We have been talking about the preparation strategy of
Verbal Ability in the past few articles on CAT 2012 preparation. We have
discussed about the common question types in Grammar and English Usage
and Reading Comprehension basics. The other important area in the Verbal
Ability section is Vocabulary. Though vocabulary does not constitute
direct questions in CAT exam but having a strong Vocabulary base will
always help you earn brownie points in this section.
It is not
only about cracking CAT, but in the other walks of your life as well.
This article of MBAUniverse.com will show you the importance of having a
strong vocabulary base and how you it can help in your CAT 2012 preparation.
As mentioned in the previous article on CAT 2012 Verbal Ability past years’ trends, the share of Vocabulary consists of 10 to 15 per cent. The questions are asked in the form of sentence correction, appropriate usage of words etc.
Your preparation to strengthen your vocabulary will start by a self assessment of where you sand at present. Your current preparation of vocabulary will lead you to your next stage. For example, if you already have a sound grasp on words, you should go the next level. But if you don’t have sufficient knowledge on words, then you should seriously start working on it in a systematic way.
Having a good vocabulary can help you in Reading Comprehension as well. As Arks Srinivas, CEO, VistaMind Education and former Director, T.I.M.E. says, “A good vocabulary enhances reading speed as well as comprehension.”
Get the right sources
According to him, the best way to prepare for Vocabulary is by going through the words that appear in your mock tests or practice tests. “The best way to improve vocabulary is to concentrate on the words that appear in the Mock Tests and see that you are thorough in these. Since the words that are given in CAT are the words in vogue, it is very likely that by going through the MOCK Tests and Individual tests, you would come across almost all words that may appear in CAT 2012,” states Srinivas.
Another easy method to prepare for Vocabulary is by picking out words from books, news papers or magazines whose meaning you cannot figure out. “While you are reading an article, passage, book - pick out the words which are of interest to you- find out their meaning-try to understand the context in which they are used and follow the structure of sentence,” suggest SK Agarwal, Author & Verbal Ability Expert – MBAUniverse.com.
Apply the words relevantly
The next step is to implement what you have learnt. The best way of doing so is by utilizing the words in writing. “When you write, try to frame good sentences using the new words. This will give you ample opportunity to rectify the errors in sentences, improving the vocabulary, improving the speed and accuracy of reading and the skill to pick out the wrong sentences as well as how to complete the sentence or paragraph,” Agarwal adds.
One caveat here, Building a strong vocabulary is not a matter of few days, but you will have to hone it over the years to excel in it. But in case you have not been able to concentrate on your vocabulary building, duration of three to four months is not bad enough.
As Agarwal suggests, “In my view, Vocabulary cannot be built up overnight nevertheless, during this period a stock of fairly good vocabulary can be prepared with a scheduled and proper planning. The way is to learn a few words regularly and put them to correct use. Inculcate a regular reading habit. Get an instinct for reading good material.”
But if you think that just selecting a handful of words and memorizing their meaning from a dictionary will do you good, you would be choosing the wrong way. Mugging the words can never be a way. It is advisable to learn a few words on regular basis, get their correct usage remembered for ever, by writing letters, paragraphs, short essays, Articles to news papers or whatever the way, the student thinks best.”
While you implement the newly learnt words, you will understand the various ways of applications of a particular word. Using the word in your regular conversation with your friends and family members can also give a boost to your word power.
Follow the right methods
A good way to remember the meanings of the words is by learning the roots of the world. “Try to get to the roots of the words. Their prefixes/suffixes make a pattern of the same. This will help you in formulating and following their meaning even if you are not familiar with them,” states Agarwal.
Making flash cards can also help. Write down different words in cards along with their meanings, synonyms and antonyms. Place them in such areas from where they are easily visible to you. This will help you memorize the words and their usages without much effort. But don’ forget to implement them regularly in your daily conversations or writing articles, paragraphs, letters etc. “The best & most fruitful way to this tricky module is to go for more and more reading,” Agarwal suggests.
Solving crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble, Taboo etc. can not only boost your word power, but also help you remember the meaning of the word throughout as you don’t just mug it up, but understand the implication and use it in a relevant way.
