IELTS vocabulary lists and flashcards

Synonyms: school subjects

the subjects taught in a course of study

“The school revised its curriculum to include more practical subjects.”

Collocations: a broad curriculum · revise the curriculum

Synonyms: sleep-away school

a school where students live during term time

“Some parents believe boarding school builds greater independence.”

Collocations: attend a boarding school

Synonyms: year off

a year taken off between stages of education

“Taking a gap year can broaden a student's outlook before university.”

Collocations: take a gap year

Synonyms: how many kids in class

the number of students in a class

“Reducing class size allows teachers to give more individual attention.”

Collocations: reduce class size · large class sizes

Synonyms: free money for school

financial award to support a student's studies

“A merit-based scholarship allowed her to study abroad.”

Collocations: win a scholarship · a merit-based scholarship

Synonyms: list of topics

the topics covered in a course

“The syllabus was revised to include more contemporary literature.”

Collocations: a demanding syllabus

Synonyms: useful things you can do

abilities applied in real-life tasks

“Apprenticeships help young people develop practical skills quickly.”

Collocations: develop practical skills

Synonyms: how many people can read

the proportion of people who can read and write

“Adult education classes have improved the literacy rate in rural areas.”

Collocations: improve the literacy rate · a low literacy rate

Synonyms: school costs

money charged for teaching, especially at university

“Rising tuition fees have deterred many students from applying to university.”

Collocations: rising tuition fees · waive tuition fees

Synonyms: after-school clubs

activities outside the normal school curriculum

“Extracurricular activities help pupils develop teamwork and leadership skills.”

Collocations: participate in extracurricular activities

Synonyms: study from home

study conducted remotely, often online

“Distance learning allows working adults to gain qualifications flexibly.”

Collocations: opt for distance learning

Synonyms: money owed for school

money owed by students for their education

“Many graduates start their careers burdened by student debt.”

Collocations: burdened by student debt · mounting student debt

Synonyms: ways to test students

ways of evaluating student performance

“Universities are diversifying assessment methods beyond written exams.”

Collocations: diversify assessment methods

Synonyms: too much homework

the amount of work assigned outside class

“Some schools have reduced the homework burden to protect wellbeing.”

Collocations: reduce the homework burden

Synonyms: teaching right and wrong

teaching about ethics and values

“Some curricula incorporate moral education alongside academic subjects.”

Collocations: incorporate moral education

Synonyms: kids leaving school

the proportion of students who leave school early

“Mentoring programmes have helped lower the dropout rate significantly.”

Collocations: lower the dropout rate

Synonyms: poor schools

schools lacking sufficient financial resources

“Underfunded schools often cannot afford up-to-date textbooks.”

Collocations: struggling underfunded schools

Synonyms: science and maths subjects

science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines

“Governments are keen to encourage uptake of STEM subjects among girls.”

Collocations: encourage uptake of STEM subjects

Synonyms: learning as a young kid

schooling provided before formal primary school

“Investment in early childhood education yields long-term social benefits.”

Collocations: invest in early childhood education

Synonyms: studying in another country

an arrangement to study in a foreign country

“A study abroad programme exposes students to different teaching styles.”

Collocations: enrol in a study abroad programme

Synonyms: test worry

anxiety caused by tests

“Many teenagers suffer from examination stress during final exams.”

Collocations: suffer from examination stress

Synonyms: online learning websites

online systems used to deliver education

“Schools rapidly adopted e-learning platforms during the pandemic.”

Collocations: adopt e-learning platforms

Synonyms: study stress

stress caused by the demands of study

“Some students struggle to cope with intense academic pressure.”

Collocations: cope with academic pressure

Synonyms: is very important

to be extremely important in causing something

“Universities play a pivotal role in preparing graduates for a competitive labour market.”

Collocations: play a pivotal role in shaping · play a pivotal role in development

Synonyms: job study

practical training for a specific job or trade

“Well-funded vocational training gives school leavers an immediate route into employment.”

Collocations: provide vocational training · vocational training programmes

Synonyms: learning by heart

learning by repetition without understanding

“An over-reliance on rote memorisation leaves students unable to apply what they know.”

