5 board exam vocabulary words you need to know

Class 10 and 12 board exams are full of tricky vocabulary. Here are 5 words that show up year after year — and how to remember them for life.

Indian board exams (CBSE, ICSE, state boards) love testing vocabulary in reading comprehension and writing sections. Master these 5 words and you'll spot them on your next paper.

1. Perseverance (per-suh-VEER-ans) Meaning: Persistence in doing something despite difficulty. Why it matters: Common in essay prompts about success, failure, and life lessons.

2. Diligent (DIL-i-jent) Meaning: Having or showing care and effort in work. Why it matters: Frequently appears in passages about students, workers, and historical figures.

3. Procrastination (pro-kras-ti-NAY-shun) Meaning: The action of delaying or postponing something. Why it matters: Often used as an essay topic. Bonus: most students know what it means because they live it.

4. Empathy (EM-puh-thee) Meaning: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Why it matters: Modern board exams emphasize values; this word shows up in character analysis questions.

5. Aspiration (as-pi-RAY-shun) Meaning: A hope or ambition of achieving something. Why it matters: Common in essays about career, goals, and personal development.

How to remember them forever

Reading the definitions once won't cut it. Here's what actually works:

Use each word in a sentence about your own life today.
Tell a friend a story using all 5 words.
Play a vocabulary game with these words in mind.

The more times you produce a word (write, say, type), the deeper it gets etched into your memory.

Good luck with your boards — you've got this. 🚀

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