IELTS Education Vocabulary: Useful Phrases & Expressions for IELTS Speaking
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Explore IELTS Education Vocabulary: Useful Phrases & Expressions for IELTS Speaking. Master essential terms, idioms, and collocations to speak confidently on education-related topics and boost your band score in all parts of the Speaking test.
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In IELTS Speaking, education is one of the most frequently asked topics. Mastering education-related vocabulary will help you speak fluently, accurately, and with confidence. This comprehensive guide covers essential words, phrases, idioms, collocations, and sample answers across all three parts of the Speaking test. Whether discussing your school life, higher education, or learning styles, this vocabulary will elevate your responses and boost your band score.
Vocabulary for Types of Schools
These IELTS Vocabulary words help describe different types of educational institutions and school environments.
| Word/Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Adjective | The type of school for children aged 5-11 | Primary school, Primary education | I think primary education should be compulsory worldwide. | /ˈpraɪ.mer.i/ |
| Secondary | Adjective | The type of school for children aged 11 and up | Secondary school, Secondary education
(synonym: high school) |
I still keep in touch with many of my friends from secondary school. | /ˈsek.ən.der.i/ |
| Mixed | Adjective | A school where girls and boys are taught together
(antonym: single-sex school) |
Mixed school, Mixed-sex education, Mixed-gender education | In my opinion, mixed schools are the way forward. | /mikst/ |
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Vocabulary for Academic Work
Use these terms to talk about assignments, learning tasks, and lectures.
| Word/Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Noun | a piece of work given to someone as part of their studies | homework assignment, reading/writing assignment | Back then, I was working on my last reading assignment of the term | / əˈsaɪn.mənt/ |
| Lecture | Noun | a formal talk on a subject | deliver/give/present a lecture, attend/go to a lecture | She delivered a very interesting lecture. | / ˈlek.tʃɚ/ |
| Thesis | Noun | a long piece of writing on a particular subject | write a thesis, complete a thesis, a thesis about/on (subject) | I wrote my thesis on effective treatment strategies for children with ADHD. | / ˈθiː.sɪs/ |
University & Qualifications Vocabulary
Talk confidently about higher education using these phrases.
| Word/phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | Noun | a first degree at college or university | a bachelor’s degree in (subject) | I have a bachelor’s degree in | /ˌbætʃ.əl.ɚz dɪˈɡriː/ |
| Fellowship | Noun | money for teaching or study given to a person studying for an advanced degree | to apply for a fellowship, to be awarded a fellowship | I then applied for a research fellowship at the university. | /ˈfel.oʊ.ʃɪp/ |
| Doctorate (PhD) | Noun | the highest degree from a university | to do a doctorate in (subject), to have a doctorate, a doctorate degree | In developing countries, there aren’t as many people with doctorate degrees. | /ˈdɑːk.tɚ.ət/ |
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Vocabulary for People in Education
Identify roles and individuals in an educational setting.
| Word/Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | Noun | the person in charge of a school | school principal | She was the school principal for 15 years. | /ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/ |
| Graduate | Noun | a person who has finished their school, college or university education | high school/ college/university graduate, a graduate in (subject), a graduate of (school) | There are many opportunities for university graduates nowadays. | /ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ |
| Professor | Noun | a teacher of high rank in a university | college/university professor, visiting professor, (history, law, etc.) professor, professor of (history, law, etc.) | He later became a professor at a local university. | /prəˈfes·ər/ |
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Benefits and Drawbacks of Higher Education
Benefits
- Open the door to better employment opportunities
Example: It is suggested that doing master degree will open the door to better employment opportunities.
- Contribute to society
Example: An increasing number of higher educated workers could have a good contribution to society in terms of economy
Drawbacks
- Require a huge investment in term of time and money
Example: Generally, continuing higher education will require a huge investment in term of time and money.
- Lose the current job
Example: When you decide to continue higher education, you have to face the risk of loosing your current job.
