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How to Prepare for Vocabulary Tests

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Vocabulary tests are usually designed and conducted to evaluate your knowledge and awareness of the vocabulary. Usually, in these tests, you are required to be aware of the words, their meanings and also should be aware in which context they should be used. Whether you are learning vocabulary in your native language or are preparing for universities abroad, you may find it hard to memorize all of the vocabulary.

The words as used in the exam may range from moderate to extreme and it entirely depends upon the exam you may be appearing in. These tests are mostly utilized by universities and also few business organizations as part of their assessment for choosing the right candidate.

Don't be overwhelmed as there are a lot of ways to make the learning process easier. Here are a few important tips that will help you retain and memorize for longer.

Tips to Qualify Vocabulary Exams

Read! Read! Read!

As the vocabulary tests are purely based on the words, their meaning, and their interpretation. Therefore, read as much as you can in terms of text or the literature. It provides you with better chances of qualifying for the exam as you come across new words.

For example- Certain literature books, magazines, and other reading materials usually have uncommon words which you can jot down along with their meanings.

You may be asked questions like-

The lady was benevolent with her fortune. What is the meaning of Benevolent-?

• Secretive
• Stingy
• Kind
• Careful

When you read new material, knowing the words and the meaning will help you understand its interpretation with its usage.

Identify New Words

Apart from knowing new words, it is important to understand their usage as well. Avoid cramming the words as it may make them hard to memorize. You may aim to learn a few words every day.

For example-

The land grades into the land-fast ice in certain parts of Arctic so _______ that you can walk off the coast.

1. permanently
2. imperceptibly
3. irregularly
4. precariously
5. Slightly

As per the sentence, the correct word that is going to be part of the sentence would be ”so gradually or so quickly”. Based on this you can eliminate the irrelevant options like 1, 3, 4. Now you are left with options 2 and 5. But if we further evaluate then slightly does not mean gradually it just means a tiny bit. So, you can eliminate the last option as well.

Learn Synonyms and Antonyms

As you explore and understand new words, you should also learn the synonym and antonyms of these words. Synonyms are words that have similar meanings and antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Understanding the relationship between synonym and antonyms makes it easier to remember the words.

Example-

1. Choose the correct synonyms of the word IMPLICATE?

• Include
• Entreat
• Imply
• Suggest

The word Implicate means to involve or to include. The answer is “include” as it is closely related to the word.

2. Choose the correct antonym of the word “Commissioned”?

• Started
• Closed
• Finished
• Terminated

The word Commissioned means permitted/worked/ordered/accredited/trusted/hired. So antonym will be the opposite. The answer is “terminated” which is the close match for the antonym of the word “Commissioned”.

Learn commonly used words in Vocabulary tests

You can list out the common words used in different vocabulary tests. You may find them online and chances are high that they might be utilized in the exam you might be appearing for.

Example-

It is difficult to convince young people to plan for their old age, which seems very distant to them.

• Impossible
• Far away
• Observable
• Fearful

The answer here is B- Far away.

You may be asked to identify words that are closest in meaning to the one in question.

Learn about prefixes and suffixes

These are part of the words that come at either the beginning or end of the word. Please understand that the words which have common prefixes or suffixes share similar meaning. If you remember the prefixes and suffixes then you may be able to identify the word. For example:

• “Dis” means not- disregard, disengaged, dissolve.
• “Mis” means negative- misfit, misread
• “Ous” means full of- fabulous, dangerous.
• Non-, im-, in-, un-, a- mean "not"
• Com-, em-, con- means "with."
• Circum- means "around."
• Super- means "above."

Likewise other common prefixes, suffixes are- mega, super, extra, equi, sub, ness, ment, etc.

Example-

"placate", "complacent, " "placebo, what do they all have in common? “Plac '' is a common word that means “to make happy”. Therefore in cases where you don't know the exact meaning but you know what the root denotes you will be able to derive the meaning.

Make your sentences.

Think about making sentences from words. It will help you memorize faster. Try to use the words in more than one way.

For example-

Their request was disregarded.

Their approach was disregarded by the authorities.

The best way to learn new vocabulary words is to use them in everyday communication.

