What 'artistic expression' covers: Artistic expression is part of the theme Human Ingenuity. This section gives you the words for it.
You need vocabulary to…
- talk about painting, literature, theatre, cinema and music
- describe and react to a work of art
- give your opinion about it
How to use this list: The words below are common English B vocabulary. Treat the list as a glossary: learn each term with its meaning and a synonym, then reuse them in the reading and writing sections.
- artistic expression
- the way people communicate ideas and feelings through art
- a work (of art)
- a single piece an artist creates — a painting, novel, film, etc.
- a painting / a canvas
- a picture made with paint; the cloth surface it is painted on
- an exhibition
- a public display of art, usually in a museum or gallery
- a museum / a gallery
- a building where art is shown to the public
- a novel / a play / a film
- a long story in a book / a piece performed in a theatre / a movie
- to move someone / moving
- to make someone feel strong emotion; emotionally powerful
- to convey a message
- to communicate an idea or meaning through the work
- a masterpiece
- an outstanding work, the best an artist has made
- to appreciate art
- to understand and enjoy the value of a work of art
- a brushstroke
- a single mark left by a paintbrush on the surface
- a landscape
- a picture (or view) of natural scenery — fields, water, sky
- overrated
- praised more than it deserves; not as good as people say
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| I love visiting painting exhibitions. | I really enjoy going to see art on display. |
| This novel really moved me. | The book made me feel strong emotion. |
| The play conveys an important message. | The theatre piece communicates a key idea. |
| I found the painting stunning. | The picture impressed me a great deal. |
| Art helps us see the world in a different way. | Art changes how we understand things around us. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text about an exhibition, a listening review of a film, a Paper 1 review or blog about a work of art, or your oral. Reusing the right topic words is how you score Criterion A (Language).
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Have something to say: Examiners reward developed ideas, not just vocabulary. Take a position and back it up.
Common debates around artistic expression
- Is art useful, or just decoration?
- Does classical art still matter to young people?
- Do films and series count as 'real' art?
Opinion phrases (use these to introduce a view)
- In my opinion… / From my point of view… — to introduce what you think
- It seems to me that… / I believe that… — a slightly softer way to give a view
- The most important thing is… — to highlight your main point
- On the one hand… on the other hand… — to weigh up two sides
- I (completely) agree that… / I'm not convinced that… — to react to an idea
Criticisms of art
- For some young people, museums feel boring.
- Classical art can seem distant and hard to understand.
- Tickets to exhibitions are often expensive.
The value of art
- A work of art can move us and make us think.
- Art conveys the culture and history of a people.
- Creating something helps us express what we feel.
Music and words
- Writing song lyrics, finding a musician
- How music shapes who you are
- Young musicians: practice, patience, luck
New forms of art
- From canvas to digital art
- Art made with artificial intelligence
- Edited photos or real photography?
Art in the community
- A new museum, a theatre night, a book to recommend
- Murals and street art for a neighbourhood
- Should schools spend money on the arts?
- lyrics
- the words of a song
- a performance
- a play, concert or dance shown to an audience
- an exhibition
- a public show of paintings, photos or objects
- thought-provoking
- making you think seriously about something
- to commission (a work)
- to ask and pay an artist to make something
- a medium (media)
- the material or form an artist uses: paint, film, sound, pixels
- to improvise
- to create music or acting on the spot, without a plan
Link your ideas: Connectors lift your answer from a list into an argument: moreover (to add), however (to contrast), therefore (to conclude), although (to concede). Use at least two or three in any written answer.
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Read like Paper 2: Here is a short blog post — the kind of text Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. Read it once just for the general idea; don't worry about every word. Then we'll work through one exam question together.
An afternoon among paintings (1 of 2): Last weekend I visited an exhibition of Impressionist painting at the museum in my city.
As I went in, I was fascinated: the paintings were luminous and, up close, all you could see were tiny brushstrokes of colour.
An afternoon among paintings (2 of 2)
My favourite was a landscape of a garden full of flowers, because it looked as if the light was moving over the water. I used to think art was boring, but this time I felt real emotions. I left the museum eager to paint something and convinced that art helps us see the world in a different way.
- luminous
- giving off or full of light; bright
- up close
- from a very short distance
- a landscape
- a picture of natural scenery such as fields or water
- to be fascinated
- to be strongly attracted and held by something interesting
- to be carried away
- to be so affected by something that you lose yourself in it
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, what was the writer's favourite painting and why?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the words "My favourite": "My favourite was a landscape of a garden full of flowers, because it looked as if the light was moving over the water."
- The answer — A landscape of a garden full of flowers, because the light seemed to move over the water. The words are right there in the text, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: For an "according to the text" question, find the exact line that proves your answer — don't rely on memory or general knowledge.
The task: Your school is running a cultural week about art. Write a blog post for other students: describe a work or an exhibition that moved you and give advice for appreciating art more.
Write 450–600 words.
Blog structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy title
A title, often a question. "Do you think art is boring?"
2
Greeting + topic
Greet the reader and say what the post is about. "Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about an exhibition…"
3
Your experience
Describe what you used to think and how the work moved you. "I used to think art was boring, but I was fascinated…"
4
Two or three tips
Give advice using imperatives. "Visit an exhibition", "get close to the paintings", "choose a favourite work".
5
Motivating close
Finish with an encouraging line. "Visit a museum this weekend — art is well worth it!"
Title → Greeting → Experience → Tips → Close
Model: the 5 steps in ~140 words
The blog post, step by step
- Do you think art is boring? I used to think so too — until one afternoon at the museum.
- Hi everyone! I'm Maya, and today I want to talk to you about something that surprised me: an Impressionist painting exhibition.
- I used to think art was boring and I never went to museums. However, that afternoon I was fascinated: the paintings were luminous and, for the first time, I felt real emotions.
- So here are three tips. First, visit an exhibition with an open mind. Second, get close to the paintings to see the brushstrokes. And third, choose a favourite work and ask yourself why you like it.
- Above all, though, the most important thing is to let yourself be carried away by the emotions. Visit a museum this weekend and you'll discover that art is well worth it!
Why it works: A strong blog post does this for each of the three Paper 1 criteria:
A — Language /12
- Range of tenses: past "I used to", imperatives "visit", "get close"
- Connectors: "however", "so", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: describes a work/exhibition AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Blog conventions: a catchy title
- Direct address: "Hi everyone", "you'll discover"
- A persuasive, personal tone
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