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A collection of C1 vocabulary by common topic

To achieve C1 level of English proficiency, you need to possess and use vocabulary that is equivalent to that level. Especially in the IELTS exam, the more you employ appropriate C1-level vocabulary according to contexts, the faster you can improve your band score. In the below article, PREP has collected C1-level English vocabulary across 10 advanced topics for reference!

I. A collection of C1 vocabulary by common topic

Different from the subjects covered in English vocabulary levels A1, A2, B1, and B2, the C1 level introduces more challenging vocabulary, with more academic and specialized topics. What are these complicated subjects? Let's dive into them with PREP below!

1. Books

Regarding books and stationery, the vocabulary seems simple at first. However, with deeper research, we will discover numerous C1 level English vocabulary, particularly when delving into the study of ancient books. Let's reveal these words together with PREP!

C1 word list: Books
allegory (n): a story, play, picture, etc. in which each character or event is a symbol representing an idea or a quality, such as truth, evil, death, etc.; the use of such symbols	sequel (n): a book, film, play, etc. that continues the story of an earlier one
comic strip (n): a series of drawings inside boxes that tell a story and are often published in newspapers	true crime (n): a genre of book, film, etc. that examines or tells the story of a real crime
whodunnit (n): a story, play, etc. about a murder in which you do not know who did the murder until the end	symbolism (n): the use of symbols to represent ideas, especially in art and literature
autobiography (n): the story of a person’s life, written by that person; this type of writing	trilogy (n): a group of three books, films, etc. that have the same subject or characters
backstory (n): the things that are supposed to have happened to the characters in a film, novel, etc., before the film, etc. starts	tragic (adj): making you feel very sad, usually because somebody has died or suffered a lot
title page (n): a page at the front of a book that has the title and the author’s name on it	script (n): a written text of a play, film, broadcast, talk, etc.
twist (n): the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning a part of your body	proofread (v): to read and correct a piece of written or printed work
characterization (n): the way that a writer makes characters in a book or play seem real	compose (v): to write music
dramatist/playwright (n): a person who writes plays for the theatre, television or radio	co-author (v): a person who writes a book or an article with somebody else
first-person (adj): showing that someone is speaking or writing about themselves	ironic (adj): showing that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying
hardcover book (n): a book that has a stiff cover	intriguing (adj): very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer
paperback book (n): a book that has a thick paper cover	inspirational (n): providing exciting new ideas; making somebody want to create something, especially in art, literature or music
appendix (n): a small bag of tissue that is attached to the large intestine. In humans, the appendix has no clear function.	gripping (adj): exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention
pamphlet (n): a very thin book with a paper cover, containing information about a particular subject	appealing (adj): attractive or interesting

2. Literature

How many C1 level English words are related to literature? Let’s check them out with PREP in the below table!

C1 level vocabulary: Literature
Plot (n): the series of events that form the story of a novel, play, film, etc.	stanza (n): a group of lines in a repeated pattern that form a unit in some types of poem
subplot (n): a series of events in a play, novel, etc. that is separate from but linked to the main story	alliteration (n): the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words that are close together, as in sing a song of sixpence
synopsis (n): a summary of a piece of writing, a play, etc.	trope (n): a word or phrase that is used in a way that is different from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental image or effect.
	byline (n): a line at the beginning or end of a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine that gives the writer’s name
catharsis (n): the process of releasing strong feelings, for example through plays or other artistic activities, as a way of providing relief from anger, mental pain, etc.	Caption (n): words that are printed below a picture, cartoon, etc. that explain or describe it
cliche (n): a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting	character count (n): the number of letters in a text
copyright (n): the legal right to control the production and selling of a book, play, film, photograph, or piece of music	couplet (n): two lines of poetry next to each other, especially ones that rhyme (= have words with the same sounds) and have the same length and rhythm
denouement (n): the end of a story, in which everything is explained, or the end result of a situation	epithet (n): an adjective added to a person's name or a phrase used instead of it, usually to criticize or praise them
discourse (n): the use of language to communicate in speech or writing, or an example of this	exegesis (n): an explanation of a text, especially from the Bible, after its careful study
dystopia (n): a very bad or unfair society in which there is a lot of suffering, especially an imaginary society in the future, after something terrible has happened; a description of such a society	free-verse (n): poetry whose lines do not have a regular pattern
elegy (n): a sad poem or song, especially remembering someone who has died or something in the past	jargon (n): special words and phrases that are used by particular groups of people, especially in their work
hubris (n): a way of talking or behaving that is too proud	monologue (n): a long speech by one person
hyperbole (n): a way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better, more, etc. than they are	onomatopoeia (n): the act of creating or using words that include sounds that are similar to the noises the words refer to
prosody (n): the pattern of rhythm and sound in poetry	paradigmatic (adj): relating to the way different words or language items can be chosen to play a particular part in a language structure
soliloquy (n): a speech in a play that the character speaks to himself or herself or to the people watching rather than to the other characters	pun (n & v): a humorous use of a word or phrase that has several meanings or that sounds like another word

3. Urban life

The urban life in the modern day is constantly changing. What vocabularies do we commonly use to describe the city objects and lifestyles? Let's discover them together in the table below with PREP!

