FCE Collocations List: 100 Essential B2 Expressions
Master the top 100 fce collocations to boost your score. Get instant writing feedback with Alfie, our AI tutor. Try PassFirst free!
Why Collocations Dictate Your Cambridge B2 Grade
Many students struggle to move from a B1 plateau to a solid B2 or C1 score because they translate directly from their native language. Saying doing a mistake instead of making a mistake immediately flags your writing as unidiomatic to Cambridge examiners.
The Hidden Trap of Traditional Study
- Literal Translations: Translating phrases word-for-word introduces unnatural syntax.
- Memorizing Isolated Words: Learning vocabulary lists without collocations leads to awkward sentence building.
- Slow Feedback Loops: Waiting days for a human teacher to correct your essays stalls your progress right when you need momentum.
Pro-Tip: Never learn verbs or nouns in isolation. Always record them alongside their natural partner prepositions, modifiers, or nouns to secure maximum points in Lexical Resource.
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Create free accountThe Ultimate List of 100 Essential FCE Collocations
Here is your comprehensive b2 collocations list, categorized for fast, efficient revision before your exam.
| Category | Collocation Expression | Usage & Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + Noun | Make a decision (1) | Choose a course of action after thinking. |
| Verb + Noun | Make a mistake (2) | Commit an error or miscalculation. |
| Verb + Noun | Make an effort (3) | Try hard to achieve something. |
| Verb + Noun | Make progress (4) | Develop or improve over time. |
| Verb + Noun | Make money (5) | Earn income through work or business. |
| Verb + Noun | Make a suggestion (6) | Offer an idea for consideration. |
| Verb + Noun | Make an appointment (7) | Arrange a meeting at a specific time. |
| Verb + Noun | Make a choice (8) | Select between two or more options. |
| Verb + Noun | Do homework (9) | Complete school assignments at home. |
| Verb + Noun | Do research (10) | Investigate a subject systematically. |
| Verb + Noun | Do someone a favor (11) | Perform an act of kindness for someone. |
| Verb + Noun | Do business (12) | Engage in commercial transactions. |
| Verb + Noun | Do your best (13) | Perform as well as possible. |
| Verb + Noun | Take a break (14) | Pause work or activity to rest. |
| Verb + Noun | Take a chance (15) | Risk doing something uncertain. |
| Verb + Noun | Take an exam (16) | Sit for an official test of knowledge. |
| Verb + Noun | Take responsibility (17) | Accept accountability for actions. |
| Verb + Noun | Take action (18) | Begin a course of action to solve a problem. |
| Verb + Noun | Take notice (19) | Pay attention to something specific. |
| Verb + Noun | Have an impact (20) | Produce a strong effect on someone or something. |
| Verb + Noun | Have difficulty (21) | Experience trouble doing something. |
| Verb + Noun | Have a discussion (22) | Talk about a subject formally or informally. |
| Verb + Noun | Pay attention (23) | Focus concentration on something. |
| Verb + Noun | Pay a compliment (24) | Express praise or admiration. |
| Verb + Noun | Keep a secret (25) | Avoid revealing confidential information. |
| Verb + Noun | Keep in touch (26) | Maintain communication over time. |
| Verb + Noun | Keep calm (27) | Stay relaxed and composed under pressure. |
| Verb + Noun | Save time (28) | Prevent time from being wasted. |
| Verb + Noun | Save money (29) | Accumulate funds by spending less. |
| Verb + Noun | Lose patience (30) | Stop being able to tolerate delay or annoyance. |
| Adjective + Noun | Heavy rain (31) | Intense precipitation (not strong rain). |
| Adjective + Noun | Strong wind (32) | Powerful moving air currents. |
| Adjective + Noun | Bright idea (33) | A clever or smart suggestion. |
| Adjective + Noun | Deep sleep (34) | A state of unconsciousness where restoration happens. |
| Adjective + Noun | High expectations (35) | Strong hopes that something will succeed. |
| Adjective + Noun | Wide range (36) | A large variety of things. |
| Adjective + Noun | Major problem (37) | A significant or serious issue. |
| Adjective + Noun | Key factor (38) | An essential element influencing an outcome. |
| Adjective + Noun | Global scale (39) | Worldwide scope or proportion. |
| Adjective + Noun | Vast majority (40) | The greatest part or absolute most. |
| Adjective + Noun | Strict rules (41) | Rigid regulations that must be followed. |
| Adjective + Noun | Heavy traffic (42) | Dense congestion of vehicles on roads. |
| Adjective + Noun | Sharp increase (43) | A sudden, steep upward movement. |
| Adjective + Noun | Dramatic change (44) | A striking and sudden transformation. |
| Adjective + Noun | Open mind (45) | Willingness to consider new ideas. |
| Adjective + Noun | Close friend (46) | A very dear and trusted companion. |
| Adjective + Noun | Full-time (47) | Working standard business hours (e.g., 40h/week). |
| Adjective + Noun | Part-time (48) | Working fewer hours than full-time. |
| Adjective + Noun | Bad habit (49) | A negative, repeated behavioral pattern. |
| Adjective + Noun | First impression (50) | Initial opinion formed upon meeting someone. |
