School Subjects and Academic Performance
Vocabulary Focus
1) subject vs lesson
Subject — это учебный предмет в целом (математика, история, английский язык).
Lesson — это конкретное занятие (урок), которое проходит в определённое время.
My favourite subject is History.
Мой любимый предмет — история.
We have an English lesson today.
Сегодня у нас урок английского.
Типичная ошибка:
Нельзя говорить I have five subjects today, если вы имеете в виду уроки по расписанию.
Правильно: I have five lessons today.
2) marks vs grades
Mark — это оценка за конкретную работу или тест.
Grade — это итоговая оценка за предмет или период обучения (чаще используется в американском английском).
She got good marks in her Maths test.
Она получила хорошие оценки за тест по математике.
He received a high grade at the end of the term.
Он получил высокую итоговую оценку в конце семестра.
В британском английском чаще используется mark для школьных оценок.
3) pass vs take an exam
Take an exam — сдавать экзамен (процесс).
Pass an exam — сдать экзамен успешно (результат).
I am going to take an English exam tomorrow.
Завтра я буду сдавать экзамен по английскому.
She passed the exam with excellent marks.
Она сдала экзамен на отлично.
Типичная ошибка:
Неправильно: I passed the exam tomorrow.
(Нельзя «сдать» экзамен в будущем, если результат ещё неизвестен.)
Правильно: I will take the exam tomorrow.
4) revise vs review
Revise — повторять материал перед экзаменом (британский вариант).
Review — повторять или просматривать материал снова (чаще американский вариант или более общее значение).
I need to revise for my Biology exam.
Мне нужно повторить биологию к экзамену.
Let’s review the main points of the lesson.
Давайте повторим основные моменты урока.
Типичная ошибка:
Не говорите learn again вместо revise/review.
Правильно: I need to revise the material.
Story
Anna has always taken her studies seriously. Her favourite subject at school is English, but she also enjoys History and Literature. This year, she is preparing for several important exams, so she spends a lot of time revising.
Every afternoon, Anna reviews the material she studied during the lesson. She believes that regular revision helps her remember information more effectively. Instead of studying only before exams, she prefers to revise a little every day. As a result, she usually gets good marks in tests and quizzes.
Last month, Anna had to take a Maths exam. She felt nervous because Maths is not her strongest subject. However, she revised carefully and asked her teacher to explain difficult topics again. When the results were announced, she was relieved to learn that she had passed the exam with a good grade.
Anna understands that there is a difference between taking an exam and passing it. For her, success depends not only on natural ability but also on discipline and consistent effort. She believes that regular revision, active participation in lessons, and attention to feedback are the key factors that influence academic performance.
Useful Words and Expressions
take studies seriously — относиться к учёбе серьёзно
prepare for exams — готовиться к экзаменам
spend time doing something — тратить время на что-то
revise for an exam — повторять к экзамену
review material — повторять материал
remember information — запоминать информацию
as a result — в результате
get good marks — получать хорошие оценки
take an exam — сдавать экзамен
feel nervous — нервничать
strongest subject — самый сильный предмет
explain a topic — объяснять тему
announce results — объявлять результаты
pass an exam — сдать экзамен
get a good grade — получить хорошую итоговую оценку
natural ability — природные способности
consistent effort — постоянные усилия
academic performance — успеваемость
pay attention to feedback — обращать внимание на обратную связь
key factor — ключевой фактор
Exercises
Exercise 1. Choose the correct option.
We have five ______ today, including Maths and English.
a) subjects
b) lessons
She got high ______ in her Physics test.
a) marks
b) points
I am going to ______ an exam next week.
a) pass
b) take
He studied hard and finally ______ the exam.
a) took
b) passed
I need to ______ for my History exam tonight.
a) revise
b) learn again
Exercise 2. Match the word with its meaning.
subject
lesson
mark
pass an exam
revise
a) to study again before a test
b) a specific class at school
c) a school discipline such as Maths or History
d) to complete an exam successfully
e) a result for a piece of work
Exercise 3. Answer the questions (2–3 sentences each).
What is the difference between a subject and a lesson?
Why is it important to revise regularly?
What is the difference between taking and passing an exam?
Which subject is your strongest one and why?
What helps improve academic performance?
Answer Key
Exercise 1
b) lessons
a) marks
b) take
b) passed
a) revise
Exercise 2
1 — c
2 — b
3 — e
4 — d
5 — a
Exercise 3 (Sample Answers)
A subject is a school discipline such as Maths or History, while a lesson is a specific class that takes place at a particular time.
It is important to revise regularly because it helps consolidate knowledge and improve long-term memory. Regular revision reduces stress before exams.
Taking an exam refers to the process of completing it, while passing an exam means achieving a successful result.
My strongest subject is English because I practise regularly and pay attention during lessons. I also revise systematically before tests.
Academic performance improves when students revise consistently, attend lessons regularly, and follow their teacher’s feedback.
Vocabulary Tip
Обращайте внимание на разницу между процессом и результатом: take an exam (процесс) — pass an exam (результат).
Также учите лексику в устойчивых сочетаниях: get good marks, revise for an exam, strongest subject, academic performance.