IB ACIO Grade II key terms

A reduction in amount, intensity, or degree, such as a fall in pollution levels or the easing of a penalty. In comprehension passages it signals decline rather than removal.

The total planned spending on goods and services by households, firms, government, and foreign buyers at a given price level. Used in economy questions on inflation and output.

A narrative in which characters and events stand for abstract ideas or political realities, conveying a second layer of meaning. Common in literary comprehension questions.

A word whose meaning is opposite to another word's, such as 'scarce' for 'abundant'. Vocabulary questions often ask you to pick the closest or farthest match.

An unstated premise that must be true for an argument to hold. Assumption questions ask which statement the author implicitly relies on rather than states outright.

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. Shifts in average when items are added or removed are a frequent shortcut topic in aptitude tests.

A country's record of all economic transactions with the rest of the world, covering trade in goods, services, income, and capital flows. A persistent deficit signals external vulnerability.

A reasoning problem that gives family relationships in coded or indirect form and asks how two people are related. Drawing a small family tree prevents errors.

A puzzle placing people around a table with clues about who faces inward or outward and who sits adjacent. Direction of facing decides left and right.

Interest calculated on the principal plus previously accrued interest, so the amount grows geometrically. The formula is P(1 + r/n)^(nt) for n compounding periods per year.

The claim an argument asks you to accept, supported by premises. In reasoning questions you judge whether the conclusion follows necessarily or only probably.

The emotional or cultural association a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the disapproval implied by 'scheme'. Word-choice questions test sensitivity to this shading.

The excess of a nation's imports of goods, services, and transfers over its exports. It must be financed by capital inflows or reserves, so it matters for external stability.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, stripped of emotional colour. Distinguishing it from connotation helps in precise vocabulary and précis work.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Indian Constitution directing governments toward social and economic welfare. They are not enforceable in courts but fundamental in governance.

The gap between total government expenditure and total receipts excluding borrowings. It measures how much the government must borrow, influencing interest rates and inflation.

Assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies, gold, and reserve positions, used to defend the currency and pay imports. India's reserves are managed by the RBI.

Six categories of rights guaranteed in Part III of the Indian Constitution, enforceable through writs. They include equality, freedom, and constitutional remedies.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words, such as 'to bite the bullet'. Idiom questions test recognition of figurative usage.

A conclusion drawn from evidence without being stated directly. Inference questions reward reading what the passage implies rather than what it says literally.

A reasoning puzzle placing people or objects in a row with positional clues such as 'A sits third to the left of B'. Fixing one anchor position simplifies the arrangement.

A figure of speech that describes one thing as another without using 'like' or 'as', such as 'a sea of troubles'. Identifying metaphors helps in comprehension and précis.

Action taken to reduce the severity or likelihood of harm, as in disaster risk reduction or climate policy. It differs from adaptation, which adjusts to effects already occurring.

A sequence of numbers following a hidden rule, with one term missing or wrong. Check differences, ratios, squares, and alternating patterns in that order.

A fraction expressed out of one hundred, used to compare quantities of different sizes. Successive percentage changes do not simply add, so use multipliers.

The opening statement of the Indian Constitution declaring its source of authority and objectives such as justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is used to interpret ambiguous provisions.

A stated reason or evidence offered in support of a conclusion. Identifying premises separately from conclusions is the first step in evaluating any argument.

A concise, faithful summary of a passage that keeps its essential ideas and tone while cutting length, usually to about one-third. It uses your own words and no personal comment.

A comparison of two quantities by division, expressed as a:b. Converting ratios to fractions and finding a common multiplier solves most proportion problems.

The rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities. Raising it tightens liquidity and is used to curb inflation.

A comparison using 'like' or 'as', such as 'as brave as a lion'. It differs from metaphor, which asserts identity rather than similarity.

Interest computed only on the original principal for the whole period, using SI = P × R × T / 100. It grows linearly, unlike compound interest.

A deductive argument with two premises and a conclusion, tested by Venn diagrams for validity. 'All A are B' and 'some B are C' do not guarantee 'some A are C'.

A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another, such as 'brief' for 'concise'. Choosing among synonyms requires attention to register and connotation.

A quantitative topic relating the rate at which individuals or groups complete a task to the time taken. Rates add when people work together, so convert days to work-per-day.

A formal order issued by a court commanding or prohibiting action, such as habeas corpus or mandamus. Article 32 lets the Supreme Court issue writs to enforce fundamental rights.