C1 English vocabulary: Urban life
apartment building (n): a large building that is divided into apartments	amenities (n): something, such as a swimming pool or shopping centre, that is intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people in a town, hotel, or other place
art gallery (n): a building where works of art can be seen by the public	backstreet (n): the older and poorer areas of a town or city
amusement park (n): a large permanent area for public entertainment, with entertaining activities and big machines to ride on or play games on, restaurants, etc., sometimes all connected with a single subject	bus route (n): the route regularly followed by a passenger bus
botanical garden (n): a park where plants, trees and flowers are grown for scientific study	city dweller (n): a person who lives in a city
bus terminal/taxi stop (n): a place, building or set of buildings where journeys by train, bus or boat begin or end	commuter (n): a person who travels into a city to work each day, usually from quite far away
concrete jungle (n): a way of describing a city or an area that is unpleasant because it has many large modern buildings and few trees or parks	commuter belt (n): an area around a city where many people who work in the city live
convenience store (n): a shop that sells food, drinks, etc. and is usually open until late	congestion/traffic jam (n):a situation in which a place is too blocked or crowded, causing difficulties
shopping precinct/mall (n): an area of a town or city in which no vehicles are allowed and where there are a lot of stores	skyscraper (n): a very tall modern building, usually in a city
cultural center (museums, festivals…) (n): an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts	conurbation (n): a large area where towns have grown and joined together, often around a city
downtown (n): the centre of a city, especially its main business area	cosmopolitan (adj): containing people of different types or from different countries, and influenced by their culture
drive-through (n): a restaurant, bank, etc. where you can be served without having to get out of your car	cycle path (n): a path or track that only people on bicycles are allowed to use
health facilities (hospital, clinic, dental clinic, health center…) (n): any location where healthcare is provided	exurb (extra-urban) (n): the parts of a town or city that are furthest from the centre
pavement café (n): a portion of an eating or drinking place, located on a public sidewalk, that provides waiter or waitress service	outskirt (adj): the parts of a town or city that are furthest from the centre
multi-storey car park (n): a large building with several floors for parking cars in	metropolis (n): a large, important city (often the capital city of a country or region)
neighborhood (n): the area of a town that surrounds someone's home, or the people who live in this area	inner city (n): the central part of a city where people live and where there are often problems because people are poor and there are few jobs and bad houses
industrial zone/business park (n): and that permits the manufacturing of industrial products, factories, power plants, warehouses, and other uses that are important to that area's economy	high street (n): (especially in names) the main street of a town, where most shops, banks, etc. are
no-go zone/area (n): an area that is dangerous or where people are not allowed to go	housing estate (n): an area in which a large number of houses or flats are planned and built together at the same time
shantytown (n): an area in or near an area town where poor people live in shanties	office building/office block (n): enlarge imagea large building that contains offices, usually belonging to more than one company
residential area/residential building (n): a district where people live; occupied primarily by private residences	pedestrian zone (n): an area that has been concerted for the use of pedestrians only, by excluding all motor vehicles
	rush hour (n): the time, usually twice a day, when the roads are full of traffic and trains are crowded because people are traveling to or from work

4. Environment and climate change

Climate change has become one of the global challenges. To better understand and study more information about this issue, we need to supplement ourselves with quite a lot of advanced C1 level vocabularies. What environment-related vocabularies are commonly used? Let's discover them together with PREP below!

