n & v)
refer to something R & D (abbrev) Research and
reference (n) Development
a reference to something reservation (n)
references from a previous reserve (v)
employer resident (n)
refreshment(s) (n) residential (adj)
refrigerator (n) resign (v)
refund (v & n) resignation (n)
refurbish (v) resources (n)
refuse (v) respect (n & v)
regard (n & v) respond (v)
regarding (prep) response (n)
region (n) responsibility (n)
regional (adj) responsible (adj)
register (v) rest (n & v)
register for an MBA restaurant (n)
registration (n) result (n & v)
regret (v) retail (n & v)
regular (adj) retail outlet (n)
regulations (n pl) retail price (n)
reject (v) retain (v)
rejection (n) retire (v)
relation (n) return (n & v)
industrial relations revenue (n)
public relations review (n & v)
relax (v) revise (v)
relevant (adj) reward (n & v)
reliable (adj) rich (adj & n)
reliability (n) ride (n & v)
relief (n) right (adj, adv & n)
What a relief! ring (n & v)
relocate (v) ring back (v)
relocation (n) ring up (v)
rely (v) rise (n & v)
remain (v) risk (n & v)
remember (v) rival (n & adj)
remind (v) river (n)
remove (v) road (n)
renew (v) role (n)
rent (n & v) roof (n)
rental (adj & n) room (n)
reorganisation (n) rough (adj)
rep (abbrev) representative round (adj, adv & prep)
repair (n & v) roundabout (n)
repay (v) route (n)
repeat (n, v & adj) routine (n)
replace (v) row (n)
reply (n & v) the figure is in the end row of the
report (n & v) column.
represent (v) RSVP (abbrev) please reply

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 32

UCLES 2006
rubber (adj & n) sec (abbrev) second
rubbish (n) second (adj & n)
ruin (n & v) second-hand/second hand (adj & adv)
rule (n & v) secondary (adj)
run (v) secret (n & adj)
run out of (phr v) secretarial (adj)
Weve run out of paper for the secretary (n)
printer. section (n)
section head
sector (n)
S sector of the economy
secure (v & adj)
S (abbrev) south security (n)
sad (adj) see (v)
SAE (abbrev) stamped addressed seem (v)
envelope
seldom (adv)
safe (n & adj)
select (v)
safety (n )
selection (n)
salary (n)
self-employed (adj)
sale (n )
self-service (adj)
sales (n)
sell (v)
same (adj & pron)
selling price (n)
sample (n)
seminar (n)
satisfaction (n)
send (v)
satisfactory (adj)
send for (v)
satisfied (adj) send for something
save (v) senior (adj)
say (v) sensible (adj)
scale (n) sentence (n)
salary scale
Can you translate this sentence
large-scale
into German?
small-scale
separate (adj & v)
schedule (n & v) Can you separate these for me?
scheme (n) (v)
training scheme They work in separate offices.
school (n) (adj)
science (n) series (n)
scientific (adj) serious (adj)
scissors (n) servant (n)
screen (n & v) civil servant
a TV/computer screen serve (v )
screw (n & v) The bank serves the interests of its
Screw this in for me, please. (v) customers.
Have you seen the screw? (n) The rail network serves every
sea (n) region of the country.
seal (v) In my last job, I had to serve
search (n & v) customers.
customs search (n) service (n & v)
a search on the internet (n) service station (n)
search for (v) service agreement (n)
season (n) service charge (n)
e.g. autumn, winter service industry (n)
the conference season services (n pl)
seasonal (staff, rates) (adj) customer services
seat (n & v) set off (phr v)
seatbelt (n) set off for work

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 33

UCLES 2006
set out (phr v) a traffic sign, a sign on a wall (n)
set out on a journey Sign here, please. (v)
set up (phr v) signs of economic recovery (n)
set up a business signal (n & v)
settle (v) signature (n)
feel settled in a job significant (adj)
settle an account a significant rise
several (adj) signpost (n)
sex (n) silence (n)
the male/female sex silent (adj)
shake (n & v) silk (n & adj)
shall (v) silver (n & adj)
shallow (adj) similar (adj)
shame (n) simple (adj)
What a shame! simple food
shape (n & v) a simple exercise
share (n & v) since (conj & prep)
I share an office with the Marketing sincerely (adv)
Director. (v) single (n & adj)
Our market share has increased Sir (n)
this year. (n) sit (v)
shareholder (n) site (n)
shares (n & pl) situate (v)
shares in the company situation (n)
sharp (adj) size (n)
sharp image skill (n)
a sharp rise/drop skilled (adj)
she (pron) sky (n)
sheet (n) sleep (n & v)
shelf (n) slight (adj)
shift (n) slim (adj)
night shift slow (adj)
shift work(er) slow down (phr v)
shine (v) Sales of the X13 model have
ship (n & v) slowed down.
shipping (n) small (adj)
shock (n) smart (adj)
The news of the low sales figures smell (n & v)
came as a shock. smile (n & v)
shop (n & v) smoke (n & v)
short (adj) smooth (adj)
shortage (n) snack (n)
short-term/short term (adj & n) so (adv & conj)
should (v) so that (conj)
shout (n & v) so-so (adj)
show (n & v) social (adj)
shower (n) society (n)
shut (adj & v) soft (adj)
shy (adj) software (n)
sick (adj) sole (adj)
side (n) sole agent
sight (n) solid (adj)
in sight, out of sight solid fuel
tourist sights
a solid cylinder
sightseeing (n)
solution (n)
sign (n & v)
solve (v)

