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🇵🇰 NTS NAT-IM · subject
NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English) Syllabus
The Verbal (English) syllabus for NTS NAT-IM in full: 6 chapters and 22 topics, every one listed below, plus 50 Verbal (English) flashcards with answers.
Verbal (English) syllabus: all 6 chapters
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.
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Sentence Completion
4 topics- Single-Blank Sentences
- Double-Blank Sentences
- Contextual Clues
- Logical Connectors and Transition Words
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Synonyms
3 topics- Vocabulary in Context
- Word Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
- Shades of Meaning
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Antonyms
3 topics- Opposite Word Pairs
- Degree and Intensity of Words
- Eliminating Distractors
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Analogies
3 topics- Identifying Word Relationships
- Common Analogy Types
- Bridge Sentence Technique
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Reading Comprehension
5 topics- Main Idea and Theme
- Supporting Details
- Inference and Implied Meaning
- Author's Tone and Purpose
- Vocabulary from Passage
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Grammar and Usage
4 topics- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Tenses and Verb Forms
- Prepositions and Articles
- Pronoun and Modifier Usage
NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English) flashcards — 50 questions with answers
In a single-blank sentence completion, what should you do BEFORE looking at the answer choices?
Predict your own word that fits the blank based on the sentence's logic and tone, then match it to the closest option.
What is a single-blank sentence completion item?
A sentence with one missing word where you must choose the option that best fits the meaning and grammar of the sentence.
In double-blank sentences, why must BOTH blanks be tested?
An option is correct only if it fits both blanks; if either word fails, the whole choice is wrong, even if the other word seems perfect.
What strategy helps eliminate options quickly in double-blank questions?
Solve the easier blank first using context clues, eliminate options that fail that blank, then test the remaining options on the second blank.
What are contextual clues in verbal reasoning?
Hints within the surrounding words or sentence that reveal the meaning of an unknown word or the word needed for a blank.
Name the four main types of context clues.
Definition/restatement clues, synonym clues, antonym/contrast clues, and example/inference clues.
What is a definition (restatement) context clue?
The sentence directly explains the unknown word's meaning, often set off by commas, dashes, or 'that is/in other words'.
What is a contrast (antonym) context clue?
A signal word like 'but, however, unlike, although' shows the blank or unknown word means the OPPOSITE of a nearby word.
What is an example context clue?
Examples introduced by 'such as, like, including, for instance' illustrate and reveal the meaning of the target word.
What do logical connectors / transition words do in sentence completion?
They signal the relationship between ideas (continuation, contrast, cause-effect), telling you whether the blank agrees with or opposes the surrounding context.
List common CONTRAST/opposition transition words.
But, however, although, though, yet, whereas, while, unlike, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, in contrast, conversely, despite, in spite of.
List common CONTINUATION/addition transition words.
And, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides, likewise, similarly, as well as, not only...but also.
List common CAUSE-AND-EFFECT transition words.
Because, since, therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a result, so, due to, owing to, accordingly.
List common EXAMPLE/illustration transition words.
For example, for instance, such as, namely, to illustrate, in particular, like, including.
How does the word 'although' affect the expected answer in a blank?
It sets up a contrast, so the blank should oppose or contradict the idea in the other clause.
What does 'vocabulary in context' require you to do?
Determine a word's intended meaning based on how it is used in the sentence, not just its most common dictionary definition.
Why can a familiar word be a trap in vocabulary-in-context questions?
Many words have multiple meanings (secondary or figurative senses); the test often uses a less common meaning that fits the specific context.
What is a word root?
The core part of a word that carries its basic meaning, to which prefixes and suffixes can be attached.
What does a prefix do to a word?
A prefix is added to the front of a root and changes or modifies its meaning (e.g., negation, direction, number).
What does a suffix do to a word?
A suffix is added to the end of a root and often changes the word's part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) or grammatical function.
Show the other 30 Verbal (English) flashcards
What do the prefixes 'un-, in-, im-, il-, ir-, non-, dis-, a-' mean?
They all signal negation or 'not' (e.g., unhappy, invisible, illegal, irregular, nonstop, disagree, atypical).
