How To Improve the Verbal Section on Standardized Tests!

Want to improve your score on your verbal portion of standardized tests? Of course, you do!

One of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is to regularly read fiction and nonfiction about topics you are interested in.  Authors often have a very wide vocabulary, and sometimes seeing a new word in context will help you automatically determine its meaning.  Also, if you are still confused about a word’s meaning, take out the supercomputer, I mean the phone you carry in your pocket, and this can help you find the meaning in moments! Siri, define ‘aberration’! You can immediately know what this word means, and reading the text will help you see it in context.  Now, use your new word two times today in conversation with anyone you talk to because, as the saying goes, ‘once you use a word three times, it's yours’!

I personally love sci-fi and the Dune series by Frank Herbert; however, I have found HP Lovecraft has creepily captivating short stories, many of which can be found online and even can be read out loud on youtube. This controversial author uses adjectives that are seldom seen in modern works of literature. Check out ‘The outsider’ for an excellent introduction to this author.

Now, besides reading, what else can you do to improve your vocabulary? This is more effort, but do you speak another language? Many words in English come from Greek, Latin, French, and German. While speaking one of these languages can be an asset, it is best to know a little bit about each language and learn common suffixes and prefixes so you can assemble words.  If you see a strange word but know the half of it, you can assemble a partial meaning, which can help answer a question on a standardized test.

Here is a link to some common Greek and Latin root words; check out the following passage, where I show you how to make gamified flashcards where you can make your own lists that you can use right from your phone!

By: Jason Stanwood

Academic Tutor at Bümo