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 34

UCLES 2006
some (adj & adv) stand (v & n)
somebody (n & pron) stand outside (v)
someone (n & pron) a stand at an exhibition (n)
something (n & pron) standholder (n)
sometimes (adv) Production stood still due to a
somewhere (adv) strike. (v)
soon (adv) We stood (up) to get a better view.
sorry (adj) (v)
sort (n & v) The factory stands on a new
sort out (phr v) industrial park. (v)
Could you sort out my travel standard (n & adj)
arrangements to Madrid? staple (n)
sound (n & v) stapler (n)
south (adj, adv & n) start (n & v)
south east (n & adj) the start of the conference (n)
south west (adj, adv & n) The meeting started at 2pm. (v)
souvenir (n) start-up (adj)
space (n) Start-up costs have increased.
spare (adj & v) state (n & v)
spare cash (adj) Her office was in a very untidy
I cant spare the time to see him. state. (n)
(v) There are both state and private
speak (v) railways in Japan. (n)
speaker (n)
Please state your order clearly. (v)
a conference speaker station (n)
special (adj) stationery (n)
specialise (v) statistics (n)
specialist (n) stay (n & v)
speciality (n) stay behind (phr v)
specifications (n pl) He stayed behind to finish the
speech (n) report.
speed (n) steady (adj)
spell (v) steal (v)
spend (v & n) steam (n)
spend money (v) steel (n & adj)
spend time (v) steep (adj)
Our advertising spend increased step (n & v)
this year. (n) steps 1 3 (n)
spill (v) take steps to do something (n pl)
spite (n) step up the career ladder (v)
in spite of still (adv)
sponsor (n & v) stock (n & v)
sport(s) (n) Stock Exchange (n)
spy (n & v) stocks (n)
square (n & adj) stocks and shares
a square pattern (adj) stone (n)
Market Square (n) stop (v & n)
St (abbrev) street storage (n)
staff (n) store (n & v)
stage (n) a department store (n)
the final stage of production Store it for future use. (v)
stairs (n pl) storeroom (n)
stamp (n) storey (n)
Is there a stamp on the envelope? storm (n)
Use the company stamp.

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 35

UCLES 2006
 The roof of the factory was sudden (adj)
damaged in the storm. suffer (v)
a storm of protests sufficient (adj)
story (n) suggest (v)
straight (adj & adv) suggestion (n)
strange (adj) suit (n & v)
stranger (n) suitability (n)
strategy (n) suitable (adj)
a business strategy suitcase (n)
street (n) suite (n)
strength (n) sum (n)
strengthen (v) sum up (phr v)
stress (n & v) The Finance Director summed up
Theres a lot of stress in this job. objections to the new strategy.
(n) supermarket (n)
He stressed that it was important to supervise (v)
be early. (v) supervision (n)
strict (adj) supper (n)
strict Health & Safety rules supplies (n pl)
strike (n & v) supply (n & v)
Most of the workers have gone on support (n & v)
strike. (n) suppose (v)
Theyre striking for higher wages. surcharge (n)
(v) sure (adj)
string (n) surname (n)
strong (adj) surplus (n)
structure (n & v) surprise (n, v & adj)
Could you describe the structure of survey (n)
the company? (n) sweep (v)
The company was re-structured. swing (n & v)
(v) There has been a swing in public
student (n) opinion. (n)
studies (n) The door swung shut. (v)
business studies switch (n & v)
study (n & v) system (n)
Im studying Marketing.(v)
She studied the report. (v) T
The company carried out a study of
consumer shopping habits. (n) table (n)
stupid (adj) take (v)
subsequently (adv) take away (phr v)
subsidiary (n & adj) Take 15 away from 78.
subject (n) take off (phr v)
the subject of a discussion She took off her jacket.
the subject of a sentence The plane took off on time.
a school/college subject take out (phr v)
subtract (v) take out insurance/loan
subway (n) take the visitors out for lunch
The New York subway is a huge take out some figures from a
transport system. (Am Eng) document
Subways provide an alternative to take over (phr v)
crossing busy roads. (Br Eng) The MD plans to take over one of
succeed (v) our competitors.
success (n) take part in (phr v)
such (adj) He didnt take part in the meeting.