For example- Try to use new words to describe what you recently read or watched etc.

If you are struggling with a few words then you can write them on sticky notes and place them somewhere so that they are easily visible. It will help you remember and retain them for a long time.

Break down big words

You can break down certain big words to understand the crux.

For Example- ambidextrous is the one who uses both hands. Similarly, a person with conflicting emotions is ambivalent. Here in both words, ambi words are common; they have the same roots.

Vocabulary tests are very common and are mostly found as verbal ability tests in many examinations. You may encounter these tests when applying for jobs where English language skills are essential. For example- In positions such as clerical, customer support representatives, marketing employees, and much more. Vocabulary section is also found in certain important exams such as GRE, SAT, ASVAB, TOEFL, IELTS, PRAXIS, P-NAT and many more.

As your exam approaches, don't get hindered by an enormous number of words that might come in the exam. We understand your anxiety will grow but remember these few tips while you prepare and you can use these techniques to memorize efficiently.

We wish you all the best for your exam!

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Is Nursing a right career for me?

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Nursing is not for everyone, and it takes more than a “big heart” to be a good nurse. It requires intelligence, self-discipline, critical thinking, communication skills, compassion, dedication, high moral and ethical standards, endurance as well as respect and concern for the welfare of others regardless of creed, race, culture, religion, or gender orientation.

While considering nursing as a career, think about the following questions.

1. Is nursing a job or a career?

There is a difference between a job and a career. A job is something you do in exchange for something else, usually money. A career, on the other hand, is something you are passionate to do. A career is something you enjoy doing your best and in which life-long learning is not only necessity but a consuming desire.

2. Am I a good team player?

In majority of cases, nursing is a team effort focusing on an identified patient. The entire team works together for the patient’s welfare.

Depending upon the patient’s requirements, the team may also include professionals like care managers, physical, respiratory, nutritionists, social workers and various other advisors. Nurses have to co-ordinate with all of them and work on a daily basis.

3. Am I honest, responsible and accountable?

All these qualities are the hallmarks of a good nurse. Nurses must also be honest with themselves and should be able to seek appropriate assistance in situations in which they are uncomfortable, unsure, or incompetent.

4. Do I follow directions?

If you are good at following directions given to you, this is right path for you. All health care agencies have policies and procedures that dictate proper behavior or actions to be taken with virtually and responsibility occurring within the institution.

5. Do I care for others?

Nurses don’t have option of selecting patient on their part. They have to provide care to all regardless of gender, creed, culture, or religion. All patients deserve the highest standard of care possible.

6. Am I quick in making decisions?

A good nurse is a one who can make right decisions at the right time. Individuals who are not able to take proper decisions should not that this profession as the end result can be quite dangerous.

7. How do I manage stess or crisis?

Nursing is a profession where you have to deal with stressful situations and ever-impending crises, be it patient or institutional related. Nurses must have the ability to stay calm and collected during stressful or crisis situations in order to focus on the patient.

8. How do I feel about death and dying?

Human life is fragile, and individuals entering the health care system sometimes die. The process of dying as well as death itself are normal parts of the human existence. In order for nurses to work effectively with death and dying, they must understand and accept their own mortality.

9. How do I handle frustration?

Caring for individuals in any health care setting can be frustrating. Working with others can be frustrating as well. Patients may not be compliant with their medications or keep needed appointments. Nurses must be able to control their frustrations. Losing focus could bring harm to all involved.

10. How do I respond to abusive behaviors?

Patients and their families are under great stress as a result of serious illness and the possible need for hospitalization. Due to which, they may not always respond in an appropriate fashion. Often times the nurse just happens to be the one to catch their wrath. For the nurses to be verbally abusive in return would be inappropriate and would make the situation even more worse.

Physicians may be verbally abusive to nurses and other health care workers, or health care workers may vent their anger on each other. In all such cases, verbal abuse should not be tolerated. Physical abuse should also not be tolerated and should be addressed according to institutional policy.

In case you are ready for all such duties and agree to take up the challenges, nursing is a great career. If you are seriously considering about nursing career, see here about nursing programs available and start preparing for it.

A very all the best to you.

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Teacher Certification Study and Testing Guidelines

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Here are some guidelines for candidates preparing for teacher certification this year.