| Verb + Adverb | Argue convincingly (51) | Present arguments that persuade others effectively. |
| Verb + Adverb | Change dramatically (52) | Transform in a striking and fundamental way. |
| Verb + Adverb | Cooperate closely (53) | Work together in a tight, coordinated manner. |
| Verb + Adverb | Desire strongly (54) | Want something intensely. |
| Verb + Adverb | Explain clearly (55) | Make something easy to understand. |
| Verb + Adverb | Inquire politely (56) | Ask questions with good manners. |
| Verb + Adverb | Know intimately (57) | Understand deeply and thoroughly. |
| Verb + Adverb | Modify slightly (58) | Make minor adjustments or changes. |
| Verb + Adverb | Object strongly (59) | Express rigorous disagreement. |
| Verb + Adverb | React angrily (60) | Respond with intense irritation or fury. |
| Adverb + Adj | Totally different (61) | Completely distinct in every aspect. |
| Adverb + Adj | Deeply concerned (62) | Worried or troubled at a profound level. |
| Adverb + Adj | Highly successful (63) | Achieving exceptional results or triumphs. |
| Adverb + Adj | Completely ruined (64) | Destroyed or spoiled beyond recovery. |
| Adverb + Adj | Widely available (65) | Present everywhere in large quantities. |
| Adverb + Adj | Absorbed in thought (66) | Deeply focused on mental reflection. |
| Adverb + Adj | Painfully slow (67) | Moving at a frustratingly sluggish pace. |
| Adverb + Adj | Blatantly obvious (68) | Clear and unmistakable to everyone. |
| Adverb + Adj | Richly deserved (69) | Earned fully and fairly. |
| Adverb + Adj | Vaguely familiar (70) | Recognized faintly without clear recall. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Carry out research (71) | Conduct a systematic investigation. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Catch up with (72) | Reach the same level or reconnect with someone. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Come up with (73) | Invent or produce an idea or solution. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Cut down on (74) | Reduce the consumption or amount of something. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Deal with (75) | Handle or take action on a problem. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Drop out of (76) | Leave school or a course before completion. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Face up to (77) | Accept and confront a difficult situation. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Fill out (78) | Complete a document with required information. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Find out (79) | Discover new facts or information. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Give up (80) | Stop doing a habit or attempt. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Keep up with (81) | Stay level with moving trends or standards. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Look forward to (82) | Await eagerly with excitement. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Look into (83) | Investigate or examine a matter. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Make up your mind (84) | Reach a final decision. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Pass away (85) | Die (polite euphemism). |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Point out (86) | Draw attention to a specific error or fact. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Put up with (87) | Tolerate unpleasant behavior or conditions. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Rely on (88) | Depend safely on someone or something. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Run out of (89) | Deplete or exhaust a supply of something. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Set up (90) | Establish a business, organization, or system. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Show off (91) | Display abilities arrogantly to impress others. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Take after (92) | Resemble a parent in appearance or character. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Take up (93) | Begin a new hobby or sport. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Throw away (94) | Discard unwanted items as trash. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Turn down (95) | Reject an offer or proposal politely. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Wake up to (96) | Realize the truth of a situation. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Work out (97) | Calculate or solve a problem successfully. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Write down (98) | Record information in written form. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | End up (99) | Eventually arrive at a final state or place. |
| Phrasal / Fixed | Bring about (100) | Cause something to happen. |
Master B2 Collocations and Pass Your Exam on the First Try
Reviewing this list collocations b2 is a great starting point, but passive reading won't give you exam fluency. To eliminate silly mistakes in Use of English Part 4 and Writing, you need active practice and precise, real-time corrections.
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