11+ Vocabulary Booster – January Batch C

18 January 2026 · 7–8 min read

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Introduction

Vocabulary is one of the fastest ways to raise 11+ scores because it quietly powers everything: VR synonyms/antonyms, cloze passages, comprehension inference, and even creative writing quality. The goal isn’t to “collect” words like Pokémon. The goal is to recognise them instantly and use them accurately under time pressure.

This January Batch C set is designed to be practical: each word includes a clean meaning, exam-friendly synonyms/antonyms, and then you’ll see how to apply the words in the kind of sentences that show up in real 11+ reading passages.

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Word List

GLECTA Vocabulary Builder (January Batch C)

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Did You Know?

1. VR (Word Families) tip: many questions rely on spotting words that share a common root. For example, act, active, activity, and activate all belong to the same family. Examiners use this to test deeper vocabulary understanding rather than memorisation.
2. NVR (Position & Placement) tip: examiners often move shapes slightly rather than changing their form. A square may stay the same shape but shift position within a grid. Students who track movement using rows and columns (instead of guessing visually) make far fewer mistakes.
3. Maths (Logical Language) tip: some 11+ questions don’t require heavy calculation — just careful thinking. Phrases like “at least”, “no more than”, and “exactly” are testing logic, not arithmetic. Rewrite information as mini statements or a tiny table and accuracy jumps up.

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Usage Examples

1. Austere: “The headteacher’s austere tone made the room fall silent.”
2. Capitulate: “After a long debate, he finally capitulated and agreed.”
3. Deference: “She spoke with deference to the visiting judge.”
4. Egregious: “The referee apologised for the egregious mistake.”
5. Fastidious: “He was fastidious about spelling and punctuation.”
6. Imperative: “It is imperative to read the question carefully before choosing an answer.”
7. Inevitable: “Without revision, poor results were inevitable.”
8. Judicious: “She made a judicious choice and skipped the hardest question first.”
9. Nonchalant: “He acted nonchalant, though he was clearly worried inside.”
10. Obscure: “The passage contained an obscure reference that confused many pupils.”
11. Presumptuous: “It was presumptuous of him to assume he would win without practice.”
12. Tenacious: “Her tenacious effort helped her improve each week.”
13. Abundant: “The garden had abundant flowers in spring.”
14. Candid: “He gave a candid answer about what he found difficult.”
15. Convey: “The author uses imagery to convey fear and tension.”
16. Deflect: “He tried to deflect blame by changing the subject.”
17. Emerge: “A clear pattern began to emerge after three examples.”
18. Feasible: “Finishing five questions in ten minutes isn’t always feasible.”
19. Grim: “The story opened with a grim scene of cold, empty streets.”
20. Instinctive: “With enough practice, the method becomes instinctive.”
21. Linger: “Don’t linger on one tricky question — move on and return later.”
22. Nurture: “Parents should nurture confidence, not panic.”
23. Restrain: “He had to restrain himself from rushing through the answers.”
24. Seldom: “Careless mistakes are seldom about ability — they’re about rushing.”

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5-Minute Drills

1. Synonym sprint (90 seconds): Choose 6 words. For each, say one synonym out loud instantly. If you hesitate, that word goes back into tomorrow’s set.
2. Antonym snap (60 seconds): Parent says the word. Student replies with the antonym. No “sort of…” answers. Clean, exact opposites.
3. Definition in 7 words (60 seconds): Pick 3 words and explain each in 7 words or fewer. This forces precision.
4. Cloze builder (90 seconds): Write 3 short sentences with blanks and swap with a parent/sibling. Example: “The rules were ______ and left no room for debate.” (austere)
5. Comprehension transfer (60 seconds): Pick any reading book page. Replace one basic word with a stronger word from this list (without changing meaning).

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Quick quiz (10 points)

1. Austere most nearly means… strict and plain friendly excited
2. Capitulate means… celebrate surrender improve
3. Antonym of deference? courtesy defiance respect
4. Egregious is closest to… tiny shocking ordinary
5. Fastidious most nearly means… careless very picky about detail lazy
6. Judicious means… random wise and sensible noisy
7. Antonym of nonchalant? calm anxious indifferent
8. Feasible means… impossible possible and practical confusing
9. Deflect means… explain clearly turn away / change direction repeat
10. Antonym of seldom: rarely often quietly

Score: 0/0

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Parent Playbook

1. Keep it tiny and daily: 6 minutes a day beats 60 minutes once a week (and it annoyingly works).
2. Push for exact meaning: “Kind of means…” is not exam-ready. Make your child say it precisely.
3. Use word families: link words by root (act → active → activate). It boosts VR speed massively.
4. Swap in real reading: whenever your child reads, ask them to spot a basic word and replace it with one from this list (same meaning, stronger word).
5. Mini-tests: every Sunday, do a 10-question quiz (like the one above) and track score improvement.

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GLECTA Advantage

We at GLECTA Tutoring don’t just teach subjects — we show children how to master them in real test scenarios.

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Related Guides

1. 11+ Vocabulary Booster – January Batch B
2. 11+ Vocabulary Booster – January Batch A
3. 11+ Vocabulary Booster – November Batch A
4. 11+ Prefixes & Suffixes That Unlock Cloze Passages

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FAQs

How many new words should my child learn each week for 11+?

A strong target is 10–12 words per week, but only if they’re reviewed. If recall is weak, reduce new words and increase repetition.

Are these words useful for GL, CEM-style, CSSE and independent exams?

Yes. Vocabulary powers comprehension and reasoning across boards. The exact paper format changes, but strong word knowledge transfers everywhere.

My child memorises meanings but can’t use the word. What should we do?

Switch to sentence production. One word = one sentence = one reason why it fits. That turns memory into usable skill.

What’s the quickest way to improve synonyms and antonyms?

Daily 60-second drills: parent says the word, child replies instantly with a synonym or antonym. Speed matters because the exam is timed.

How do word families help in Verbal Reasoning?

Many VR questions reward recognising shared roots. If your child spots families quickly, they solve analogies and cloze questions faster and with fewer guesses.

What’s the biggest vocabulary mistake in 11+?

Vague understanding. Example: knowing “obscure” means “unknown” isn’t enough — it also means “unclear / hard to understand”. Precision wins marks.

Should we learn words in alphabetical order?

Not needed. Learn in theme clusters (personality, emotions, conflict, movement) because stories and comprehension passages use clusters.

How can parents test vocabulary without turning home into a prison?

Keep it light: 2-minute quiz at dinner, 3 questions in the car, or a Sunday 10-question recap. Short and frequent works best.

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Quick Links (GLECTA)

• 📘 Our Courses
• 📞 Request a Callback
• 💬 11+ Tips WhatsApp Group
• 📱 Direct WhatsApp Support
• 📝 Free Vocabulary List
• 🎯 11+ Tips & Mastery Techniques

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