Vocabulary For SSC Exams 2021: 8 Expert Tips to Improve it

By Sandeep Baliyan|Updated : March 6th, 2021

Vocabulary is an important segment of the English section as it plays a significant role to test the candidate’s understanding of different words. The questions of vocabulary are seen in various forms such as Antonym, Synonym, Cloze Test, Spelling Error, and Reading Comprehension, etc.

Vocabulary is one such section that can’t be mastered in one day, it requires daily practice. The more words you know, the more you will be able to understand what you hear and read and the better you will be able to make use of it.

All competitive exams including SSC CGL/ CHSL/ MTS/ GD Constable/ CPO and other states exams comprise at least 4 to 5 questions from the vocabulary section. Hence, it becomes very essential to build a strong vocabulary to score better in these exams and get one’s desired job.

Table of Content
Vocabulary is an important segment of the English section as it plays a significant role to test the candidate’s understanding of different words. The questions of vocabulary are seen in various forms such as Antonym, Synonym, Cloze Test, Spelling Error, and Reading Comprehension, etc.
Vocabulary is one such section that can’t be mastered in one day, it requires daily practice. The more words you know, the more you will be able to understand what you hear and read and the better you will be able to make use of it.
All competitive exams including SSC CGL/ CHSL/ MTS/ GD Constable/ CPO and other states exams comprise at least 4 to 5 questions from the vocabulary section. Hence, it becomes very essential to build a strong vocabulary to score better in these exams and get one’s desired job.

To solve the purpose, in this article we are stating some major problems faced by candidates, topics of vocabulary and expert tips to improve vocabulary.

Major Problems Faced by the Students

We have enlisted some problems as faced by candidates:

You Tend to Forget Words Easily

One of the biggest problems with vocabulary learning is that what's learned today is often forgotten tomorrow. Retaining the learned words becomes a major issue with the candidates.

Word Meanings Change as per Context

The complexity of vocabulary learning is to know and understand what a word means. Specialized terms in the content areas often have specific meanings in one content area that do not generalize to other subjects. Plus, the meanings often differ from the general meanings of the same terms. Meanings of various words might vary from subject to subject where the word is used. For example:

  • Desert: Abandon; Desert: Area of Land
  • Close: Nearby; Close: To shut

So it is important to understand the meaning of words rather than just cramming a set of words without having a core understanding of them.

Learning is Time Taking Process

Learning vocabulary takes time and it can be a mistake to force the process. If you try to learn too many words too quickly, you can end up only confusing yourself.

Important Words on Exam Point of View

Another problem faced by candidates is to decide which words are worth learning.

Topics of Vocabulary in SSC CGL/ CHSL/ MTS and State Exams

Here are some important topics which are asked in the SSC and State exams:

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms are the familiar words to each other and antonyms are the opposite words.

  • Find the non-similar word and try to learn new words daily.
  • Make some new short tricks to learn new words and try to use them in your daily life.

The more you enhance your vocabulary skills the more you will be able to score in this topic.

Idioms and phrases

An idiom is a phrase or fixed expression that sometimes has meanings. A figurative meaning can be different from logical meaning.

  • If you see idioms in context, try to understand the context as it all depends upon vocabulary.
  • Try to remember idioms through images; this will help you remember them by seeing the pictures in your mind.

One Word Substitution

Good knowledge of one-word substitutes is necessary for enhancing your vocabulary skills. Proper knowledge of vocabulary helps you to get a good substitute for replacing. In SSC exam you can expect 2-3 questions of one-word substitution of one mark each.

Cloze Test

Cloze procedure is a technique in which words are missing from a passage and the participants are asked to fulfil the missing place. Cloze test requires an ability to understand context and vocabulary in order to identify correct words. Cloze test carry minimum 10 marks question as seen in last year’s papers. A stronghold on vocabulary can enhance you to score more in exams.

  • Before you start filling the missing place, it is important to sense the meaning of the paragraph.
  • Vocabulary command will help you to find the logical relationship between the sentences and in the given options.
  • As you will get the command on the vocabulary, you will be able to eliminate the unnecessary options and you will automatically reach the correct option.

Fill in the blanks

It is the one single blank in every sentence.

  • Read the statement carefully and choose the word wisely according to the demand of the sentence which will happen only if your Vocabulary is strong enough.
  • The method of elimination should be used wisely by inserting the best selective option.
  • Questions on fill in the blanks are frequently repeated as we have seen in previous year paper. To be able to solve such questions correctly; you must have a very good vocabulary.
  • Vocabulary helps in knowing tenses, noun, pronoun, conjunction, adjective, adverb etc. which will help us in filling the blanks with correct options.
  • After selecting a suitable option, try to recognise a logical structure and the requirements of the sentence, it will help you to check if the selected option will run smoothly and correctly or not.

