First-rate Vocabulary is imperative for a far above the sectional cut off in a CAT score and a necessity for other MBA exams also. Vocabulary is something that is very vast. The more you learn, the more you find to learn. That’s why Vocabulary building is considered a continuous process leading to continuous learning. In both, Sentence Completion Section and Reading comprehension section of the CAT, you will come across many difficult words. Even if you could increase your word power marginally, it could mean many more correct answers and a significantly higher score.
A good vocabulary is inextricably linked to a good memory. To have a deep and wide vocabulary, a student needs a very good reminiscence. But then, not everyone is prodigious. So, what is the solution?
Well, here I have tried to collate certain suggestions that will certainly help and encourage those of you who think that cramming words is not their cup of tea.
Read, Read, Read! There is no short cut to develop an impressive Vocabulary. Most of the words are learned by understanding the context. The more words you’re exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. Whenever you read, pay close attention to words that you don’t know. First, try to infer meanings from the context in which they have been used. Then, look for the word meanings in the dictionary. Read and listen to challenging material so that you’ll be exposed to many new words. Noting down the words on a paper gives great results as this aids better remembrance. Use these papers as flash cards to revise words that you have learned.
Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to trigger your auditory memory. Relate the word to words that you already know. For example, the word Behemoth (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large, Behemoth.
Focus on word usage, which is more important. Be inquisitive about what each word means when used as a noun, verb etc. Do a search on a word using online dictionaries to get many examples of how the word is actually used. For example, a simple sounding word like hammer can have different meanings.
Hammer -noun
1. a tool consisting of a solid head, usually of metal, set crosswise on a handle, used for beating metals, driving nails, etc.
2. one of the padded levers by which the strings of a piano are struck.
3. Anatomy. the malleus.
Hammer-verb (used with object)
1. to beat or drive (a nail, peg, etc.) with a hammer.
2. to produce with or by force (often fol. by out): to hammer out a tune on the piano; to hammer a home run.
3. to form, construct, or make with or as if with a hammer; build by repeated, vigorous, or strenuous effort (often fol. by out or together): to hammer out an agreement; to hammer together a plot.
Hammer–verb (used without object)
1. to strike blows with or as if with a hammer.
2. to make persistent or laborious attempts to finish or perfect something (sometimes fol. by away): He hammered away at his speech for days.
Idiom
Under the hammer – for sale at public auction: The old estate and all its furnishings went under the hammer.
So, a single word can convey a lot of meanings.
Revise, Revise, Revise! As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your flash cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Keep in mind that Rome was not built in a day.
Use mnemonics (memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think about EGG REACH US – imagine we’ve made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Egregious means extraordinary in some bad way, glaring, gross. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, and they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!
Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available online, so you are not dependent on a partner to play.
Use vocabulary lists. For a serious vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized tests. For root words, you can either choose some book or download a list of root words along with their meanings. By the time you complete the book, you will have had a good word bank with you. One great book in regard is “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis.
Take online vocabulary tests. Playing games that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you’re making.
Get excited about words! Come to appreciate subtle differences between words. Do you know the difference between something that denotes something else and something that connotes something else? If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can depend on how affluent your vocabulary is. It will also determine the quality of your communication. So, be in it for the long pull. Let building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Remember: “In the beginning was the word.” Until you have a word for something, it does not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.
Make best use of the available technology. Install Wordweb on your computer to quickly refer to the word meanings. Using online dictionaries is far more convenient than using conventional dictionaries. It saves a lot of effort and energy.
Some suggested online dictionary resources:
Merriam-webstar.com
Dictionary.reference.com
Ask a question.com
Peeplo.com
Moreover, all the MBAGuru students have the privilege of learning Vocabulary through Audio-Visual sessions, which is one of our USPs. This further makes this exigent task a cakewalk.
- PAVNEET TANDON
An English (Hons) from the prestigious JMC (DU), Pavneet is an expert English trainer for the CAT and the GMAT and mentors students at MBAGuru, INDIA’s Fastest Growing CAT Coaching Institute across its Delhi centres. Her adaptive style of teaching cuts across backgrounds and learning stages of students and helps them transition to their respective next levels.
