Test strategies - Synonyms

An inevitability that many English language learners face is taking language tests. In Japan, tests like Eiken and TOEIC are very popular, but for those who want to study or work overseas, they will most likely have to take the TOEFL or IELTS tests. One piece of advice that I found before here, which is universal, is that learning synonyms is vital for your success. Synonyms are usually multiple words that have the same meaning. Sometimes the meaning is not exactly the same, but can match appropriately in particular situations. Every time you learn new words, you should research synonyms to go along with them. A good tool is a sort of a dictionary known as a thesaurus (an online example is found here).

For instance;

If you learn the word Important, then you research similar meaning words, you find a list of possibilities:

• meaningful
• essential
• significant
• substantial
• vital

And that is just a few options.

Or, the word necessary:

• crucial
• vital
• fundamental
• requisite

There are a few great examples which I took from the link I shared above, but here it is again.