English Language is one of the most scoring yet tricky sections in the IBPS Clerk 2025 Exam. While candidates focus a lot on Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, and Cloze Test, one area that often goes unnoticed is Contextual Usage. This topic tests not only your vocabulary but also your ability to use the right word in the right context. In this article, we will cover everything about Contextual Usage Questions for IBPS Clerk 2025, their importance, types of questions, and provide you with a Free PDF containing practice questions with detailed solutions.
What is Contextual Usage in IBPS Clerk?
Contextual usage questions test whether you can identify the correct meaning of a word when placed in different contexts. A word may have multiple meanings, and your task is to pick the meaning that fits best in the given sentence.
For example:
Word: Light
- He carried a light bag. (light = not heavy)
- She turned on the light. (light = source of illumination)
Here, the same word is used in different contexts. This is exactly what IBPS tests in Contextual Vocabulary Questions.
Why is Contextual Usage Important for IBPS Clerk 2025?
Every year, this topic contributes around 4 to 5 questions in the exam. If you master in this topic, you can easily secure 4–5 marks in just 2–3 minutes.
- High Scoring: With basic vocabulary knowledge and logical thinking, these questions can be solved quickly.
- Common in Banking Exams: Contextual usage has been seen frequently in IBPS Clerk prelims and mains papers and other banking exams.
- Error-Free Attempts: Unlike RC or Para Jumbles, here the chances of negative marking are less if you have clear word knowledge.
Types of Contextual Usage Questions Asked in IBPS Clerk
1. Incorrect Usage
- A sentence is given with 4 highlighted words.
- You need to identify which highlighted word is used incorrectly in the context.
Example:
Despite his repeated persuasion, the board members remained reluctant to approve the deal, citing the fragile economic climate and possible prosperity risks.
Explanation:
Persuasion → correct (act of convincing).
Reluctant → correct (unwilling).
Fragile → correct (weak/vulnerable).
Prosperity → incorrect here; risks are linked with loss or instability, not prosperity (which means wealth/success). The correct word could be liquidity/stability.
2. Correct Usage
- A word is given, followed by 3–4 sentences.
- You need to identify which sentences use the word correctly in context.
Example:
Word: Bank
- He deposited money in the bank.
- The bank of the river was full of flowers.
- He wanted to bank the fire.
Correct usage = Sentences 1 and 2.
Most Asked Contextual Usage Questions for IBPS Clerk 2025, Get Free PDF
Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with four words highlighted in bold. One of these four words may either be wrongly spelled or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word, which is wrongly spelled or inappropriate, if any. If all the words are correctly spelled and appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) as your answer.
Dema nodded in agreement and shot Alex a reprochful look as if she was breaking her promise.
a) agreement
b) reprochful
c) look
d) promise
e) All are correct
Her committment is laudable but she does not have the credentials needed for this new position.
a) committment
b) laudable
c) credentials
d) needed
e) All are correct
My mother is in the later stages of pregnancy and her health is extremely week.
a) later
b) stages
c) extremely
d) week
e) All are correct
The show amply demanded why her work has been greeted with such enthusiasm in her native country.
a) amply
b) demanded
c) enthusiasm
d) native
e) All are correct
When she mounted the podium to except her latest gold medal, she was crowned with a laurel wreath.
a) mounted
b) podium
c) except
d) latest
e) All are correct
Tips to Solve Contextual Usage Questions in IBPS Clerk 2025
Contextual Usage questions may look simple, but they test your command over vocabulary and your ability to use words correctly depending on the situation. To master them, you need both knowledge of words and strong analytical skills. Let’s go through detailed tips one by one:
1. Strengthen Your Vocabulary Foundation
- Contextual usage is all about word knowledge. The stronger your vocabulary, the faster you’ll solve these questions.
- Create a personal word list where you note:
- Word
- Meaning 1, 2, 3 (different contexts)
- Example sentences
2. Read Newspapers & Editorials Daily
- Editorials from The Hindu, Economic Times, or Indian Express are excellent sources of contextual vocabulary.
- Highlight difficult words and see how they’re used.
- Example: Reserve in an editorial may mean stock, but in another article, it may mean to book in advance.
- Reading different contexts daily makes you comfortable with words’ multiple meanings.
3. Understand Sentence Tone & Structure
- Contextual usage isn’t just about knowing the word—it’s about reading the whole sentence carefully.
- Look at the tone: positive, negative, formal, informal.
- Example:
Sentence – “He was a very fast runner.” → fast = quick
Sentence – “He observed a fast during Navratri.” → fast = abstaining from food
4. Learn Commonly Confused Words
IBPS loves testing words with multiple meanings or commonly confused words. Some examples:
- Sanction → can mean approve OR penalty
- Left → direction OR past tense of leave
- Present → gift OR current OR to show
- Spring → a season OR a coil OR to jump
5. Practice with Mock Tests & PYQs
- Go through the previous year IBPS Clerk papers to identify repeated contextual usage patterns.
- Mock tests help you practice time management as English has to be solved quickly in prelims.
Disclaimer: The seating arrangement questions and solutions provided are for practice and guidance only. They are illustrative, not official IBPS PO exam content. Actual exam questions may differ in wording, format, or difficulty. Candidates should always consult official IBPS notices for authentic and updated information.
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FAQ
These are vocabulary-based questions where a word is tested in different sentences, and you have to identify whether it is used correctly or incorrectly.
On average, 4–5 questions are asked every year in both prelims exams.
They are scoring and less time-consuming compared to Reading Comprehension or Para Jumbles.
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