phrase · neutral
take a gap year
UK/teɪk ə ɡæp jɪə/US/teɪk ə ɡæp jɪr/take·a·GAP·year
to spend a year between finishing school and starting university doing other activities such as travel, work, or volunteering
Examples
“Many students choose to take a gap year to travel or gain work experience before university.”
“She took a gap year to volunteer abroad and decided it helped her maturity.”
“Universities sometimes welcome applicants who have taken a gap year and gained relevant skills.”
Band 8 sentence
“After finishing high school, I decided to take a gap year to volunteer and earn some practical experience before starting my degree.”
Collocations
- take a gap year to travel/volunteer/work
- decide to take a gap year
- take a one-year gap
Word family
Common mistakes
take gap year→take a gap year
take the gap year→take a gap year
Say it for a higher band
5delay university→6defer entry→7+take a gap year
Synonyms
defer entry
Easily confused
defer entry
“He deferred his university place for a year to gain work experience.”
go straight to university
“Many prefer to go straight to university after school.”
Related words
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In Study
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