Vocabulary and Idiomatic Usage
What this domain tests
This section checks precision rather than breadth: synonyms and antonyms, one-word substitutes, idioms and phrases, phrasal verbs, collocations, word formation with prefixes and suffixes, and commonly confused pairs. The examiner is testing whether you can choose the word that fits the sentence's meaning and register.
Core rules
- A synonym must fit the sentence, not just the dictionary. 'House' and 'home' share meaning but not connotation.
- Idioms are fixed units; translate the whole phrase, never word by word.
- Phrasal verbs change meaning with the particle: 'give in' (surrender) is not 'give up' (quit) or 'give away' (donate).
- Learn confusables in pairs: affect (verb) and effect (noun); principal (head, main) and principle (rule); advice (noun) and advise (verb); practise (verb) and practice (noun).
- For word formation, check the part of speech the blank needs before adding a prefix or suffix.
Worked example
Question: "Complete the sentence: The minister refused to ___ on the issue. (a) give up (b) give in (c) give away" Reasoning: the sentence means the minister would not yield, and 'give in' means to surrender or yield; 'give up' would mean abandon the issue entirely, and 'give away' would mean reveal or donate. Answer: (b) give in.
Traps that cost marks
- Choosing a synonym with the wrong connotation or formality.
- Interpreting idioms literally.
- Confusing 'effect' and 'affect' in writing tasks.
- Adding a suffix that changes the required part of speech.
- Ignoring the particle in a phrasal verb.