A. Schooling
1. Common verbs:
Register for/ enroll in/ enlist in/ Sign up for | Cancel/ call off Postpone/ put off |
2. Subjects:
Science Business Creative writing class History Maths Economics | Biochemistry Accounting Banking Psychology Linguistics Literature Engineering Architecture | Geology Law Finance Arts/ humanities/ social science |
3. Types of course:
Introductory course Intermediate course Advanced course Required/ compulsory course | Non-credit course Credit course Prerequisite course
| Seminar Optional/ elective course Full-time course |
4. Languages:
Portuguese Russian | Spanish Italian | French Arabic Mandarin/ Cantonese/ Chinese |
5. Offices/ Departments:
Admissions office Student union | Foreign/ international/ Overseas student office | Common hall Hall of residence |
6. Others:
Applicant Course Test Mid-term exam | High mark/ perfect grade Orientation week Application form Arrangement Quiz | Full marks Enrolment Exam Final exam |
B. Library
1. Borrowing/ Returning books:
Borrow Due Renewal | Check out Overdue Return | Charge for Renew |
2. Sections in the library:
Audio and video Information desk Delivery desk | Rare book collection Multimedia centre | Reading room Study lounge Open shelf |
3. Library-related lexical items
Library card Student card Book Fine Current issue Copier/photocopier | Date of expiration Bibliography Admission card Index Reservation
| Due date Second-hand book Classification Interlibrary service Librarian |
4. Common expressions
It’s out of stock | It’s out of print |
C. House
1. Types of housing
Flat/ apartment House Hall of residence | Hotel Motel | Dormitory Hostel |
2. Room and equipment
Bedroom Kitchen Basement Attic Entrance Porch Square Stove Fireplace Heater Radiator Ceiling Living room/ sitting room | Bathroom Balcony Storage place Hall Lobby Sink Air conditioner Central heating Roof Vacuum cleaner Bookshelf Lock Cupboard | Dresser Filter Furniture Closet Faucet Cabinet Wallpaper Microwave oven Fridge/ refrigerator Washing machine Furnished flat |
3. Others
Lease Landlady Sheet Blanket Burglar alarm Curtain | Facility Tenant Mattress Carpet Leaking Rent | Landlord Rug Towel Insect repellent Flickering light |
D. Illnesses
1. Symptoms
Symptom Flu Earache Backache Indigestion Itch High/ low temperature High/ low blood pressure | Heart attack Cold Headache Sore throat Dry cough High/ low fever | Cough Toothache Allergy Chill Vomit |
2. Specialists, treatment, medicine
Doctor Surgery Physician Make an appointment Take one’s temperature Prescription Pill | Sweating medicine Dentist Treatment Operation Capsule Eye drops | Surgeon Injection Penicillin Aspirin Bandage Tablet |
E. Banking
1. Account-related lexical items
Open an account Fixed account Time deposit
| Cash point Close an account Savings account Current account | Account balance Automatic teller machine (ATM) Checkbook |
2. Currency
Pound/ Dollar Cent | Penny Cash | Foreign currency Bill/ note |
3. Others
Balance Credit rating Endorse a check Identification card Withdraw money Installment Accountant | Cash a check Debt Inflation Loan Penalty Signature Cashier | Credit card Deposit Interest rate Mortgage Recession Valid Service charge |
F. Market
Supermarket Meat and poultry Canned foods Baked foods Dairy section Produce section Baking products | Snack foods Cash register Line Paper bag Bottle return Shopping cart Aisle | Shopping basket Pet foods Frozen foods Paper products Check-stand Checker Bagger |
G. Traveling
1. Hotel
Hotel Lodge Front desk Receptionist/ desk clerk | Book/ reserve a room Single room Motel Bellboy | Room service Double room Twin bedroom Tip |
2. Travel
Destination Flight number One-way ticket Round-trip ticket Business class Fasten Aisle | Emergency exit Connecting flight Airport Return ticket First class Economy class Customs | Domestic flight Check-in counter Flight attendant Travel agent Terminal Platform |
3. Others
Passport Long trousers Lighter Visa | Walking boots Flashlight Driving license | Rope Fortnight Video Tent |
H. Appearance/ Characteristics
Gender Bald Beard Straight hair Blond Hair style Height | Slim Healthy and strong Optimistic Upright Tolerant Painstaking Selfish | Idle Contact lenses Courageous Industrious Generous Pessimistic Extravagant |
I. Clothing
1. Types of clothing
Career women’s wear Cardigan Jeans Vest | Casual wear Uniform Tie Pants/ trousers | Nylon Pullover Sportswear Sweater |
2. Clothing-related lexical items
Logo Zipper Sunglasses Out of stock On sale Bargain | Tie clip Pink Silver Laundry Earring | Sleeve Button Slipper Sandal Sneaker Boutique |
J. Common names
Matthew Alice Angela Louise Julia | Paul Lee May Charles Richard | Harry Anderson Brown Green |
K. Disasters/weather
Lost child Airplane crash Earthquake Fire Shower Search and rescue team Tornado | It’s raining cats and dogs. / It’s pouring. / Today is a perfect day for ducks. Sunny Cloudy Car accident Explosion Landslide | Drought Hurricane Volcanic eruption Breeze Drizzle Heavy rain Mild |
L. Organising words
I’d like to begin/ start with To start with Firstly, Secondly, Finally… In addition By the way Again Anyway | To sum up In conclusion All in all Next Let’s talk about Let’s move on to About |
M. GIVING DIRECTION
Turn left/ right Go across Intersection Opposite Dead end Lift/ Elevator Twin building | Landmark Block/ complex Step Junction Motorway Go straight across/ to/ through Go on/ along | Be near to Rear/ front entrance Corridor Escalator Wing Basement Stair Wheelchair access |
Source: 15 Days’ practice for IELTS Listening, Xia Li Ping and He Ting
Improve your Listening and Speaking skill, Sam Mc Carter and Barry Cusack