C1 vocabulary: Environment and climate change

C1 vocabulary: Environment and climate change
acid rain (n): rain that contains harmful chemicals from factory gases and that damages trees, crops and buildings	aftershock (n): a small earthquake that happens after a bigger one
carbon footprint (n): a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the activities of a person or company	clearcutting/clearfelling (v): Clearing or cutting down most or all trees in an area
carbon-neutral (adj): in which the amount of carbon dioxide produced has been reduced to nothing or is balanced by actions that protect the environment	climate denial (n): (thái độ) the fact of refusing to accept that climate change is happening and is caused by human behaviour
carbon capture and storage (n): the process of collecting carbon dioxide produced by burning coal, oil, etc. and other industrial processes, and storing it so that it does not affect the atmosphere	disaster area (n): a place where a disaster has happened and that needs special help
climate emergency (n): a situation in which immediate action is needed to reduce or stop climate change and prevent serious and permanent damage to the environment	domestic waste/household waste (n): disposable materials generated by households
electrical storm (n): a violent storm in which electricity is produced in the atmosphere	eco-anxiety (n): a feeling of worry about threats to the environment, such as pollution and climate change
greenhouse gas (n): any of the gases that are thought to cause the greenhouse effect, especially carbon dioxide	energy-efficient (adj): using only as much energy as is needed without waste
ozone-friendly (adj): not containing substances that will damage the ozone layer	hazardous waste (n): a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment
shock wave (n): a movement of very high air pressure that is caused by an explosion, earthquake, etc.	zero-emission (adj): used to describe a vehicle that does not produce gases that cause pollution
solar radiation (n): general term for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun	the human impact (phrase): changes to biophysical environments and to ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources caused directly or indirectly by humans
tremor (n): a small earthquake in which the ground shakes slightly	a drastic change (phrase): a very great change
waterspout (n): a column of water that is pulled up from the sea during a storm by a column of air that turns round and round rapidly	an insurmountable challenge (phrase): a challenge that is so great that it cannot be dealt with successfully

5. Culture & tradition

Culture and tradition are never forgotten due to their inheritance and evolution. For this reason, the range of vocabularies used to discuss this topic is relatively extensive. What C1 vocabularies are commonly used in this topic? Let's explore them together!

C1 vocabulary: Culture & tradition
a melting-pot (n): a place where many different people and ideas exist together, often mixing and producing something new	chauvinism (n): the strong and unreasonable belief that your own country or race is the best or most important
acculturation (n): the process of changing so that you become more like people from a different culture, or of making someone change in this way	nostalgic (adj): a feeling of pleasure and also slight sadness when you think about things that happened in the past
biculturalism (n): the fact or practice of including or representing two different cultures	patriotism (n): the feeling of loving your country more than any others and being proud of it
civilization (n): human society with its well developed social organizations, or the culture and way of life of a society or country at a particular period in time	peoplehood (n): the state or condition of being, or of belonging to, a (unified) people
commercialism (n): the principles and activity of commerce, especially those connected with profit rather than quality or doing good	sacred cow (n): a belief, custom, etc. that people support and do not question or criticize
contemporary culture/modern culture (n): current, shared themes, beliefs and values of the society	social stratification (n): a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ...
counter-culture (n): a set of values, ideas, and ways of behaving that are completely different from those of the rest of society.	stereotype (n): a fixed idea or image that many people have of a particular type of person or thing, but which is often not true in reality and may cause hurt and offence
culture diffusion (n): the spreading out of culture, culture traits, or a cultural pattern from a central point	subculture (n): the behaviour and beliefs of a particular group of people in society that are different from those of most people
cultural conflict (n): a type of conflict that occurs when different cultural values and beliefs clash	supremacism (n): the belief that a particular type or group of people should lead or have control over other types or groups because they are better than them
cultural relativism (n): the position that there is no universal standard to measure cultures by, and that all cultural values and beliefs must be understood	traditional beliefs and customs (phrase): beliefs and practices that have evolved over time, with the only difference appearing to be the length of time and observance by a larger segment of society
culture shock (n): a feeling of being confused and worried that somebody may get when they visit another country or experience a different way of life or set of attitudes, because the experience is so different from what they are used to	to embrace cultural differences (phrase): accept cultural differences
cyberculture (n): A unique set of habits-values-and other elements of culture that have evolved from the use of computers and the internet	the fabric of society (phrase): the interconnected and interdependent nature of a community or a nation
denominationalism (n): the tendency to divide or cause to divide into sects or denominations	a historical site (phrase): a place that is important in the history, architecture, archaeology, or culture of a country, state, or city
discrimination (n): the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less fairly than others	core values (phrase): personal ethics or ideals that guide you when making decisions, building relationships and solving problems
enculturation (n): the modification from infancy of an individual's behaviour to conform with the demands of social life	intangible cultural heritage: a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage
epistemology (n): the part of philosophy that deals with knowledge	long-standing culture: a culture or tradition that has existed for a long time
exotic culture (n): a culture that is distinct from your own, or one that is seen as highly unusual or out-of-the-ordinary	shanties and dirges: traditional songs
folk culture (n): the products and practices of relatively homogeneous and isolated small-scale social groups living in rural locations	indigenous culture/local culture (n): native societies of various regions in the world that existed before colonization occurred
homogeneous (adj): consisting of things or people that are all the same or all of the same type	intellectualism (n): the use of your ability to think in a logical way and understand things rather than of your emotions
inheritance/heritage (n): the history, traditions, buildings and objects that a country or society has had for many years and that are considered an important part of its character	cultural integration (n): when individuals from one culture adopt practices from another culture without diminishing their own
multiculturalism (n): the practice of giving importance to all cultures in a society

