Picture this – you’re in an academic setting, amidst students, educators, books, and ideas. You want to partake in the intellectual buzz, but you find yourself lost in the sea of unfamiliar terms. You wish you could express your thoughts, your learning experience more accurately. How can you do that? By learning English collocations related to study. These phrases will not only make your language richer but also help you communicate your academic journey more effectively. Intrigued to dive in? Let’s begin!
Now, let me share with you 41 popular and frequently used collocations related to studying:
1. Take notes: To write down important information for future reference.
Example: It’s helpful to take notes during lectures.
2. Meet a deadline: To finish a task by a particular date.
Example: I have to meet a deadline for my project next week.
3. Revise thoroughly: To review or correct material in detail.
Example: I need to revise thoroughly for my finals.
4. Ace a test: To do very well on a test.
Example: Sarah was so happy when she aced her math test.
5. Skip a class: To not attend a class.
Example: You should not skip a class without a valid reason.
6. Fail an exam: To not achieve the minimum grade required in an exam.
Example: He was upset because he failed the exam.
7. Master a subject: To learn a subject thoroughly.
Example: She has mastered the subject of Physics.
8. Conduct research: To do detailed study or investigation into a subject.
Example: Scientists conduct research to make new discoveries.
9. Attend lectures: To go to classes where a teacher talks about a particular subject.
Example: I always attend lectures to understand the topic better.
10. Solve problems: To find a solution to mathematical or logical questions.
Example: We solved problems during the math workshop.
11. Complete an assignment: To finish a piece of work given as part of a course of study.
Example: I stayed up late to complete an assignment.
12. Pass a course: To successfully complete a course of study.
Example: He was relieved to pass the course.
13. Flunk out: To fail a course or school year.
Example: He needs to study harder or he might flunk out.
14. Major in: To specialize in a particular subject at college or university.
Example: She decided to major in Psychology.
15. Graduate from: To successfully complete your studies at high school, college, or university.
Example: He will graduate from Harvard next year.
16. Drop out: To stop attending school or some course.
Example: It’s unfortunate that some students drop out of school due to financial difficulties.
17. Write an essay: To compose a short piece of writing on a particular subject.
Example: We were asked to write an essay on climate change.
18. Hand in: To submit work to someone in a position of authority.
Example: Don’t forget to hand in your assignment before Friday.
19. Read up on: To spend time reading in order to find out information about something.
Example: I need to read up on the topic before the discussion.
20. Keep up with: To manage to do as much or as well as others.
Example: It can be hard to keep up with the coursework if you miss classes.
21. Catch up on: To do something that should have been done before.
Example: During the holidays, I plan to catch up on my reading.
22. Fall behind: To fail to keep up with the pace or progress.
Example: If you miss too many classes, you may fall behind.
23. Cram for: To try to learn a lot very quickly before an exam.
Example: I need to cram for my history test.
24. Brush up on: To improve knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten.
Example: I need to brush up on my French before the trip.
25. Pick up: To learn by experience rather than from formal teaching or studying.
Example: She picked up the basics of coding on her own.
26. Learn by heart: To memorize something.
Example: When I was young, I had to learn poems by heart.
27. Freshen up: To quickly improve one’s knowledge of something.
Example: I need to freshen up my knowledge of calculus.
28. Go over: To review or revise.
Example: Let’s go over our lessons before the test.
29. Sit an exam: To take an exam.
Example: I’m sitting my English exam tomorrow.
30. Turn in: To submit or hand over something.
Example: I turned in my thesis today.
31. Work out: To solve or figure out something.
Example: I need to work out these algebra problems.
32. Draw up: To prepare something, usually something official, in writing.
Example: The teacher drew up a study plan for us.
33. Breeze through: To achieve something very easily.
Example: She breezed through her final exams.
34. Pull an all-nighter: To stay awake all night to study or finish a task.
Example: I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my project.
35. Get the hang of: To learn how to do something, especially when it is not simple or obvious.
Example: I finally got the hang of calculus.
36. Pore over: To examine or read something very carefully.
Example: I spent hours poring over my notes.
37. Bone up on: To learn as much as one can about something, especially before an exam.
Example: I need to bone up on my Latin.
38. Burn the midnight oil: To stay up working, especially studying, late into the night.
Example: She’s been burning the midnight oil for her SATs.
39. Mug up: To study intensively over a short period of time, just before an examination.
Example: He was mugging up his History notes the night before the test.
40. Hit the books: To begin to study hard.
Example: I need to hit the books to prepare for my upcoming exams.
41. Break the back of: To complete the largest or most difficult portion of a task.
Example: After finishing my thesis, I feel I’ve broken the back of my studies.
In conclusion, learning these study-related collocations can be a game-changer in your academic journey. It will not only enhance your language but also enable you to express your academic experiences more accurately. Remember, language is a powerful tool, and the more adept you are at wielding it, the more rewarding your learning journey will be. So, let these collocations be your guide in your academic voyage!