Expert Tips to Improve Vocabulary

Here are some important tips to master the vocabulary given by experts:

Read Newspapers/ Editorial Articles

Experts always suggest reading the newspaper on a daily basis to improve your vocabulary. Of all the newspapers ‘The Hindu’ is considered to be the best for aspirants.
You can even read online editorial articles, novels, literature works, etc. Through these articles of newspaper, you will come across many new words every day which you can note down and save for future reference. Here is a snippet of the ‘The Hindu Editorial Blog’:

byjusexamprep

Bookmark the Difficult Words

To improve your vocabulary, you must keep a dictionary handy. Experts suggest using Cambridge/ Oxford dictionary (offline), but if you are an aspirant of the digital age then you can download the free dictionary apps such as Merriam-Webster, Urban Dictionary, English Dictionary which are very handy to use. The best part about the online dictionary app is that you can bookmark the difficult words and later go through them for revision. Here is a snippet of the Merriam-Webster dictionary app interface:

byjusexamprep 

Attempt Previous Year Question Paper

Many competitive exam boards especially SSC repeat their questions of Synonym, Antonym, One-word Substitution, etc. So, if you are an aspirant and preparing for a government job then you must go through the previous year papers of SSC CGL/ CHSL/ CPO/ MTS/ GD Constable exams. To help you prepare better we have provided the link for previous year question papers of these exams in the table below:

SSC CGL Previous Year Question Paper

SSC MTS Previous Year Question Paper

SSC Stenographer Previous Year Question Paper

SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Paper

Attempt Daily Quizzes and Mock Tests on BYJU'S Exam Prep

Not just searching for new words but also solving quizzes and mock tests also plays a major role in enhancing your vocabulary. BYJU'S Exam Prep is one such platform that regularly provides short quizzes and mock tests. Solving these quizzes and mock tests will boost your confidence and eventually help you master the vocabulary. Here is a screenshot of the regular quizzes provided in the BYJU'S Exam Prep app:

byjusexamprep

Relate the Word to other Words

After you have attempted the quiz/ mock test on BYJU'S Exam Prep, go through the similar words and opposite words of the question asked. This will help you build your chain of words (words which are connected, they are either synonym or antonym). The below snippet highlights how you can analyse the connecting words after you have attempted the quiz on BYJU'S Exam Prep:

byjusexamprepCreate Your Sentences

What do we do whenever we want to make a connection with a person and make him/ her our friend? - we spend time with them, we think about them. This is exactly what you have to do if you want to learn and memorize a word and make the word your friend forever.
Make a deliberate effort by forming a sentence with the new word and using the word very often. This way the word will become your friend forever and will always be there whenever you need it.

For example, if you want to remember the phrasal verb “to tidy up”,

Write a story:  “Nisha, you must tidy your room up”, “I have to tidy up before my friends come”, “Rohan will watch TV after he finishes tidying up the kitchen”.

Record Your Voice

By hearing your voice say the words out loud and feel your mouth moving, this way you are making even more connections in your brain. So, use your phone or your webcam to record yourself practising the new vocabulary words and using them in the sentences you made.

Use Mnemonics

Mnemonics is also one method to convert your short-term memory to long term memory. There are two methods of mnemonics which are word associations and mnemonic images. Here is an example of the use of word association mnemonics:

Consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think EGG REACH US - imagine we've made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

Here are some other examples of word association mnemonics:

1. Galimatias

Meaning: Useless, बेकार, Senseless

Key Word:  गली में ताश

Synonyms: Gibberish, Nonsense

2. Facile

Meaning: Having A Superficial Or Simplistic Knowledge Or Approach, नम्र स्वभावी

Keyword: Face

Memory Trick: किसी किसी का Face देख कर ही पता चल जाता है की वह नम्र स्वभावी है.

Synonyms: Pliant, Expert, Yielding, Skillful, Fluent

Example: a man of facile and shallow intellect.

3. Mendicant

Meaning: Beggar, भिखारी

Key Word: मण्डी चांट

4. Kindle

Meaning: जलाना, सुलगाना, Light Or Set On Fire

Key Word: Candle

Memory Trick: जन्मदिन पर हम Candle जलाते हैं.

Synonyms: Flash, Animate, Inflame, Conflagrate, Catch

Example: a love of art was kindled in me

5. Diffident

Meaning: आत्मविश्वास में कमी, Shy, Timid, Bashful

Key Word:  Defeat

Memory Trick: Defeat खाने के बाद आदमी के आत्मसम्मान में कमी आ जाती है.

Synonyms: Suspicious, Distrustful, Doubtful, Lowly, Hesitating

Example: a diffident youth

Do you have your own Mnemonics style of learning Vocab?? Tell us in the comments section below!

Guru Mantra

“Repetition is the key to success”.

It’s true. To learn anything you must repeat, repeat & repeat. Every day, set aside some time to study vocabulary. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but it is important that you practice a little daily. This will create a good habit.

Be kind and patient with yourself.

Learning New Words is a big accomplishment, and you should be very proud of yourself each time you learn a new word.

We hope we have provided you all with enough points to get through this tough task in a smooth manner. More queries are welcomed via the comment section.

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