Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Unit 5

Student life
Study
1.1
college [countable, uncountable] (often in names) (in Britain) a place where students go
to study or to receive training after they have left school
a college of further education (= providing education and training for people over
16)
a secretarial college the Royal College of Art
college [countable, uncountable] (often in names) (in the US) a university where students
can study for a degree after they have left school
Carleton College
a college campus/student a private college
1.2
studious adj spending a lot of time studying or reading
SYNONYM scholarly a studious young man
He liked to wear glasses, which he thought made him look studious.
1 overcome 2 study
3concentrate/study
company [uncountable] the fact of being with somebody else and not alone
I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her).
She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling.
The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age.
4 organize
5 taking/studying
6 learn
atlas a book of maps
a world atlas
a road atlas of Europe
to hand that you can reach or get easily
I'm afraid I don't have the latest figures to hand.
Keep a pen and paper to hand for details of this weeks competition.
7 doing
protractor an instrument for measuring and drawing angles, usually made from a half
circle of clear plastic with degrees (0 to 180) marked on it
8 revise
revise [intransitive, transitive] (British English) to prepare for an exam by looking again
at work that you have done
I spent the weekend revising for my exam.
revise something I'm revising Geography today.
curriculum (pl. curricula, curriculums) the subjects that are included in a course of
study or taught in a school, college, etc.
the school curriculum
(British English) Spanish is on the curriculum.

(North American English) Spanish is in the curriculum.

syllabus (pl. syllabuses, (less frequent)syllabi) a list of the topics, books, etc. that
students should study in a particular subject at school or college
9 review
review something (especially North American English) to look again at something you
have studied, especially in order to prepare for an exam
We will be reviewing all the topics covered this semester.
10 taught
disorder [uncountable] (formal) an untidy state; a lack of order or organization
His financial affairs were in complete disorder.
The room was in a state of disorder.
dyslexia U a slight disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and spelling, for
example, but does not affect intelligence
struggle [intransitive] to try very hard to do something when it is difficult or when there
are a lot of problems
struggle (for something) a country struggling for independence
struggle to do something They struggled just to pay their bills.
1.3
1) studious
2) distractions
3) background noise
4) project; assignment
5) revise
6) curriculum
syllabus (pl. syllabuses, (less frequent)syllabi) a list of the topics, books, etc. that
students should study in a particular subject at school or college
curriculum (pl. curricula, curriculums) the subjects that are included in a course of
study or taught in a school, college, etc.
the school curriculum
(British English) Spanish is on the curriculum.
(North American English) Spanish is in the curriculum.
7) review
review something (especially North American English) to look again at something you
have studied, especially in order to prepare for an exam
We will be reviewing all the topics covered this semester.
8) struggle
struggle [intransitive] to try very hard to do something when it is difficult or when there
are a lot of problems
struggle (for something) a country struggling for independence
struggle to do something They struggled just to pay their bills.
1.4
2) find out
3) know
4) learned
5) know
6) study
7) learn how
8) learn from
Error warning
knit [transitive, intransitive] to make clothes, etc. from wool or cotton thread using two
long thin knitting needles or a machine
knit (something) I knitted this cardigan myself.

knit somebody something She's knitting the baby a shawl.

Education
2.1

1) kindergarten/nursery
2) primary/elementary
3) junior
4) grade
5) senior
6) scholarship/grant
7) high/secondary (high school=US and Australia, secondary school=UK)
8) private/public (UK)
9) single-sex
10) mixed
kindergarten (British English, Australian English, New Zealand English)= nursery
school
nursery school a school for children between the ages of about two and five
SYNONYM preschool
She works as an assistant in a nursery school.
junior school (in Britain) a school for children between the ages of 7 and 11
senior adj [only before noun] (British English) (of a school or part of a school) for
children over the age of 11 or 13
grant (to do something) a sum of money that is given by the government or by another
organization to be used for a particular purpose
student grants (= to pay for their education)
He has been awarded a research grant.
public n (in England) any of a number of endowed secondary boarding schools that
prepare students chiefly for the universities or for public service.
endow something to give a large sum of money to a school, a college or another
institution to provide it with an income
In her will, she endowed a scholarship in the physics department.
Vocabulary note
hold [transitive] to have a belief or an opinion about somebody/something
hold something He holds strange views on education.
hold somebody/something + adv./prep./adj. She is held in high regard by her
students (= they have a high opinion of her).
firmly-held beliefs
feminist a person who supports the belief that women should have the same rights and
opportunities as men
Nineteenth-century feminists demanded equal education and employment
opportunities for single women.
2.2
architect, architectural
archaeology, archaeologist
biologist, biological
economist, economic (economical is related to saving money or fuel)
geologist, geological
geography, geographical
journalism, journalistic
linguist, linguistic
law, legal
mathematics/maths, mathematician
scientist, scientific
2.3
2) architectural
3) linguist
4) economic 5) journalism
6) geography

