Combine the GSL (2,000 words) with the AWL (570 families = ~2,500 words). Total = ~4,500.
Search for the by Paul Nation (published by Compass Publishing). This is the gold standard. Books 1-6 total roughly 4,000 words. Book 6 brings you close to 4,500. 4500 Key English Words Pdf
You can search for the "4500 Key English Words PDF" online, and it should be available for download from various websites or language learning platforms. Combine the GSL (2,000 words) with the AWL
To most, it was a sterile academic resource—a ladder of vocabulary designed to bridge the gap between "hello" and "hermeneutics." To Elias, a recent arrival in a city that spoke in rhythmic, fast-paced riddles, it was a map of a new world. This is the gold standard
As he sipped his coffee, he played a game he called "The PDF Hunt." He would look at a stranger and try to find the word from the list that fit them best. The woman at the counter, moving with practiced speed: (Word 1,102). The old man reading a newspaper with a frown: (Word 3,894). The toddler struggling with a heavy backpack: (Word 645).