Study tips:

1.Some foods aid the learning process. Food such as milk, nuts, seeds, rice and oats help your study efforts by releasing natural memory enhancers called CCKs (cholecystokinin) composed of tryptophan, choline, and phenylalanine. All of these chemicals enhance the neurotransmitters associated with memory. Before studying, try a light, protein-rich meal of eggs, turkey, and fish. All of these foods release the memory enhancing chemicals. The better the connections, the more you comprehend.

Similarly before you take a test, stick to a light snack of energy boosting and relaxing foods. A glass of milk, a piece of fruit, or some peanuts all release various memory-boosting chemicals that help you to relax and focus on the subject at hand.

2.Learn to take great notes. Make notes of important information you study from various resources. A brief summary is always helpful at the time of exam. You can always check out a good study guide for you.

3.Get the concept then the details. Too often we focus on the details and don’t gather an understanding of the concept. However, if you simply memorize only dates, places, or names, you may well miss the whole point of the subject. A key way to understand things is to put them in your own words. If you are working from a textbook, automatically summarize each paragraph in your mind. If you are outlining text, don’t simply copy the author’s words.

4.Ask “Why”? Pull apart written material paragraph by paragraph and don’t forget the captions under the illustrations. If you train your mind to think in a series of questions and answers, not only will you lean more, but is also helps to lesson the test anxiety because you are used to answering questions.

5.Read for reinforcement and future needs. Even if you have only 10 minutes, put your notes or a book in your hand. Your mind is similar to a computer; you have to input data in order to have it processed. By reading, you are creating the neural connections for future retrieval. The more times you read something, the more you reinforce the learning of ideas.

Even if you don’t fully understand something on the first pass, your mind stores much of the material for later recall.

6.Relax to learn so go into exile. Our bodies respond to an inner clock called biorhythms. Burning the midnight oil works well for some people, but not everyone. If possible, set aside a particular place to study that is free of distractions. Shut off the television, cell phone, pager and exile your friends and family during your study period.

If you really are bothered by silence, try background music. Light classical music at a low volume has been shown to aid in concentration over other types. Music that evokes pleasant emotions without lyrics are good. Try just about anything by Mozart. It relaxes you.

7.Use arrows not highlighters. At best, it’s difficult to read a page full of yellow, pink, blue, and green streaks. Try starting at a neon sign for a while and you will soon see my point, the horde of colors obscure the message. A brief dash of color, an underline, and an arrow pointing to a particular passage is much clearer than a horde of highlighted words.

8.Budget of your study time. Although you should not ignore any of the material, allocate your available study time in the same ratio that topics may appear on the test.

Testing Tips

1.Get smart, play dumb. Don’t read anything into the question. Don’t make an assumption that the test writer is looking for something else than what is asked. Stick to the question as written and don’t read extra things into it.

2.Read the question and all the choices twice before answering the question. You may miss something by not carefully reading, and then re-reading both the question and the answers. If you really don’t have a clue as to the right answer, leave it blank on the first time through. Go on to the other questions, as they may provide a clue as to how to answer the skipped questions.

3.Turn the questions into a statement. Look at the way the questions are worded. The syntax of the question usually provides a clue. Does it seem more familiar as a statement rather than as a question? Does it sound strange?

By turning a question into a statement, you may be able to spot if an answer sounds right, and it may also trigger memories of material you have read.

4.Look for hidden clues. It’s actually very difficult to compose multiple-foil (choice) questions without giving away part of the answer in the options presented. In most multiple-choice questions you can often readily eliminate one or two of the potential answers. This leaves you with only two real possibilities and automatically your odds go to fifty-fifty for very little work.

5.Trust your instincts. For every fact that you have read, you subconsciously retain something of that knowledge. On questions that you are not really certain about, go with your basic instincts. Your first impression on how to answer a question is usually correct.

6.Mark your answers directly on the test booklet and the scan sheet. Be very careful not to miss mark your answers when you eventually transcribe them to the scan sheet.

7.Watch the clock! You have a set amount of time to answer the questions. Don’t get bogged trying to answer a single question at the expense of 10 questions you can more readily answer.