Education vocabulary for IELTS

Dominic Cole’s IELTS Blog www.dcielts.com

IELTS topic Vocabulary - Education Introduction Education Educati on is one of the key topics for IELTS. You You will almost almos t certainly need nee d it in part 1 of the speaking module and it is also a common essay topic. You will find here a list of helpful vocabulary to improve your performance in those two papers. How to learn this vocabulary Whatever you do, don t just sit down and learn the list. You need to be able to use the language for yourself. How can you do this: ʼ

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choose the language that you need - make it personal to you note what other words it is used with note any grammar problems remember pronunciation

Key university language Graduate Word

Examples/explanations

Word form

Graduate

Graduate from university

Verb

A graduate A postgraduate

A graduate of Oxford university/ a Noun graduate in economics He s a postgraduate student Noun

An undergraduate

Undergraduates receive a grant

Noun

A fresher

Life can be difficult for freshers

Noun

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Types of degree Word

Meaning/example

A first degree

The degree undergraduates undergradu ates do

A bachelor s d de egree

A synonym for a fi firrst de degree

A master s (degree)

He is doing a master s in politics

A Ph PhD D or or a do doct ctor orat ate e

Only Only a few few stud studen ents ts go on to do a PhD PhD

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Types of course Phrase

Example

A full full-t -tim ime e deg degee ee cou cours rse e

Most Mo st stu stude dent nts s fol follo low w a full full-t -tim ime e degr degree ee cour course se

A part-time part-time degree degree course course

If you you are are in full-tim full-time e employm employment, ent, a part-tim part-time e may be more suitable In the age of of the internet, more and mo more pe people are studying by distance If yo you wan want pra practical exp experience, a san sandwich course is the best option

A distance course A sandwich course

Types of writing

Form of of wr writing

Explanation

Thesis

The paper you write at the end of your PhD

Dissertation

The paper you write at the end of your master s (and some first degree courses) This is the university equivalent of homework

Assignment

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Useful verbs for speaking Verb

Examples

Do

I m doing law at Bristol University

Study

I m studying maths at Beijing University

Major

I m majoring in English

Be

I m at the LSE.

Go

He s going to university next year

Leave

I left university 20 years ago.

Finish

I m going to finish my course next year

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Other learning verbs Learnin rning g word words s

Exa xam mple ples

Revise

I need to do some revision before the exam.

Understand

I ve tried learning it by heart, but I still don t understand it.

Take notes Organise

It s important to take notes when you are listening to a lecture. After the lecture you sh should organise your notes

Review

I review my notes at the end of every week.

Concentrate

It s not always easy to concentrate in lectures.

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Types of institution Place

Explanation

A faculty

Part of a university which specialises in the taeching of one subject, eg “the Law Faculty” A college Part of a university in British English which students belong to for social activities A college of further An alternative to university. Where you normally study education something vocational A polytechnic An al alternative wo word fo for university in in so some cu cultures; sometimes one step below university Law school Where you study law after you graduate and before you start practising law Medical school The name of the medical fa faculty in many universities

Qualifications Degree

You receive a degree from a university at the end of your  course

Diploma

A diploma is for a shorter course than a degree

Certificate

A certicate is also for a short co course

Forms of education Type of educa educati tion on Explan Explanati ation on Hig Highe herr educ educat atio ion n

Unive niverrsity sity ed educat ucatio ion n

Furthe Furtherr ed educa ucatio tion n

Norma Normally lly for for more more vocati vocationa onall cours courses es and and may may start start from from the age of 16 This This is no norm rmal ally ly for for non non-d -deg egre ree e pro progr gram amme mes s and and ofte often n is is part-time

Adult Ad ult ed educ ucat atio ion n

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Forms of study Lear Learni ning ng proc proces ess s

Expl Ex plan anat atio ion n

Lecture

The students make notes and listen to the lecturer. There may be a question and answer session at the end. Often led by a student on a particular topic. Normally, the idea is everyone gets the chance to talk. t alk. Often follows a lecture Sometimes teaching one-to-one with a tutor and sometimes the same as a seminar

Seminar

Tutorial

Finance Word

Example

Scho Schola lars rshi hip p

She She won won a sch schol olar arsh ship ip for for her her diss disser erta tati tion on..

Grant

Because she came from a poor background, she was given a grant by local government Almost all British undergraduates now have student loans that they need to repay when they start earning

Loan

Exercises and advice on how to use this vocabulary More vocabulary lists and exercises