6. Economy

Economics is a rather complex topic that involves many technical terms that not everyone can fully understand. Let's discover together with PREP some important C1 vocabularies commonly used for discussing this topic!

C1 vocabulary: Economy
accelerated depreciation (n): a method by which a company reduces an asset’s value in its accounts by more in the early years of its life than in later years	accommodating monetary policy (n): when central banks expand the money supply to boost the economy
active balance (n): surplus, operating balance (the amount of currency that circulates regularly during the period between payments)	amortize (v): to pay back a debt by making small regular payments over a period of time
aggregate output (n): the sum of all the goods and services produced in an economy over a certain period of time (similar to GDP)	autarky (n): a system of government of a country in which one person has complete power
bilateral assistance (n): the aid given by a government directly to the government of another country	balanced growth (n): the simultaneous, coordinated expansion of several sectors
budget deficit (n): the difference between a government's income and how much it spends	deflation (n):the action of making something smaller by removing the air from inside it; the fact of becoming smaller in this way
buffer stocks (n): a large supply of a commodity (= a crop, metal, fuel, etc.) that is bought and stored when extra is available, and sold when there is not enough, in order to control its price and quantity in the economy	e-commerce (n): the business of buying and selling goods and services on the internet. E-commerce is short for electronic commerce
capital expenditure (n): money that a company spends on land, buildings, and equipment that it uses to produce products and provide services	embargo (n): an order to temporarily stop something, especially trading or giving information
credit crunch (n): economic conditions that make financial organizations less willing to lend money, often causing serious economic problems	financial year/fiscal year (n): a period of twelve months (not always January to December) for which a business, government, etc. plans its management of money
earning per share (EPS) (n): a company's profits over a particular period divided by the number of its shares	hyperinflation (n): a condition where the price of everything in a national economy goes out of control and increases very quickly
gross domestic product (GDP) (n): tổng sản phẩm nội địa	macroeconomics and microeconomics (n): kinh tế vĩ mô và kinh tế vi mô
gross national product (GNP) (n): the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year	freelancer (n): someone who is not employed by any one organization but does particular pieces of work for different organizations
free trade agreement (n): a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them	market economy (n): an economic system in which goods and services are made, sold, and shared and prices set by the balance of supply and demand
foreign direct investment (n): money that is invested in companies, property, or other assets by people or organizations from other countries	recession/depression (n): a period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad
supplementary taxation (n): the additional taxes due for an increase in the assessed value resulting from an ownership change	stock market (n): a place where shares in companies are bought and sold, or the organization of people whose job is to do this buying or selling
transnational corporation (n): an enterprise that is involved with the international production of goods or services, foreign investments, or income and asset management in more than one country	subsidy (n): money given as part of the cost of something, to help or encourage it to happen
supply and demand (n): the idea that the price of goods and services depends on how much of something is being sold and how many people want to buy it	tariff (n): a charge or list of charges either for services or on goods entering a country
stagnant economy (n): an economy experiencing very little growth or no growth at all

7. Food & Nutrition

A1 and A2 vocabularies related to food and drinks primarily include basic dish names. However, studying C1 vocabularies needs a deeper research of the subject with more advanced scientific terms!