recession U C a period when the economy of a country is not successful and

conditions for business are bad
The country is sliding into the depths of (a) recession.
Research
3.1
dissertation (on something) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially
one written for a university degree
consideration [countable] something that must be thought about when you are planning
or deciding something
economic/commercial/environmental/practical considerations
Time is another important consideration.
Answers
1) topic
2) thesis
thesis (on something) (pl. theses) a long piece of writing completed by a student as part
of a university degree, based on their own research
Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years
3) (current) literature
literature (on something) U pieces of writing or printed information on a particular
subject
I've read all the available literature on keeping rabbits.
sales literature
4) knowledge 5) relevant 6) limits/scope
scope the range of things that a subject, an organization, an activity, etc. deals with /
phm vi, tm (kin thc) phm vi, tm (kin thc)
Our powers are limited in scope.
This subject lies beyond the scope of our investigation.
7) controversies
8) financial resources
9) funding/grant
grant (to do something) a sum of money that is given by the government or by another
organization to be used for a particular purpose
student grants (= to pay for their education)
He has been awarded a research grant.
10) tutor
Script
thesis (on something) (pl. theses) a long piece of writing completed by a student as part
of a university degree, based on their own research
Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years.
daunting adj making somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something;
likely to make somebody feel this way / lm thoi ch, lm nn ch
SYNONYM intimidating
She has the daunting task of cooking for 20 people every day.

Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.

straightforward adj easy to do or to understand; not complicated
SYNONYM easy
a straightforward process
It's quite straightforward to get here.
literature (on something) U pieces of writing or printed information on a particular
subject
I've read all the available literature on keeping rabbits.
sales literature
on top of sth/sb in addition to something
He gets commission on top of his salary.
On top of everything else, my car's been stolen.
specialization (in something) C a particular area of work, study or business which
somebody spends more time on than on other areas
After completing the course, they select a specialization in specific fields such as
metal, woodworking or textiles.
ascertain to find out the true or correct information about something / xc nh; tm hiu
chc chn
ascertain something It can be difficult to ascertain the facts.
ascertain that I ascertained that the driver was not badly hurt.
it is ascertained that It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the
law.
ascertain what, whether, etc The police are trying to ascertain what really
happened.
it is ascertained what, whether, etc It must be ascertained if the land is still
owned by the government.
fixed adj staying the same; not changing or able to be changed
fixed prices a fixed rate of interest
people living on fixed incomes
in terms of something, interms used to show what aspect of a subject you are talking
about or how you are thinking about it
The job is great in terms of salary, but it has its disadvantages.
The decision was disastrous in political terms.
scope the range of things that a subject, an organization, an activity, etc. deals with /
phm vi, tm (kin thc) phm vi, tm (kin thc)
Our powers are limited in scope.
This subject lies beyond the scope of our investigation.
controversy (over/about/surrounding somebody/something) U C public discussion
and argument about something that many people strongly disagree about, disapprove of,
or are shocked by
to arouse/cause controversy

a bitter controversy over/about the site of the new airport

challenge something to question whether a statement or an action is right, legal, etc.; to
refuse to accept something
SYNONYM dispute
The story was completely untrue and was successfully challenged in court.
She does not like anyone challenging her authority.
take account of something, take something into account to consider particular facts,
circumstances, etc. when making a decision about something
The company takes account of environmental issues wherever possible.
Coursework is taken into account as well as exam results.
costly adj costing a lot of money, especially more than you want to pay
SYNONYM expensive
Buying new furniture may prove too costly.
despair [intransitive] to stop having any hope that a situation will change or improve
Don't despair! We'll think of a way out of this.
despair of something/somebody I despair of him; he can't keep a job for more
than six months.
despair of doing something They'd almost despaired of ever having children.
altogether adv (used to emphasize something) completely; in every way
The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether.
I don't altogether agree with you.
enquiry [countable] a request for information about somebody/something; a question
about somebody/something
enquiry (from somebody) (about somebody/something) We received over 300
enquiries about the job.
I'll have to make a few enquiries (= try to find out about it) and get back to you.
grant (to do something) a sum of money that is given by the government or by another
organization to be used for a particular purpose
student grants (= to pay for their education)
He has been awarded a research grant.
make use of something/somebody to use something/somebody, especially in order to get
an advantage
We could make better use of our resources.
You should make use of your contacts.
3.2
dissertation = thesis
dissertation (on something) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially
one written for a university degree
thesis (on something) (pl. theses) a long piece of writing completed by a student as part
of a university degree, based on their own research
Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years.

