Words in context questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper. Choose the word that best fits a sentence. Like every VR type, they stop being hard the moment your child has a fixed method — here it is.
What the question looks like
Choose the word that best fits a sentence. 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
Read the sentence with a blank and predict a word BEFORE looking at the options; then pick the closest match. Register matters — formal sentences want formal words.
Worked example
'The judge delivered a ___ verdict' → unanimous fits; happy does not, even though it's positive.
The traps
Choosing the fanciest word rather than the fitting one; missing collocations (deliver a verdict).
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.