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Education is one of the key topics for IELTS. You will almost certainly need it in part 1 of the
speaking module and it is also a common essay topic. You will find here a list of helpful
To see what you know and what you don’t know, I suggest you try these vocabulary tests.
This list of vocabulary comes from the British educational system. Different countries and
cultures frequently use their own terminology. For instance, in American English it is quite
possible to describe university as “college” or “school”. These words mean something quite
Graduate
notes
it can replace the word “student”
note the different prepositions “of a university” and “from university” and “in a subject”
graduate is quite formal so in speaking you could use “I left university” instead
a fresher is a first year student, Americans use “freshman”
Level of degrees
notes
if you study a humanities subject, you get a BA for your first degree and an MA for your master’s
if you study science, you get a BSc for your first degree and an MSc for your master’s
Types of qualifications
Types of education
notes
if you receive a degree from a university, you are in higher education
if you receive a diploma or certificate, you are in further education
Types of course
Institutions
notes
Be particularly careful with “college” and “school” which do not mean the same as “university” in British
English
Forms of learning
mistakes
a lecturer gives or delivers a lecture and is sometimes used as a rank of university teacher
a tutor is in charge of a seminar or tutorial
we don’t use “class” or “lesson” in university education (although Americans do use “class”)
Finance
notes
a scholarship is won for academic merit
typically a grant is awarded either for a particular project or to allow a student to follow a course
Types of writing
notes
Academic Vocabulary
Here you will find my list of Academic Vocabulary to supplement any lessons you may have on education, university or
school. For more words relating to education, have a look at my school vocabulary list. If you would like to print out my
Academic Vocabulary list, you will find the download button at the bottom of the page.
Types of Degrees
an academic degree awarded by a college or university, usually lasting 3 to 4 years
Bachelor's Degree
e.g. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Undergraduate degree the first degree you study towards at University, a Bachelor's Degree
Postgraduate degree a degree that is done after the Bachelor's Degree has been completed
People
These terms often refer to slightly different positions and job descriptions in different countries. I have tried to give the
definitions that are most commonly used, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. For a comprehensive list
of academic ranks in various countries, have a look here.
Administrative Positions
the head of the University (this term is used in Great Britain, the United States and
Chancellor
many commonwealth countries)
the head of the University (this term is used in Europe, Latin America, Russia and
Rector
other countries with a European tradition)
Academic Positions
in Europe this title is used for the most senior academics and refers to a highly
recognised and accomplished academic teacher, the title is only awarded after
Professor
decades of scholarly work. In the United States and Canada it is granted to all
scholars with a Doctorate.
an academic who gives lectures, leads research groups and supervises research
Lecturer
students
Postgraduate a student who already has a Bachelor's Degree and is studying further
Verbs
to hand in to give an assignment to the teacher/lecturer for marking
to enroll to register
a lower interest rate loan offered to students to help pay off education related
student loan
expenses
elective an optional subject that is not compulsory for the student's programme
a group of related departments (e.g. the Language Faculty would have German,
faculty
English and Spanish Departments)
plagiarism to take somebody else's work or writing and pretend that it is your own
When a company is employing new people, candidates are usually invited to attend an
interview. Here are some questions they might ask you:
Cuando una empresa selecciona nuevo personal, generalmente cita a los postulantes a una
entrevista. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas que podrían hacerte:
The following vocabulary can help you give a better impression on your CV or during the
interview:
El siguiente vocabulario podrá ayudarte a causar una mejor impresión en tu CV o durante la
entrevista:
During the interview remember to use "discourse markers" (small words and phrases
whose job is to organise your conversation and make it more interesting). Here you have
some examples:
Durante la entrevista recuerda utilizar "marcadores discursivos" (vocablos que te permiten
organizar tu conversación y hacerla más interesante). Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos:
The following introductory ideas may also help you express your thoughts during the
interview:
Las siguientes ideas introductorias también pueden ayudarte a expresar tus pensamientos
durante la entrevista:
You’re likely to be asked questions about your studies during Part 1, you might have to talk about a class, a teacher or a
school memory in Part 2 or give your opinions on education in Part 3. Therefore, being able to call on a wide range of
vocabulary to talk about education is very important.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the
‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Examiner: When you were younger did you enjoy your time at school?
Theo: Yes … I liked school … it was an ordinary state school … nothing special … a single-sex school … which I’m not
sure I liked … but the teachers were great … I had lots of friends and I never played truant like some pupils there …
Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed. You should say:
Definitions
distance learning: a way of studying where tuition is carried out over the Internet or by post
face-to-face classes: as opposed to distance learning the traditional way of studying in a classroom with
colleagues and a teacher
to fall behind with your studies: to progress less quickly than others
a graduation ceremony: an event where a successful student receives his or her academic degree
higher education: education, usually in a college or university, that is followed after high school or secondary
school
an intensive course: a course that offers lots of training in order to reach a goal in as short a time as possible
a mature student: a student who is older than average and who has usually returned to education after a period
at work
masters degree: a period of study which often follows the completion of a bachelors degree or is undertaken by
someone regarded as capable of a higher-level academic course
a single-sex school: a school where only boys or girls attend (as opposed to a mixed-sex school)
state school: a school paid for by public funds and available to the general public
subject specialist: a teacher who has a great deal of knowledge about the subject they teach.
to take a year out: to spend a year working or travelling before starting university
to work your way through university: to have a paid job whilst studying to support yourself financially
Introduction
As many of you may be returning to school after the holidays we decided to send a list of education
related word.
You should bear in mind that many words are specific to just one country, just as they are between
British and American English. Using terms like K-12, Secondary modern, GCSE, A level, sixth form,
without explanation, should be avoided if you are speaking to an international audience. In Spain,
they have recently changed the education system so rather than EGB, BUP and COU it has been
changed to Primaria, ESO and COU. Suposedly all the Spanish speaking countries have a
separate set of acronyms. For this reason we have avoided country specific vocab.
English Spanish
university la universidad
faculty la facultad
a course un curso
a thesis un tesis
a doctorate/PhD un doctorado
a boarder un interno
library la biblioteca
playground el patio
gym el gimnasio
a desk un pupitre
blackboard la pizarra
chalk la tiza
a book un libro
a dictionary un diccionario
a pencil un lápiz
Phrases - Frases
to go to school/university ir al colegio/instituto/a la universidad
to study estudiar
to learn aprender
to know saber
to pass aprobar
to fail suspender
to revise repasar
Higher Education
f t g+ p
Vocabulary
terminology N. specialized words or expressions used in a particular field, activity, job, science, etc.
to transfer V. 1) to change schools 2) to move from one place to another said of people or things
N. the graduate degree after a bachelor's and before a Ph.D. There are also different kinds of master's, including
master's
M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master in Business Administration), etc.
N. doctorate, highest graduate degree Although Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy, it is commonly used to refer
Ph.D.
to a doctorate in any field.