IELTS VOCABULARY

EDUCATION
1. Literacy – the ability to read and write (Literacy rates have declined
considerably in Western countries over the last decade. However, most
children are literate)
2. Illiterate – unable to read and write (Many children in poor countries are
illiterate)
3. Lifelong learning - the process of gaining knowledge and skills throughout
your life, often to help you do your job
4. Distance learning (e-learning) - education that takes place remotely, usually
via the Internet. (Distance learning is more flexible than traditional education,
because students don't have to attend classes and can schedule their
timetables as they want).
5. Face-to-face classes - a traditional way of studying - in a classroom with a
teacher. (When I was a kid, face-to-face classes had no alternatives, but
nowadays a myriad of educational establishments offer online courses and
individual tuition).
6. Humanities - studies about human culture, such as literature, languages,
philosophy, and history. (Chloe excels in humanities subjects. She's adept at
arts and languages).
7. Sciences - studies about the world, such as physics, biology, chemistry, and
maths. (Mark doesn't like scientific subjects, he's just too lazy to learn
formulas).
8. Curriculum - all the subjects that will be taught during a school year
9. Syllabus – an outline or summary of the subjects to be covered in a course
10. A bachelor's degree - an undergraduate course which usually lasts 3 or 4
years. I will receive my bachelor's degree in two years.
11. Higher education - education that is followed after high school. (I plan on
getting higher education after finishing school).
12. Individual tuition (private tuition) - instruction received in a small group or
individually, that is arranged and paid for by an individual rather than by the
state

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
13. Intensive course - a course that offers longer and more frequent classes. (A
few years ago I took an intensive French course in the university).
14. Internship - a temporary position which students usually take to get work
experience and practical knowledge. (Before I went into design industry, I took
an internship in a company)
15. A master's degree - a graduate course, which follows after bachelor's
degree. (A master's degree is often important to find a job with a higher salary).
16. Academic year – the period of the year during which students attend school
or university, usually reckoned from the beginning of the autumn term to the end
of the summer term.
17. Admission exam/entrance examination - an examination success in which
qualifies a person to join a school, university, organization, etc.
18. Assignment - a task or piece of work allocated to someone as part of a job or
course of study (to complete an assignment)
19. Formal education – education normally delivered by trained teachers in a
systematic way in a school, college or university
20. Compulsory education – the legally-required period of time that children are
expected to attend school. In the western world, these laws generally require
that children attend school from the ages of 5 to 16 or 18.
21. Preschool – a school for children who are too young to begin their formal
education
22. Nursery school (UK)/kindergarten (US) – preschool education
23. Primary school (UK)/elementary school (US) – the type of school for children
ages 5-11
24. Primary education – the education of 5-11 year olds
25. Secondary school (UK)/high school (US) – the type of school for children
age 11 to 16, sometimes 18
26. Co-educational/mixed – a school where girls and boys are taught together.
27. Single-sex school – a school for either male or female students but not both

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
28. State school – a school that is funded and controlled by the government and
for which no fees are charged
29. Comprehensive school – a state school that accepts pupils regardless of
their level of academic ability or achievement
30. Grammar school (UK) – state secondary school that selects their pupils by
means of an examination taken by children at age 11
31. Private school – a school that is not supported by government money, where
education must be paid for by the children’s parents
32. Boarding school – a school where students live and study during the school
term.
33. Course – a series of lessons in a particular subject
34. Undergraduate – studying for a degree but having not yet achieved it.
35. Postgraduate – having achieved a degree and now studying for a higher
qualification, possibly a professions qualification
36. Thesis – a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is
done for a higher degree
37. Campus – the buildings and grounds of a university or college
38. Student accommodation – living accommodation for college or university
students
39. A student loan – money which a student can borrow while they are studying,
but which has to be repaid
40. Internship – a period of work experience (often unpaid) offered by an
employer to give students and graduates experience of working in an industry
related to their field of study
41. Vocational – education or training directed at a particular occupation and its
skills, often requiring practical skills
42. To major in – to choose as your main subject (I want to major in early
childhood education.)
42. Intensive – fast-paced courses which give a lot of information quickly and in
a short time