Collocations: rely on rote memorisation · move away from rote memorisation

Synonyms: putting smart kids together

grouping students according to their academic level

“Streaming students by ability remains controversial among educationalists.”

Collocations: the practice of streaming students

Synonyms: normal exams

tests administered and scored in a consistent manner

“Critics argue that standardised testing fails to capture creativity.”

Collocations: rely on standardised testing · the pressure of standardised testing

Synonyms: learning forever

ongoing education throughout a person's life

“Employers increasingly value candidates committed to lifelong learning.”

Collocations: promote lifelong learning · embrace lifelong learning

Synonyms: focus on students

teaching focused on students' needs and interests

“A student-centred approach encourages learners to take ownership of their progress.”

Collocations: adopt a student-centred approach

Synonyms: help from a teacher

guidance provided by an experienced person

“A structured mentorship scheme helps new students settle in quickly.”

Collocations: benefit from mentorship · a mentorship scheme

Synonyms: kids who need extra help

additional learning support requirements

“Inclusive classrooms cater for pupils with special educational needs.”

Collocations: cater for special educational needs

Synonyms: boys-only or girls-only school

schooling separated by gender

“Some parents advocate single-sex education for adolescent pupils.”

Collocations: advocate single-sex education

Synonyms: computer skills

the ability to use digital technology effectively

“Schools now prioritise digital literacy alongside traditional subjects.”

Collocations: develop digital literacy

Synonyms: students helping each other

students teaching one another

“Peer tutoring schemes benefit both the tutor and the tutee.”

Collocations: implement peer tutoring

Synonyms: stopping kids quitting school

measures to stop pupils leaving school early

“School dropout prevention schemes provide counselling to at-risk pupils.”

Collocations: school dropout prevention schemes

Synonyms: everyone can go to school

fair opportunity for everyone to be educated

“Governments must guarantee equal access to education regardless of income.”

Collocations: guarantee equal access to education

Synonyms: learning about being a citizen

teaching about citizenship and public responsibility

“Introducing civic education helps young people understand their rights.”

Collocations: introduce civic education

Synonyms: how many kids per teacher

the number of pupils per teacher

“A lower teacher-pupil ratio allows for more personalised instruction.”

Collocations: improve the teacher-pupil ratio

Synonyms: teach kids to behave

to teach self-control and order

“Structured routines help instil discipline in young learners.”

Collocations: instil discipline in students

Synonyms: hard study

high intellectual standards and difficulty

“Online courses are convenient, yet many are criticised for lacking academic rigour.”

Collocations: maintain academic rigour · lack academic rigour

Synonyms: help students think

to encourage the ability to analyse and judge ideas

“Seminar discussion fosters critical thinking far more effectively than rote memorisation.”

Collocations: foster critical thinking skills · foster independence

Synonyms: study by yourself

study managed by the learner themselves

“Project work encourages autonomous learning far better than lectures.”

Collocations: encourage autonomous learning

Synonyms: way of teaching

the method and practice of teaching

“Modern pedagogy increasingly favours interactive over passive learning.”

Collocations: modern pedagogy · innovative pedagogy

Synonyms: share information

to spread information widely

“Universities exist not only to disseminate knowledge but to generate it.”

Collocations: disseminate knowledge effectively

Synonyms: good grades

the level of success achieved in study

“Smaller class sizes have been linked to higher academic attainment.”

Collocations: boost academic attainment · gaps in academic attainment

Synonyms: giving easy grades

the tendency to award higher grades than deserved

“Grade inflation has made it harder for employers to distinguish top candidates.”

Collocations: concerns over grade inflation

Synonyms: growing in every way

growth of the whole person, not just academics

“Good schools promote holistic development rather than exam success alone.”

Collocations: promote holistic development

Synonyms: creativity blocked

originality suppressed

“Critics argue creativity is stifled by an overly rigid syllabus.”

Collocations: creativity is stifled by rigid syllabi

Synonyms: brain growing

growth of thinking and understanding abilities

“Play-based learning supports cognitive development in young children.”

Collocations: support cognitive development