TOEIC Prep: Target the Right Vocabulary

The TOEIC Vocabulary Strategy

Here's what most test-takers get wrong: they try to learn every English word they encounter. This is inefficient and overwhelming. For TOEIC success, you need a targeted approach.

The TOEIC test focuses heavily on business and professional English. Understanding which vocabulary categories appear most frequently allows you to maximize your score with minimal wasted effort.

High-Priority Vocabulary Categories

Based on analysis of past TOEIC exams, these categories appear most frequently:

1. Business Operations

• Manufacturing: assembly, inventory, shipment, warehouse
• Finance: budget, revenue, invoice, quarterly
• HR: recruit, candidate, position, benefits

2. Office Communication

• Meetings: agenda, minutes, postpone, reschedule
• Email/Letters: regarding, attached, inquiry, confirmation
• Phone: extension, transfer, voicemail, callback

3. Travel & Logistics

• Transportation: itinerary, departure, boarding, delay
• Accommodation: reservation, checkout, vacancy, amenities
• Shipping: delivery, tracking, freight, customs

4. Marketing & Sales

• Advertising: campaign, promotion, launch, target audience
• Customer Service: complaint, refund, warranty, satisfaction
• Retail: discount, clearance, merchandise, receipt

The 80/20 Rule for TOEIC

Roughly 80% of TOEIC questions can be answered with 20% of business vocabulary. Your goal is to master that critical 20% first.

We've curated our word lists based on frequency analysis, so you're always learning the highest-impact vocabulary.

Section-Specific Strategies

Listening Section (Parts 1-4)

Part 1 - Photographs

• Learn vocabulary for describing actions, locations, and objects
• Focus on present continuous tense: "is carrying," "are seated," "is being delivered"

Part 2 - Question-Response

• Master question words: who, what, where, when, why, how
• Learn common business phrases and their appropriate responses

Part 3 & 4 - Conversations & Talks

• Build vocabulary for understanding context quickly
• Practice inferring meaning from surrounding words

Reading Section (Parts 5-7)

Part 5 - Incomplete Sentences

• Study word families (employ → employee → employer → employment)
• Learn common collocations (make a decision, reach an agreement)

Part 6 - Text Completion

• Understand transition words (however, therefore, meanwhile)
• Practice recognizing tone and register

Part 7 - Reading Comprehension

• Build speed by knowing common business document formats
• Learn to identify main ideas vs. supporting details

Building Test-Taking Vocabulary

Beyond content vocabulary, learn these test-specific terms:

Word	Meaning in TOEIC Context
imply	suggest indirectly
infer	conclude from evidence
excerpt	a short passage from a longer text
regarding	about, concerning
approximately	about, roughly

Practice With Context

Don't memorize words in isolation. Always learn them in sentences that reflect TOEIC scenarios:

❌ "Postpone - to delay"

✅ "The meeting has been postponed until next Tuesday due to the CEO's travel schedule."

Context helps you:

• Understand how words are actually used
• Remember words more easily
• Recognize words in different forms

Time Management

With limited study time, prioritize:

1. First: High-frequency business vocabulary
2. Second: Common phrasal verbs (look into, carry out, put off)
3. Third: Formal vs. informal register differences
4. Last: Obscure or technical terms

Score Improvement Timeline

Realistic expectations for dedicated study:

Study Duration	Expected Improvement
1 month	30-50 points
3 months	80-120 points
6 months	150-200 points

Results vary based on starting level and study consistency.

Final Tips

1. Take practice tests to identify weak areas
2. Review mistakes thoroughly—they show what you need to learn
3. Simulate test conditions occasionally (timed, no breaks)
4. Stay consistent with daily vocabulary review
5. Trust the process—improvement takes time but it will come

The TOEIC is predictable. With targeted vocabulary preparation and consistent practice, you can achieve your goal score.