What 'communication & media' covers: Communication & media is part of the theme Human ingenuity. You need vocabulary to talk about the news, the press, social media, apps and how we get informed — and to give your opinion about them.
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.
- the media
- the press, TV, radio and online platforms that share news and information
- the news
- reports of recent events, in print, on screen or online
- the press (digital / print)
- newspapers and magazines, whether online or on paper
- a journalist
- a person who researches and reports the news
- social media
- online platforms where people post and share content with others
- to get informed (about)
- to find out what is happening; to keep up with the news
- to share a post
- to forward a message or article to other people online
- to check the information / source
- to make sure a claim is true and comes from a reliable place
- a (reliable) source
- the place a piece of information comes from
- fake news
- false or misleading stories presented as if they were real news
- a headline
- the title of a news story, printed in large type
- freedom of the press
- the right of the media to report without censorship
- a screen
- the display of a phone, tablet, computer or TV
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| I get my news from the internet. | I find out what's happening mostly online. |
| I follow several journalists on social media. | I read the posts of reporters I trust online. |
| Before sharing, I check the source. | I make sure it's reliable before forwarding it. |
| I spend too much time looking at posts. | I scroll through social media more than I should. |
| You have to be careful with fake news. | False stories spread easily, so stay alert. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text about the press, a listening interview with a journalist, a Paper 1 blog about social media, 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 the media, the common debates are: social media vs the traditional press, online news vs print, and the danger of fake news vs free, instant information. Take a position and back it up.
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
Risks of social media
- A lot of fake news spreads without being checked.
- We spend hours looking at posts and get distracted.
- We don't always know who is behind the information.
Benefits of getting informed online
- We can get informed instantly and from anywhere.
- We have access to many sources and points of view.
- Social media gives a voice to independent journalists.
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.
Should we ban phones at school?: At my school there is a proposal to ban phones completely, and I don't agree.
It's true that many classmates spend too much time on social media and get distracted in class. However, the phone is also a tool: with it I look up information, read the news in the morning and keep in touch with my family. Instead of banning it, we should learn to use it responsibly. That's why I suggest switching the phone off during lessons but leaving it free at break times. Banning it altogether teaches us nothing; using it well does.
- to ban
- to officially forbid something
- to get distracted
- to lose your focus and pay attention to something else
- a tool
- something you use to do a useful job
- break time
- the short rest between lessons at school
- responsibly
- in a sensible, careful way
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, what does the writer suggest instead of banning the phone altogether?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the word "suggest": "That's why I suggest switching the phone off during lessons but leaving it free at break times."
- The answer — They suggest switching the phone off during lessons but leaving it free at break times. 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 week on the responsible use of technology. Write a blog post for other students: describe how you get informed and use social media and give advice for using the media in a more critical way.
Use an informal, friendly register. Write 250–400 words.
Blog structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy title
A title, often a question. "Ban the phone or learn to use it?"
2
Greeting + topic
Greet the reader and say what the post is about. "Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about the media…"
3
Your experience
Describe your old habits in the past. "I used to believe everything I saw online…"
4
Two or three tips
Give advice using imperatives. "Check the news against several sources", "follow serious journalists", "take a break from screens".
5
Motivating close
Finish with an encouraging line. "Start getting better informed today — you'll make a difference."
Title → Greeting → Experience → Tips → Close
Model: the 5 steps in action
The blog post, step by step
- Ban the phone or learn to use it? I'm clear about it.
- Hi everyone! I'm Marta, and today I want to talk about something that affects us all: the media.
- I used to believe everything I saw online and shared news without checking it. I spent hours on social media without thinking about what I was reading.
- So here are three tips. First, check the news against several sources. Second, follow serious journalists. And third, take a break from screens for a while every day.
- The most important thing, though, is to be critical about what we read. Start getting better informed this week and you'll make a real difference.
Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Range of tenses: past "I used to", imperatives "check", "follow"
- Connectors: "so", "though", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: describes media habits AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Blog conventions: a catchy title
- Direct address: "Hi everyone", "you'll make a difference"
- A persuasive, personal tone
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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 — Lucy, an independent journalist: Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm an independent journalist. Today the news reaches us instantly through social media, and that has good and bad sides. The good thing is that anyone can get informed from their phone. The bad thing is that a lot of fake news spreads too. That's why my advice is always the same: before sharing something, check the source and read more than one newspaper. Only then will you be a critical reader.
IB-style task — two listening questions
Two questions, step by step
- Q1 — What does Lucy say is the bad side of social media? Listen for "The bad thing is that…": "a lot of fake news spreads too." That is your answer.
- Q2 — What does Lucy advise you to do before sharing something? She says it near the end: "before sharing something, check the source and read more than one newspaper." Answer: check the source and read more than one newspaper.
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.