Vocabulary is 7–8 marks per paper. A proven system to learn and retain 2000 high-frequency SSC words using context, roots, and spaced repetition.
7–8 vocab questions every paper (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms). Memorise the right words and you bank these marks.
SSC recycles the same ~2000 words across years. Master these and you cover 95% of vocab questions. Sources: Previous-year papers (last 10 years) Blackbook of English Vocabulary (the gold standard) SSCIntel's Topic Search (auto-generates vocab by topic)
Don't memorise "ephemeral = short-lived". Memorise: "The ephemeral fame of TikTok stars faded within months." Context = 5× retention.
eph- (Greek: upon, over) → ephemeral, epilogue -logy (study of) → biology, geology mal- (bad) → malevolent, malfunction
Learning one root unlocks 10+ words.
Review new words at Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 21. By Day 21, it's locked in.
Benevolent (kind), malevolent (wishing harm) Optimistic / pessimistic / pragmatic Magnanimous (generous), petty (small-minded)
Loquacious (talkative), laconic (brief), verbose (wordy) Articulate, inarticulate, reticent
Ephemeral (short), perpetual (endless), transient Anachronism (out of time)
Bite the bullet, burn the midnight oil, cry over spilt milk Once in a blue moon, a wolf in sheep's clothing Cut the Gordian knot, que sera sera
Polyglot (multilingual), amphibious (land + water) Misogynist (hates women), philanthropist (loves humanity) Autobiography / biography / memoir
Daily: 30 new words (Blackbook + SSCIntel Topic Search) Weekly: Review all words from the week Monthly: Full vocab mock (100 questions)
In 90 days, you'll have 2000+ words and 7–8 marks guaranteed.
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