IELTS Vocabulary for Education and Studying

to succeed in a test at the required standard

I studied every evening to pass an exam in maths.

to complete school work assigned outside class

I always try to do homework as soon as I get home from school.

to enrol in and study a course

I decided to take a course in graphic design last year.

to complete a university qualification

My sister worked hard to get a degree in economics.

to go to school regularly

Children in my country usually attend school from the age of six.

to prepare for an exam by reviewing material

I stayed up late last night to study for a test the next morning.

a school subject that is hard to understand

Physics was always a difficult subject for me at school.

to write down important information during a lesson

I always take notes during lectures so I don't forget anything.

an ability that helps you in real life

Learning to type quickly turned out to be a useful skill.

to submit completed schoolwork to a teacher

I had to hand in an assignment before Friday afternoon.

to start to understand something difficult

It took me a while to get to grips with a subject as abstract as philosophy.

to study intensively in a short time before a test

I try not to cram for an exam the night before it.

to leave school before finishing your studies

You shouldn't drop out of school just because one subject feels impossible.

to make less progress than expected in a subject

I started to fall behind in a subject I used to find easy.

to maintain the required pace of study

It was hard to keep up with the coursework after missing a week.

to review previously learned material quickly

I like to brush up on old material before a big test.

to teach or learn all the required course content

Our teacher rushed to cover the syllabus before the exam.

memorising facts by repetition rather than understanding

I never liked rote learning because I forget things I don't understand.

education that develops many different skills and subjects

My parents always wanted me to have a well-rounded education.

stress caused by the demands of studying

I felt a lot of academic pressure in my final year of school.

to gain new experiences and ways of thinking

People say travelling abroad can broaden your horizons more than any classroom.

to start to understand how to do something

I finally started to get the hang of it after a few lessons.

something very difficult that requires great effort

Passing that exam felt like an uphill battle from day one.

something that makes you think seriously

The lecture gave me a lot of food for thought about my future.

an experience that strongly shapes your character or views

Studying overseas was a formative experience for me.

an environment isolated from real, practical concerns

Some people think universities operate in an ivory tower.

to give students too much guidance instead of independent thinking

Good teachers challenge you instead of trying to spoon-feed students every answer.

an experience everyone in a group is expected to go through

Final exams felt like a rite of passage everyone at my school dreaded.

mentally engaging and thought-provoking

The best classes I took were genuinely intellectually stimulating.

performing better academically than everyone else

She was always at the top of the class in science.