Learning new words can be very difficult, but expanding your vocabulary consistently over the two-year Diploma Programme is a necessity to reading, writing and examining successfully. You can find words to learning in your textbooks, in supplementary readings given to you by your teacher, in lectures given during class, or on websites found while conducting research for coursework, internal assessments, Extended Essay, etc.
Here is a list of suggestions and methods for learning new vocabulary successfully.
Flash Cards
Write each new word on a flash card (3x5 index card)
Write a complete definition with examples of its use on the back
Write the word and definition using social, informal language
Identify similar and different words (synonyms and antonyms)
Punch a hole in the corner of each flash card
Hook each of the flash cards through a key ring
Keep a key ring of flash cards for each subject or even each topic
Flip through your flash cards at least once per week
Rate of Learning New Words
Only try to learn 5 new words per day. Not more than 5.
Write all the different ways the word might appear: plurals, parts of speech (verb, adjective, etc.), tenses, subject modification, etc.
Use each new word in a sentence that indicates clearly its meaning.
Connect the new word to something you know well as an association.
Apply the word in different ways at least 4 times, whether in essays, on Facebook, during a conversation, etc.
Draw pictures of the word to give it meaning.
Taken directly from http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-best-way-to-study-sat-vocab-words:
The Waterfall Method for Studying
Start with a stack of 30-50 vocab words.
Review each card. If you know the definition right away, put it in a Know It pile. If you struggled to remember the definition, put it in a Struggled pile. You'll end up with two stacks of words:
Pick up the Struggled pile, and repeat the process. This time the Struggled pile will have fewer words than your starting deck. Put the words you know this time around into a second Know It pile, and the words you're struggling with again in a new Struggled pile. Now you have three stacks:
Keep repeating this process until you end up with just 1-5 words in the last Struggled pile.
I call this the Waterfall Method because we essentially have a cascading waterfall, where words that are really hard for you keep tumbling into further and further piles.
Theoretically, at this point you know nearly all the words in the entire set. Now we're going to go back up the waterfall. Combine the last Struggled pile with the last Know It pile. This will become your Working pile:
Now, review all the words in this pile. If you forget any of the words in this pile, go through all of them again. Yep - this is harsh, but it's the only way you're going to memorize all these words. You'll need to be strict about making sure you learn all of them.
If you remembered ALL the words in this pile, then combine this pile with the next highest pile.
At the very end, you'll end up with the starting stack. And you'll know every single word!
Cheng, Allen. "The Best Way to Study SAT Vocab Words." SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips. PrepScholar, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-best-way-to-study-sat-vocab-words>.
Finley, Todd. "8 Strategies for Teaching Academic Language." Edutopia. Edutopia, 2 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-strategies-teaching-academic-language-todd-finley>.
Springer, Marilee. "11 Tips on Teaching Common Core Critical Vocabulary."Edutopia. Edutopia, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-ccss-critical-vocabulary-marilee-sprenger>.
"The 4 Most Effective Ways to Learn SAT Vocabulary." Veritas Prep Blog RSS. Veritas Prep, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2013/11/the-4-most-effective-ways-to-learn-sat-vocabulary/>.