Vocabulary Building for Competitive Exams

Strategic Vocabulary Building

Vocabulary questions constitute 15-25% of the English section in PPSC, FPSC, and other competitive exams. Building a strong vocabulary requires a systematic approach.

1. Synonyms & Antonyms - Most Tested Category

Focus on frequently tested word pairs. Here are high-frequency examples:

• Abate - Diminish, Decrease (Antonym: Intensify)
• Benevolent - Kind, Generous (Antonym: Malevolent)
• Candid - Honest, Frank (Antonym: Evasive)
• Diligent - Hardworking, Industrious (Antonym: Lazy)
• Eloquent - Articulate, Fluent (Antonym: Inarticulate)

2. Idioms & Phrases

Commonly tested idioms in Pakistani competitive exams:

• At the eleventh hour - At the last moment
• Break the ice - Initiate social interaction
• Burn the midnight oil - Study/work late into the night
• Hit the nail on the head - Be exactly right
• Once in a blue moon - Very rarely
• Sit on the fence - Not take a side
• Turn over a new leaf - Start fresh

3. One-Word Substitutions

These are frequently asked in PPSC and FPSC tests:

• One who can speak two languages - Bilingual
• A government by the people - Democracy
• One who hates women - Misogynist
• A person who knows many languages - Polyglot
• Study of elections - Psephology

4. Daily Vocabulary Building Plan

• Learn 10 new words daily with meanings and usage
• Use flashcards or spaced repetition apps
• Write sentences using new words
• Review previous words every 3 days
• Practice with MCQs from past papers weekly

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Key Points

• Learn 10 new words daily with context
• Focus on synonyms/antonyms - most tested category
• Memorize top 100 idioms and phrases
• Practice one-word substitutions regularly
• Use spaced repetition for retention

Preparation Tips

• Read The Friday Times or Dawn editorial page daily
• Keep a vocabulary notebook - write word, meaning, and sentence
• Use the Anki app for flash card-based learning
• Focus on high-yield word lists from PPSC/FPSC past papers