School Subjects in English: Names, Vocabulary and Examples

School subjects are the areas you study, such as mathematics, history, science and art. Knowing their English names helps you understand a timetable, describe your interests, ask about a class and explain what you are learning. This guide includes common subjects, their specialist vocabulary and natural sentences for school conversations.

Schools organize subjects differently. Some teach biology, chemistry and physics separately; others combine them as science. A topic called social studies may include history, geography and civics. The examples below explain language rather than prescribe a curriculum. Use your school’s official course names when completing forms or selecting subjects.

Quick Index

Common school subjects in English | Mathematics: numbers, shapes and reasoning | Science: living things, materials and the physical world | English, language arts and literature | History, geography and social studies | Art, music, drama, PE and practical subjects | Subject, course, class and lesson: what is the difference? | Talking about preferences, ability and subject choices | School-subject conversations | Practice: choose, complete and correct | Transfer task: explain your school week

Common school subjects in English

Subject	What it commonly involves	Example sentence
mathematics / maths / math	Numbers, patterns, shapes and logical relationships	We are learning to solve equations in maths.
science	Investigating the natural world through evidence	In science, we tested how light affects plant growth.
English	English language, reading, writing and often literature	We are writing a short story in English.
language arts	Reading, writing, speaking and listening, often in the school’s main language	Our language arts project includes a poem and an oral presentation.
literature	Studying written works such as novels, poems and plays	We discussed the narrator’s point of view in literature.
history	Studying and interpreting the past	In history, we compared two accounts of the same event.
geography	Places, environments and relationships between people and locations	We used a map to study population patterns in geography.
social studies	A group of subjects about society and human relationships	Social studies includes local history and how communities make decisions.
civics	Citizenship, public institutions and civic responsibilities	In civics, we discussed how local government works.
art	Making and studying visual work	We experimented with shading in art.
music	Performing, listening to, creating and studying music	In music, we practised a simple rhythm together.
drama / theatre	Performing and studying scenes, plays and dramatic expression	We rehearsed a scene with three characters in drama.
physical education / PE	Physical activity, movement skills, sports and related learning	We practised passing and teamwork in PE.
computing / computer science	Computing systems, programming and related concepts	In computing, we wrote a program that sorts a list.
design and technology	Designing, making and evaluating products or solutions	We built and tested a model bridge in design and technology.
foreign languages / modern languages	Learning languages beyond those already used by the learner	I study Spanish as a foreign language.

Math is common in American English, while maths is common in British English. Mathematics is the full name. All three can refer to the same subject; do not change the meaning simply because the shortened form differs. PE is pronounced as the letters P and E. Other abbreviations depend on the school, so check a timetable key instead of guessing.

Mathematics: numbers, shapes and reasoning

Area or term	Meaning	Natural classroom example
arithmetic	Calculations with numbers	We practised arithmetic using everyday prices.
addition	Combining amounts	This question tests addition with three-digit numbers.
subtraction	Taking one amount away from another	Use subtraction to find the difference.
multiplication	Combining equal groups or finding a product	We checked the multiplication with a calculator.
division	Separating a quantity into equal parts or finding a quotient	The division gives us the amount for each group.
fraction	A number representing part of a whole or a ratio	Three quarters is a fraction.
decimal	A number written using a decimal point	Write the answer as a decimal.
percentage	An amount expressed as a number out of one hundred	Convert the fraction into a percentage.
algebra	Using symbols to represent quantities and relationships	We used algebra to find the unknown value.
equation	A statement showing that two expressions are equal	Solve the equation and check your answer.
geometry	The study of shapes, sizes and spatial relationships	In geometry, we measured the angles of a triangle.
statistics	Methods for collecting, describing and interpreting data	Our statistics project uses data from a class survey.
probability	The study or measure of how likely something is	We compared the probability of different outcomes.
calculus	The study of change and accumulation using mathematical methods	Calculus is offered in some advanced mathematics courses.

Use solve with a problem or equation, calculate with a value or amount, and measure with a length, angle or other quantity. “I solved the equation” describes finding an answer; “I checked my calculation” describes reviewing the numerical work. A proof is a logical argument establishing a result. An example can illustrate a mathematical idea, but one example is not automatically a proof of a general statement.

