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English 3 min read · 2025-10-16

Synonyms and Antonyms: The 11+ Approach

Why most synonym-antonym questions trip children up — and a simple two-step trick to get them right under time pressure.

Synonym and antonym questions look simple, but they're some of the most error-prone in the 11+. Why? Because the wrong answers are designed to feel right.

The trap

Examiners often offer a word that's related rather than synonymous. For "generous", a tempting distractor might be "wealthy". A wealthy person isn't necessarily generous — but the words feel close.

A two-step technique

First, define the target word in your own words. Then ask: "Which option matches my definition exactly?" The trap fades when you commit to a definition first. Practice now on synonym questions to try the technique.

Antonyms: the harder cousin

Antonym questions trip children up because some words don't have a clear opposite. "Generous" has "stingy", but what's the opposite of "ancient"? Train your child to pick the most opposite of the five, not a perfect opposite.

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