Education vocabulary comes up constantly, describing your qualifications, discussing studying, or explaining your school and university background. This guide covers real, practical vocabulary British people actually use for education, at school, university and beyond.
2. School & University
Word
Meaning / Note
primary/secondary school
education from roughly ages 4-11 / 11-18
university / uni (informal)
higher education after school
undergraduate / postgraduate
studying for a first degree / a further degree after that
campus
the physical grounds and buildings of a university
tuition fees
the cost of studying at a university
3. Studying & Coursework
Word
Meaning
to revise
to study and review before an exam (British English)
lecture
a formal talk to a large group of students
seminar
a smaller, discussion-based class
assignment
a piece of set work to complete
deadline
the date work must be submitted by
to drop out
to leave a course before finishing it
4. Exams & Qualifications
Word
Meaning
degree
an academic qualification from a university
diploma
a shorter, often more practical qualification
to sit an exam
to take an exam (British English)
to pass / fail
to succeed / not succeed in an exam
results
the outcome of an exam or course
5. Talking About Learning
Phrase
Example
to pick something up
I picked up a lot of new vocabulary from that class.
hands-on learning
I learn best through hands-on learning, not just theory.
to struggle with
I always struggled with maths at school.
6. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I go to school. (meant: university)
I go to university.
In British English, "school" specifically means primary/secondary education, not university.
I passed the exam last week. (meant: took it)
I sat the exam last week.
"Sit an exam" means to take it; "pass" specifically means succeeding in it.
I am revising my opinion about the exam. (meant: studying)
I am revising for the exam.
"Revise" in a study context means reviewing material, not changing an opinion.
7. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. I'm ___ for my exams this week. (revising)
2. I have an ___ due on Friday. (assignment)
3. He ___ out of university after one year. (dropped)
4. I ___ my final exams next month. (sit)
5. The ___ was really interesting today. (lecture)
6. I always ___ with maths at school. (struggled)
7. University ___ fees can be very expensive. (tuition)
8. I ___ up a lot of new skills in that job. (picked)
1. A smaller, discussion-based class is a... (a) seminar (b) lecture
2. To study before an exam is to... (a) revise (b) sit
3. An academic qualification from a university is a... (a) degree (b) diploma
4. To leave a course before finishing is to... (a) drop out (b) pick up
5. The date work must be submitted by is the... (a) deadline (b) campus
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. I go to school. (meant: university)
2. I passed the exam last week. (meant: took it)
3. I am revising my opinion about the exam. (meant: studying)
Show Answers (C)
1. I go to university. 2. I sat the exam last week. 3. I am revising for the exam.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Describe your own education, using at least three vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence about a subject you struggled with or enjoyed at school.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "I studied for a degree in Economics and sat my final exams last summer." 2. "I always struggled with chemistry, but I loved history."
8. Mini Quiz
9. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Education topics appear regularly in Reading, Listening and Speaking Part 1.
"Tell me about your studies" in the Speaking interview.
IELTS Speaking & Writing
Education is a very common topic across all parts, and a frequent Writing Task 2 theme.
"Should university education be free?" as an essay topic.
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Describing your education and qualifications is a predictable, common topic.
"What did you study?" "Are you studying anything at the moment?"
10. Frequently Asked Questions
"School" refers to primary and secondary education (ages 4-18); "university" is higher education after that. Britons don't call university "school" the way some other English speakers do.
A degree is an academic qualification from a university (Bachelor's, Master's); a diploma is usually a shorter, more practical qualification from a college.
To study and review material before an exam, not to "change" something, which is the more common meaning of "revise" elsewhere: "I'm revising for my exams this week."
A lecture is a formal talk to a large group with little interaction; a seminar is a smaller, discussion-based class with more student participation.
To leave a course or school before finishing it: "He dropped out of university in his second year."
Yes — describing your education, qualifications and studies is a common, predictable everyday speaking topic.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.