C1 vocabulary: Food & Nutrition
bolt down (v): to eat food very quickly	daily consumption (n): the amount of food that you eat in one day
a big eater (n): someone who eats a lot	exotic food (n): foods that are not native to your country
fussy eater (n): an unwillingness to eat familiar foods or to try new foods, as well as strong food preferences	nutritional benefit (n): positive effects or advantages that a particular food or dietary component provides to an individual's health and well-being
doggy bag (n): a bag for taking home any food that is left after a meal in a restaurant	expiry date (n): the date after which an official document, agreement, etc. is no longer legally acceptable, or after which something should not be used or eaten
fine dining (n): a style of eating that usually takes place in expensive restaurants, where especially good food is served to people, often in a formal way	home cooked (adj): food that is made or cooked at home
a scrumptious meal (n): a luxurious and appetizing meal	organic food (n): foods that are grown, handled and prepared in a way that is safe for the environment
a slap-up meal (n): a large and very good meal	food allergy (n): an allergy to a specific type of food
gourmet (adj): of high quality and often expensive; connected with food or drink of this type	food poisoning (n): an illness of the stomach caused by eating food that contains harmful bacteria
junk food (n): food that is quick and easy to prepare and eat but that is thought to be bad for your health	mouth-watering (adj): food looks or smells so good that you want to eat it
processed food (n): any food that has been altered in some way during preparation	potluck (n): a meal to which each guest brings some food, which is then shared out among the guests
preservatives (n): a substance used to prevent food or wood from decaying (= being destroyed by natural processes)	teetotal (adj): never drinking alcohol
ready meal (n): a meal that you buy already prepared and which only needs to be heated before you eat it	a balanced diet (phrase): a combination of the correct types and amounts of food
shelf life (n): the length of time that a product, especially food, can be kept in a shop before it becomes too old to be sold or used	vegetarian diet (n): a meal that does not include any meat or seafood
wine and dine (phrase): to go to restaurants, etc. and enjoy good food and drink; to entertain somebody by buying them good food and drink	seasonal fruits (n): that are ripe and ready to harvest at a particular time of year
	starving hungry (phrase): very hungry

8. Global issues

Let’s check out English vocabulary related to global issues with PREP in the below table!

C1 vocabulary: Global issues
a challenge (n): a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill	brain drain (n): the movement of highly skilled and qualified people to a country where they can work in better conditions and earn more money
global warming (n): the increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially carbon dioxide	child labour (n): the employment of children in an industry or business, especially when it is illegal
natural disaster (n): a sudden and violent event in nature (such as an earthquake, hurricane or flood) that kills or injures a lot of people or causes a lot of damage	civil war (n): a war between groups of people in the same country
overpopulation (n): the fact of a country or city having too many people living in it	deforestation (n): the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area
pollution (n): the process of making air, water, soil, etc. dirty; the state of being dirty	famine (n): a lack of food during a long period of time in a region
terrorism (n): the use of violent action in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to act	genocide (n): the murder of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group, with the aim of destroying that nation or group
urbanization (n): the process in which towns, streets, factories, etc. are built where there was once countryside	homelessness (n): the state of having no home
refugee (n): a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is a war or for political, religious or social reasons	human trafficking (n): the crime of transporting or controlling people and forcing them to work in the sex trade or other forms of forced labour
antisocial behavior (n): actions which are considered to violate the rights of or otherwise harm others by committing crime or nuisance	illiteracy (n): a lack of the ability to read and write
domestic violence (n): the situation in which someone you live with attacks you and tries to hurt you	inequality (n): the unfair situation in society when some people have more opportunities, money, etc. than other people
economic crisis (n): a situation in which the economy of a country experiences a sudden downturn in its aggregate output or real gross domestic product (GDP)	joblessness/unemployment (n): the state of being without a job; the number of people without a job
gender imbalance (n): an uneven ratio between males and females in a particular situation or context	poverty (n): the state of being poor
human exploitation (n): the unjust or cruel abuse of one human being by another for their own ends	prostitution (n): the work of a prostitute
illegal immigration (n): the migration of people into a country in violation of that country's immigration laws, or the continuous residence in a country without the legal right to	racism (n): the unfair treatment of people who belong to a different race; violent behaviour towards them
social inequality (n): the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society

9. Hobbies & Entertainment

Let's join PREP in taking a look at advanced C1 vocabulary on the topic of hobbies and entertainment right in the table below!

C1 vocabulary: Hobbies & Entertainment
to take up a hobby (phrase): start a new hobby	an amateur (n): doing something for pleasure or interest, not as a job
to have a go at something/to try my hand at something (phrase): to make an attempt to do something	an aficionado (n): a person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and knows a lot about it
to be into something (phrase): Like something	binge watching (n): the practice of watching several episodes of a TV show on one occasion, usually by means of DVDs or digital streaming
a passion for something (phrase): have a very strong feeling of love, hate, anger, enthusiasm, etc. for something	arts and crafts (n): activities that need both artistic and practical skills, such as making cloth, jewellery and pottery
a big/huge/massive fan of (phrase):	archery (n): the art or sport of shooting arrows with a bow
to unwind (v): to stop worrying or thinking about problems and start to relax	ballroom dancing (n): a type of dancing done with a partner and using particular fixed steps and movements to particular types of music such as the waltz
to let your hair down (phrase): to relax and enjoy yourself, especially in a lively way	bodybuilding (n): the activity of doing regular exercises in order to make your muscles bigger and stronger
to get into shape (phrase): to take exercise, eat healthy food, etc. in order to become physically fit	cosplay (n): the activity of dressing up as a character from a film, book or video game
to be beneficial for mental and physical health (phrase):	fencing (n): the sport of fighting with long thin swords
to strengthen immune system (phrase):	hang out with friends (phrase): go out with friends

10. Human body

Let’s have a closer look at the advanced C1 vocabulary on human body in the below table!

