Vocabulary and Word Usage
What this domain tests
Vocabulary items test whether you can choose the word that fits both meaning and grammar in context: collocations, near-synonyms, word formation, and false friends.
Concepts to master
- Collocation. English pairs words conventionally: make a decision, do homework, heavy rain, strong coffee. Meaning alone does not guarantee the right partner word.
- Near-synonyms. Words overlap but differ in register, intensity, or grammatical pattern: say vs. tell (tell someone), borrow vs. lend, affect (verb) vs. effect (noun).
- Word formation. Recognise prefixes (un-, dis-, over-) and suffixes that change part of speech: care → careful → carefully → carefulness.
- False friends and confusables. Actually means in fact, not currently; economic relates to the economy, economical means thrifty.
- Phrasal verbs. Give up, put off, turn down; the particle changes meaning entirely.
Traps to expect
- Two options with similar meaning where only one collocates with the given noun or verb.
- Options that are grammatically wrong for the gap (a noun where a verb is needed).
- Words that fit the sentence's topic but not its logic.
- Confusables that differ by one letter.
Rule of thumb
Read the whole sentence, decide the part of speech the gap needs, then test each option for both meaning and collocation. If two options survive, choose the one whose typical partner words match the context.
Worked example
She ___ a lot of mistakes in the report. Options: did, made, took, had. All are verbs, but English collocates make with mistakes, so made is correct. The trap is did, which is common with homework and work but not with mistakes.