How should candidates best handle unfamiliar vocabulary during the test?

Candidates should use context clues and eliminate unlikely answer choices when encountering unfamiliar vocabulary during the test because this strategy allows for a more informed guessing process. Context clues involve looking at the words and sentences surrounding the unfamiliar term to glean meaning from the overall context of the passage. By inferring the meaning of the word based on these clues, candidates can make educated choices rather than relying solely on memorization or guesswork.

Additionally, eliminating answer options that do not fit the context can greatly increase the chances of selecting the correct meaning. This approach maximizes the chances of success on multiple-choice questions, where understanding the context can lead to recognizing the nuance of the vocabulary word in relation to the rest of the text.

Other strategies, such as skipping unfamiliar words entirely, can hinder performance, as those words may hold important meaning for comprehending the gist of the passage. Guessing based on previous knowledge may not provide accurate results if the term is not similar to known words. Choosing the longest answer option relies on an unreliable assumption that length equates to correctness, which is often not the case in vocabulary tests. Therefore, the most effective strategy is to interpret the meaning through context and selectively narrow down the options.