A teacher may ask you to “show your working” in British English or “show your work” in American English. Both ask for the steps that lead to your answer. If you do not understand the request, ask “Do you want us to include the calculation steps?” Avoid “make an equation exercise” when you mean completing the task; “do the exercise” or “solve the equations” is clearer.

Science: living things, materials and the physical world

Subject or term	Meaning	Example sentence
biology	The study of living organisms	In biology, we observed the structure of a leaf.
chemistry	The study of substances and how they interact or change	Our chemistry lesson introduced acids and bases.
physics	The study of matter, energy, forces and related phenomena	We used a simple model to discuss forces in physics.
earth science	The study of Earth and its physical systems	Earth science includes rocks, oceans and the atmosphere.
environmental science	The study of environmental systems and human interactions with them	We examined water use in environmental science.
experiment	A planned investigation used to test an idea or observe an effect	We carried out an experiment under the teacher’s supervision.
hypothesis	A proposed explanation or prediction to investigate	Our hypothesis predicts a difference between the two groups.
variable	A factor that can vary in an investigation	We changed one variable and recorded the results.
observation	Something noticed or recorded during an investigation	Write down your observations before interpreting them.
data	Information collected for analysis	We organized the data in a table.
evidence	Information used to support or question a claim	What evidence supports your conclusion?
conclusion	An explanation of what the results suggest	Our conclusion refers back to the question we investigated.

Say do, carry out or conduct an experiment. Conduct is common in more formal writing. Collect data, record observations, test a hypothesis and draw a conclusion are useful word combinations. Avoid saying an experiment “proves everything” when it tests one question under particular conditions. In a school report, explain what the evidence supports and what remains uncertain.

A laboratory, often shortened to lab, is a place equipped for scientific work. A lab lesson is a teaching session; a lab report is a written account of an investigation. Learning the name of equipment is separate from learning to operate it: follow the teacher’s instructions for practical work. The science lab vocabulary guide explains common equipment and safety terms.

English, language arts and literature

Term	Meaning	Example sentence
reading comprehension	Understanding a written text	The reading comprehension questions ask about the writer’s main point.
grammar	Patterns governing how words form phrases and sentences	We are practising question forms in grammar.
vocabulary	The words and expressions someone knows or uses	I keep a vocabulary notebook with examples.
spelling	The correct sequence of letters in a word	Check the spelling of the character’s name.
punctuation	Marks that organize written language	A question mark is a punctuation mark.
essay	Connected writing that examines a question or develops an argument	Our essay compares two poems.
novel	A long work of fictional prose	We are reading a novel set in a small coastal town.
poem	A work using concentrated language, often organized in lines	Read the poem aloud and listen to the rhythm.
play	A work written to be performed by actors	Each group will perform a short scene from the play.
narrator	The voice or figure that tells a story	The narrator describes events from a child’s perspective.
character	A person or other participant in a story	How does the main character change during the story?
theme	A central idea explored in a work	Friendship is one of the themes of the novel.

The author writes a work; the narrator tells the story within it. They are not always the same person. A theme is an idea explored by the work, while the plot is the sequence of events. If a teacher asks about the theme, retelling the entire plot may not answer the question. Useful phrases include “The writer suggests…”, “This example illustrates…” and “The quotation supports my interpretation because…”.

English as an additional language may emphasize communication, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. An English literature course may assume substantial language proficiency and focus on interpreting texts. Both can be called English on a timetable, so ask about the course content rather than assuming that the title identifies its level or purpose.

History, geography and social studies

Term	Meaning	Example sentence
historical source	Material used to investigate the past	We compared a letter with a newspaper report as historical sources.
primary source	Material originating from the time, people or events being studied	The diary is a primary source for this investigation.
secondary source	A later interpretation or account using other sources	The historian’s book is a secondary source in this project.
timeline	Events arranged in time order	Add the three events to your timeline.
cause and effect	The relationship between something and what follows from it	Explain one possible cause and its effect.
physical geography	Natural features and processes of Earth’s surface	We studied rivers in physical geography.
human geography	People, places and how they interact	Migration is a topic in human geography.
climate	Typical weather patterns over a longer period	We compared the climates of two regions.
population	The people living in a place, or their number	The graph shows changes in the city’s population.
citizenship	Membership of a political community and related rights and responsibilities	The citizenship lesson explored participation in community decisions.
economics	The study of production, distribution, consumption and choices involving resources	In economics, we discussed supply and demand.

