Selected Campus Vocabulary for TOEFL:

words heard or read during the test

ace, v.
to receive a grade of A
admissions office -- the office where students apply for admission to a university
advisor, n.
faculty member (usually) who helps students with decisions on their
academic careers
all-nighter n.-spending the night preparing for an exam
article, n.
a publication usually in a journal about an academic subject
assistant professor teacher above lecturer and below associate prof.
assistantship n.-- a job of teaching or research, like a stipend. Not full-time
audit, v.
to attend a course without getting credit for it
call the roll, v.-- to read out the names of the people in a class (roll = list of names)
campus, n. --buildings and grounds (contiguous) of a college or university
campus security, n. -the police on campus
carrel, n.
a private study space in the stacks of the library (where the books are
stored)
cheat, v.
to act dishonestly (copy from another student, etc.)
check out, v. to borrow (a book from the library)
close out, v. to be denied access to a class
coed, adj.
= coeducational = both men and women attend the same university
college, n.-- undergraduate school, granting the bachelor's degree
commencement, n. --the graduation ceremony
counselor, n a person who gives advice, often also of personal nature
cram, v.
to learn for an exam at the last minute
credit, n.
a unit of study (for fulfilling the graduation requirements), usually the
number of hours of a course
cut class, v.-to be absent from class without an excuse
dean, n.
an administrator, above department head and below a vice president
dean's list the honor roll at a college or univ. (highest grades in a semester)
degree, n. an academic title awarded to a student at graduation (Bachelor of Art,
Master of Science, etc.)
department-- a division of a university organized by subject (Dept. of Petroleum
Engineering, etc.)
department chair -- head of the department, administrator and teacher in one
diploma
certificate showing that a student has graduated
dissertation a thesis for the degree of doctor(ate)
doctorate
the degree above masters "he got his doctorate at Harvard"
dorm
housing for students, short for dormitory
drop,v.
to stop attending a course
drop out, v to quit college or university
due date
the date on which an assignment must be handed in
elective course-an optional academic course, can be chosen
enrolled
registered for a course or university program
expel, v.
to dismiss from school or university (punishment)
extension
additional time given, for an assignment, for example
faculty
all the teachers at an institution of learning; faculty member
fail, v.
to receive a grade which is below passing
fee
a charge (money) for services
field trip
excursion of academic relevance with a teacher and class

final
fine
fraternity
freshman
GPA

last exam in a course

a sum of money paid for a violation of a rule: punishment
social club for men at a university (often with living quarters)
first-year student
grade point average the average of the grades a student has received
so far at university (4.0 = all A's in a system where 4 = A, best grade)
grades
a standard number or letter to indicate a student's performance
graduate school-- the part of the university to serve students working on their
masters or doctoral degrees
grant
money for research or study, given by an institution
handout
prepared notes that a teacher provides to the class
health center -- the medical clinic on campus to give basic health care to students
hit the books -- to study hard (usually for a paper or exam)
honors
a program of study or special recognition for exceptional students
housing office -the administrative office for student housing (official)
instructor
a university teacher below rank of assistant prof.
interlibrary loan a system of borrowing books from another university library
internship
a training opportunity usually for upper semester students
junior
third-year student
keep grades up, v. -maintain good grades in all classes
lab
laboratory
lab report
a written description of your laboratory activities
lecturer
a college teacher, usually without rank (part time teacher, often from
industry or professional life)
library card-- ID card allowing a student to borrow books from the library
major
a field of study chosen as an academic specialty
makeup test -a test taken after the official test
open book test a test where students are allowed to use their books and notes
orientation a program for new students so they learn about the university
override, v. to allow something that is normally not permitted
paper
a research report
placement office-- office at the Univ. where students get help finding jobs
plagiarize, v. -- to use someone else's written work without giving that person credit
pop quiz
surprise little test
post, v.
to publish a list of something, like grades in a public place
prerequisite--something (usually a course) required before a student can take the
next course
quarter
a school term that is usually 10 to 12 weeks. There are 4/year, not 2
registrar, n. --the university official (office) who/which is in charge of keeping records
registration-- the process of enrolling for a course/s at a college
report
written or oral presentation of results of work done
research assistant a person with a job working under a faculty member on research
review session -- a study meeting to review material before a test, often lead by
the teacher/professor
room and board -- living arrangement where both room and meals are paid/ also
the price for this service
roommate person who shares a room or rooms
scholarship money given to a student so he/she can study
section
one of several options for the same course (usually held
simultaneously)

fourth-term student (undergraduate, also high school student in 4 th, last

year)
short-essay test test which requires short written answers (not multiple choice)
shuttle
a bus with a route around the campus
sign up
to enroll in a class
skip class, v. --to be absent
social security number --- a number which everyone working in the US gets for
social insurance. Often used as an ID. It is 9 digits long.
sophomore third-year student
sorority
a social club for women college students
spring break short vacation in the middle of the spring semester (or between terms)
stacks
the area of the library where most of the books are found on shelves.
There are often small desks there which students can use for individual
study.
student services-- the administrative offices which provide non-instructional help
student union-a building on campus for student activities and where they can
relax, often has cafeteria, meeting rooms, etc.
studies
research investigations
study, v.
to acquire knowledge or understanding of a subject
study date a date (rendesvous) in which the activity is studying
study lounge-- a quiet area of a dormitory where students can go to study
subject
an area of study (chemistry, Russian literature, etc.)
T.A.
teaching assistant
tenure, n.
an academic rank that guarantees permanent employment status
(cannot be fired under normal circumstances; usually only full and
associate professors have it)
term
a time period when school is in session, usually semester or quarter
text book
a book which is used for a course
thesis
a written research report in partial fulfillment of a master's degree
transcript
a printed copy of all of the grades a student has got during his college
career
transfer, v. to change schools
tuition
fees for instruction at a school (all levels)
tuition hike a raise in the money required (fees) for school
turn in, v.
to submit an assignment to the teacher
tutor
a private instructor, often another student
undergrad(uate)-- a student who has not yet received his/her bachelor's degree
withdraw, v. to leave school
work-study student -- a student with a contract to work along with studying works
on campus and is allowed to study when there is nothing to do
senior

Adapted for the Montanuni Toefl Preparation Course from "Barron's How to Prepare for the Toefl Test
of English" by Marian Pink