Using a dictionary in the NT2 exam
Dictionary rules and access can vary across NT2 components. Check the current exam instructions, and practise deciding when a lookup is worth the time.
Check what is allowed
Official exam guidance specifies which dictionary, if any, candidates may use for a component. Check the candidate information before exam day; do not bring a phone or assume a digital dictionary is permitted.
Look up selectively
First use the sentence to estimate the word’s role and meaning. Check a word when it changes the answer or blocks understanding of the task. Avoid looking up every unfamiliar item.
Return to the context
After a lookup, reread the sentence and surrounding details. Confirm that the dictionary meaning fits this use of the word and the question being asked.
Practise looking up only when it helps
During study, note unfamiliar words that change the meaning of a sentence and practise finding them quickly. Do not stop for every unknown term: use the sentence and surrounding paragraph first. Before exam day, check the official component rules for permitted dictionaries and whether the test interface supplies one.
Official information
Sources checked on 12 October 2026. Check the official page before booking or applying.