BEC Preliminary Wordlist 36

UCLES 2006
take place (phr v) test (n & v)
The conference will take place in text (n)
Paris this year. textile (n)
take up (phr v) than (conj)
She took up golf as a good way of thank (v)
networking. thank you (int)
He took up a new position in the thanks (n)
company. that (adj, conj & pron)
takeover (n) the (det)
There have been several theatre (n)
takeovers of well-known Lets take the visitors to the
companies recently. theatre.
takings (n) their (adj)
talk (n & v) theirs (pron)
tall (adj) them (pron)
tap (n) themselves (pron)
a cold-water tap then (adv)
tape (n & v) theory (n)
target (n & v) there (adv & pron)
The companys production target is Put it over there, please. (adv)
1,000 refrigerators each week. (n) There are two photocopiers in our
The company was targeted in a office. (pron)
takeover bid. (v) therefore (adv)
task (n) thermometer (n)
taste (n & v) these (adj & pron)
tax (n & v) they (pron)
taxation (n) thick (adj)
taxi (n) thief (n)
taxpayer (n) thin (adj)
tea (n) thing (n)
teach (v) think (v)
team (n) thirst (n)
tear (n & v) this (adj & pron)
technical (adj) those (adj & pron)
technician (n) though (conj)
technique (n) thought (n)
technological (adj) through (prep)
technology (n) throughout (prep)
tel (abbrev) telephone number throw (v)
telecommunications (n) throw away (phr v)
telegram (n) He threw away the document by
telegraph (n) mistake.
telephone (n & v) tick (n & v)
television (n) ticket (n)
telex (n) tidy (adj & v)
tell (v) tie (n & v)
temperature (n) a shirt and tie (n)
temporary (adj) tied with string (v)
tenant (n) tiger (n)
terminal (n) tiger economy
an air/computer terminal tight (adj)
terms (n pl) till (conj & prep)
What are the terms of the time (n)
agreement between the two timetable (n & v)
companies? tin (n)
terrible (adj) tin-opener (n)

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tiny (adj) tube (n)
tip (n) tunnel (n)
tired (adj) turn (n & v)
title (n) turn around (phr v)
to (prep) He turned the company around in
today (adv & n) two years.
together (adv) turn down (phr v)
toilet (n) turn down a radio
tomorrow (adv & n) turn down an application
ton(ne) (n) turn into (phr v)
tonight (adv & n) Anna has turned into a competent
too (adv) and confident manager.
tool (n) turn off (phr v)
top (n) Turn off the lights when you leave
topic (n) the office.
total (n) turn on (phr v)
touch (v & n) He turned on the computer.
tour (n & v) turn out (phr v)
tourist (n) Please turn out all the lights before
toward(s) (prep) leaving the building.
tower (n) Things turned out quite well in the
town (n) end.
track (n) turn up (phr v)
Could you turn up the air
trade (n & v)
trade fair (n ) conditioning its rather hot and
stuffy in the office?
trade union (n)
turning (n)
tradesman (n)
the first turning on the left
traditional (adj)
turnover (n)
traffic (n & v)
an annual turnover of 1 million
traffic jam (n)
TV (abbrev) television
traffic light(s) (n)
twice (adv)
train (n & v)
twin (n)
trainee (n)
type (n & v)
trainers (n)
typewriter (n)
tram (n)
typical (adj)
transfer (n & v)
typist (n)
translate (v)
translation (n)
transport (n & v) U
transportation (n)
travel (v) ugly (adj)
travel agent (n) under (prep)
travel expenses (n) underground (adj & n)
travellers cheque(s) (n) understand (v)
trend (n) undo (v)
trial (n) uniform (n)
trip (n) union (n)
trouble (n) a trade union
truck (Am Eng) (n) unit (n)
true (adj) unit cost
trust (n & v) factory unit
I dont have any trust in the MD. industrial unit
(n) universe (n)
Everyone likes and trusts her. (v) university (n)
truth (n) unleaded (adj)
try (v) unless (conj)