C1 vocabulary: Human body
circulatory system (n): the system concerned with the transport of blood and lymph, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, lymph vessels, etc	aorta (n): the main artery through which blood leaves your heart before it flows through the rest of your body.
digestive system (n): the system in your body that digests the food you eat.	artery (n): the tubes in your body that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
bronchial tree (n): the bronchi and all of their subsequent branches	capillary (n): a very thin tube, especially one of the smaller tubes that carry blood around the body
endocrine gland (n): any of the organs of the body, such as the pituitary gland or the ovaries, that produce and release hormones into the blood to be carried around the body	cardiac (adj): of the heart or heart disease
excretion (n): to get rid of material such as solid waste or urine from the body	cerebellum (n): a large part at the back of the brain that controls your muscles, movement, and balance
homeostasis (n): the ability or tendency of a living organism, cell, or group to keep the conditions inside it the same despite any changes in the conditions around it, or this state of internal balance	cerebrum (n): the front part of the brain, that is involved with thought, decision, emotion, and character
hormone (n): any of various chemicals made by living cells that influence the development, growth, sex, etc. of an animal and are carried around the body in the blood	cranium (n): the hard bone case that gives an animal's or a human's head its shape and protects the brain
immune system (n): the cells and tissues in the body that make it able to protect itself against infection	epidermis (n): the thin outer layer of the skin
metabolism (n): all the chemical processes in your body, especially those that cause food to be used for energy and growth	esophagus (n): the tube in the body that takes food from the mouth to the stomach
pathogen (n): any small organism, such as a virus or a bacterium that can cause disease	hemoglobin (n): a substance in red blood cells that combines with and carries oxygen around the body, and gives blood its red colour
reproductive organs (n): a collection of organs and a network of hormone production that work together to create life.	ligament (n): a strong band of tissue in the body that connects bones and supports organs and keeps them in position
respiration (n): the act of breathing	neurone/neuron (n): a cell that carries information within the brain and between the brain and other parts of the body
skeleton (n): the structure of bones that supports the body of a person or an animal; a model of this structure	plasma (n): the clear liquid part of blood, in which the blood cells, etc. float
femur (n): the large, thick bone in the top part of the leg between the hip and the knee	platelet (n): a very small part of a cell in the blood, like a disc in shape. Platelets help to clot the blood from a cut or wound.
sternum (n): the long flat bone in the chest that the seven top pairs of ribs are connected to	synapse (n): a connection between two nerve cells
	ventricle (n): either of the two lower spaces in the heart that pump blood to the lungs or around the body

11. Human characteristics

Let’s discover advanced adjectives featuring human characteristics with PREP in the below table!

