AJA Officer Academies Entrance Examination key terms

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as 'hot' and 'cold'. Antonym questions test whether you can identify contrast in meaning between words in a sentence or list.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word, such as 'begin' and 'start'. Recognising synonyms helps you replace words without changing the meaning of a passage.

A conclusion you draw from evidence in a text rather than from a statement made directly. Good inferences are supported by clues in the passage and stay within what the writer implies.

The feelings or associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the negative tone of 'stingy' compared with 'thrifty'. Connotation affects how a sentence is understood emotionally.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from the feelings it may suggest. For example, 'snake' denotes a reptile regardless of any negative connotation attached to it.

The quality of a phrase or sentence that can be understood in more than one way. Ambiguous wording makes meaning unclear and is often tested by asking which interpretation is most reasonable.

To restate a passage in your own words while keeping its meaning. A good paraphrase changes wording and sentence structure but does not add opinions or drop important details.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from the individual words, such as 'break the ice'. Idioms must be learned as whole phrases because a literal reading misleads.

A comparison of two or more quantities showing how many times one contains another, written like 3:2. Ratios allow you to scale amounts up or down while keeping the same relationship.

A number expressed as a fraction of one hundred, so 25% means 25 out of every 100. Percentages make comparisons between differently sized groups easier to interpret.

The arithmetic average, found by adding all values and dividing by how many there are. The mean is affected strongly by unusually high or low values in a data set.

The middle value when a set of numbers is arranged in order. If there is an even count, the median is the average of the two middle values, and it is less affected by extreme scores.

A measure between 0 and 1 of how likely an event is, where 0 means impossible and 1 means certain. It can be estimated from favourable outcomes divided by total possible outcomes.

A statement that two ratios are equal, or a share of a whole expressed relative to the total. Proportions let you solve scaling problems such as recipes or map distances.

A small raised number showing how many times a base is multiplied by itself, so two cubed means 2×2×2. Exponents appear in growth, area and volume calculations.

The full authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference. Sovereignty is a core principle in international relations and underpins a country's control over its laws and borders.

A sustained rise in the general level of prices, which reduces how much goods and services money can buy. Central banks often raise interest rates to slow inflation.

The fundamental set of rules that establishes how a state is governed, including the powers of institutions and the rights of citizens. Constitutions may be written in one document or spread across conventions.

The total market value of goods and services produced within a country during a period, usually a year. It is a common but incomplete measure of economic activity and living standards.

A direct vote by the electorate on a specific policy or constitutional question, rather than a vote for a candidate. Referendums are used to decide major issues such as independence or treaty membership.

The practice of managing relations between countries through negotiation, dialogue and representation rather than force. Diplomats work to resolve disputes, build agreements and protect their state's interests abroad.

A statement offered as a reason or evidence in an argument, intended to support the conclusion. Evaluating an argument means checking whether its premises are true and whether they support the conclusion.

A form of deductive argument with two premises leading to a conclusion, such as 'all birds have feathers; a robin is a bird; therefore a robin has feathers'.

In logic, the property of an argument whose conclusion must follow if its premises are true. Validity concerns structure rather than whether the premises are actually true in the real world.

A single case that shows a general statement or argument to be false. Finding a counterexample is a powerful way to test claims containing words like 'all', 'always' or 'never'.

Reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general rule, such as noticing a pattern and predicting that it will continue. Inductive conclusions are probable rather than guaranteed.

Reasoning that moves from general principles to a specific conclusion that must follow if the premises are true. It is the basis of formal logic and mathematical proof.

Acting honestly and consistently according to stated values, especially when doing so is difficult or costly. Integrity involves refusing to misrepresent facts even when a shortcut would bring personal benefit.

Being answerable for your decisions and their results, including admitting mistakes and correcting them. Accountable leaders explain their choices and accept responsibility rather than blaming others.

The formal line of authority showing who reports to whom and who may give orders. Following it keeps decisions coordinated, though it should never be used to conceal serious wrongdoing.

A situation where a person's private interests could improperly influence their official decisions. It is usually managed by disclosure, withdrawal from the decision or removal from the role.

Assigning a task and the necessary authority to another person while remaining accountable for the outcome. Effective delegation matches tasks to competence and includes clear instructions and checkpoints.

Referring an issue to a more senior level when it exceeds your authority, risk tolerance or ability to resolve it. Timely escalation prevents small problems from becoming serious failures.

Choosing a response whose size and severity match the seriousness of the situation. Proportional decisions avoid overreacting to minor issues and underreacting to serious risks.

A testable prediction or proposed explanation that can be supported or rejected by evidence. A useful hypothesis is specific enough to be checked through observation or experiment.

A factor in an experiment that can change or be changed. Independent variables are manipulated, dependent variables are measured, and controlled variables are kept constant throughout.

The mass of a substance per unit volume, often expressed in grams per cubic centimetre. Objects less dense than water float, while denser objects sink.

A scale from 0 to 14 measuring how acidic or alkaline a solution is. Values below 7 are acidic, 7 is neutral, and values above 7 are alkaline.

A measure of moving mass equal to mass multiplied by velocity. In a closed system total momentum is conserved, which helps explain the outcomes of collisions.

The capacity to do work or cause change, existing in forms such as kinetic, potential, chemical and thermal. Energy can be transferred or transformed but is not created or destroyed.