is easier = more straightforward

straightforward adj easy to do or to understand; not complicated
SYNONYM easy
a straightforward process
It's quite straightforward to get here.
wide = broad
field of study = area of specialization/research area
specialization (in something) C a particular area of work, study or business which
somebody spends more time on than on other areas
After completing the course, they select a specialization in specific fields such as
metal, woodworking or textiles.
establish = ascertain
ascertain to find out the true or correct information about something / xc nh; tm hiu
chc chn
ascertain something It can be difficult to ascertain the facts.
ascertain that I ascertained that the driver was not badly hurt.
it is ascertained that It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the
law.
ascertain what, whether, etc The police are trying to ascertain what really
happened.
it is ascertained what, whether, etc It must be ascertained if the land is still
owned by the government.
consider = ask yourself
think about = take into account
take account of something, take something into account to consider particular facts,
circumstances, etc. when making a decision about something
The company takes account of environmental issues wherever possible.
Coursework is taken into account as well as exam results.
results = findings
4
dissertation (on something) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially
one written for a university degree
thesis (on something) (pl. theses) a long piece of writing completed by a student as part
of a university degree, based on their own research
Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years.
Test practice
Work experience and internship programme
internship a period of time during which a student or new graduate gets practical
experience in a job, for example during the summer holiday/vacation
an internship at a television station
1
placement (also work placement) [uncountable, countable] (British English) a job, often
as part of a course of study, where you get some experience of a particular kind of work

The third year is spent on placement in selected companies.

The course includes a placement in Year 3.
enrich to improve the quality of something, often by adding something to it
enrich something The study of science has enriched all our lives.
enrich something with something Most breakfast cereals are enriched with
vitamins.
thereby adv (formal) used to introduce the result of the action or situation mentioned
Regular exercise strengthens the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack.
2
post-secondary adj Relating to or denoting education at a level beyond that provided by
schools, typically that provided by a college or university; tertiary.
the number of students in post-secondary education nearly doubled in that
period
eligible adj a person who is eligible for something or to do something, is able to have or
do it because they have the right qualifications, are the right age, etc.
eligible (for something) Only those over 70 are eligible for the special payment.
eligible (to do something) When are you eligible to vote in your country?
Opposite ineligible
case manager a person (as a social worker or nurse) who assists in the planning,
coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of medical services for a patient with
emphasis on quality of care, continuity of services, and cost-effectiveness
recruitment U the act or process of finding new people to join a company, an
organization, the armed forces, etc.
the recruitment of new members
a recruitment drive
refer somebody to somebody | refer somebody to something | refer something to
somebody |refer something to something to send somebody/something to
somebody/something for help, advice or a decision
My doctor referred me to a specialist.
The case was referred to the Court of Appeal.
3
internship a period of time during which a student or new graduate gets practical
experience in a job, for example during the summer holiday/vacation
an internship at a television station
post-secondary adj Relating to or denoting education at a level beyond that provided by
schools, typically that provided by a college or university; tertiary.

the number of students in post-secondary education nearly doubled in that

period
setting a set of surroundings; the place at which something happens
a rural/an ideal/a beautiful/an idyllic, etc. setting
It was the perfect setting for a wonderful Christmas.
institution [countable] a large important organization that has a particular purpose, for
example, a university or bank
an educational/financial, etc. institution
the Smithsonian Institution
placement (also work placement) [uncountable, countable] (British English) a job, often
as part of a course of study, where you get some experience of a particular kind of work
The third year is spent on placement in selected companies.
The course includes a placement in Year 3.
internship a period of time during which a student or new graduate gets practical
experience in a job, for example during the summer holiday/vacation
an internship at a television station
Questions 1-3
1B
2C
outside of apart from
There was nothing they could do, outside of hoping things would get better.
3E
Questions 4-8
4 educational authority
5 case manager
case manager a person (as a social worker or nurse) who assists in the planning,
coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of medical services for a patient with
emphasis on quality of care, continuity of services, and cost-effectiveness
6 research area
7 18 months
8 academic institution
institution [countable] a large important organization that has a particular purpose, for
example, a university or bank
an educational/financial, etc. institution
the Smithsonian Institution
Test Tip