Log in
C1 ADVANCED · VOCABULARY · TOPIC VOCABULARY

Education and learning

Words like rote learning, critical thinking, lifelong learning and a steep learning curve.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

C1 questions often ask you to evaluate education systems, teaching methods and learning online, so you need precise, sometimes formal vocabulary. Learn the words in groups, with the words they go with, and try to use two or three of them next time you practise Speaking or Writing.

Ways of learning

rote learning
learning by repetition, without understanding
The system relies too heavily on rote learning.
critical thinking
the ability to analyse and judge ideas
Schools should develop critical thinking.
hands-on experience
learning by doing
Nothing beats hands-on experience.
a steep learning curve
a lot to learn quickly
The first month was a steep learning curve.
lifelong learning
continuing to learn throughout life
Lifelong learning is essential in a changing job market.
self-directed
organised by the learner
Online courses require self-directed study.

The education system

the curriculum
the subjects taught in a school
Coding is now part of the curriculum.
assessment
the way students are tested
Continuous assessment reduces exam pressure.
academic / vocational
theoretical / practical, for a job
She chose a vocational course in nursing.
a scholarship
money given to pay for studies
He won a scholarship to Oxford.
drop-out rate
how many students leave early
The university has a high drop-out rate.
equal access to education
everyone having the same chances
Governments must ensure equal access to education.

Make it better

The same idea, first in basic English, then in the kind of language that gets a higher mark.

  • Basic: Students just memorise things.Better: The system encourages rote learning rather than understanding.Precise and evaluative.
  • Basic: I had to learn a lot very quickly.Better: It was a steep learning curve.Natural idiomatic expression.
  • Basic: Practical courses for jobs are important.Better: Vocational courses deserve more investment.A formal adjective.
  • Basic: People should keep studying when they are older.Better: Lifelong learning should be encouraged.A key topic noun phrase.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

In the C1 essay, name the concept precisely: not 'the way schools test students' but assessment; not 'the things they teach' but the curriculum. Precise nouns make your writing sound more academic.

Quick check

Choose the best answer.

← All vocabulary topicsPractise Speaking →

🇪🇸 Guía en español: Phrasal verbs para el C1 Advanced: lista con ejemplos →

Practice → Check → Learn → Repeat ↻