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

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