This year vocabulary played a vital role in the CAT. Keeping that in mind I give here seven tips which, I think, will help you improve your vocabulary for the formidable test.
Tip One: READ A LOT! Most words can be learned from context. The more you read, the more words you shall get exposed to and the more words you get exposed to the better vocabulary you will have. Hence, read, read and read. Pay especially close attention to unfamiliar words while reading. Look, as to what the context is and try to guess the meaning. (DO NOT, AT THIS POINT, REFER TO THE DICTIONARY.) Go ahead and complete the reading matter and then, you may refer to the dictionary.
Well, then, read a LOOOOOOOOT!Tip One: READ A LOT! Most words can be learned from context. The more you read, the more words you shall get exposed to and the more words you get exposed to the better vocabulary you will have. Hence, read, read and read. Pay especially close attention to unfamiliar words while reading. Look, as to what the context is and try to guess the meaning. (DO NOT, AT THIS POINT, REFER TO THE DICTIONARY.) Go ahead and complete the reading matter and then, you may refer to the dictionary.
Tip Two: REFER: Well, I mean, you must refer to the dictionary for the meanings of the new words you came across. Now, if possible make a note of the words, their primary meanings, secondary meanings and especially their contextual usage. Refer to any Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.
Tip Three: LEARN: This is a technique that I gathered from my twelve-year experience as an English lecturer. Really, a sincere effort to learn the meanings of the difficult words we made note of along with their usage DOES HELP.
Tip Four: REPEAT: Only learning the words, their meanings and usage won't help because there’s the danger of forgetting. Our memory is short-lived, unless, of course, we make efforts to counter this. One method is to repeat the words as many times as possible during the period immediately after learning them. I read about a research which said that if one repeats a word 10 to 15 times, it will never be forgotten. So, repeat by using it general conversations, by writing the word in sentences, by conducting self-memory-tests, by making flash cards of your own.
Tip Five: Take the help of Vocabulary development books. There are quite a few vocabulary books in the market. The ones that I recommend are: STUDENTS’ COMPANION by Wilfred D Best or RUPA’S ENGLISH MANUAL by Rupa publications (for those who believe they need to begin at the basics); WORD POWER MADE EASY by Norman Lewis (for those who believe vocabulary is boring and also for those who believe they past the basic stage); ALL ABOUT WORDS by Maxwell Nurnberg, Morris Rosenblum (there are many more books by these two authors) and INSTANT VOCABULARY by Ida Ehrlich (for a very systematic approach to the learning of words).
Tip Six: Play Vocabulary Development Games: Yes, games do help. Browse the net for the games, select the ones that suit your level and enjoy learning words like never before.
TIP ABOVE ALL THE TIPS, THE SEVENTH TIP:
ATTEND ALL THE VOCABULARY CLASSES. Do never miss the opportunity to learn new and difficult but very important words under the expert guidance of the faculty. Every vocabulary class should be the starting point of a learning session in your preparation for CAT.