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until (prep) waitress (n)
up (adv & prep) wake (up) (v)
up-to-date/up to date (adj & adv) walk (n & v)
update (n & v) wall (n)
upgrade (n & v) wallet (n)
upon (prep) want (v)
upstairs (adv) war (n)
upturn (n) a price war
upward (adj) warehouse (n)
urgent (adj) warm (adj)
us (pron) warn (v)
use (n & v) wash (n & v)
used to (v) waste ( adj, v & n)
usual (adj) wastepaper (basket/bin) (n)
watch (v & n)
V water (n & v)
wave (n & v)
vacancy (n) way (n)
vacation (n) we (pron)
valid (adj) weak (adj)
a valid passport weakness (n)
a valid argument wealth (n)
valuable (adj) wear (v & n)
value (n & v) sportswear (n)
van (n) footwear (n)
variety (n) childrens wear (n)
various (adj) wear out (v)
vary (v) worn out clothes/equipment
vehicle (n) Im worn out I need a holiday.
venture (n) weather (n)
joint venture web (n)
venue (n) website (n)
very (adj & adv) on the web
victory (n) week (n)
video (n & v) weekday (n)
video recorder (n) weekend (n)
videotape (n) weigh (v)
view (n) weight (n)
village (n) welcome (n)
virus (n) welfare (n)
a computer virus well (adj, adv & n)
visa (n) Well done! (exclam)
visit (n & v) well-known (adj)
vocabulary (n) well-made (adj)
voice (n) west (adj, adv & n)
volume (n) wet (adj)
vote (n & v) what (pron)
voyage (n) whatever (pron)
wheel (n & v)
W when (adv & conj)
whenever (pron)
where (adv & conj)
W (abbrev) west
whereas (conj)
wage(s) (n)
whether (conj)
wait (n & v)
which (pron)
waiting room (n)
while (conj)

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whiteboard (n)
who, whom (pron) X
whole (adj)
wholesale (adj & adv)
wholesaler (n)
whose (pron)
Y
why (adv & conj)
yard (n)
wide (adj & adv)
yd (abbrev) yard
width (n)
year (n)
will (v)
yes (int)
willing (adj)
yesterday (adv & n)
win (n & v)
yet (adv)
window (n)
you (pron)
window display (n)
young (adj & n)
wing (n)
your (adj)
the wing of an aeroplane
yours (pron)
wire (n)
yourself (pron)
wise (adj)
youth (n)
wish (n & v)
yr (abbrev) year
with (prep)
withdraw (v)
within (adv & prep) Z
without (prep)
witness (v & n) zero (n)
woman (n) zone (n)
wonder (v)
wood (n)
wooden (adj)
wool (n)
word (n)
word process (v)
word processor (n)
work (n & v)
work permit (n)
workforce (n)
working hours (n)
workman (n)
workplace (n)
workshop (n)
workstation (n)
world (n)
worldwide /world-wide (adj & adv)
worried (adj)
worry (n & v)
worth (adj)
would ('d) (v)
wrap (v)
wrap up (v)
write (v)
write down (phr v)
Ill write down the instructions.
write out (phr v)
Ill write it out again.
wrong (adj)

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Appendix 1

Word sets

In addition to the words in the alphabetical list, BEC Preliminary candidates are expected to
know:

Cardinal numbers
one, two, three, etc.

Ordinal numbers
first, second, third, fourth, etc.

Days of the week

Monday, Tuesday, etc.

Seasons of the year

spring, summer, autumn, winter.

Countries, languages and nationalities

Names of the countries, nationalities and languages, for example: Brazil/Brazilian;
Canada/Canadian; China/Chinese; France/French; Ireland/Irish; India/Indian; Italy/Italian;
Spain/Spanish, etc.

Continents / Oceans
Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Antartica, Europe, Atlantic, Pacific.

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Appendix 2

Affixes

The words in the alphabetical list may be extended by the use of one or more of these
affixes:

mini- with nouns, sometimes without a hyphen, e.g. minibus, mini-tour

non- with nouns and adjectives, e.g. non-essential
re- with verbs and their related nouns, usually without a hyphen, e.g. rename,
renaming
self- with nouns and adjectives, e.g. self-importance, self-confident
un- negative prefix, e.g. unsafe
-able with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. affordable
-ed (-d) with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. limited, used
-er (-r) with verbs, to form nouns, e.g. teacher, advertiser, shopper, also comparative
forms, e.g. brighter
-ese for nationalities/languages, e.g. Japanese
-ess referring to a woman or female animal, e.g. princess, lioness
N.B. it is less common to refer to women in this way nowadays, and
usually safer to use the standard form e.g. actor, author
-est superlative forms, e.g. tallest
-ful with nouns, for amount contained, e.g. spoonful; with nouns to form adjectives
denoting characteristics or qualities, e.g. painful, peaceful
-ing with verbs, for activity or state, e.g. reading, frightening
-ish for nationalities or languages, e.g. Swedish; with nouns to form adjectives,
e.g. childish
-ist with nouns, occupations, e.g. novelist, guitarist
-less with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. breathless
-ly with adjectives to form adverbs, e.g. seriously; with nouns to form adjectives,
e.g. friendly
-ment with verbs to form nouns, e.g. enjoyment
-or with verbs to form nouns, for people, e.g. inventor
-y with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. sunny

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