Language Proficiency (Dari/Pashto and English)
This domain tests reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and correct usage in Dari or Pashto and in English. The skills overlap: identify the main idea, infer meaning from context, and apply grammar rules precisely.
What to master
For English: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions, pronoun reference, and common confusions (its/it's, affect/effect, fewer/less). For Dari and Pashto: correct verb conjugation, agreement of modifiers, appropriate register, and recognition of idioms. Reading passages reward locating the topic sentence and distinguishing stated facts from inferences.
Common traps
Grammar items often include a nearly correct sentence with one subtle error, such as a dangling modifier or mismatched tense. Vocabulary questions may offer a synonym that fits loosely but not in context; always substitute the option back into the sentence. In comprehension, an option may be true in general but not supported by the passage; reject anything the text does not state.
Worked example
Choose the correct sentence: (a) "Each of the students have a book." (b) "Each of the students has a book." The subject is "each," which is singular, so the verb must be "has." The phrase "of the students" is a prepositional modifier and does not change agreement. Rule of thumb: strip prepositional phrases, then match the verb to the true subject.
Strategy
Read the question before the passage when items are specific. For grammar, read the full sentence aloud mentally to catch awkwardness.