Quick answer
The Social organization theme covers how groups of people organize themselves: relationships, community, education, work, and law and order. This page gives 20 useful words and phrases in 4 topic groups with an example sentence for each. The IB does not publish a required vocabulary list, so treat this as a working set to use in your own sentences, not as a list to memorize for the exam.
How to use this list
Pick one topic group at a time. Read the example, cover it, then write your own sentence about your school, town or family using the same word. A word you have used three times in your own sentences is far more likely to appear when you need it in an exam than one you have only read.
The topic groups follow the optional recommended topics that the Language B guide lists under this theme. They are suggestions for teachers, not a list of exam questions.
Social relationships and community
Useful language for tasks and discussions about social relationships and community.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| generation gap | differences in attitude between age groups | Music taste shows the generation gap in our family. |
| to volunteer | to work without pay to help others | She volunteers at a food bank on Saturdays. |
| neighbourhood | the area around where someone lives | The neighbourhood organised its own recycling scheme. |
| solidarity | support between members of a group | Students showed solidarity with the striking staff. |
| to exclude | to keep someone out of a group or activity | Group chats can exclude people without anyone noticing. |
IB English B in Nektar
Practise IB English B in the Nektar app.
Choose SL or HL, work through reading, listening and vocabulary lessons, and get feedback on Paper 1 writing and individual oral responses. Keep official IB material for your checkpoints.
Education
Useful language for tasks and discussions about education.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| curriculum | the subjects and content taught in a school | The curriculum now includes media literacy. |
| tuition fees | money paid for teaching | Rising tuition fees keep some students out of university. |
| dropout rate | the share of students who leave before finishing | The dropout rate fell after the mentoring scheme began. |
| vocational | relating to skills for a particular job | Vocational courses lead directly to employment. |
| to assess | to judge the quality or level of something | Teachers assess the oral with published criteria. |
The working world
Useful language for tasks and discussions about the working world.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| internship | a period of work experience | A summer internship confirmed her interest in law. |
| workforce | all the people who work in a company or country | Half the workforce now works from home twice a week. |
| wage | money paid for work, often by the hour | The minimum wage rose in January. |
| redundant | having lost a job because it is no longer needed | Hundreds were made redundant when the plant closed. |
| trade union | an organization that protects workers' rights | The trade union negotiated safer shifts. |
Law and order
Useful language for tasks and discussions about law and order.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to enforce | to make people obey a rule | The school rarely enforces the uniform rule. |
| offence | an illegal act | Dropping litter is an offence in the city centre. |
| deterrent | something that discourages an action | Cameras act as a deterrent to speeding. |
| rehabilitation | helping someone return to normal life after prison or illness | The programme focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment. |
| civil rights | the rights of citizens to equal treatment | The museum traces the history of the civil rights movement. |
Turn the list into exam language
Choose five words from different groups and write a 120 word paragraph for a named reader, for example a letter to your head teacher or a post for the school blog. Then record yourself explaining the same idea aloud for one minute without reading. Writing first and speaking second shows you which words you can really retrieve.
Practise with Social organization discussion questions and read the Social organization theme guide for a Paper 1 style task. In the Nektar app, IB English B vocabulary lessons teach theme words in context before the reading and listening texts that use them.
- Write your own sentence for each word
- Use five words in one paragraph for a named reader
- Say the same idea aloud without notes
- Revisit the group after three days
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official IB vocabulary list for Social organization?
No. The IB does not publish a required vocabulary list for the themes. This is an original Nektar study list.
How many words should I learn for the Social organization theme?
There is no set number. A small set you can use accurately in writing and speaking is worth more than a long list you only recognise.
Will these words appear in Paper 2?
No one can predict the texts. The words are common in writing about this theme, so they are likely to help with reading and listening, but they are not taken from exam papers.
IB English B in Nektar
Practise IB English B in the Nektar app.
Choose SL or HL, work through reading, listening and vocabulary lessons, and get feedback on Paper 1 writing and individual oral responses. Keep official IB material for your checkpoints.