🇵🇰 NTS NAT-IE · subject

NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal) Syllabus

The English (Verbal) syllabus for NTS NAT-IE in full: 6 chapters and 20 topics, every one listed below, plus 50 English (Verbal) flashcards with answers.

6Chapters

20Topics

50Flashcards

English (Verbal) syllabus: all 6 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

Sentence Completion
3 topics
- Single-Blank Sentences
- Double-Blank Sentences
- Contextual Vocabulary Cues
Analogies
2 topics
- Word Relationship Types
- Solving Analogy Questions
Synonyms
3 topics
- Core Vocabulary Building
- Word Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
- Choosing the Closest Meaning
Antonyms
3 topics
- Opposite Word Pairs
- Degrees of Opposition
- Context-Dependent Antonyms
Reading Comprehension
5 topics
- Main Idea and Theme
- Inference and Implication
- Author's Tone and Purpose
- Detail and Fact Questions
- Vocabulary in Context
Grammar and Usage
4 topics
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Tenses and Verb Forms
- Prepositions and Articles
- Common Grammatical Errors

NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal) flashcards — 50 questions with answers

In a single-blank sentence completion question, what is the first step you should take before looking at the answer choices?
Read the entire sentence and predict your own word for the blank based on the sentence's meaning and tone, then match it to the closest option.
What is a 'signal word' in a single-blank sentence, and give two examples?
A signal word indicates the logical direction of the sentence. Examples: contrast signals (but, although, however, yet) and continuation signals (and, because, therefore, moreover).
In sentence completion, what does a contrast signal word (e.g., 'but', 'however', 'although') tell you about the blank?
It tells you the blank's meaning should oppose or reverse the idea in the other clause of the sentence.
In sentence completion, what does a continuation/support signal word (e.g., 'because', 'therefore', 'and') tell you about the blank?
It tells you the blank should agree with or reinforce the idea in the other clause, maintaining the same direction of meaning.
In a double-blank sentence, what is the most efficient strategy for testing answer choices?
Solve one blank at a time: eliminate options that fail the easier blank first, then check the remaining choices against the second blank. Both words must fit for the choice to be correct.
In a double-blank sentence, what is the relationship between the two blanks if the connecting word is a contrast word like 'although' or 'whereas'?
The two blanks should carry opposite or contrasting meanings to each other.
In a double-blank sentence, what is the relationship between the two blanks if the clauses are joined by a continuation word like 'and' or 'so'?
The two blanks should carry similar or complementary meanings, moving in the same direction.
What is a 'contextual vocabulary cue'?
A clue within the surrounding text (definition, example, contrast, or tone) that helps you infer the meaning of an unknown word or determine the correct word for a blank.
Name the four main types of context clues used to determine word meaning.
Definition/restatement clues, example clues, contrast/antonym clues, and inference/general-sense clues.
What is a 'definition or restatement' context clue?
The sentence directly explains the unknown word, often set off by commas, dashes, 'or', 'that is', or 'which means'.
What is a 'contrast' context clue, and which words often signal it?
A clue where an opposite idea reveals the word's meaning by contrast. Signaled by words like but, however, unlike, instead, although, on the other hand.
What is an 'example' context clue?
A clue where specific examples illustrate the meaning of an unknown word, often introduced by 'such as', 'for example', 'including', or 'like'.
What is a verbal analogy question testing?
Your ability to recognize the relationship between a pair of words and identify another pair that shares the same relationship.
In analogy notation, what does 'A : B :: C : D' mean?
It reads 'A is to B as C is to D' — the relationship between A and B must match the relationship between C and D.
What is the recommended method for solving an analogy question?
Build a clear 'bridge' sentence stating the relationship between the first pair, then apply that exact sentence to each answer pair and pick the one that fits identically.
In analogies, why must the order (direction) of the word pair be preserved?
Because reversing the order reverses the relationship; A:B and B:A express different relationships, so the answer pair must keep the same direction as the question pair.
Name the analogy relationship type for 'cat : kitten'.
Adult-to-young (or animal-to-offspring) relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'glove : hand'.
Object-to-the-body-part-it-covers (function/clothing) relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'thrifty : stingy'.
Degree relationship — the second word is a more extreme/negative degree of the first.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'doctor : hospital'.
Worker-to-workplace relationship.

