Education Vocabulary (B2) List with Exercises

Learning English opens up many opportunities, especially in education. Whether you are preparing to study abroad, taking online courses, or simply improving your English for academic purposes, knowing the right vocabulary can help you succeed. This guide will introduce you to essential education-related vocabulary at a B2 level, perfect for English learners who want to communicate effectively in academic settings.

We will explore key terms and phrases related to different aspects of education, including types of schools, subjects, assessment, and higher education. Exercises and answers are provided at the end to help you practice and reinforce what you learn.

Types of Educational Institutions

Primary school – A school for children aged 5 to 11 years old.
“She teaches at a primary school near her home.”

Secondary school – A school for children aged 11 to 16 or 18 years old.
“Students usually attend secondary school after primary school.”

Public school – In British English, a private and often expensive school; in American English, a state-funded school.
“He attended a prestigious public school in England.”

Private school – A school that charges fees and is not funded by the government.
“Many parents prefer private schools for smaller class sizes.”

Boarding school – A school where students live during term time.
“She sent her son to a boarding school in Scotland.”

University – An institution of higher education and research that awards academic degrees.
“He hopes to study engineering at a top university.”

College – In British English, often refers to a place of higher education where you can get a degree; in American English, it is synonymous with “university.”
“She will start college in the autumn.”

Vocational school – An institution that provides practical and work-related training.
“He enrolled in a vocational school to become an electrician.”

Types of Courses and Subjects

Curriculum – The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
“The school has a broad curriculum that includes arts and sciences.”

Syllabus – An outline of the subjects in a course of study or teaching.
“The teacher provided a syllabus for the new term.”

Elective – A course that a student can choose, not a required course.
“She chose French as her elective for the semester.”

Core subject – A subject that is compulsory for all students to study.
“Mathematics is a core subject in most schools.”

Extracurricular activities – Activities outside the regular academic curriculum, such as sports, music, and clubs.
“Extracurricular activities are important for personal development.”

Humanities – Academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, such as history, literature, and philosophy.
“She decided to major in the humanities.”

STEM – An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
“There is a growing emphasis on STEM education.”

Major – The main field of study chosen by a university or college student.
“His major is biology.”

Minor – A secondary field of study chosen by a university or college student.
“She is majoring in economics with a minor in psychology.”

Academic Assessment and Progress

Assignment – A piece of work or task given to a student as part of their studies.
“We have a challenging assignment to complete by next week.”

Project – A planned piece of work that is intended to achieve a particular purpose, often involving research.
“The students worked together on a science project.”

Thesis – A long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done for a higher university degree.
“She is writing her thesis on climate change.”

Dissertation – A lengthy, formal written work required for a PhD or other advanced degree.
“His dissertation focused on medieval literature.”

Examination (Exam) – A formal test of a person’s knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill.
“The final examination is scheduled for next Monday.”

Quiz – A short test to assess students’ knowledge on a particular topic.
“We had a surprise quiz in the history class today.”

Assessment – The process of evaluating a student’s progress, skills, or knowledge.
“Continuous assessment is used to monitor the students’ progress.”

Grading system – A method of evaluating and recording academic performance, often using letters or numbers.
“The university uses a letter-based grading system.”

Pass mark – The minimum score required to pass an exam or course.
“The pass mark for the exam is 60%.”

Fail – To not pass a test or course.
“He failed the exam because he did not study.”

Higher Education Terms

Undergraduate – A student pursuing a first-level degree (such as a Bachelor’s degree).
“She is an undergraduate studying law.”

Graduate – A person who has completed a first degree.
“He is a graduate of Oxford University.”

Postgraduate – A student who has completed a first degree and is studying for a further degree (such as a Master’s or PhD).
“She is doing postgraduate studies in computer science.”

Scholarship – Financial aid awarded to a student, usually based on academic or other achievements.
“He received a scholarship to study abroad.”

Tuition fees – The money charged for instruction at a school or university.
“Tuition fees at private universities can be very high.”

Bursary – A financial award given to a student based on need or merit.
“She received a bursary to help with her living costs.”

Fellowship – A scholarship or grant awarded to a graduate student to pursue advanced study.
“He was awarded a research fellowship.”

Dormitory (Dorm) – A building where university or college students live.
“She moved into a dormitory on campus.”

Campus – The grounds and buildings of a university or college.
“The university campus is large and has beautiful gardens.”

General Education Terms

Lecture – An educational talk to an audience, especially students in a university.
“The professor gave an interesting lecture on quantum physics.”

Seminar – A small group meeting for discussion or training.
“Students are expected to participate actively in the weekly seminar.”

Tutorial – A period of instruction given by a tutor, usually involving individual or small group discussions.
“Each student attends a weekly tutorial with their professor.”

Workshop – A practical session in which a small group discusses or practices a particular topic or skill.
“The creative writing workshop was very helpful.”

Peer review – An evaluation of a student’s work by other students.
“Peer review is an important part of the learning process.”

Study abroad – To pursue education in a foreign country.
“Many students choose to study abroad to experience a different culture.”

Distance learning – A way of studying where tuition is carried out over the internet or by correspondence, without attending a school or college in person.
“Distance learning has become more popular during the pandemic.”

Mature student – A student who begins or returns to university after a significant period, typically over the age of 21.
“Mature students bring valuable life experience to their studies.”

Placement – A period of work experience, often part of a course of study.
“The nursing degree includes a six-month placement in a hospital.”

Exercises to Practise Education Vocabulary

Questions

Fill in the Blanks

Use the correct word from the list to complete the sentences:

Major, dissertation, seminar, scholarship, elective

a. He chose psychology as his ___________ because he is interested in human behaviour.
b. The professor is supervising my ___________ on renewable energy sources.
c. Students must attend a weekly ___________ to discuss their readings.
d. She was awarded a ___________ to cover her university fees.
e. Music was my favourite ___________ in my final year of school.

Match the Definitions

Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right:

Undergraduate
Bursary
Curriculum
Vocational school
Examination

a. A school that provides work-related training.
b. A student pursuing their first degree.
c. A formal test of knowledge or skill.
d. A financial award for students based on need or merit.
e. The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

Sentence Building

Create your own sentences using the following words:

Assessment
Core subject
Thesis
Extracurricular activities
Peer review

True or False

Decide if the following statements are true or false:

An “undergraduate” is a student who is studying for their first degree.
A “dissertation” is a short essay written by a student during their school years.
“Vocational school” focuses on academic subjects rather than practical skills.
“Tuition fees” are the costs of attending classes at a university or college.
A “lecture” is an informal discussion between a small group of students.

Answers

Fill in the Blanks

a. He chose psychology as his major because he is interested in human behaviour.
b. The professor is supervising my dissertation on renewable energy sources.
c. Students must attend a weekly seminar to discuss their readings.
d. She was awarded a scholarship to cover her university fees.
e. Music was my favourite elective in my final year of school.

Match the Definitions

a. A school that provides work-related training. – Vocational school
b. A student pursuing their first degree. – Undergraduate
c. A formal test of knowledge or skill. – Examination
d. A financial award for students based on need or merit. – Bursary
e. The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college. – Curriculum

Sentence Building

Examples of possible sentences:

Assessment – “The final assessment will be a combination of written exams and projects.”
Core subject – “Mathematics is a core subject that all students must study.”
Thesis – “He spent three years researching and writing his thesis.”
Extracurricular activities – “She participates in many extracurricular activities, including drama and football.”
Peer review – “The students conducted a peer review of each other’s essays.”