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
43. Qualification – an official record showing that you have achieved a certain
level of education or skill in a particular subject or skill area
44. Certificate – an official record of achievement, generally issued for a short
course
45. Headteacher/principal – the person in charge of a school
46. Tutor – a teacher who works privately with one student or a small group
47. Peer – a person who is in the same class, age group or social group as
someone else
48. School uniform – a particular set of clothes that has to be worn by pupils
49. Extra-curricular activities – activities or subjects offered in addition to the
normal curriculum usually offered outside normal class hours, such as art,
cooking or computer clubs and extra sporting activities
50. Discipline – a set of rules governing conduct or behaviour (impose discipline,
maintain discipline, lack of discipline)
51. A mature student - someone who's older than others.(Nowadays it's not
uncommon to face a mature student in the class. People often change
professions and get a second or third degree in their mid-thirties).
52. Public schools - exclusive independent schools in the UK (state schools in
US)
53. Small fraction - small part. (A small fraction of students managed to pass this
exam).
54. State school - a school which is paid for by the state or country.
55. Subject specialist - a person who is very talented in one specific field.
56. Three R's - basic educational skills (reading, writing, arithmetic). Pupils in a
primary school study the three R's.To attend classes - to visit classes.
57. To fall behind with studies - to progress less quickly than others.(Mary was ill
for two weeks, so she fell behind with her studies).
58. Remedial classes – when you do poorly in a subject and get sent to a class
that focuses on basic concepts and better study habits, you are taking a remedial
class. New college students often have to take remedial classes before they can
begin actual university-level courses

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
59. To cheat on exams - to behave in a dishonest way in order to get a grade that
you do not deserve
60. To give feedback - to give some information or criticism on a subject.
61. Rote learning – a teaching style based on learning by memorisation through
repetition
62. To meet a deadline - to finish something within a time limit.
63. To skip classes – to be absent from lessons you are supposed to attend
64. To pursue studying - to continue studying
65. To sit an exam - to take an exam. (Tomorrow I'll have to sit a two-hour math
exam).
66. A gap year - a year-long break before or after college/university during which
students engage in various educational and developmental activities, such as
travel or some type of regular work
67. Tuition fees - money you pay for your education. I had to pay tuition fees this
summer.
68. Top-tier institutions – educational institutions of the highest level or rank
with regard to quality, reputation
69. Traditional institution - a college, university, or other type of school that
conducts the majority of their instruction on a physical campus with courses
being taught primarily in person
70.To drop out – abandon a course of study (to drop out of
school/college/university)
71. To be expelled – to be officially asked to leave place or organization (to be
expelled from school/university)
72. To be suspended - being suspended means a student is removed from school
for a period of time. After a suspension your child will return to class.
73. High drop-out rates – высокий процент бросающих школу/учебу
74. Graduate diploma – a document certifying that you have completed a high
level of specialization
75. Professional degree - an advanced degree in a field that requires education
beyond the college level

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
76. Job prospects - a probability or chance for future success, esp. as based on
present work or aptitude
77. Job opportunities - an opportunity of employment
78. A well-paid job – a job with a high salary
79. Financial burden – financial responsibility that causes a lot of worry or
problems
80. Financial aid - money that is given or lent to students in order to help pay for
their education
81. Quality education – education that is pedagogically and developmentally
sound and educates the student in becoming an active and productive member of
society.
82. Less affluent students – менее обеспеченные студенты
83.Enrollment rate – показатели охвата, коэффициент зачисления
84. Regardless of their financial circumstances – независимо от их финансовых
обстоятельств
85. Grants and scholarships - kinds of financial aid that you don't have to pay
back
86. Ever-escalating price of a college degree – постоянно растущие цены на
высшее образование
87. Marking criteria - a plan or guidelines used in the marking of school
children's or students' written work
88. To perform significantly better – гораздо лучше учиться/успевать
89. To attain proficiency in another language – достичь мастерства в языке
90. The optimal age for language learning – оптимальный возраст для изучения
языка
91. Academic achievement - academic outcomes that indicate the extent to
which a student has achieved their learning goals
92. To broaden horizons - to increase the range of one's knowledge,
understanding, or experience

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
93. To strengthen analytic and reasoning skill – to improve your ability to
analyze something logically
94. To work your way through university – to have a paid job while studying to
support yourself financially
95. To keep up with your studies – to not fall behind with your work
96. Well-educated – someone who has received a high level or good standard of
education
97. To meet a deadline – to complete a piece of work by the required date
98. To revise – study or read something again in order to remember it better,
often before exams
99. To review – to read over something again. Similar to revise, but generally
done just after a lesson or lecture rather than in preparation for an exam
100. Workload – the amount of work that has to be done (overwhelming
workload)
101. To resit/retake an exam – to take an exam again in order to get a better
result
102. To procrastinate - delay or postpone action; put off doing something

Some informal/idiomatic expressions:

1.“A” for effort - a good mark, which is given someone for trying hard rather
than for a success. (Although I'm not the smartest in my group, I often get an
“A” for effort, because I try hard).
2. A bookworm (informal) - a term to describe someone who really likes to read
and spends a lot of time on it. (I'm a real bookworm. I won't stop until the book is
read).
3. Eager beaver (informal) - an enthusiastic and hard-working person. (My friend
is an eager beaver. He studies everything with pleasure and gets great marks).

