B1 Vocabulary — Education & school life
Key verbs for talking about exams, lessons and the education system in the UK and US.
B1 Intermediate
School & university
Education verbs
1. Talking about exams
- take / sit an exam = be present in an exam. I always feel nervous before I take an exam.
- pass an exam = get a successful result. I was really happy when I passed my maths exam.
- fail an exam = get an unsuccessful result. Mum was angry because I failed the test.
- revise / review / study for = prepare before an exam. I have to revise for my exams this weekend.
- get a grade = receive a mark (A, B, 70%, etc.). I was pleased when I got a good grade for my essay.
2. Assignments & classes
- hand in an assignment / essay = give your work to the teacher. I handed in my assignment yesterday morning.
- give a presentation = talk to the class about a topic. Tom gave a presentation on solar energy.
- write an essay = produce a longer piece of writing for a course. We had to write an essay on crime.
- attend a class / lecture = go to and be present in a lesson. Sam has attended all his classes this term.
- take notes = write down important information. I always take notes when the teacher is speaking.
3. Homework & projects
- do homework / research / a project = work on tasks for school. I usually do my homework as soon as I get home.
- study abroad = study in another country. I’d love to study abroad for one semester.
- enrol in / on a course = officially join a course. I’ve enrolled in a business course starting next week.
4. School career & discipline
- graduate from school / university = finish and receive a diploma or degree. After I graduate from school, I’ll look for a job.
- drop a class = stop taking a particular class. I decided to drop history because I wasn’t enjoying it.
- be expelled = be forced to leave school as a punishment. Sid was expelled after cheating in his exams.
Notice the common prepositions: graduate from …, enrol in / on a course, hand in homework.
5. Education systems in the UK and US (simplified)
Names and ages can change a little by region, but this table shows the most typical structure.
| Age (approx.) | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | nursery / pre-school | pre-school |
| 5–11 | primary school |
elementary school first year often called kindergarten |
| 11–16 | secondary school |
middle school / junior high (11–14) then high school (14–18) |
| 16–18 |
optional college / sixth form (final school exams before university) |
last years of high school |
| 18+ | university (higher education) |
college or university (the words are often used interchangeably) |
In British English, college after 16 usually means the place you study before university. In American English, college normally means higher education after high school.
Exercises:
School life & systems
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
In American English, students usually
in maths or history; in British English they often say “sit an exam”.
Correct:
In American English, students usually take an exam.
2
In British English, students often
at the end of term; in American English they usually say “take an exam”.
Correct:
In British English you often sit an exam.
3
I studied hard and got 92%. I was very happy to
.
Correct:
If you get enough points, you pass an exam.
4
He didn’t answer many questions and got only 20%. He will have to
and take it again next month.
Correct:
If you don’t get enough points, you fail an exam.
5
In London, students often say they stay home to
the night before a big test; this verb is typical in British English.
Correct:
In British English, students often revise for an exam.
6
In American English, many students say they
the material the night before a test.
Correct:
American students often review for an exam.
7
Before a big test, in any country, you need to open your books and
for a long time; this is a neutral phrase in both British and American English.
Correct:
To prepare in a general way, you study for an exam.
8
My maths teacher gave us a worksheet with ten exercises. Tomorrow we must
before the lesson starts.
Correct:
You hand in an assignment when you give a task to the teacher.
9
For English we wrote 800 words about the environment. We have to
by Friday.
Correct:
When you give your written text to the teacher, you hand in an essay.
10
Tomorrow I will stand in front of the class, show my slides and
about my project.
Correct:
When you speak to a group with slides, you give a presentation.
11
For homework we must
about social media, 250–300 words.
Correct:
To write a longer text for school, you write an essay.
12
There are only 20 students and one teacher. To pass the course, you must
every Monday morning.
Correct:
You attend a class when you go to a normal school lesson.
13
At university 200 students sit in a big hall to
by a famous professor.
Correct:
When you go to a long talk at university, you attend a lecture.
14
After school I go home to
. I usually have maths and English exercises.
Correct:
Exercises you do at home from school are called homework, so you do homework.
15
For my final-year project I need to read many books and articles and
in the library.
Correct:
When you study a topic in detail, you do research.
16
In groups of four we will
about our favourite city and make a poster.
Correct:
A longer group task with a poster or presentation is to do a project.
17
When the teacher speaks quickly, it’s important to
in your notebook.
Correct:
If you write important information while listening, you take notes.
18
In my country you usually
at 18 and get a certificate.
Correct:
When you finish high school, you graduate from school.
19
After four years of study, she will
and get her degree.
Correct:
When you finish a degree and get a diploma, you graduate from university.
20
I want to learn more about design, so I will go online and
at the local college. (American English: often “enroll in” with two ls.)
Correct:
In American English you usually enrol in a course.
21
In British English, students often say they
at the local college.
Correct:
In British English you often enrol on a course.
22
The class is too difficult and I don’t enjoy it, so I decided to
and choose an easier one instead.
Correct:
If you stop taking a course, you drop a class.
23
After the exam, students wait to
from A to F from the teacher.
Correct:
The letter or number you receive is a grade, so you get a grade.
24
Next year I want to
in Germany and live there for one semester.
Correct:
If you study in another country, you study abroad.
25
If you fight in class many times, the school may tell you to leave and never come back: you can
from school.
Correct:
If the school makes you leave as a punishment, you are expelled.
School life & systems
Match the sentences with the phrases
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