Why vocabulary matters so much in the 11+
Vocabulary isn't only tested in synonym and antonym questions. It decides whether a child understands a comprehension passage, spots the right answer in an analogy and writes a strong creative piece. Children with a wide vocabulary pick up marks across every paper.
The 11+ vocabulary list: 57 words to know
These words come up again and again in 11+ style papers and in the books children in Years 5 and 6 read. Download the full version with synonyms and opposites from our free 11+ practice pack.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| abundant | existing in large amounts |
| adversary | an opponent or enemy |
| ambiguous | having more than one possible meaning |
| amiable | friendly and pleasant |
| arduous | difficult and tiring |
| benevolent | kind and wanting to help others |
| brevity | shortness; using few words |
| candid | honest and direct |
| cautious | careful to avoid danger or mistakes |
| cease | to stop |
| commence | to begin |
| conceal | to hide |
| consequence | a result of an action |
| courteous | polite and respectful |
| cumbersome | large and awkward to carry or use |
| debris | scattered broken pieces |
| deceive | to trick or mislead |
| diligent | hard-working and careful |
| diminish | to become or make smaller |
| eccentric | unusual or odd in behaviour |
| elated | extremely happy |
| eloquent | fluent and persuasive with words |
| endeavour | an attempt to achieve something |
| exasperated | very annoyed |
| feeble | weak |
| frugal | careful with money; not wasteful |
| gregarious | sociable; enjoys company |
| hostile | unfriendly |
| immense | extremely large |
| impartial | fair; not taking sides |
| inevitable | certain to happen |
| jovial | cheerful and friendly |
| lethargic | lacking energy |
| meticulous | very careful about detail |
| mundane | dull and ordinary |
| novice | a beginner |
| obstinate | stubborn |
| ominous | suggesting something bad will happen |
| perplexed | confused |
| placid | calm and not easily upset |
| prosperous | successful, often wealthy |
| reluctant | unwilling |
| resilient | able to recover quickly from difficulty |
| scarce | in short supply |
| serene | calm and untroubled |
| sombre | dark or gloomy; serious |
| tedious | long and boring |
| tenacious | determined; doesn't give up |
| timid | shy and easily frightened |
| tranquil | peaceful and quiet |
| trivial | unimportant |
| vacant | empty |
| vague | unclear |
| vivid | bright, clear and full of life |
| wary | cautious about possible danger |
| wretched | very unhappy, or of poor quality |
| zealous | very enthusiastic |
How to learn 11+ vocabulary so it sticks
- 1Five words a week. Small batches stick. Pin them on the fridge.
- 2Use them out loud. Challenge the family to use each word in conversation before Sunday.
- 3Learn pairs. Learn each word with a synonym and an opposite, for example timid: shy, and bold.
- 4Read above their level. Classic and modern novels, quality newspapers for children and non-fiction all build vocabulary faster than lists alone.
- 5Keep a word book. New words from reading go in with a meaning and a sentence your child writes.
- 6Test with games. Quick-fire synonym races and word bingo beat silent revision.
Tip: vocabulary builds slowly, so start early. Ten minutes a day from Year 4 adds up to hundreds of new words by the test.
Get the full list with synonyms and opposites
Download our free 11+ pack: the vocabulary list plus a 30-question mini mock paper with answers.
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