Learning Map
EnglishVocabularyusually ages 10–11

Choosing Formal Vocabulary

Distinguish between formal and informal vocabulary, selecting words appropriate for formal speech and writing such as 'discover' instead of 'find out' and 'request' instead of 'ask for'

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

When your child is writing something formal — like a letter or a report — do they choose more sophisticated words, like "enquire" instead of "ask" or "sufficient" instead of "enough"?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Formal and Informal Englishages 7–10Formal vocabulary builds on recognising formal/informal register
Choosing Formal Vocabularythis skill · ages 10–11
Unlocks
Adapting Speech to Contextages 10–11Adapting speech builds on formal vocabulary
Academic Vocabularyages 11–14Academic vocabulary deployment extends KS2 formal vs informal vocabulary
Standard Englishages 11–13Register awareness extends KS2 formal vs informal vocabulary
Advanced Maths Vocabularyages 10–11Cross-subject: communicating with mathematical precision at ages 10-11 benefits from understanding formal vs informal vocabulary register

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9E5LA08medium confidenceYear 5 · Language

understand how vocabulary is used to express greater precision of meaning, including through the use of specialist and technical terms, and explore the history of words

AC9E4LA11low confidenceYear 4 · Language

expand vocabulary by exploring a range of synonyms and antonyms, and using words encountered in a range of sources

AC9E4LA01low confidenceYear 4 · Language

explore language used to develop relationships in formal and informal situations

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

EN2-VOCAB-01medium confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 2
EN2-SPELL-01medium confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 2

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E6LY04medium confidenceEnglish · Level 6 · Literacy strand
VC2E4LY04medium confidenceEnglish · Level 4 · Literacy strand
VC2E5LA08low confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Language strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

All Vocabulary skills →