C1 vocabulary: Human characteristics
a people person (n): a person who enjoys, and is good at, being with and talking to other people	big-mouth (n): a person who talks a lot, especially about him- or herself, and who cannot keep secrets
chatterbox (n): a person who talks a lot, especially a child	bossyboots (n): a person who always tells people what they should do
cool as a cucumber (n): very calm and showing control, especially in a difficult situation	cheap-skate (n): a person who does not like to spend money
dark horse (n): a person who does not tell other people much about their life, and who surprises other people by having interesting qualities	cold fish (n): a person who seems unfriendly and without strong emotions
eager beaver (n): an enthusiastic person who works very hard	have a screw loose (phrase): to be slightly strange in your behaviour
happy camper (n): someone who is happy with their situation	moaning minnie (n): someone who annoys other people by complaining all the time
laid-back (adj): relaxed in manner and character; not usually worried about other people's behaviour or things that need to be done	scrooge (n): someone who spends as little money as possible and is not generous
life and soul of the party (n): someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions	wet blanket (n): a person who says or does something that stops other people enjoying themselves
smart cookie (n): a clever person who makes good decisions	wimp (n): a person who is not strong, brave, or confident
affable (adj): friendly and easy to talk to	aloof (adj): not friendly or willing to take part in things
amicable (adj): relating to behaviour between people that is pleasant and friendly, often despite a difficult situation	apathetic (adj): showing no interest or energy and unwilling to take action, especially over something important
benevolent (adj): kind and helpful	belligerent (adj): wishing to fight or argue
broad-minded (adj): willing to accept many different types of behaviour, beliefs, or choices in other people	boisterous (adj): noisy, energetic, and rough
chivalrous (adj): polite, honest, fair, and kind towards women	cantankerous (adj): arguing and complaining a lot
demure (adj): quiet and well behaved	capricious (adj): changing mood or behaviour suddenly and unexpectedly
diplomatic (adj): involving diplomats or the management of the relationships between countries	cynical (adj): believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere
erudite (adj): having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by very few people	dogmatic (adj): If you are dogmatic, you are certain that you are right and that everyone else is wrong
exuberant (adj): very energetic	eccentric (adj): strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way
genuine (adj): If something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it appears to be	extremist (n): a person whose opinions, especially about religion or politics, are extreme, and who may do things that are violent or illegal for what they believe
gregarious (adj): liking to be with other people	fastidious (adj): being careful that every detail of something is correct
imaginative (adj): having or showing new and exciting ideas	flamboyant (adj): different, confident and exciting in a way that attracts attention
level-headed (adj): calm and sensible; able to make good decisions even in difficult situations	hypocrite (n): a person whose behaviour does not meet the moral standards or match the opinions that they claim to have
level-headed (adj): calm and sensible; able to make good decisions even in difficult situations	idealist (n): a person who believes that a perfect life, situation, etc. can be achieved, even when this is not very likely
open-hearted (adj): kind and friendly	impetuous (adj): acting or done quickly and without thinking carefully about the results
open-minded (adj): willing to listen to, think about or accept different ideas	indolent (adj): not wanting to work
realist (n): a person who accepts and deals with a situation as it really is and does not try to pretend that it is different	insensitive (adj): not realizing or caring how other people feel, and therefore likely to hurt or offend them
risk taker (n): someone who often takes risks	irascible (adj): made angry easily
rebellious (adj): unwilling to obey rules or follow generally accepted standards of behaviour, dress, etc.	materialist (n): a person who believes that money, possessions and physical comforts are more important than spiritual values in life
taciturn (adj): tending not to say very much, in a way that seems unfriendly	meddlesome (adj): enjoying getting involved in situations that have nothing to do with them
volatile (adj): changing easily from one mood to another	obstinate (adj): refusing to change your opinions, way of behaving, etc. when other people try to persuade you to; showing this
obstinate (adj): refusing to change your opinions, way of behaving, etc. when other people try to persuade you to; showing this	materialist (n): a person who believes that money, possessions and physical comforts are more important than spiritual values in life
rebellious (adj): unwilling to obey rules or follow generally accepted standards of behaviour, dress, etc.	meddlesome (adj): enjoying getting involved in situations that have nothing to do with them
taciturn (adj): tending not to say very much, in a way that seems unfriendly	naive (adj): not showing enough knowledge, good judgement or experience of life; too willing to believe that people always tell you the truth
volatile (adj): changing easily from one mood to another

12. Science & research

There are many C1 vocabularies related to topics of science and research such as cells, chemistry, physics, etc. Let's explore these words together with PREP!

C1 vocabulary: Science & Research
assumption (n): a belief or feeling that something is true or that something will happen, although there is no proof	cellulose (n): a natural substance that forms the cell walls of all plants and trees and is used in making plastics, paper, etc.
controlled experiment (n): a scientific experiment in which only one condition is changed in each of several tests in order to find out what effect that condition has on the results of the experiment	chromosome (n): one of the very small structures like thin strings in the nuclei (= central parts) of animal and plant cells. Chromosomes carry the genes.
empirical (adj): based on experiments or experience rather than ideas or theories	diffusion (n): the act of spreading something widely in all directions; the fact of being spread in all directions
evidence (n): the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true	osmosis (n): the slow steady passing of a liquid through a membrane (= a thin layer of material) as a result of there being different amounts of dissolved substances on either side of the membrane
hypothesis (n): an idea or explanation of something that is based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved to be true or correct	photosynthesis (n): the process by which green plants turn carbon dioxide and water into food using energy obtained from light from the sun
inference (n): something that you can find out indirectly from what you already know	autotrophic (adj): able to make its own food using simple chemical substances such as carbon dioxide
precision (n); the quality of being exact, accurate and careful	chlorophyll (n): the green substance in plants that takes in light from the sun to help them grow
qualitative data (n): data representing information and concepts that are not represented by numbers	germinate (v): when the seed of a plant germinates or is germinated, it starts to grow
quantitative data (n): measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers	pollinate (v): to put pollen into a flower or plant so that it produces seeds
clinical trial (n): a research study in which a medical treatment is carefully tested on people in order to assess how safe and effective it is	transpiration (n): the process of water passing out from the surface of a plant or leaf
risk assessment (n): the act of identifying possible risks, calculating how likely they are to happen and estimating what effects they might have, especially in the context of a company taking responsibility for the safety of its employees or members of the public	catalyst (n): a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself
accuracy (n): the state of being exact or correct; the ability to do something with skill and without making mistakes	compound (n): a thing consisting of two or more separate things combined together
intellectual property (n): an idea, a design, etc. that somebody has created and that the law prevents other people from copying	molecule (n): a group of atoms that forms the smallest unit that a substance can be divided into without a change in its chemical nature
radiation (n): powerful and very dangerous rays that are sent out from radioactive substances	precipitate (v): to make something, especially something bad, happen suddenly or sooner than it should
ultraviolet (n): of or using electromagnetic waves that are just shorter than those of violet light in the spectrum and that cannot be seen	amplitude (n): the greatest distance that a wave, especially a sound or radio wave, vibrates (= moves up and down)

