Synonyms (closest in meaning) questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper. Pick the two words, one from each group, closest in meaning. Like every VR type, they stop being hard the moment your child has a fixed method — here it is.
What the question looks like
Pick the two words, one from each group, closest in meaning. Papers typically include 3–5 of these per test, worth the same marks as any other question — which makes fast, reliable technique on the common types the highest-value preparation there is.
The method
Define each word in the first group in three words or fewer, then scan the second group for a match. If two candidates survive, choose the pair that could swap in a sentence without changing it.
Worked example
(begin, end, middle) and (finish, start, centre) → begin/start.
The traps
Pairing associated words (bread/butter) rather than true synonyms; missing rarer senses of common words.
How to practise this type
Little and often wins: five questions of this type daily for a week beats fifty in one sitting. Our free verbal-reasoning worksheets are organised by exact question type, and the Arena's VR mode gives instant feedback with XP. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy. For the full landscape, see the 21 VR types overview.