Many people learn vocabulary for hours and still forget it quickly. The reason is usually the method, not talent. Here come ways to learn vocabulary effectively and retain it.
Learning vocabulary effectively: the best methods
How ready are you really?
Your Ready-Score shows you in a mock exam where you stand today. Free, no risk.
- Spaced repetition: repeat words at growing intervals instead of all at once, so they move into long-term memory.
- Learning in context: memorise whole sentences, not just individual words.
- Ordering by topic: group words by topic, that helps with recall.
- Applying actively: build new words into your own sentences right away.
Which topics are worth it for the exam is shown in vocabulary for B1 and vocabulary for B2.
Staying consistent is more important than volume
Better ten minutes daily than two hours once a week. Small, fixed units bring the most. Set phrases are also part of it, more in set phrases for B2.
How this pays off
A good vocabulary helps you in all parts of the exam. How vocabulary is tested there is shown in the overview of the exam sections. For a full overview, see the page on the telc B2 exam.
The bottom line
Spaced repetition, learning in context and small daily units beat dull cramming. That is how new vocabulary really sticks.