13. Universe

The final topic that PREP introduces in this article is Universe. Initially, this topic is confusing as it is not commonly encountered in daily life. However,don’t worry! The table below will provide some advanced vocabulary to help us explore and understand this topic!

C1 vocabulary: Universe
a constellation (n): a group of stars that forms a shape in the sky and has a name	NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (n)
a solar/lunar eclipse (n): an occasion when the moon passes between the earth and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the sun for a time; an occasion when the earth passes between the moon and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the moon for a time	manned space flight (n): space travel in vehicles with a human crew
acceleration (n): an increase in how fast something happens	space voyages (n): a journey outside the Earth's atmosphere
aerospace (n): producing or operating aircraft or spacecraft	to launch out a on a long voyage (phrase): start a long journey
asteroid (n): one of many large rocks that circle the sun	weightless condition (n): the fact of having or appearing to have no weight, for example because there is no gravity
astronomy (n): the scientific study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, etc.	zero gravity (n): a state in which there is no gravity, or where gravity has no effect, for example in space
astrobiology (n): the scientific study of life on other planets	unidentified flying object (UFO) (n): a strange object that some people claim to have seen in the sky and believe is a spacecraft from another planet (the abbreviation for ‘unidentified flying object’)
black hole (n): an area in space that nothing, not even light, can escape from, because gravity (= the force that pulls objects in space towards each other) is so strong there	the Big Bang theory (n): the theory that the universe began with a very large explosion of a single mass of matter
galactic cluster (n): a comparatively young, irregularly shaped group of stars, often numbering up to several hundred, and held together by mutual gravitation; usually found along the central plane of the Milky Way and other galaxies	exoplanet (n): a planet outside the solar system
cosmological simulation (n): simulations of a significant portion of the universe over a significant portion of the universe's life, a branch of computational astrophysics

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II. Download PDF book to learn C1 vocabulary effectively

To provide students with high-quality learning materials for C1 level vocabulary, PREP has compiled and summarized a selection of reliable and top-notch textbook recommendations. Download these resources and diligently practice for better proficiency!

DOWNLOAD THE PDF FILE OF ENGLISH USAGE ADVANCED C1

III. Exercises on C1 vocabulary with detailed answers

1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words

My friend is studying ________ and spends countless nights observing celestial bodies through a powerful telescope.
1. astronomy
2. literature
3. math
Despite the sunny weather forecast, John remained a ________ and insisted that it would rain during the picnic.
1. optimistic
2. pessimist
3. lazy
The ________ is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, ensuring the proper functioning of organs and tissues.
1. respiratory system
2. circulatory system
3. bronchial tree
The industrial factory released toxic gasses into the air, contributing to the _______ of the surrounding environment and causing respiratory problems for the nearby residents.
1. earthquake
2. blackhole
3. pollution
As the sun set over the peaceful countryside, a small village nestled on the _______ of the city provided a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
1. skyscrapers
2. commuter
3. outskirts

2. Answer keys

Astronomy
Pessimist
Circulatory system
Pollution
Outskirts

IV. Take the First Step Towards IELTS Success

Hopefully, the compiled C1 vocabulary provided by PREP above will help students quickly enrich their knowledge and facilitate easy usage in daily communication as well as English proficiency tests. If your goal is to achieve a Band 7 or higher, these IELTS resources are for you :

Best IELTS coaching: Score Big in IELTS With Our Expert Tips!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.