Show the other 30 English (Verbal) flashcards

Identify the analogy relationship type: 'hungry : eat'.
Cause-and-effect (or condition-to-resulting-action) relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'piece : whole' (e.g., 'page : book').
Part-to-whole relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'hot : cold'.
Antonym (opposite) relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'big : large'.
Synonym relationship.
Identify the analogy relationship type: 'knife : cut'.
Tool-to-its-function relationship.
What does the prefix 'anti-' mean? Give an example.
It means 'against' or 'opposite'. Example: antidote, antiseptic, antibiotic.
What does the prefix 'bene-' mean? Give an example.
It means 'good' or 'well'. Example: benefit, benevolent, benefactor.
What does the root 'dict' mean? Give an example.
It means 'to say' or 'to speak'. Example: dictate, predict, contradict, dictionary.
What does the root 'spec / spect' mean? Give an example.
It means 'to look' or 'to see'. Example: inspect, spectator, perspective, spectacle.
What does the prefix 'mal-' mean? Give an example.
It means 'bad' or 'badly'. Example: malfunction, malevolent, malnutrition.
What does the suffix '-phobia' mean? Give an example.
It means 'fear of'. Example: claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
What does the prefix 'circum-' mean? Give an example.
It means 'around'. Example: circumnavigate, circumference, circumvent.
What does the root 'cred' mean? Give an example.
It means 'believe' or 'trust'. Example: credible, incredible, credit, credentials.
What does the prefix 'ambi- / amphi-' mean? Give an example.
It means 'both'. Example: ambidextrous (using both hands), ambiguous, amphibian.
What does the suffix '-ology' mean? Give an example.
It means 'the study of'. Example: biology (study of life), geology, psychology.
In a 'choose the closest meaning' (synonym) question, what should you do if no option is an exact synonym?
Choose the option closest in meaning, matching the word's part of speech, connotation (positive/negative), and intensity rather than seeking a perfect match.
When choosing the closest meaning, why is connotation important?
Two words with similar denotations can differ in emotional tone; the correct synonym must match the original word's positive, negative, or neutral connotation.
Give a concise synonym for the word 'abate'.
To lessen, reduce, or subside (diminish in intensity).
Give a concise synonym for the word 'candid'.
Frank, honest, or straightforward.
Give a concise synonym for the word 'meticulous'.
Extremely careful, precise, and attentive to detail.
What is an antonym question asking you to find?
The word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the given word, matching part of speech.
Give the antonym of 'benevolent'.
Malevolent (or cruel/spiteful) — wishing harm rather than good.
Give the antonym of 'frugal'.
Extravagant or wasteful.
What are 'degrees of opposition' in vocabulary, and why do they matter for antonym questions?
Opposites can be exact (full reversal) or partial (lesser/contrary degree). They matter because the best antonym should match the intensity of the original word, not just point in the opposite direction.
What is the difference between a 'contradictory' opposite and a 'contrary' opposite?
Contradictory opposites are mutually exclusive with no middle ground (alive/dead). Contrary opposites lie at extremes of a scale with possible middle states (hot/cold, with warm in between).
What is a 'context-dependent antonym'?
A word whose correct opposite changes depending on its meaning in the sentence; e.g., the opposite of 'light' is 'dark' (brightness) or 'heavy' (weight) depending on context.
Give the two different antonyms of the word 'fine' depending on context.
'Fine' can mean 'thin/delicate' (opposite: coarse/thick) or 'excellent/well' (opposite: poor/unwell).
What is the 'main idea' of a passage?
The central point or primary message the author wants to convey — what the passage is mostly about, usually supported by all the details.
What is the difference between the 'main idea' and the 'theme' of a passage?
The main idea is the specific central point of a passage, while the theme is the broader underlying message or universal concept the work explores.
What is the recommended technique for identifying the main idea of a passage?
Ask what topic the passage covers and what the author says about it; the main idea is the answer that is broad enough to cover all paragraphs but not so broad it includes outside information. Often found in the topic sentence or summarized by repeated ideas.

NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal) FAQ

What is in the NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal) syllabus?

NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal) is split into 6 chapters: Sentence Completion, Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, Reading Comprehension and Grammar and Usage. Together they contain 20 topics.

How many chapters are in NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal)?

6 chapters, containing 20 topics. The largest chapter is Reading Comprehension, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for NTS NAT-IE English (Verbal)?

Yes — a 50-card English (Verbal) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.