Lesson 13: School Life – Writing Band 8

Lesson 13: School Life

1. assignment – a piece of work that is given to someone as a part of their job
2. controversy – a disagreement, often a public one
3. curriculum – all the courses given in a school, college, etc.
4. dissertation – a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive a degree at college or university
5. findings – information that has been discovered esp. by detailed study
6. funding – money given by a government or organization for an event or activity
7. graduation – finishing a degree or other course of study at a university or school
8. grant – a sum of money given by the government, a university, or a private organization to another organization or person for a special purpose
9. junior school – a school in the UK for children who are seven to eleven years old
10. kindergarten – a nursery school; a school for children between the ages of about two and five
11. learning disorder – a disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills
12. lecturer – someone who teaches at a college or university
13. nursery – a place where small children are cared for while their parents are at work
14. resource – something that can be used to help you
15. scholarship – money given to someone to help pay for that person’s education.
16. scope – the range of a subject covered by a book, programme, discussion, class, etc.
17. syllabus – a plan showing the subjects or books to be studied in a particular course
18. tutor – a teacher paid to work privately with one student or a small group
19. eligible – being able or allowed to do it mixed – including both sexes
20. relevant – connected with what is happening or being discussed
21. seniors – older people, usually retired
22. studious – someone who enjoys studying or spends a lot of time studying
23. adopt – to accept or begin to use something
24. conduct – to organize and perform a particular activity
25. consider – to think about something carefully overcome – to control or defeat something
26. review – to consider something in order to make changes in it, study it, or give an opinion about it
27. struggle – to work hard to do something
28. distraction – something that prevents someone from giving their attention to something else protractor – a device for measuring and drawing angles, usually shaped in a half circle
29. dyslexia – word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
30. knit – to join together
31. artefact – an object that is made by a person, such as a tool or a decoration, especially one that is of historical interest
32. internship – on-the-job training
33. placement – a temporary position or job in an organization
34. daunting – making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something
35. specialization – the limiting of one’s study or work to one particular area, or a particular area of knowledge

Some questions asked in previous IELTS Writing Paper that you would be able to write with the help of the vocabulary in this lesson:

1. School curriculum is selected by the central education authority rather than by the teachers, parents and students. Some believe that the latter should take part in the choice. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
2. Some students do very well at school and never have problems while others fall behind. Are they capable of handling this challenge themselves or should teachers and parents help them? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
3. Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and imagination than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.
4. University students nowadays have too much freedom and do not study enough. To what extent do you agree and disagree? Explain your opinion, using specific reasons and examples.