“What happened?” and “Why did it happen?” ask different questions. History often requires both a clear sequence and an explanation supported by sources. A source’s usefulness depends on the question you are investigating; primary does not automatically mean more accurate. In geography, a country is a political entity, a continent is a broad land division and a city is a settlement. Keep these distinctions clear when describing a map.

Art, music, drama, PE and practical subjects

Subject context	Useful vocabulary	Example sentence
art	sketch, painting, sculpture, shading, composition	I made several sketches before starting the final painting.
music	rhythm, melody, tempo, choir, instrument	The choir practised the melody at a slower tempo.
drama	scene, script, role, rehearsal, performance	We rehearsed the scene before performing it for the class.
PE	warm-up, balance, coordination, technique, teamwork	The warm-up prepared us for the activity, then we practised our technique.
computing	algorithm, code, program, input, output	We tested the program with different inputs and compared the outputs.
design and technology	brief, material, prototype, test, evaluate	Our prototype met two requirements in the design brief.
food studies / food technology	ingredient, recipe, preparation, method, hygiene	We read the recipe and prepared the ingredients before starting.
media studies	audience, representation, genre, source, message	We compared how two advertisements address their audiences.

Use play with many sports and musical instruments: play basketball, play tennis, play the piano. Go is common with activities ending in -ing: go swimming, go running. Do appears in combinations such as do gymnastics and do a warm-up. These are patterns to learn with examples, not a rule that predicts every activity. Practise or practice a skill describes repeating it to improve; in British spelling, practise is usually the verb and practice the noun.

Studying a subject and participating in a club can involve the same activity in different settings. Music on your timetable is a subject; a choir rehearsal after lessons may be an extracurricular activity. An activity outside ordinary lesson time is not automatically optional or unassessed: check the school’s arrangements. Learn the relevant distinctions in after-school and extracurricular vocabulary.

Subject, course, class and lesson: what is the difference?

Word	Typical use	Example
subject	An area of study	Geography is my favourite subject.
course	An organized sequence of study	I’m taking a ten-week photography course.
class	A group of learners, or a teaching session	Our class has twenty students. I have a history class at ten.
lesson	A period of teaching or a unit of learning	Today’s lesson is about fractions.
topic	A particular part of a subject	Our next topic in history is trade.
curriculum	The content and learning plan of a school or program	The curriculum includes arts and sciences.
syllabus	An outline of the content and requirements of a course	Check the syllabus for the assessment dates.
timetable / schedule	A plan showing when lessons or activities take place	My timetable shows PE on Tuesday afternoon.

Course varies by country and institution. In American English it often means one class studied over a term; in British higher education it can describe an entire degree program. At school, “I have maths after lunch” usually means a maths lesson, not the whole subject beginning at that time. Say “I study history” for the subject and “I’m studying for a history test” when you mean preparing for an assessment.

Talking about preferences, ability and subject choices

Purpose	Phrase	Example
Express interest	be interested in	I’m interested in biology because I enjoy learning about living things.
Describe a strength	be good at	I’m good at explaining my ideas in writing.
Identify difficulty	find something difficult	I find long division difficult, but the examples help.
Compare preferences	prefer one thing to another	I prefer history to geography this year.
Describe enjoyment	enjoy + -ing	I enjoy solving problems and checking different methods.
Set a goal	would like to improve	I’d like to improve my pronunciation in French.
Choose a subject	take / choose a subject	I’m thinking of taking drama next term.
Identify a requirement	compulsory / required	Mathematics is a required subject in this program.
Identify a choice	optional / elective	Photography is offered as an elective.
Ask about preparation	prerequisite / prior knowledge	Does the course require any prior knowledge of coding?

Say good at maths, interested in science and worried about a test. Avoid “I am interesting in science”: interesting describes something that attracts interest, while interested describes how you feel. Enjoy is followed by an -ing form: “I enjoy reading”, not “I enjoy to read”. “I like history” expresses a preference; “I’m good at history” describes ability. A student can enjoy a subject while finding it challenging.

