The IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) Prelims Exam is designed to assess your overall aptitude and language skills. One important component of the English Language section is Contextual Usage. This topic evaluates your understanding of how words are used appropriately in different contexts. In this blog, we’ll explain what Contextual Usage questions are, how to solve them effectively, and provide a free downloadable PDF to help you practice for IBPS SO Prelims 2025.
What are Contextual Usage Questions?
The contextual usage topic is an important part of the English Language section of the IBPS SO exam. The Contextual Usage questions are asked in different formats every year in the IBPS SO Prelims exam. These questions test your vocabulary, reading ability, and your ability to identify the correct usage of a word in a sentence.
Contextual Usage Questions assess your understanding of how a word functions within a given context. These questions test not just vocabulary knowledge, but also your grasp of sentence structure, tone, and meaning.
There are two common formats of contextual usage questions in exams like IBPS SO Prelims.
Weightage of Contextual Usage in IBPS SO Prelims 2025
These questions are essential in the English Language preparation for IBPS SO Prelims, as approximately 5 to 7 questions are asked every year from this topic.
| Section | Approx. Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 5–7 | Moderate |
Common Formats in Contextual Usage Questions with Example
The most common formats of Contextual Usage questions is:
Format 1:
A sentence is given, and some words are highlighted; you need to find out the inappropriate/ wrong word in the sentence.
Example:
Motorists have reacted with outage at the imposition of fines by the police, obviously upset at State governments pursuing enforcement without upgrading road infrastructure and making administrative arrangements for issue of transport documents.
a) outage
b) imposition
c) pursuing
d) upgrading
e) All are correct
Ans: A
Solution: The sentence tells us how motorists have reacted with anger at the imposition (implementation) of fines by the police, obviously upset at State governments pursuing (following) enforcement without upgrading (developing) road infrastructure and making administrative arrangements. OUTAGE (a period when power supply or some other service is not available) is not appropriate in the context, and should be replaced with OUTRAGE (anger or disapproval). Thus, A is the right answer.
Format 2:
A word has been given to you, and there are three ways in which the word has been used, in similar or different forms. You need to see which of the sentences has correctly used the highlighted word, and mark that as your answer.
Example:
Source
1.The classic oats meal, if made with very little or no oil, is a very good source of protein.
2.She was called upon to source a supply of carpet as the director had grown fond of it.
3. My military sources have informed me about a reduction in strategic nuclear weapons.
a) Only 2
b) Only 1 and 2
c) Only 1 and 3
d) Only 2 and 3
e) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (e)
Solution: All the three sentences have correctly used the word SOURCE.
In 1, SOURCE means a place, person, or thing from which something originates or can be obtained. The sentence talks about the nutrient content of oats meal.
In 2, SOURCE has been used as a verb. It means to find out where (something) can be obtained. The sentence talks about finding the supply of carpet.
In 3, SOURCE has been used as a noun. It means a person who provides information. The sentence talks about information regarding strategic nuclear weapons. Thus, (e) is the right answer.
Download Contextual Usage Questions with Solution PDF
To help you prepare better, we’ve compiled a set of hand-picked contextual usage questions based on previous IBPS SO exams and the latest trends.
- 10 practice questions (2 sets)
- Detailed explanations/ solutions
- Covers varied vocabulary themes
- Based on IBPS SO 2025 pattern
- Ideal for daily practice
How to Tackle Contextual Usage Questions in IBPS SO Prelims
Below, we have provided some practical tips to master this topic:
Expand Vocabulary Daily
Build your vocabulary using word lists, apps, or editorials. Learn not just meanings, but synonyms, antonyms, and usage.
Understand Word Families
Focus on how the same root word can take different forms: decide, decision, decisive, indecisive — and what each implies.
Read in Context
Regularly read editorials, essays, and articles where word usage can be inferred through surrounding context.
Understand Sentence Structure
Note if the structure of the sentence, subject-verb-object, is aligned properly with each other.
Check if the Words suit in the Sentence
Have a thorough look at the highlighted words given in the sentence, and read it aloud to know if that word suits in the sentence.
Eliminate Incorrect Options
Often, you can remove words that clearly don’t fit the tone or meaning, narrowing down your choices.
Practice Regularly
Solve as many practice sets as possible to get familiar with patterns and time management.
Conclusion
Contextual Usage is a topic that not only helps you score in the English section but also enhances your communication skills for any Specialist Officer role. Make sure to dedicate a few minutes each day to vocabulary building and solve practice sets regularly. Don’t forget to download the PDF and start practicing today! Consistent effort will help you confidently tackle contextual usage questions in the IBPS SO Prelims 2025 exam.
Related Blogs:
| IBPS SO English Topic-wise weightage | IBPS SO English Detailed Preparation Strategy |
| IBPS SO Detailed Notification | IBPS SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern |
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IBPS SO Prelims Contextual Usage Questions PDF: FAQs
Yes, but contextual usage is more focused on specific word choice than overall passage cohesion.
Generally, 5–7 questions are asked in the English Language section.
Read daily, learn 5–10 new words every day, and practice sample questions from trusted sources or PDFs.
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