Verbal Reasoning : Form a New Word (Type Q)

The Form a New Word question type requires you to look at 2 groups of 3 words each, and join a word from Group 1 with a word from Group 2 in order to create a new word.

The new word must be real and complete, with the word from Group 1 always coming first.

This question type seems very simple and straightforward – you create a new word by joining 2 words from 2 separate groups. Not every combination of words is an answer – the key thing here is that you identify a combination which exists in the English language but some combinations may sound like they make sense.

You will be given all the words you have to work with and the answer is literally on the sheet. This question type really focuses on the following skills:

• Knowledge and awareness of the English language
• Working quickly under time pressure
• Trial and error processes
• Having a systematic process to get to an answer
• Having a thorough approach
• Making decisions based on information given to you
• Looking at words, breaking down words and combining words
• Creation of new data from existing data which is not linked to the original data
• Determining a real word whilst recognising false words

Compared to other questions this question type doesn’t really involve looking at:

• Relationships, links and patterns
• General knowledge
• Alternative meanings based on definition
• Word or number completion
• Rule creation

Taking into account both the skills and the things the question type doesn’t look for, we can hone in on the fact that all you really need to confidently answer this question is good English vocabulary and awareness of the English language. You do not want to be guessing or selecting a newly formed word that looks like it makes sense.

As you will be creating a new word from existing words which do not have to match or be the same in meaning, you just have to be confident you have a complete word. You can then answer the question and move on.

Other than testing your core English skills which you have to practise and revise, this question type also seeks to test core analysis skills. This involves looking at data, filtering and matching data and then coming out with an output. It sets and checks a basic standard that all students need to work to.

The question is simplified deliberately, giving you time to be thorough in your checking – remember too much confidence without checks can also lead to mistakes. Here you are not being asked to predict, skip or skim the question, instead work through the data and connect it together.

It is sometimes easier to focus on the more complex question types, but the Form a New Word really targets core skills and basic knowledge – it is important you have a strong foundation in this.

What does the Form a New Word question type look like?

As you can see from the Gaggle example below the Form a New Word question type is in the following format:

• General example with instructions
• 2 groups of 3 words
• A space to answer on the sheet
• 1 mark per question
• Multiple choice options on the answer sheet

How do I answer this question?

To be confident in answering this question it is important that you first have a firm grasp of English vocabulary and language. It is the only way you will be able to identify the correctly combined word. The English language plays a huge role in this, as well as many other question types, so learn, revise and increase your vocabulary first.

If you can, familiarise yourself with word combinations e.g. where 2 words make one 1, this will make it easier for you to pinpoint the answer. On a basic level you need to be able to analyse and review data / information that is put in front of you – which is what this question type is really testing.

What this means for you is looking at English language or vocabulary and seeing what you can do with it:

• Can you break it down?
• Can you add words to each other?
• Do the new words exist / are they real and do they make sense?
• How can you use these words?

By testing your ability to review and handle information given to you will automatically improve your awareness and confidence in handling information.

Now, as with any other question type, there is always a systematic process we can apply to get to the answer – remember you still need your background English knowledge. Lets break down this process:

1. Review the 2 groups of words
2. Pick Group 1 Word 1 and combine it with Group 2 Word 1 – does it give you a real word?
3. If not, take Group 1 Word 1 and combine it with Group 2 Word 2 – does it give you a real word?
4. If not take Group 1 Word 1 and combine it with Group 2 Word 3 – does it give you a real word?
5. If you have done steps 2 to 4 and still not come to a real answer then try Words 2 and 3 in Group 1 and repeat the steps
6. By systematically taking each word from Group 1 and adding it to each word in Group 2 you should have found the answer

Working Example

Question 1

(Group, Frame, Ball) (Jack, Door, Work)

Lets apply the process to the Working Example and see if it works. First of all I want to look at both groups of words – they aren’t similar in meaning, have no links and I can tell they have been randomly selected.

That is fine because the question is about me combining 2 of these words to create a new word which doesn’t have to be in any way linked to any of the groups.

I will take Group 1 Word 1 (GROUP) and combine it with the set of words in Group 2 one by one:

• GROUPJACK
• GROUPDOOR
• GROUPWORK

Just looking at these combinations, and from my English vocabulary I can tell that these words aren’t real words.

That means I need to take Group 1 Word 2 (FRAME) and combine it with the set of words in Group 2 to see if I find a real, combined word:

• FRAMEJACK
• FRAMEDOOR
• FRAMEWORK

Straight away there is a word I have noticed that I know is a real English word – FRAMEWORK. I am confident that this is the answer, but to be totally sure I will quickly take Group 1 Word 3 and try combining it:

• BALLJACK
• BALLDOOR
• BALLWORK

Now I have checked and can confirm none of the Group 1 Word 3 combinations are real English words I can now select my answer on the answer sheet.

ANSWER : FRAMEWORK