Topics / School Vocabulary
School and Education Vocabulary in English
Classrooms, homework, exams, and the words for subjects, teachers, and school life. 91 words, A1 to C1.
91 words
People and the Day
SchoolA1A place where children go to learn.“My school is near my house.”NurseryA2A place where young children are looked after while parents work; also a plant shop.“She drops her son at the nursery at eight.”PrimaryB2Most important; also relating to the first years of school.“The primary source is the diary, not the textbook summary.”SecondaryB1Second in importance; also connected with education after primary school.“Secondary schools closed for the strike; primaries stayed open.”CollegeA2A place where people study after school, often for a job or a degree.“He is at college in Lahore.”UniversityA1A place where people study for a degree after school.“She is at university in Leeds.”AcademyB2A school or college for special training; also a body that promotes a subject.“The police academy shortened its classroom course during the shortage.”CampusB1The land and buildings of a university or college.“There is a new library on campus.”ClassroomA1A room in a school where lessons happen.“Please wait in the classroom.”TeacherA1A person whose job is to help students learn.“Our teacher is kind.”HeadteacherA2The teacher in charge of a school.“The headteacher spoke at assembly.”TutorB1A teacher who works with one student or a small group, often privately.“My tutor suggested I time myself on Task 1 this week.”PupilA1A child or young person who is taught at school (British).“There are thirty pupils in the class.”StudentA1A person who is studying.“She is a university student.”ClassmateA2A person who is in the same class as you at school.“My classmate lent me her notes.”FriendA1A person you like and enjoy being with.“She is my best friend.”ParentA1A mother or a father.“Her parents are both teachers.”LessonA1A period of learning, usually with a teacher.“The English lesson starts at nine.”ClassA1A group of students who learn together.“Our English class starts at nine.”TimetableA1A list of times when lessons, trains, or buses start (British).“Look at the timetable for the next train.”BellA2A metal object that makes a ringing sound.“The school bell rang at three o’clock.”BreakB1A period of rest from work or study, usually longer than a short pause.“We have a fifteen-minute break at eleven.”LunchtimeB1The time in the middle of the day when people eat lunch.“Detention at lunchtime still leaves time for a packed lunch; it is not a missed meal as policy.”AssemblyB2A gathering of people, or the process of fitting parts together.“There is an assembly every Monday morning.”TermA2One part of the school or college year; also a word with a special meaning.“The new timetable starts at the beginning of term.”HolidayA2A time when you do not work or study, often for travel.“We are going on holiday in June.”YearA1A period of twelve months.“She is ten years old.”FormA2A printed paper with spaces to write answers, or a class group in a school.“Fill in this form at the desk.”
Subjects and Kit
SubjectA2An area of knowledge that you study at school, such as maths or history.“History is her favourite subject.”EnglishA1The language of England, the US, and many other countries.“She is learning English.”MathsA2Mathematics; the study of numbers (British short form).“He has a maths exam on Thursday morning.”ScienceA2The study of the natural world by tests and ideas.“He is interested in science.”BiologyA2The science of living things.“Biology is her favourite subject at school.”ChemistryB1The science of substances and how they change; also the way two people get on.“She dropped chemistry after the mock exam.”PhysicsB2The science of matter, energy, and how they behave.“The physics practical needs the error bars, not just a neat graph.”HistoryA2The study of the past, or things that happened in the past.“I like history at school.”GeographyA2The study of the earth, countries, maps, and weather.“Geography is my favourite subject this year.”ArtA2Paintings, drawings, and other creative work; also the skill of making them.“The hotel is next to a small art gallery.”MusicA1Sounds made by voices or instruments in a pleasing way.“She loves music.”DramaB1A play for the theatre, television, or radio, or plays as a subject.“She studies drama at college.”SportA2A game or activity such as football that needs physical effort.“Her favourite sport is cricket.”LanguageA1The words used by people in a country or group.“English is an international language.”UniformA1Special clothes that students or workers wear so they look the same.“Pupils wear a school uniform.”TieA2A long piece of cloth worn around the neck with a shirt.“He packed a dark tie for the job interview.”WorkbookA2A book of exercises for students to write in.