AWL Vocabulary Profiler

Paste a text below to analyse its vocabulary profile using the Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000) and General Service List (West, 1953).

Vocabulary Profile

Total words 0

GSL Coverage 0%

AWL Coverage 0%

Off-list 0%

AWL / GSL / Off-list

AWL Sublist Distribution

Academic Vocabulary Used

Off-list Vocabulary

Showing off-list words longer than four letters, arranged from longest to shortest.

How to use this tool

Paste a reading text into the box and click Analyse text. The tool compares the vocabulary in the text with two word lists.

GSL: General Service List (West, 1953), a list of common high-frequency English words.
AWL: Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000), a list of word families commonly found in academic texts.
Off-list: words not currently matched to either list.

A higher percentage of AWL or off-list vocabulary may suggest that a text is more challenging, but the result should be used as a guide rather than a final judgement.

The app will show the user which AWL words appear in their text, organised by sublist. 'Off-list' words will also be shown, these words may present challenges for thier EAL students

Typical vocabulary profile pattern

The example chart below is illustrative. Based on analysis of reading texts from Cambridge Suite English exams, it shows how vocabulary profiles may change as reading texts become more challenging.

Please note

The GSL was complied in 1953. Many very common modern words will therefore appear as off-list, as will proper nouns.
This tool is intended as a teacher support tool, not a complete readability measure.

References

Coxhead, A. (2000). A New Academic Word List. TESOL Quarterly, 34(2), 213–238.
West, M. (1953). A General Service List of English Words. London: Longman, Green and Co.