Common Idioms & Phrases for IELTS Speaking: Education
Use these phrases to sound natural and fluent:
| Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State school | Government-funded school | I went to a state school with excellent teachers. |
| Private school | Fee-paying school | Private schools often offer better facilities. |
| To work your way through university | Study while working part-time | I worked my way through university by tutoring kids. |
| Tuition fees | Cost of education | Tuition fees are rising every year. |
| To sit an exam | To take an exam | I had to sit three exams in one week. |
| To fall behind with studies | To make less progress than expected | I fell behind due to illness. |
| Face-to-face class | In-person class | I prefer face-to-face classes over online ones. |
| Distance learning | Online or remote learning | Distance learning allows flexibility for working students. |
| Learn by heart | Memorize | I had to learn all the chemical formulas by heart. |
| Take a year out / gap year | A year off before university | I took a gap year to travel and volunteer. |
To extend your vocabulary sets, read articles on education and pick words or phrases that you can use on your IELTS, keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy and look for vocabulary activities on your IELTS preparation course book or online. And don’t forget to keep your vocabulary notebook (or notes) at hand whenever you’re studying for your IELTS.
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Utilizing effective education-related vocabulary from IELTS Education Vocabulary: Useful Phrases and Expressions can greatly enhance your IELTS Speaking performance. By incorporating these useful phrases into your responses, you’ll be better equipped to discuss academic topics with clarity and confidence, ultimately helping you achieve a higher IELTS Band Score. Here’s a practice exercise done for you.
IELTS Speaking Practice with Education Vocabulary
IELTS Speaking Part 1:
In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you’ll answer questions about familiar topics such as your home, hobbies, and daily routines. This section focuses on assessing your ability to speak clearly and provide detailed responses to common, everyday questions.
1. What kind of school did you go to as a child?
I studied in public school all of my childhood, because at that time, the schools provided better education in comparison with private school.
2. What do/did you study in your university?
I studied business administration, which really suits my skills and personality.
3. Would you say you are a good student?
Yes, I would. I have skipped any classes, I find it easy to keep up with my studies, not to mention that my teachers usually compliment on my ability to learn quicker than other students.
IELTS Speaking Part 2:
IELTS Speaking Part 2 requires you to deliver a short speech on a specific topic based on a prompt card. You’ll have one minute to prepare and then speak for 1-2 minutes, demonstrating your ability to organize and present your thoughts coherently.
Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed.
You should say:
- When this period was?
- Where you were?
- What you were studying at that time?
- And say why you were so happy?
Sample Answer
Today I would like to share with you my memorable memories at my university. This is the time when I first moved to a big city and did my Bachelor degree in ABC University. At first, everything was new to me. I had to learn hard to keep up with my studies and spend a part of my time on doing part-time job, then worked my way through university. Although I led a hectic lifestyle at that time, I believe that it was the best time in my student’s lives, in which I joined in many clubs and activities, which gave me a golden chance to experience social lives, and make new friends.
Another thing that I remembered is when I was struggling to choose my major at university and received help from my classmates. As a junior student, my university required my to decide which major such as human resources management, accounting, finance I would follow. Having known that friends who had been studying with me for a long time might know better than me, I came to some of my friends and asked them for help. It was very kind of them that they spent time on analyzing my strengths and weaknesses, also discussing with me the pros and cons of each majors. After a few hours talking with them, I made a decision that I would go for human resources management. Now, I has been studying that major for almost 3 years and I have not ever regretted about my choice.
Through all those times, I realize that whenever I am in need, my friends are always be there for me.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you’ll engage in a discussion with the examiner on more abstract and complex topics related to the theme of Part 2. This section evaluates your ability to discuss ideas, provide opinions, and support your answers with relevant examples.
1. What are the advantage of studying on a distance learning course?
The most foreseen benefits is that the timetable is flexible, which means students can learn anytime they want. In addition, tuition fees are likely to affordable because distance learning classes do not need to be invested in classrooms and other educational facilities. But people who take distance learning courses have to be motivated, otherwise they could fall behind with their studies.
2. Do all children get equal opportunities in education?
No, not really. In my country, students from well off families are likely to have better chance to study in private school with excellent facilities while this is still out of reach of few learners, because their families cannot support them.
In our next post on expanding your vocabulary for your IELTS, we’ll be looking at vocabulary related to transportation, so don’t forget to keep checking our blog!
Using topic-specific vocabulary is one of the best ways to score high in the Lexical Resource criteria of IELTS Speaking. This blog equips you with a wide range of education-related words, collocations, and idiomatic expressions that are essential for fluency. Practice using them naturally, and you’ll soon see your confidence and score grow.
For those aiming for top scores, following the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ can further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.
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