“Complete page ten in your workbook.”Exercise BookB1A book of lined or squared paper for schoolwork (UK).“Write the title in the exercise book; scrap paper is not the homework they mark.”NotebookA1A small book of blank pages for writing notes.“Write the new words in your notebook.”PenA1A tool used for writing with ink.“Can I borrow your pen?”PencilA1A thin wooden stick with a grey or coloured centre, used for writing or drawing.“Write your name with a pencil.”RubberA1A small object used to remove pencil marks; also the material of some tyres.“Can I borrow your rubber?”RulerA1A straight piece of plastic or wood for drawing lines and measuring.“Draw a line with a ruler.”HighlighterA2A brightly coloured pen for marking important text.“She marked the new words with a highlighter.”WhiteboardA1A white board in a classroom that you write on with a special pen.“Write the date on the whiteboard.”BlackboardB1A dark board that a teacher writes on with chalk.“The blackboard is for working; phones stay in the pouch.”ChalkA1A soft white or coloured stick used for writing on a blackboard.“The teacher wrote with white chalk.”DeskA1A table that you sit at to write or work.“The teacher’s desk is at the front.”ChairA1A seat for one person.“Please sit on this chair.”BagA1A container used to carry things.“Put the books in your bag.”RucksackA1A bag you carry on your back (British).“Pack your rucksack for the trip.”LibraryA2A place where you can borrow books.“She studies in the library.”CanteenB1A place in a school, factory, or office where meals are served.“The hospital canteen stays open for the night shift.”PlaygroundA1An outdoor area where children play, often at a school or in a park.“The children are in the playground.”FieldA2An area of land for farming or sport, or a subject you study.“The children played football on the school field.”GymA2A place with equipment for physical exercise.“He goes to the gym after work.”HallA1The room or space just inside the front door of a house; also a large room for meetings.“Leave your shoes in the hall.”OfficeA1A room or building where people work at desks.“She works in an office in town.”
Tests and Behaviour
HomeworkA1School work that you do at home.“Have you finished your homework?”CourseworkB1Work that students complete during a course, not in a final exam.“Half of the final mark comes from coursework, not the exam.”AssignmentB2A piece of work given to you as part of a job or course.“The first assignment is a short essay.”ProjectB1A piece of planned work with a goal.“Our project is a class magazine.”ExamA2A formal test of what you know or can do.“She passed her English exam.”TestA1A short exam to see what you know or can do.“We have an English test tomorrow.”QuizA1A short test with questions.“We have a quiz in class today.”MarkA2A score in a test, or a spot that spoils a surface.“She got a high mark on the listening test.”GradeB1A mark that shows how well you have done in a test or piece of work.“She got a high grade in the exam.”ResultB1Something that happens because of an action or event.“The result of the test comes on Friday.”PassA2To go past something, or to succeed in a test.“He passed the exam on his first try.”FailB1To not succeed, or to not do what is needed.“He failed the driving test.”RevisionB1The work of studying again before an exam (UK).“Her revision timetable includes a short break every hour.”ReviseB1To study again something you have learned, especially before an exam (UK).“I need to revise biology before Friday’s mock exam.”ReportA2A spoken or written description of events or facts.“She wrote a report for her teacher.”DegreeB1A university qualification, or a unit for measuring temperature or angles.“She has a degree in history.”DiplomaA2An official paper that shows you have finished a course of study.“He received a diploma in business last year.”CurriculumB2The subjects that a school or course officially teaches.“Coding was added to the national curriculum.”RegisterB2To put a name on an official list; also (noun) the level of formality in language.“Register the clash on the portal before Friday, exams office said.”AttendanceB2The fact of being present, or the number of people present.“Attendance at the lecture was high.”AbsentA2Not in a place where you are expected to be.“Two staff were absent, so the shop closed early.”LateA1After the expected time.“Sorry I am late.”DetentionC1The state of being kept in custody; also keeping a pupil in after school.“Detention of scripts overnight needs a sealed room, not a staff-room table.”BullyB1To hurt, frighten, or pressure someone weaker, often repeatedly.“The policy says staff must not bully apprentices on shift.”BullyingB1Repeated unkind or threatening behaviour towards a weaker person.“The school updated its policy on bullying after the inspection.”