How can I practice using prefixes and suffixes for IELTS?

• Develop a one‐sentence “locator” for each paragraph before answering. For instance:

  • A = “Definition history”

  • B = “Spearman's g‐factor”

  • C = “Gardner's multiple intelligences”

  • …and so on.

• When a statement mentions “g‐factor, ” you immediately know it's Paragraph B—no aimless scanning.

• If you get stuck, move on and return in the last 2 minutes. Fresh eyes often spot the clue faster.

• False statements often hinge on Herrnstein and Murray's “cognitive elite.”

• Not Given appears when qualifiers don't match exactly

• True means the passage literally states it. For example, “Intelligence can be shaped by environment” is in Paragraph 4.

• Never guess “Not Given” because it sounds safe. If you can't locate a clear match or mismatch, lean toward “True” or “False” based on context.

• Don't eyeball it—use the passage. Highlight the exact phrase.

• Look for unique words (e.g., “structuralism, ” “cognitive elite”). Those only appear once.

• If you spot a synonym instead of the literal word from the answer key, you're wrong. 

Yes, prefixes and suffixes significantly change the meaning or grammatical role of a word. For example, the prefix "dis-" in "disagree" reverses the meaning, while the suffix "-ly" in "quickly" turns an adjective into an adverb.

Yes, learning prefixes and suffixes enables you to expand your vocabulary and understand word families. This will improve your ability to choose the correct word forms in both the Writing and Speaking sections.