The English section (25 marks) is often where students either gain a decisive edge or lose easy marks. With a structured approach, you can score 22–25 consistently.
What to Expect
- Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution): 8–10 questions
- Grammar (tenses, articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement): 6–8 questions
- Reading Comprehension: 5–6 questions
- Sentence Correction / Fill in the Blanks: 4–5 questions
Vocabulary Strategy
Learn 10 new words every day for 60 days = 600 words before the exam. Use the "CONTEXT" method: see the word in a sentence, not just its dictionary definition. Focus on:
- Words from Hindu/Times of India editorials
- Barron's Essential Words for competitive exams
- Maritime vocabulary: vessel, berth, manifest, port, starboard, knot, draft
Grammar Quick Fixes
- Tenses: Practice identifying which tense a sentence requires from context
- Articles: Use "a" before consonant sounds, "an" before vowel sounds
- Prepositions: "in" for enclosed spaces, "at" for specific points, "on" for surfaces
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective nouns take singular verbs
Reading Comprehension Tips
- Read the questions FIRST, then the passage
- Scan for keywords from the question
- Don't spend more than 4 minutes on an RC passage
- The answer is almost always directly stated — don't over-infer
Daily habit: Read one English editorial and underline 5 new words. Write them in a notebook. Review weekly. This single habit adds 8–10 marks.
EnglishVocabularyGrammar