What do the prefixes 'pre-' and 'post-' mean?
'Pre-' means before (preview, predict); 'post-' means after (postpone, postwar).
What do the roots 'bene-' and 'mal-' mean?
'Bene-' means good/well (benefit, benevolent); 'mal-' means bad/evil (malice, malfunction, malign).
What does the root 'spec/spect' mean? Give an example.
To look or see; e.g., inspect, spectator, perspective, conspicuous.
What does the root 'dict' mean? Give an example.
To say or speak; e.g., dictate, predict, contradict, verdict.
What does the root 'chron' mean? Give an example.
Time; e.g., chronology, chronic, synchronize, anachronism.
What does the root 'phil' mean? Give an example.
Love or fondness; e.g., philosophy, philanthropy, bibliophile.
What does 'shades of meaning' refer to in vocabulary?
The small but important differences between words with similar definitions, such as differences in intensity, connotation, or appropriate usage.
What is connotation versus denotation?
Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or implied association it carries (positive, negative, or neutral).
Arrange by increasing intensity: warm, hot, scorching.
Warm < hot < scorching.
Distinguish the connotation of 'thrifty' versus 'stingy'.
Both mean careful with money, but 'thrifty' is positive (sensible saving) while 'stingy' is negative (unwilling to spend).
Distinguish 'confident' versus 'arrogant' in connotation.
'Confident' is positive (self-assured); 'arrogant' is negative (excessively, offensively self-important).
What is an antonym (opposite word) pair?
Two words with opposite or contrasting meanings, e.g., expand/contract, candid/secretive, lethargic/energetic.
Give the opposite of 'benevolent'.
Malevolent (or malicious/cruel).
Give the opposite of 'verbose'.
Concise (or terse/succinct).
Give the opposite of 'transparent' (in the sense of clear/obvious).
Opaque (or obscure/ambiguous).
Give the opposite of 'frugal'.
Extravagant (or wasteful/lavish).
What does 'degree and intensity of words' mean?
Words can express the same idea at different strengths; choosing the right one depends on how strong the context's tone is.
Order by increasing intensity: dislike, hate, detest, loathe.
Dislike < hate < detest < loathe.
Order by increasing intensity: surprised, astonished, dumbfounded.
Surprised < astonished < dumbfounded.
Order by increasing intensity: angry, furious, livid.
Angry < furious < livid.
In sentence completion, what is a 'distractor'?
An incorrect answer choice deliberately written to look plausible or tempting so as to mislead the test-taker.
Name two common types of distractors in verbal questions.
Words that fit grammar but not meaning, and words that are partially right (fit one blank/half the sentence) but fail overall; also opposite-of-correct and overly-extreme words.
What technique helps eliminate distractors efficiently?
Process of elimination: cross out clearly wrong options first to narrow choices and improve odds, rather than searching only for the perfect answer.
What is an analogy question testing?
Your ability to identify the relationship between a pair of words and find another pair that shares the SAME relationship.
What is the first step in solving a word analogy?
Build a clear 'bridge' sentence stating the precise relationship between the two given words, then apply it to the choices.
Name the 'synonym' and 'antonym' analogy types.
Synonym: words mean the same (happy : joyful). Antonym: words mean the opposite (hot : cold).
What is a 'part-to-whole' analogy? Give an example.
One word is a component of the other; e.g., page : book, petal : flower, wheel : car.
What is a 'cause-and-effect' analogy? Give an example.
One word produces or leads to the other; e.g., fire : burn, virus : illness, rain : flood.
What is a 'worker-to-tool' (or worker-to-action) analogy? Give an example.
Relates a person to the tool or product they use/make; e.g., chef : knife, painter : brush, author : book.
NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English) FAQ
What is in the NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English) syllabus?
NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English) is split into 6 chapters: Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Reading Comprehension and Grammar and Usage. Together they contain 22 topics.
How many chapters are in NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English)?
6 chapters, containing 22 topics. The largest chapter is Reading Comprehension, with 5 topics.
Are there flashcards for NTS NAT-IM Verbal (English)?
Yes — a 50-card Verbal (English) 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.