How to Master the Language Skills Section of Competitive Exams

The Language Skills section assesses candidates’ verbal abilities, reading comprehension, and other English language skills. This section contains 36 questions, and candidates have 28 minutes to complete it.

The Language Skills section evaluates candidates' verbal abilities, reading comprehension, and other English language skills. This section consists of 36 questions to be completed within 28 minutes. Key areas tested include paragraph formation, sentence completion, error identification, and reading comprehension, with an emphasis on vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension.

Candidates can employ various strategies to excel in this highly competitive exam. Here are some effective tips for mastering the Language Skills section:

1. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is paramount for success in any competitive exam. Even those proficient in English must practice regularly to achieve high scores in the language section. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.”

2. Learn Words in Chunks: Words often appear together in groups, known as ‘word chunks.’ A strong vocabulary is built by learning words in these chunks. Some examples include: fast food, quick lunch, heavy rain, strong wind, take a rest, and make a decision. Constant exposure to English through listening, reading, speaking, and writing helps you use these chunks accurately.

3. Understand Grammar Concepts: Familiarity with grammar does not require memorising rules. Instead, focus on using correct forms in communication. Here are some essential concepts:

- Subject-Verb Agreement: A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example: He/She eats, They/We eat, One of my friends is coming to meet me today.

- Consistency with Tenses: Avoid mixing tenses within sentences. For example: "He said he ate a pizza last night and it was tasty."

- Correct Article Usage: Know when to use ‘a’ and ‘an.’ Use 'a' before words starting with a consonant sound and 'an' before words starting with a vowel sound. For example: a one-rupee coin, an MP.

- Correct Prepositions: Mastering prepositions comes with exposure to the language. Familiarise yourself with compound prepositions such as: in relation to, with regard to, and in addition to.

- Proper Punctuation: Correct punctuation is crucial for conveying your message accurately. Missing punctuation, like a comma, can change a sentence's meaning. For instance: Let’s eat, Grandpa vs Let’s eat Grandpa.

- Variety of Sentence Structures: Familiarity with different sentence structures enhances comprehension and error identification in reading passages.

- Parallel Structures: Understanding parallelism improves clarity. For example: John and Mary, along with their kids, visited us this morning, shared their travel experiences, and presented us with gifts; we watched a movie at a nearby cinema and enjoyed dinner at our favorite restaurant.

(Dr Albert P’Rayan is an ELT resource person and education columnist. Views expressed are his own. He can be reached at rayanal@yahoo.co.uk.)