Equality (English B HL)

What 'equality' covers: Equality sits in the theme Sharing the Planet. You need vocabulary to talk about gender, diversity, fairness and discrimination — and to give your opinion about how we treat one another.

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.

equality

the state of everyone having the same rights and opportunities

inequality

an unfair situation where some people have less than others

diversity

the presence of people of many different kinds in a group or society

discrimination

treating someone unfairly because of who they are (their gender, race, etc.)

prejudice

an unfair opinion about someone formed before you really know them

inclusion

making sure everyone is welcomed and able to take part

to exclude — excluded

to leave someone out — left out

rights

the things every person is fairly entitled to (e.g. to be treated equally)

gender

the social category of being male, female or another identity

the pay gap

the difference in pay between men and women doing the same work

to fight (for / against)

to work hard to defend something good or to oppose something unfair

to treat everyone equally

to give every person the same fair treatment

hurtful (comments)

words that are deliberately unkind and cause pain

Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text on a school inclusion day, a listening interview about disability rights, a Paper 1 blog, or your oral. Reusing precise topic words is how you score Criterion A (Language).

Have something to say: Examiners reward developed ideas, not just vocabulary. Around equality, the common debates are: how to reduce discrimination, whether diversity strengthens or divides a society, and how to close the pay gap. Take a position and back it up.

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.

Read like Paper 2: Here is a short interview/blog — 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.

Why I still fight for equality: For the school magazine I interviewed Lucas, who runs an LGBT youth group in our town. I wanted to understand why his fight for equality is still necessary.

Lucas told me that as a child he felt different and didn't dare talk to anyone about it. That is why he set up the group: a safe space where each person can be themselves without fear. He explained that there is still a lot of discrimination, especially hurtful comments online. However, he also sees progress: today many young people support diversity with pride. As he said goodbye, he told me that equality isn't handed to you — you win it day by day, and that it is worth carrying on the fight.

to run (a group)

to be in charge of and organise it

to dare (to do something)

to be brave enough to do it

a safe space

a place where people feel free to be themselves without fear

hurtful comments

deliberately unkind words that cause pain

to win something day by day

to achieve it gradually, through steady effort

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 an equality and diversity campaign. Write a blog post for other students: share something you have learned about discrimination and give advice for building a fairer community.

Use an informal, friendly register. Write 450–600 words.

Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:

How listening is tested: Paper 2 also tests listening: you hear short clips, each played twice, and you never see the words. Read the questions first, listen for the key idea, then answer.

Here we'll use a transcript so you can practise the technique on the page. Read the questions, then find the answer in the speaker's words.

Transcript — Mateo's campaign: Hi, I'm Mateo and I volunteer for an association that defends the rights of people with disabilities. Before, in my town, many public buildings had no ramps, so some people were simply left out. We spoke to the town council and, little by little, we have got the libraries and museums to be accessible to everyone. For me, inclusion is not a favour — it is a right.

Listening technique: Read the questions before the clip plays. Each question usually points to one short part of the recording — listen for the words around it, not the whole thing.