IELTS Vocabulary — Education (Band 7+)
Education is the single most-tested theme on IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3 — appearing in roughly 1 in 5 official Cambridge prompts. Twelve precisely-used words will lift your Lexical Resource band above the candidates who recycle "good education" five times in one essay.
12 Essential Words
Compulsory education. Tuition fees. Rote learning. Critical thinking. Extracurricular activities. To drop out. Vocational training. Academic performance. To pursue a degree. Interdisciplinary. Scholarship. Lifelong learning.
Model Task 2 Paragraph
"Many governments are now extending compulsory education and reducing tuition fees to widen access to higher learning. While these reforms are welcome, they risk producing graduates strong on academic performance but weak on critical thinking, particularly when curricula remain dominated by rote learning."
Common Task 2 Prompts
"University education should be free for all students — to what extent do you agree?" "Schools should teach practical skills rather than academic subjects — discuss both views." "Online learning will eventually replace traditional classroom education — do you agree?"
Grammar That Pairs Well
Passive voice ("students are assessed", "fees are charged"), comparative structures ("schools today are more focused on..."), and conditional structures ("if vocational training were prioritised, youth unemployment would fall"). All three are explicit Band 7+ Grammatical Range markers.
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