Strategy 1: Synonyms

You must determine which of five provided choices has the best similar definition as a certain word. Nearly similar may often be more correct, because the goal is to test your understanding of the nuances, or little differences, between words. A perfect match may not exist, so don’t be concerned if your answer choice is not a complete synonym. Focus upon edging closer to the word. Eliminate the words that you know aren’t correct first. Then narrow your search. Cross out the words that are the least similar to the main word until you are left with the one that is the most similar.

Strategy 2: Prefixes

Take advantage of every clue that the word might include. Prefixes and suffixes can be a huge help. Usually they allow you to determine a basic meaning.

Pre- means before, post- means after, pro- is positive , de- is negative.

From these prefixes and suffixes, you can get an idea of the general meaning of the word and look for its opposite. Beware though of any traps. Just because con is the opposite of pro, doesn’t necessarily mean congress is the opposite of progress!

Strategy 3: Word Nature

Many words can be easily determined to be a positive word or a negative word. Words such as despicable, gruesome, and bleak are all negative. Words such as ecstatic, praise worthy, and magnificent are all positive. You will be surprised at how many words can be considered as either positive or negative. Once that is determined, you can quickly eliminate any other words with an opposite meaning and focus on those that have the other characteristic, whether positive or negative.

Strategy 4: Strong words

Part of the challenge is determine the most nearly similar word. This is particular true when two words seem to be similar. When analyzing a word, determine how strong it is.

For example,

“stupendous” and “good” are both positive words. However, stupendous is a much stronger positive adjective than good. Also, “towering” or “gigantic” are stronger words than “tall” or “large”. Search for an answer choice that is similar and also has the same strength.

If the main word is weak, look for similar words that are also weak.

If the main word is strong, look for similar words that are also strong.

Strategy 5: Word type

Another key is what type of word is the main word. If the main word is an adjective describing height, then look for the answer to be an adjective describing height as well. Match both the type and topic of the main word. The type refers the parts of speech, whether the word is an adjective, adverb, or verb. The topic refers to what the definition of the word includes, such as sizes or fashion styles.

Strategy 6: Using sentences

Many words seem more natural in a sentence. Specious reasoning, irresistible force, and uncanny resemblance are just a few of the word combinations that usually go together. When faced with an uncommon word that you barely understand (and on the ASVAB there will be many), try to put the word in a sentence that makes sense. It will help you to understand the word’s meaning and make it easier to determine its opposite. Once you have a good descriptive sentence that utilizes the main word properly, plug in the answer choices and see if he sentence still has the same meaning with each answer choice. The answer choice that maintains the meaning of the sentence is correct!

Strategy 7: Substitution

Using a sentence is a great help because it puts the word into a proper perspective. Since ASVAB actually gives you a sentence, sometimes you don’t always have to create your own

(though in many cases the sentence won’t be helpful.)

Read the example sentence with the underlined word. Then read the sentence again and again, each time replacing the highlighted word with one of the answer choices. The correct answer should “sound” right and fit.

Example: The desert landscape was desolate.

A. cheerful

B. creepy

C. excited

D. forlorn

After reading the examples sentence, begin replacing “desolate” with each of the answer choices. Does “the desert landscape was cheerful, creepy, excited, or forlorn” sound right?

Deserts are typically hot, empty, and rugged environments, probably not cheerful, or excited. While creepy might sound right, that word would certainly be more appropriate for a haunted house. But “the desert landscape was forlorn” has a certain ring to it and would be correct.

Strategy 8: Related Choices

If you don’t know the word, don’t worry. Look at the answer choices and just use them. Remember that three of the answer choices will always be wrong. If you can find a common relationship between any three answer choices, then you know they are wrong. Find the answer choice that does not have a common relationship to the other answer choices and it will be the correct answer.

Example: Laconic most nearly means

A. wordy

B. talkative

C. expressive

D. quiet

In this example the first three choices are all similar. Even if you don’t know that laconic means the same as quiet, you know that “quiet” must be correct, because the other three choices were all virtually the same. They are all the same, so they must all be wrong. The one that is different must be correct. So, don’t worry if you don’t know a word. Focus on the answer choices that you do understand and see if you can identify similarities. Even identifying two words that are similar will allow you to eliminate those two answer choices, for they are both wrong, because they are either both right or both wrong (they’re similar, remember), so since they can’t both be right, they both must be wrong.

Strategy 9: Familiar words

Don’t choose a word just because you recognize it. On difficult questions, you may only recognize one or two words. ASVAB doesn’t put “make-believe'“ words on the test, so don’t think that just because you only recognize one word means that word must be correct. If you don’t recognize four words, then focus on the one that you do recognize. Is it correct? Try your best to determine if it fits the sentence. If it does, that is great, but if it doesn’t, eliminate it. Each word you eliminate increases your chances of getting the question correct.

Strategy 10: All choices

Be sure to read all of the choices. You may find an answer choice that seems right at first, but continue reading and you may find a better choice.