What 'ethics' covers: Ethics sits in the theme Sharing the Planet. You need vocabulary to talk about what is right and wrong, about values and duties, and about acting responsibly towards other people and the planet — and to give your opinion on ethical questions.
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.
- ethics
- the set of ideas about what is morally right and wrong
- a value
- a principle a person believes in, such as honesty or respect
- honesty
- the quality of being truthful and fair, not cheating or lying
- responsibility
- a duty to act well and to take care of the results of what you do
- a (moral) dilemma
- a situation where it is hard to decide what the right thing to do is
- conscience
- the inner voice that tells you whether you are acting well or badly
- a duty
- something you feel you ought to do because it is right
- fair / unfair
- treating people justly / treating people unjustly
- fair trade
- a system that pays producers a decent, fair price for their work
- responsible consumption
- buying and using things while thinking about their real effects
- exploitation
- treating people unfairly to profit from their work
- to do the right thing
- to act in the way you believe is morally correct
- to take a stand
- to state clearly what you believe and defend it
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| It wouldn't be right to keep it. | Keeping it would be morally wrong. |
| I felt it was my duty to help. | I felt I ought to help because it was the right thing. |
| It goes against my values. | It clashes with the principles I believe in. |
| We all have a responsibility towards others. | Each of us ought to care about other people. |
| I'd rather have a clear conscience than the money. | Acting rightly matters more to me than profit. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text on fair trade, a listening interview with a volunteer, a Paper 1 blog about responsible shopping, 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 ethics, the common debates are: doing the right thing even when it costs you, responsible vs cheap consumption, and how far we are responsible for others. 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
Why ethics can be hard
- Doing the right thing often costs time, money or effort.
- Cheap products can hide the exploitation of workers.
- It is easy to look away and tell yourself it's not your problem.
Why it's worth it
- You can act with a clear conscience.
- Fairer choices help producers and the planet.
- Small everyday decisions add up and set an example for others.
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.
Where do my clothes come from?: Last year I started to wonder where my clothes really came from. Before, I bought very cheap T-shirts without thinking about anything else.
One day I read that behind such low prices there were often people working in very poor conditions. It struck me as unfair, so I decided to change my habits. Now I buy less, I choose responsible brands, and when I can, I donate the clothes I no longer wear. It isn't always easy or cheap, but it's worth it. I'm convinced that the small everyday choices we make are ethical choices too, and that, together, we can consume in a fairer way.
- to wonder
- to ask yourself; to be curious about something
- conditions
- the situation people work or live in
- unfair
- not just; treating people in a way they don't deserve
- responsible (brand)
- one that cares about its workers and the planet
- to be worth it
- to be valuable enough to justify the cost or effort
- convinced
- completely sure of something
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, what does the writer do now with the clothes they no longer wear?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the words "no longer wear": "when I can, I donate the clothes I no longer wear."
- The answer — They donate them. 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 responsible-consumption week. Write a blog post for other students: describe how you used to shop and give advice for making more ethical, everyday choices.
Use an informal, friendly register. Write 250–400 words.
Blog structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy title
A title, often a question. "Cheap today, costly tomorrow?"
2
Greeting + topic
Greet the reader and say what the post is about. "Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about…"
3
Your experience
Describe your old habits in the past. "I used to grab whatever was cheapest…"
4
Two or three tips
Give advice using imperatives. "Find out about the brands", "buy only what you need", "donate or recycle".
5
Motivating close
Finish with an encouraging line. "Every small choice counts — start this week."
Title → Greeting → Experience → Tips → Close
Model: the 5 steps in action
The blog post, step by step
- Cheap today, costly tomorrow?
- Hi everyone! I'm Alex, and this week I want to talk about something we rarely stop to think about: where the things we buy actually come from.
- I used to grab whatever was cheapest. If a top cost almost nothing, I bought two, and I never once asked who had made it or how. Honestly, I had no idea my shopping had any ethical side at all.
- So here are three tips. First, find out about the brands before you buy. Second, buy only what you really need. And third, donate or recycle what you no longer use instead of throwing it away.
- The most important thing, though, isn't to feel guilty. It's to act with a clear conscience: every small choice counts. Start with one fairer decision this week, and you'll see it really does make a 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 "find out", "donate"
- Connectors: "so", "though", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: describes old habits AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Blog conventions: a catchy title
- Direct address: "Hi everyone", "you'll see"
- 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 — Daniel the volunteer: Hi, I'm Daniel. I started volunteering two years ago, after I met an elderly neighbour who lived alone and had nobody to help her. I felt it was my duty to do something. Now I do her shopping twice a week and, above all, I keep her company. I don't charge anything: for me, helping other people is a value that matters more than money. What I like most is seeing her smile when I arrive.
IB-style task — two listening questions
Two questions, step by step
- Q1 — Why did Daniel start volunteering? Listen just after "I started volunteering two years ago": "after I met an elderly neighbour who lived alone and had nobody to help her. I felt it was my duty to do something." That is your answer.
- Q2 — Does Daniel get paid? He says it near the end: "I don't charge anything: for me, helping other people is a value that matters more than money." Answer: no, he doesn't get paid.
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.