To read the previous articles on CAT 2012 Verbal Ability preparation, click on the following links:
Reading Comprehension for CAT 2012: What they check & how to prepare
Verbal Ability for CAT 2012: Know the common errors in the Grammar questions & the ways to tackle
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2012.
It is not
only about cracking CAT, but in the other walks of your life as well.
This article of MBAUniverse.com will show you the importance of having a
strong vocabulary base and how you it can help in your CAT 2012 preparation. As mentioned in the previous article on CAT 2012 Verbal Ability past years’ trends, the share of Vocabulary consists of 10 to 15 per cent. The questions are asked in the form of sentence correction, appropriate usage of words etc.
Your preparation to strengthen your vocabulary will start by a self assessment of where you sand at present. Your current preparation of vocabulary will lead you to your next stage. For example, if you already have a sound grasp on words, you should go the next level. But if you don’t have sufficient knowledge on words, then you should seriously start working on it in a systematic way.
Having a good vocabulary can help you in Reading Comprehension as well. As Arks Srinivas, CEO, VistaMind Education and former Director, T.I.M.E. says, “A good vocabulary enhances reading speed as well as comprehension.”
Get the right sources
According to him, the best way to prepare for Vocabulary is by going through the words that appear in your mock tests or practice tests. “The best way to improve vocabulary is to concentrate on the words that appear in the Mock Tests and see that you are thorough in these. Since the words that are given in CAT are the words in vogue, it is very likely that by going through the MOCK Tests and Individual tests, you would come across almost all words that may appear in CAT 2012,” states Srinivas.
Another easy method to prepare for Vocabulary is by picking out words from books, news papers or magazines whose meaning you cannot figure out. “While you are reading an article, passage, book - pick out the words which are of interest to you- find out their meaning-try to understand the context in which they are used and follow the structure of sentence,” suggest SK Agarwal, Author & Verbal Ability Expert – MBAUniverse.com.
Apply the words relevantly
The next step is to implement what you have learnt. The best way of doing so is by utilizing the words in writing. “When you write, try to frame good sentences using the new words. This will give you ample opportunity to rectify the errors in sentences, improving the vocabulary, improving the speed and accuracy of reading and the skill to pick out the wrong sentences as well as how to complete the sentence or paragraph,” Agarwal adds.
One caveat here, Building a strong vocabulary is not a matter of few days, but you will have to hone it over the years to excel in it. But in case you have not been able to concentrate on your vocabulary building, duration of three to four months is not bad enough.
As Agarwal suggests, “In my view, Vocabulary cannot be built up overnight nevertheless, during this period a stock of fairly good vocabulary can be prepared with a scheduled and proper planning. The way is to learn a few words regularly and put them to correct use. Inculcate a regular reading habit. Get an instinct for reading good material.”
But if you think that just selecting a handful of words and memorizing their meaning from a dictionary will do you good, you would be choosing the wrong way. Mugging the words can never be a way. It is advisable to learn a few words on regular basis, get their correct usage remembered for ever, by writing letters, paragraphs, short essays, Articles to news papers or whatever the way, the student thinks best.”
While you implement the newly learnt words, you will understand the various ways of applications of a particular word. Using the word in your regular conversation with your friends and family members can also give a boost to your word power.
Follow the right methods
A good way to remember the meanings of the words is by learning the roots of the world. “Try to get to the roots of the words. Their prefixes/suffixes make a pattern of the same. This will help you in formulating and following their meaning even if you are not familiar with them,” states Agarwal.
Making flash cards can also help. Write down different words in cards along with their meanings, synonyms and antonyms. Place them in such areas from where they are easily visible to you. This will help you memorize the words and their usages without much effort. But don’ forget to implement them regularly in your daily conversations or writing articles, paragraphs, letters etc. “The best & most fruitful way to this tricky module is to go for more and more reading,” Agarwal suggests.
Solving crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble, Taboo etc. can not only boost your word power, but also help you remember the meaning of the word throughout as you don’t just mug it up, but understand the implication and use it in a relevant way.
To read the previous articles on CAT 2012 Verbal Ability preparation, click on the following links:
Reading Comprehension for CAT 2012: What they check & how to prepare
Verbal Ability for CAT 2012: Know the common errors in the Grammar questions & the ways to tackle
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2012.
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