Learn 15 American English slang words and expressions about school and studying! Read the slang words and example sentences, listen to the pronunciation and repeat the words and sentences out loud to improve your English speaking.
ace a test
To “ace a test” is to get a very good grade.
“How’d you do on the chemistry test?”
“I aced it!”
cram
If you “cram,” it means you study a lot in a short period of time.
“Are you going to the party tonight?”
“Nah, I have to cram for my history test.”
cut class
If you “cut class,” it means you don’t go to class.
“I’m gonna cut math class so that I can finish this project for biology.”
“OK. I’ll tell the professor you’re sick.”
drop a class
If you “drop a class,” it means you stop taking that class.
“I’m really stressed out this semester. I’m thinking of dropping a class.”
hit the books
To “hit the books” is to study.
“I gotta go hit the books. I have a final exam tomorrow.”
pop quiz
A “pop quiz” is a surprise quiz.
“We had a pop quiz in philosophy class today. I was completely unprepared!”
flunk
To “flunk” a test or a class is to fail.
“I’ve flunked economics three times.”
“Really? Maybe you should get a tutor.”
If a person flunks so many classes that they stop going to school or college, we say they “flunked out.”
slack off
If you slack off, it means that you get lazy and don’t work hard.
“A lot of students start to slack off near the end of the school year.”
dorm
“Dorm” is short for dormitory – the place where students live.
“How’s your dorm?”
“It gets a little noisy on weekends, but in general I like it.”
quad
The “quad” is a rectangular area surrounded by buildings on a college campus.
“Where’s Jenny?”
“She’s sunbathing out on the quad.”
freshman 15
Many students gain weight when they start college. People often say that first-year students (freshmen) gain 15 extra pounds during their first year of school – this is called the “freshman 15.”
“I go to the gym every day so that I don’t gain the freshman 15.”
In high school and college, there are names for students in each year:
freshman = first-year student
sophomore = second-year student
junior = third-year student
senior = fourth-year student
full ride
If someone has or gets a “full ride,” it means they have a scholarship that pays for 100% of their education.
“She got a full ride to the state university thanks to her good grades in high school.”
senioritis
“Senioritis” is when students who are in their last year of college get lazy and stop working hard, because they know that they will finish their studies soon.
“Even the best students often get senioritis just before they graduate.”
pull an all-nighter
If you “pull an all-nighter,” it means you stay awake the whole night, usually studying.
“I had to pull an all-nighter to finish writing my paper for history class.”
frat
“Frat” is short for “fraternity,” which is a social organization of male college students. The word for a social organization of female students is “sorority.” These organizations are often called by Greek letters, like Alpha Theta Chi or Kappa Delta, and members are called “brothers” and “sisters.”
“My brother joined a frat his first year of college to make new friends.”
Quiz: American English Slang Words - School and Studying
Pick the best slang word to complete each sentence!
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Congratulations - you have completed Quiz: American English Slang Words - School and Studying.
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Question 1
"I think I only got two or three questions wrong on the __________."
A
quad
B
freshman 15
C
pop quiz
Question 2
"Paul ________ so many times this semester that the professor forgot his name!"
A
pulled an all-nighter
B
cut class
C
dropped class
Question 3
"My ______ room was so small that my desk wouldn't even fit."
A
dorm
B
quad
C
frat
Question 4
"I drink about 10 cups of coffee whenever I have to ___________. It gives me energy."
A
join a frat
B
ace a test
C
pull an all-nighter
Question 5
"We should really __________ - I think the tomorrow's physics test is going to be tough."
A
pop the quiz
B
hit the books
C
get a full ride
Question 6
"Stop ________ - turn off the TV and work on your philosophy paper."
A
cramming
B
slacking off
C
acing
Question 7
"You're lucky you __________ - it means you'll graduate without debt."
A
cut the class
B
pulled an all-nigher
C
got a full ride
Question 8
"My parents would kill me if I _________ of college."
A
flunked out
B
pulled an all-nighter at
C
slacked off
Question 9
"It took me until my junior year to lose the ____________."
A
pop quiz
B
frat
C
freshman 15
Question 10
"It's not a good idea to put off studying until the last minute and then try to _______ the night before the test."
A
flunk
B
ace
C
cram
Question 11
"My son has _________ - I'm trying to find a way to motivate him."
A
hit the books
B
senioritis
C
gotten a full ride
Question 12
"I _______ all of my final exams!"
"Congratulations!"
A
aced
B
crammed
C
flunked
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