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How to solve Word Formation questions quickly in Reasoning Section
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023

Reasoning is one of the most scoring subjects of SSC and all other competitive exams and one of the easiest chapters in this section is from “Word Formation ”. Around 2-3 questions are covered on this topic and if the candidate is able to apply his thinking ability properly, he can easily score well on these questions.
Now that SSC has changed the SSC CGL 2022 exam pattern, Reasoning is also included in the SSC CGL Tier 2 because of which there is added weightage of the reasoning section in the SSC CGL Exam. Therefore, candidates should go through this complete article, to gain maximum benefits regarding the word formation topic for SSC exams.
Table of content
What is Word Formation?
This section aims to test the verbal knowledge of the candidates along with logical skills in a limited amount of time. These questions are easy if done after proper practice and knowing what exactly to look for in the question.
Types of Word Formation
Different types of Word Formation are given below:
- Word formation by unscrambling letters
- Word formation using letters of a given word
Importance of Word Formation for SSC Exams
The use of the letters from the supplied words to create new words is considered to be quite popular in Indian competitive exams. The English courses’ reasoning is covered in great detail on the SSC exam. A significant amount of English reasoning involved word creation employing the letters of a given word. Word Formation is an important component of the SSC & Railways Exam 2022 and the majority of questions asked in the examination are from this section. Therefore, Word Formation is an important part of the SSC Exam namely upcoming SSC Exams 2022 like SSC CGL 2022, SSC CHSL 2022, SSC MTS 2022 etc.
Word Formation Questions
Types of questions asked:
1. Word formation by unscrambling letters:
In such questions, usually jumbled letters are given various types of questions are asked on the unscrambled word thus formed. For example:
a) VARSTE ⇒ Choose the correct order of letters which are required to form the correct word.
i) 2, 3, 1, 6, 4, 5
ii) 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 1
iii) 4, 5, 2, 3, 1, 6
iv) 6, 3, 4, 5, 2, 1
Here, we’ve to create the correct word and ‘V’ has been labelled as 1, ‘A’ as 2, ‘R’ as 3, ‘S’ as 4, ‘T’ as 5 and ‘E’ as 6.
On observing we can see the correct word is STARVE. Hence, the correct order is 4(for S) 5(for T) 2316 ⇒ 452316 ⇒e. option iii) is correct.
b) Unscramble the words in options and find the odd one out:
i) UPJM
ii) WKLA
iii) PEELS
iv) UNR
Let’s unscramble the options:
i) UPJM⇒ JUMP
ii) WKLA ⇒ WALK
iii) PEELS⇒ SLEEP
iv) UNR⇒ RUN.
We can see that all options except PEELS or SLEEP are active actions while sleep is a passive activity. So, option iii) is odd-one out.
c) Unscrambled the word in question and find the option most similar in meaning to rearranged word:
I T G N D L E I
i) Intelligent
ii) Difficult
iii) Laborious
iv) Quick
On unscrambling the word we can see that the given word is DILIGENT. And, synonym for diligent is Laborious so option iii) is the answer. Similar question on antonym can also be asked.
2. Word formation using letters of a given word:
a) Using certain letters of a word:
If it’s possible to make a meaningful word from 2nd,5th, 6th and 7th letters of the word GENEROSITY, then which will be the first letter of that word? Mark X if no such word can be formed, M if more than 1 such word can be formed.
i) R
ii) S
iii) O
iv) M
Here, the word = GENEROSITY
2nd,5th, 6th and 7th letters = E, R, O and S
Words starting with E = none, with R = ROSE, with O = ORES, with S = SORE
Clearly, we can see that more than 1 i.e. 3 words can be formed so we’ll mark ‘M” i.e. option iv) as the answer.
Note: Had the ROSE been the only word getting formed then we’d have marked option i) i.e. R as answer because R is first letter of only word ROSE.
b) Using certain letters of a series:
U H O L Y F G W Z B A S R
Above a series is given, how many meaningful word can be formed from 3rd letter from left, 4th letter from right, 6th letter from left and 9th letter from right?
i) One
ii) Two
iii) Three
iv) none
Here the series: (left) U H O L Y F G W Z B A S R (right)
3rd letter from left = O, , 6th letter from left = F,
4th letter from right = B, 9th letter from right = Y
Given letters = O, F, B, Y
We can see no such meaningful word can be formed using the aforementioned alphabets. Hence, we’ll mark ‘none’ i.e. option iv) as the correct answer.
c) Changing consonant/vowel:
If each vowel in OVEN is changed to the previous letters in English alphabet and the consonants are changed to next letters of English alphabets, how many meaningful words can be formed using the letters of new word thus formed using each letter only once?
i) One
ii) Two
iii) Three
iv) none
Word given: OVEN
Changing vowels(O and E) to previous letters: NVDN
Changing consonants (V and N) to next letters: NWDO
So, given letters = N, W, D and O
We can see word thus formed = DOWN
Hence, only one word can be formed and correct option is option i)
d) Finding correct option:
Sometimes, questions come where we have to answer if the word(s) given in options can be created using the letter of word given in question. For example a question below:
From the following alternatives, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word:
MISUNDERSTAND
a) TENT
b) SEND
c) SENT
d) MEND
Solution:
Word: MISUNDERSTAND
Let’s check all the options:
a) TENT ⇒ It can’t be formed as it requires 2 T’s.
b) SEND ⇒ It can be formed.
c) SENT⇒ It can be formed.
d) MEND⇒ It can be formed.
Hence, option a) is the answer.
Word Formation Questions asked in SSC Exams
1. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
Herringbone
Options:
1) Biner
2) None
3) Bane
4) Hinge
Correct Answer: Bane
2. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which can be formed using the letters of the given word.
CAPITULATE
Options:
1) CAPABLE
2) LUPIN
3) PITTY
4) TALE
Correct Answer: TALE
3. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
Abandoned
Options:
1) Bonded
2) Banded
3) Bland
4) Bane
Correct Answer: Bland
4. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
UNIFORMITY
Options:
1) ANNUITY
2) FORUM
3) MINT
4) UNIFORM
Correct Answer: ANNUITY
5. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Options:
1) CONE
2) CYCLE
3) NOISY
4) PEACE
Correct Answer: NOISY
6. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
Legislator
Options:
1) Raise
2) Gist
3) Legal
4) Greater
Correct Answer: Greater
7. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
Superconductors
Options:
1) Sports
2) Spunt
3) Stern
4) Spectrum
Correct Answer: Spectrum
8. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
RECIPROCATE
Options:
1) PROCEED
2) RACE
3) REPEAT
4) TEAR
Correct Answer: PROCEED
9. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
Biological
Options:
1) Logic
2) Globe
3) Bail
4) Bill
Correct Answer: Globe
10. In the following question, from the given alternative words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word.
HANDSOME
Options:
1) HATS
2) HOME
3) NAME
4) SAND
Correct Answer: HATS
Word Formation Questions PDF
We just saw solving any kind of question on Word-formation requires skill to create a meaningful word from scrambled words. So, practice that skill enough to be able to crack such questions in examinations. Below we are providing the Word Formation Questions PDF. Candidates can download the PDF and save it for future reference.
>>>Word Formation Questions PDF Click Here
Hope this was useful.
All The Best !!!
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