Is 300 words enough for ab initio by Christmas?

A secure active vocabulary of around 300 words and short phrases can represent reasonable progress if you started the language in August. It should include common verbs, question forms, descriptions, connectors, time expressions, and topic vocabulary rather than mainly concrete nouns. You should be able to retrieve much of this language in short speaking and writing tasks. If the words are only recognizable on a list, they are not yet fully active. Treat 300 as a practical reference point, not an official IB minimum.

Does the IB publish an official ab initio vocabulary list?

The IB does not publish one universal numbered vocabulary list that every ab initio student must memorize. The syllabus is organized through prescribed themes, while languages and schools differ in the topics and linguistic forms needed for communication. Your teacher, course materials, and completed units therefore provide the most relevant short-term vocabulary guide. This flexibility does not mean vocabulary is unimportant, because all assessed communication depends on having accessible language. It means students should build vocabulary through themes and communicative situations rather than chase an unofficial master list.

How many new ab initio words should I learn each day?

About five carefully selected items on each school day is a manageable starting point for many DP1 students. That pace allows you to add roughly 20-25 items per week while leaving time to review earlier material. An item can be a useful phrase or sentence frame, not merely one isolated word. Reduce the number if your review pile grows rapidly or you cannot recall words learned the previous week. Long-term retention and accurate use matter more than maintaining an arbitrary daily total.

What vocabulary should I prioritize in the first term of ab initio?

Prioritize language connected to the units your teacher has already introduced. Within those units, learn high-frequency verbs, question structures, personal information, numbers, dates, time expressions, descriptions, opinions, and basic connectors. Short functional phrases such as asking for clarification or giving a reason are especially useful. Learn nouns with essential grammatical information, such as gender or plural form, where the language requires it. Avoid spending large amounts of time on unusual words that you are unlikely to read, hear, or use.

How can I tell whether vocabulary is active or passive?

A word is passively known if you recognize it while reading or listening but struggle to produce it independently. It is active if you can recall it, pronounce or write it, and place it in an appropriate sentence. Test this by hiding the target-language side of a flashcard and producing the answer from a meaning, image, or prompt. Then use the item in a new sentence or spoken response rather than stopping at translation. If retrieval remains difficult after several reviews, keep the item in active practice.

Should I revise vocabulary during the Christmas holiday?

A small amount of holiday review will prevent much of your first-term vocabulary from becoming difficult to retrieve. You do not need to study for hours or introduce a large new unit independently. Use short sessions to revisit difficult cards, speak about familiar topics, and write occasional paragraphs using existing language. Spacing three or four brief reviews across each week is usually more manageable than one long session at the end of the break. Return to school with a secure foundation rather than a large collection of newly memorized but unstable words.

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Ab Initio Vocabulary by Christmas: A DP1 Guide

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RevisionDojo Team

•Last updated: 21 Oct 2026•9 min read

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Ab Initio Vocabulary by Christmas: A DP1 Guide

For M28 students taking IB exams in May 2028 after starting DP1 in August 2026, aim for roughly 300-500 actively usable words and short phrases in your ab initio language by Christmas. This is a practical benchmark, not an official IB requirement. What you can understand and communicate matters more than your vocabulary list’s length.

This guide explains what that target means, which language to prioritize, and how to check your progress before the holiday.

Does the IB set an ab initio vocabulary target?

The IB does not prescribe a minimum vocabulary total for Christmas, the end of DP1, or the final examination. Language ab initio is a Standard Level language acquisition course intended for students with little or no previous experience of the language.

The course develops receptive, productive, and interactive communication through five prescribed themes: Identities, Experiences, Human ingenuity, Social organization, and Sharing the planet.

M28 students follow the course first assessed in 2020. The enhanced course begins teaching in 2027, with first assessment in May 2029, so it does not apply to May 2028 candidates.

Teachers organize topics differently, so successful students may know different words by December. Use your completed classroom units as your immediate reference.

Why 300-500 vocabulary items is a useful benchmark

Across approximately 14-16 teaching weeks, retaining around 20-30 items weekly produces a vocabulary base broadly within this range. This is a planning estimate, not a grade boundary or research-established milestone.

An item can be a word or useful expression, such as “I usually go,” “in my opinion,” or “last weekend.” These chunks help you combine vocabulary and grammar in usable language.

Counting is approximate: languages differ in how words, characters, and grammatical forms work. Apply a consistent counting method rather than treating the total as an exact measurement.

Position by Christmas	What it may look like

Vocabulary needs consolidation	Basic verbs, questions, descriptions, and everyday nouns remain difficult to retrieve.
Progress is broadly steady	You use familiar words and phrases across taught topics, with errors and pauses.
Vocabulary is becoming secure	You retrieve familiar language quickly and adapt phrases to new situations.

Ab Initio Vocabulary by Christmas: A DP1 Guide

Ab Initio Vocabulary by Christmas: A DP1 Guide

Does the IB set an ab initio vocabulary target?

Why 300-500 vocabulary items is a useful benchmark

Does the IB set an ab initio vocabulary target?

Why 300-500 vocabulary items is a useful benchmark

What steady ab initio progress looks like

Active vocabulary versus passive vocabulary

A practical daily vocabulary routine

Common mistakes to avoid

Check your progress before the holiday

Conclusion

Sources and referenced URLs

Frequently Asked Questions