11+ synonyms: how the questions work
A synonym question asks which word means the same, or nearly the same, as another. Here is how the question works, three worked examples and how to practise.
Free beta · for children aged 8–11 · works on iPad and computer
What is a synonym question in the 11+?
A synonym question gives your child a word and asks them to choose the word that means the same, or nearly the same. A synonym is a different word for the same idea: careful and thorough are synonyms. The question tests whether your child knows what the word means, not just whether they have seen it before.
Questions come in a few shapes. Your child might pick one word from a list of four, or choose the pair of words that mean the same. The skill is the same each time. Your child's practice papers show the shapes they will meet.
How do synonym questions work, with examples?
Your child reads the word, thinks about what it means, and picks the option closest in meaning. The trick is to decide the meaning first and only then look at the options, because wrong answers are often tempting. Here are three worked examples using example words.
Example 1
Which word means the same as meticulous?
- calm
- careful
- plentiful
- unwilling
Answer: careful. Meticulous means very careful to get every small detail right, so careful is the closest. The other three words each have a different meaning.
Example 2
Which word means the same as reluctant?
- unwilling
- rare
- tough
- careful
Answer: unwilling. Reluctant means not keen to do something, and slow to agree to it. Unwilling says the same thing in a different word.
Example 3
Which word is closest in meaning to abundant?
- plentiful
- rare
- wary
- precise
Answer: plentiful. Abundant means there is more than enough of it, and so does plentiful. Rare has the opposite meaning. An opposite can be a tempting wrong answer, so check which one the question asks for.
What makes synonym questions tricky?
Three things catch children out: words with more than one meaning, options that mean the opposite, and words that are close but not quite the same. A child who only half knows a word can often rule out two options, then guess between the rest. Secure meanings make the guess unnecessary.
- Say the meaning of the word in your own words before you look at the options.
- Cross out any option that means the opposite.
- Put your answer into a sentence in place of the word. Does the sentence still mean the same?
How can my child practise synonyms?
The best practice is short, regular and on the words your child actually gets wrong. VocabGecko turns each word from a practice test into synonym questions like the ones above, alongside the other question types, and brings the word back just before it would be forgotten. Five minutes a day is enough to keep the streak going.
Our 11+ vocabulary guide explains how spacing, retrieval and context help words stay learned.
What should my child practise next?
Synonym, antonym, cloze and verbal reasoning questions all rest on the same thing: knowing what words mean and how they relate to each other. The vocabulary guide explains how to help a child learn those words so they stay learned, and the pages below explain the other question types one at a time.
Where can we practise synonyms and antonyms together?
Our mixed practice page has 12 questions with answers and explanations. Begin with similar meanings, then switch to opposites and check the instruction before choosing. You can work aloud or print the page from your browser. Use any unfamiliar meanings to decide which words to revisit together after a gap.
Ready to try it with your child's own words?
Join the free beta waitlist. Once you have a place, you type in the words from your next practice test and check the first cards. Joining takes about a minute. VocabGecko is free during the beta, needs no card, and works alongside the prep platform or tutor you already use.
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