Mastering Common UK Abbreviations – A Practical Exercise

This exercise is designed to help you familiarize yourself with common abbreviations used in the UK related to help and information. Abbreviations are often used in everyday language and can be essential for understanding various contexts, from official documents to casual conversations. By completing the sentences with the correct abbreviations, you will improve your knowledge and be better prepared to use these terms accurately.

Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with an appropriate abbreviation from the box. The meanings of these abbreviations are explained in the answer key.

AA * ASBO * BA * BBC * C of E * GCSE * GMT * MP * NHS * NSPCC * PIN * RAF * RSPCA * VAT

1. If you feel strongly about problems in the area you live in, you should write to your local _____.

2. The _____ produces and broadcasts a wide range of television and radio programmes.

3. During the war, he flew transport aircraft for the _____.

4. If you want to book a flight to Mumbai, you could try the _____ website to see if there are any good deals or special offers available.

5. When you use a credit or debit card in a shop, you will need to know your _____.

6. When they are 15 or 16 years old, children in England and Wales sit their _____ exams.

7. If you think your neighbour is treating his dog badly, you should call the _____.

8. And if you think he is being cruel to his children, you should call the police or the _____.

9. Our neighbour caused us so much trouble that eventually we asked the police to apply for a / an _____.

10. It’s eight o’clock in the evening in Singapore, which means that it’s midday _____.

11. The _____ is always short of doctors, nurses, beds, equipment and just about everything else they need.

12. Religious leaders say that there has been a sharp drop in attendance at _____ services.

13. The printer costs £100, plus _____ at 17.5%.

14. If you own a car, membership of an organisation such as the _____ is recommended.

Answers:

MP: Member of Parliament.
Someone who has been elected to represent people from a particular district (called a constituency) in Parliament. In Scotland, these people are called MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament). The National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly have AMs (= Assembly Members).
BBC: the British Broadcasting Corporation.
An organisation that broadcasts television and radio programmes and is owned by the British government. It does not have advertising and is paid for mainly by the licence fee (= money paid every year by people who own a television). People sometimes refer to the BBC humorously as the Beeb.
RAF: The Royal Air Force.
The military air force of the UK.
BA: British Airways.
The national civilian airline of the UK.
PIN: personal identification number.
A set of four numbers that you need to know when you use a credit / debit card in a shop or in a cash machine.
GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Exams in a wide range of subjects taken by students in England and Wales, usually at the age of 15 or 16. A lot of students also take A level exams two years later. These are the exams that you need to take before you go to university.
RSPCA: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
An organisation that aims to protect and care for animals.
NSPCC: The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
An organisation in the UK that protects children from being treated badly.
ASBO: Antisocial Behaviour Order.
An order that can be applied for by the police against any individual over the age of 10 years old who is causing someone distress, harm or harassment. An ASBO restricts their behaviour, and can result in a fine or prison sentence if it is broken.
GMT: Greenwich Mean Time.
The time at Greenwich in England, which is used as an international standard.
NHS: The National Health Service.
A system in the UK that provides free medical care and is paid for through taxes.
C of E: The Church of England.
The official Christian Church in England that has the King or Queen as its leader. A person who goes to a C of E church is called an Anglican. In Scotland, the official church is called the Church of Scotland.
VAT: value added tax.
A tax that is paid on goods and services. Some goods, such as food, are VAT-exempt, which means that you do not pay VAT on them.
AA: The Automobile Association.
An organisation for drivers that gives its members information on travelling by road, and helps them if their car breaks own. Other similar organisations in the UK include the RAC (= the Royal Automobile Club) and Green Flag.

Exercise 2: Complete these sentences with an appropriate abbreviation from the box. The meanings of these abbreviations are explained in the answer key.

A and E * BA * BT * CAB * DVLA * ESOL * FCO * FE * GP * ID * MOT * NI * PG * TUC

1. You’ve had that cough for a long time. You should really go and see your _____.

2. The majority of telephone lines in the UK are provided by _____.

3. If you have a legal problem, it sometimes helps to talk to the _____, who might be able to give you some useful advice.

4. Before you start work, your employer will usually ask you for your _____ number.

5. A lot of workers’ organisations in Britain are represented by the _____.

6. Some form of _____, such as a passport or driving licence, is often required in places such as banks, airports, etc.

7. All vehicles over three years old must have a valid _____ certificate to remain on the road.

8. If you come from outside the European Union and want to drive a car in Britain, you will need a driving licence that is recognised by the _____.

9. This film has a _____ rating, so some people may not want their children to watch it.

10. A lot of people who work also do an evening course at a / an _____ college.

11. British _____ certificates that are recognised around the world include PET, FCE, CPE and IELTS.

12. If you travel abroad, you can find lots of useful information on the _____ website.

13. If you have an accident or suddenly become ill and you require urgent medical treatment, you should try to get to the _____ department at your nearest hospital.

14. She left university after three years with a _____ in Modern Languages.

Answers:

GP: General Practitioner.
A doctor who deals with general medical problems and treats the families in a particular area.
BT: British Telecommunications plc (usually just called British Telecom, or BT).
A major British telephone company. (plc = public limited company: a company in the UK that has shares that ordinary people can buy).
CAB: Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
An organisation that provides a free service for people who need advice on legal, financial and other matters.
NI: National Insurance.
A system that all employers and workers pay into, providing money for people who do not have a job or are old or ill.
TUC: the Trades Union Congress.
The organisation that represents British trade unions.
ID: Identification.
At the time this book was being written, it was not a legal requirement for people to carry ID at all times.
MOT: Ministry of Transport.
An official test that all cars over three years old must have each year to check that they are safe to drive.
DVLA: the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
The government organisation that is responsible for providing people with driving licences and collecting road tax.
PG: parental guidance.
A code used for describing a film (at the cinema, or on a video or DVD) that contains scenes, subjects or language that might be considered unsuitable for children who are younger than 18. The other film codes used in Britain are: U (= universal; suitable for anyone aged four or over); 12 (= should only be watched by people who are at least 12 years old, unless they have someone over 18 with them); 15 (= should only be watched by people who are at least 15 years old); 18 (= should only be watched by people who are at least 18 years old).
FE: Further Education.
Courses of study or training that some people do after they have left school, especially if they do not go to university. An FE college is sometimes called a CFE (College of Further Education).
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages.
The activity of teaching and learning English to / for people whose first language is not English.
FCO: Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The official name for the British Foreign Office (= the government department that deals with Britain’s relations with foreign countries).
A and E (also A & E): Accident and Emergency.
A department in a hospital that deals with emergencies.
BA: Bachelor of Arts.
A first degree in a subject such as languages or history from a university. A first degree in a scientific subject is a BSc (= Bachelor of Science). An advanced degree is called an MA or an MSc (= Master of Arts / Master of Science).