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
Some informal/idiomatic expressions:

4 .Hit the books (informal) - begin studying hard. (I am on my third year in the
university, it is time to finally hit the books).
5. Not the sharpest tool in the shed (informal) - a polite way of saying that
someone isn't very smart. (Maybe John isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but
he's a good friend nonetheless).
6. To goof around (informal) - spend time doing nothing important.
7. To learn something by heart (informal) - to memorize something.
8. To pass with flying colours (meaning) - to pass easily and with excellent
result. (I'm studying hard and I will pass IELTS with flying colours).
9. To play truant (informal) - to skip classes without permission. (During my
school years I often played truant with my friends).
10. To scrape through – succeed in doing something, but with difficulty
11. A smart cookie - a clever person who has good ideas
12. A copycat- someone who copies the work of others
13. Put your thinking cap on – to start thinking in a serious manner
14. Show of hands – raising hands to vote about something
15. Teacher's pet (informal) - the student whom teachers like the most.
16. To figure something out – to find a way to solve a problem, to discover
something
17. To rack your brain – to think long and hard about something
18. To breeze/sail through – to easily succeed in something (breeze through
college/sail through the course)
19. To ace a test – to ger an “A” or a very high grade in a test
20. A cheat sheet – a piece of paper with answers written on it that students use
to cheat on a test
21. To bomb a test – to get a terrible grade o a test
22. To flunk/fail out – to be expelled from an institution because of low grades or
poor performance
23. To cram for - study intensively over a short period of time just before an
examination
24. Schoolboy error (informal) - a very basic and stupid mistake.

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
Collocations with "Education"

Decent, excellent, first-class, good | poor | compulsory | formal: Although he

had had little formal education, he could read and write well.
University | professional, vocational | all-round | health, religious, sex | full-
time, part-time | public, state | private: Some parents choose private education
for their children
Have, receive: He was at a disadvantage because of the poor education he had
received.
Give sb, provide (sb with): The school provides an excellent all-round education.
Enter: students entering higher education
Continue, extend: She went to college to continue her education.
Leave: young people who are just leaving full-time education
Complete, finish: He went to America to complete his education.
Authority, committee, department, ministry, sector, service, system: funds
provided by the local education authority.
Scheme| policy | reform | campaign, initiative, programme, project: The council
has launched a new health education campaign.
Facilities, materials, resources | class, course: adult education courses
In ~ students in full-time education
Through ~ We acquire much of our world knowledge through education.
~ about: education about danger on the roads

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 IELTS VOCABULARY
EDUCATION
Additonal: An article about online education that you may find helpful for IELTS

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Learning?

Learning is often considered to be a normal part of working and personal life. Both learning for achieving a job as
well as for achieving knowledge should not be neglected. Online environment is changing continuously and it
represents a great opportunity for learning. It is very important to discover how to learn using all available
communication channels and choosing the ones that best suit a person’s style of filtering the information.

All About The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Learning

Nowadays, online learning turns out to be more and more practiced. Many traditional universities started to share
their courses online for free. It represents an easy and comfortable method to achieve knowledge in almost every
field, from law and accounting, to human sciences, such as psychology and sociology or history. Online learning is
a great alternative to traditional universities, especially for people who can’t afford the time and money to take
real courses. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of online learning?

Advantages Of Online Learning

Although many people still consider traditional universities as the best way to achieve knowledge and get a
diploma, online learning proves to be a great alternative. Students have the chance to study in their own time and
especially for free. It represents a great way to study many fields and to boost the level of self-motivation. Online
learning is so effective because students can finish their homework quickly, and there is more time left for hobbies
or for finding a job.

An access to all resources of a traditional course helps participants learn wherever they are, leaving them the
freedom to choose the time for study. With basically an Internet connection, a person can attend different
courses. Among the advantages of online learning there are the responsibility and self-discipline of students.

Disadvantages Of Online Learning

Only in a small group a person can develop properly. At school, students learn how to make friends, be patient,
get rid of disappointment, and especially to compete. Competition between colleagues can be very stimulating
and students will only benefit from it. Online learning cannot offer human interaction.

Another disadvantage refers to the fact that online courses cannot cope with thousands of students that try to
join discussions. Also, online learning can be difficult, if it is meant for disciplines that involve practice.In
conclusion, online learning should be seen as a complement and extension of classical forms of learning. Not even
the best online course can fully replace the personal contact with a teacher, or the human relationships that
develop in a group. So, traditional classes shouldn’t be replaced with online learning.

Source: https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-online-learning

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