School-subject conversations

Understanding a timetable

Student: What do we have after lunch on Wednesday?

Classmate: Science in room twelve, then music.

Student: Is the science lesson biology or chemistry this week?

Classmate: Biology. We need the worksheet about plant cells.

Student: Thanks. I’ll check the timetable for the room change.

The conversation distinguishes the subject, the lesson’s topic and the physical classroom. The worksheet is material to bring, not another subject.

Choosing an elective

Student: I’m interested in taking computer science next year. Do I need to know how to code already?

Teacher: The introductory course starts with the basics. You should read the course description and check the entry requirements.

Student: How is it assessed?

Teacher: Through projects and written tasks. You’ll need to explain how your programs work, not only produce code.

Student: That sounds useful. Could I see an example of a project brief?

These questions ask about content, preparation and assessment. They are more informative than choosing a subject because its title sounds easy.

Describing a learning difficulty

Teacher: Which part of the history essay are you finding difficult?

Student: I understand the events, but I’m not sure how to compare the sources.

Teacher: Start with what each source says and who produced it. Then explain where they agree or differ.

Student: So I should compare their evidence rather than just summarize both?

Teacher: Yes. Use examples to support your comparison.

The student identifies a specific task rather than saying only “I’m bad at history”. This makes it easier to choose the next practice step.

Practice: choose, complete and correct

Answer without looking back at the tables. Several questions test a useful distinction rather than one isolated definition.

1. Which name is common in British English: maths or math?
2. Complete: I’m interested ___ chemistry.
3. Correct: Physics are my favourite subject.
4. You look for one date in a source. Is that a subject, topic or specific detail?
5. Which subject studies living organisms?
6. Correct: I enjoy to draw in art.
7. Distinguish an author from a narrator.
8. Choose: solve / play an equation.
9. Complete: I prefer music ___ drama.
10. A school says a subject is compulsory. Can students simply choose not to take it?
11. Correct the capitalization in an ordinary sentence: I study History, Geography and french.
12. Does a primary source automatically provide an accurate account?
13. Which word describes the planned lesson times: curriculum or timetable?
14. Write a natural sentence using “good at”.
15. A music lesson is on the timetable; choir practice is after school. Must they be the same kind of school activity?
16. A teacher asks you to “show your working”. What should you include?

Answer key and explanations

1. Maths. Math is common in American English; mathematics is the full form.
2. In. Learn interested in as a useful combination.
3. Physics is my favourite subject. The school subject takes a singular verb despite its final -s.
4. A specific detail. History is the subject; the event or period may be the topic.
5. Biology. Chemistry studies substances and their changes; physics focuses on matter, energy and related phenomena.
6. I enjoy drawing in art. Enjoy is followed by an -ing form.
7. The author writes the work; the narrator tells the story within it. A fictional narrator does not necessarily express the author’s own views.
8. Solve an equation. Calculate a value and solve a problem are other natural combinations.
9. To. Prefer A to B is a standard comparison pattern.
10. No; compulsory means required under that program’s rules. Optional or elective describes an available choice.
11. I study history, geography and French. General subject names are usually lower-case; names of languages use capitals. Official course titles may be capitalized.
12. No. Its origin makes it primary for the investigation; the evidence still needs to be interpreted and assessed.
13. Timetable. Curriculum refers to the content and learning plan.
14. Example: I’m good at solving mathematical problems. At can be followed by a noun or an -ing form.
15. No. One may be a curriculum subject and the other extracurricular. The school determines whether each is required or assessed.
16. The steps that lead to the answer. In American English, “show your work” is a common equivalent.

Transfer task: explain your school week

Create a timetable for five school days. Include at least six subjects, one practical lesson and one activity outside normal lessons. Explain the timetable aloud to a new student: say where two lessons take place, what you are learning in three subjects and which materials the student needs. Use class, lesson, subject and topic with different meanings.

Then write 120–150 words comparing two subjects you might choose next year. Explain your interests, one skill you want to improve and two questions about the course requirements. Check the prepositions after interested, good and prefer. Do not claim that a subject guarantees a career; concentrate on what you want to learn and what the course actually teaches.