Building Vocabulary for the 11+ Writing Exam
Learn how to collect, remember, and use powerful but accurate words—without sounding forced.
Tiered Vocabulary
- Tier 1: everyday words (big, sad)
- Tier 2: high‑utility academic words (precise, significant, reluctant)
- Tier 3: topic‑specific words (photosynthesis)
Aim to grow Tier 2 words for writing—they fit many topics and sound mature.
Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Prefixes
re-, un-, mis-, pre-, sub-, trans-, inter-
Suffixes
-able, -tion, -ment, -ous, -ive, -ly
Knowing parts helps you guess meanings and use new words accurately.
Semantic Fields and Collocations
Group words by theme (weather: drizzle, gust, overcast) and by what goes together ("make a decision", not "do a decision").
Spaced Practice (fast)
- Collect 5 words per week; review on days 1, 3, 7, 14.
- Use each in a sentence or tiny paragraph; check for accuracy.
- Keep a mini word bank by theme for quick reference.
Avoid These Pitfalls
- Overusing thesaurus words that don’t fit the tone
- Choosing rare words instead of clear, precise ones
- Repeating a new word too many times
Practice
- Pick a theme (movement, light, sound) and add 8–10 words to your bank.
- Write 5 sentences using 5 different Tier 2 words naturally.