Stop rote memorization: English tutor Singapore's real way to widen the gap

Category 1: The Essentials – Foundation Building

1. Acquire: To buy or obtain an object or asset - "He worked hard to acquire new skills for his job."

2. Clarify: To make a statement less confusing - "Could you clarify the last point in your email?"

3. Coherent: Logical and consistent - "The witness gave a coherent account of the events."

4. Distinguish: To recognize a difference - "It is important to distinguish between facts and opinions."

5. Efficient: Achieving maximum productivity - "The new software makes the workflow more efficient."

6. Fundamental: A central or primary rule - "Grammar is a fundamental part of language learning."

7. Interpret: To explain the meaning of information - "How do you interpret the latest data?"

8. Objective: Not influenced by personal feelings - "An [english tutor singapore] provides an objective critique of your writing."

9. Precise: Exact and accurate - "Please be more precise with your instructions."

10. Relevant: Closely connected or appropriate - "Only include relevant information in your report."

11. Sufficient: Enough or adequate - "Ensure you have sufficient evidence to support your claim."

12. Transform: To make a thorough change - "Digital tools can transform the way we study."

13. Validate: To check or prove the accuracy of something - "The data serves to validate our initial theory."

14. Ambiguous: Open to more than one interpretation - "The contract's wording was too ambiguous."

15. Consistent: Acting or done in the same way over time - "Consistent practice is the key to fluency."

16. Deduce: To arrive at a fact by reasoning - "What can we deduce from these survey results?"

17. Equivalent: Equal in value or function - "A pass in this exam is equivalent to a diploma."

18. Indicate: To point out or show - "The signs indicate that the economy is recovering."

19. Notion: A conception of or belief about something - "She challenged the notion that English is too hard."

20. Perspective: A particular attitude or way of regarding something - "The book offers a fresh perspective on history."

Category 2: Advanced/Professional – The CBD Standard

• Advocate: To publicly recommend or support - "He is a strong advocate for workplace diversity."

• Comprehensive: Including all or nearly all elements - "The team conducted a comprehensive review of the project."

• Deteriorate: To become progressively worse - "The relationship between the partners began to deteriorate."

• Eloquent: Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing - "The CEO gave an eloquent speech at the gala."

• Feasible: Possible to do easily or conveniently - "Is it feasible to finish the task by Friday?"

• Hinder: To create difficulties for someone or something - "Technical glitches can hinder our productivity."

• Incentive: A thing that motivates or encourages - "The bonus acts as an incentive for the staff."

• Leverage: To use something to maximum advantage - "We should leverage our strengths to win the bid."

• Mitigate: To make something less severe or painful - "We need a plan to mitigate the risks involved."

• Negotiate: To try to reach an agreement or compromise - "They are trying to negotiate a better deal."

• Optimize: To make the best or most effective use of a resource - "Our goal is to optimize the manufacturing process."

• Pragmatic: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically - "We need a pragmatic solution to this budget issue."

• Resilient: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions - "The local economy has proven to be resilient."

• Strategic: Relating to the identification of long-term aims - "The company made a strategic decision to expand."

• Tangible: Perceptible by touch; clear and definite - "The investment led to tangible results within months."

• Unanimous: Fully in agreement - "The board reached a unanimous decision."

• Versatile: Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions - "A versatile employee is an asset to any team."

• Warrant: To justify or necessitate a certain course of action - "The situation does not warrant such drastic measures."

• Yield: To produce or provide - "The new marketing campaign is expected to yield high returns."

• Analogy: A comparison between one thing and another - "He used a clever analogy to explain the concept."

Category 3: Exam/Academic Specific – A-Level & O-Level Focus

• Analyse: To examine methodically and in detail - "Analyse the impact of social media on teenagers."

• Corroborate: To confirm or give support to a statement - "The witness was able to corroborate the suspect's alibi."

• Exacerbate: To make a problem or bad situation worse - "High interest rates will exacerbate the housing crisis."

• Hypothesize: To put forward a theoretical explanation - "Scientists hypothesize that the planet is warming."

• Inherent: Existing in something as a permanent or essential attribute - "There are inherent risks in every investment."

• Juxtaposition: The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect - "The juxtaposition of wealth and poverty was striking."

• Manifest: Clear or obvious to the eye or mind - "The errors in the system were manifest."

• Nuance: A subtle difference in meaning or expression - "The poet uses nuance to convey deep emotion."

• Paradigm: A typical example or pattern of something - "This discovery represents a paradigm shift in science."

• Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking - "The politician's rhetoric failed to impress the crowd."

• Scrutinize: To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly - "The examiners will scrutinize every detail of your essay."

• Synthesis: The combination of ideas to form a theory or system - "The paper is a synthesis of several different viewpoints."

• Tenacious: Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely - "He was a tenacious student who never gave up."

• Ubiquitous: Present, appearing, or found everywhere - "Smartphone technology is now ubiquitous in Singapore."

• Viable: Capable of working successfully - "We need to find a viable alternative to fossil fuels."

• Adversity: Difficulties or misfortune - "She showed great courage in the face of adversity."

• Benevolent: Well-meaning and kindly - "The benevolent donor provided funds for the school."

• Cynical: Believing that people are motivated by self-interest - "He has a cynical view of the government."

• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another - "Developing empathy is key to social growth."

• Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money - "They lived a frugal life to save for a home."

The Deep Dive: Tricky Items & Comparisons

How to Practice: The 7-Day Mastery Routine

• Day 1-2 (Input Phase): Pick 5 words from the list. Write down their definitions and find three different news articles where they are used.

• Day 3-4 (Construction Phase): Write five original sentences using these words. Ensure you are applying them in a context relevant to your life (e.g., your job or school).

• Day 5-6 (Oral Output): Record yourself speaking for 2 minutes and try to naturally include at least three of your new words. Listen for "flow" and pronunciation.

• Day 7 (Audit): Review your sentences from Day 3. Can you find a more precise word to replace a basic one?

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