If you are preparing for RPSC, REET, RAS, CTET, SSC, Bank PO, GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams, you must have heard the name Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. This book is one of the most trusted vocabulary building books in India. It is used by lakhs of students every year to improve their English word power. Many toppers say this book changed the way they learn new words. In this article, we will discuss the book in detail, its features, benefits, and how you can use it in the best way to crack your exam.
About the Author Norman Lewis
Norman Lewis was a famous American author and educator who worked in the field of vocabulary building and reading improvement. He wrote many books on English language learning, but Word Power Made Easy is by far his most popular work. This book was first published many decades ago in 1949, and it is still one of the best selling vocabulary books in the world. Norman Lewis believed that a strong vocabulary is directly linked to a person’s success in life, career and studies. His simple teaching method, based on roots, prefixes and suffixes, made vocabulary learning easy for millions of readers. In India, this book became a favourite among students preparing for English medium competitive exams because of its practical and result oriented approach.
What Is the Book?
Word Power Made Easy is not a normal dictionary or word list book. It is a complete self-study course designed to build your vocabulary in a scientific and logical manner. The book is divided into different sessions, and each session introduces new words through short stories, discussions and exercises. Instead of asking you to cram meanings, the book teaches you the origin of words, their roots, and how different words are connected to each other.
The book covers thousands of English words that are commonly asked in exams like RPSC 1st and 2nd Grade, REET, RAS, CTET, SSC, Bank PO, GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams. It also improves your reading, writing and speaking skills along with vocabulary. Many teachers recommend this book as the first step before moving to advanced vocabulary books, because it builds a strong base.
| Book Name | Word Power Made Easy |
|---|---|
| Author | Norman Lewis |
| Subject | English Vocabulary |
| Best For | RPSC, REET, RAS, CTET, SSC, Bank PO, GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams |
| Format Available | Paperback, PDF, Kindle |
| Level | Beginner to Advanced |
How Word Power Made Easy Works
The biggest reason this book is so effective is its unique teaching method. Instead of giving you a boring list of words to mug up, Norman Lewis divides the book into small sessions. Each session starts with a short story or a discussion that naturally introduces new words in context. This helps the reader understand not just the meaning, but also the correct usage of the word.
The book is built on the concept of Greek and Latin roots. Once you learn a root word, you automatically understand the meaning of many other words that come from the same root. For example, if you learn the root “bene” which means good, you can easily guess the meaning of words like benefit, benevolent and benefactor. This root based method saves a lot of time and effort compared to normal rote learning.
After every few sessions, the book gives you a self-test so that you can check how much you have learned. These regular tests help in long term memory retention. Many students who follow this method regularly say that after finishing the book, they can guess the meaning of unknown words in the exam just by looking at their roots. This is a very useful skill for exams that test vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms and reading comprehension.
Key Features of Word Power Made Easy
- Story Based Learning: Words are introduced through interesting stories, not boring lists.
- Root Word Method: Teaches Greek and Latin roots so you can guess meanings of new words easily.
- Self-Tests: Regular practice tests after every session to check your progress.
- Word Review Sections: Helps in revision and long term memory of words learned.
- Simple Language: Written in easy English, suitable for Hindi medium students too.
- Covers Thousands of Words: Useful for synonyms, antonyms, one word substitution and reading comprehension based questions.
- Improves All Skills: Helps in reading, writing, speaking and exam based English together.
Important Lessons in the Book
The book teaches many important lessons beyond just word meanings. It shows students how to break a difficult word into small parts like prefix, root and suffix, and then guess its meaning logically. This skill is very useful during exams when you face an unknown word and do not have a dictionary.
Another important lesson from the book is regular revision. Norman Lewis stresses that vocabulary is not built in one day. You must revise old words while learning new ones. The book also teaches the correct usage of words in sentences, not just their dictionary meaning, which helps a lot in essay writing, letter writing and comprehension based questions in exams like RPSC and RAS.
Benefits of Reading This Book
Reading this book regularly gives many benefits to competitive exam students. First, it directly improves your score in vocabulary based questions like synonyms, antonyms, one word substitution and fill in the blanks. Second, it improves your reading speed and comprehension, which is very important in exams with long passages. Third, it builds your confidence in English, which helps in interviews and personality tests for exams like RAS.
Apart from exams, a strong vocabulary also helps students in daily communication, essay writing and general awareness of the language. Many students who complete this book say their English improves not just for exams, but for life as well.
How to Study This Book?
To get the best result from this book, do not read it like a novel in one go. Follow a slow and steady approach. Complete one session per day and make a habit of writing new words in a separate notebook along with their meaning and one example sentence. This habit builds strong memory.
After every session, attempt the self-test given in the book without looking at the answers first. This will tell you how much you have actually learned. Revise the previous session before starting a new one, because vocabulary needs constant repetition. You can also use flash cards for tough words and revise them during travel or free time. Combine this book with daily newspaper reading in English to see these words used in real sentences, which will make your learning even stronger.
Best For Competitive Exams
This book is extremely useful for Indian competitive exams that include an English section. Some of the major exams where this book helps a lot are:
- RPSC 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Teacher Exam
- REET and CTET
- SSC CGL, CHSL and other SSC exams
- Bank PO and Clerk exams
- GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams
Students preparing for these exams often face vocabulary based questions, and this book gives a strong foundation to handle them confidently.
Review of Word Power Made Easy
Overall, Word Power Made Easy is considered one of the best vocabulary books for Indian students because of its simple and practical method. Students and teachers both agree that the story based learning and root word method make it easier to remember words compared to normal cramming. The only thing to keep in mind is that this book requires patience and daily practice; it is not a one night quick fix. If you follow it with discipline for two to three months, the improvement in your vocabulary and reading skill will be clearly visible in your exam performance.
FAQs About Word Power Made Easy
Q1. Is Word Power Made Easy good for beginners?
Yes, the book starts from a basic level and slowly moves to advanced words, so it is suitable for beginners as well as advanced learners.
Q2. How long does it take to complete this book?
If you study one session daily with proper revision, most students complete the book in two to three months.
Q3. Is this book useful for competitive exams?
Yes, this book is very useful for building vocabulary needed in RPSC, REET, RAS, CTET, SSC, Bank PO, GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams.
Q4. Can Hindi medium students use this book?
Yes, the language used in the book is simple, so Hindi medium students can also follow it with a little extra effort.
Q5. Where can I get this book?
The book is available in paperback, PDF and Kindle formats on major online stores and bookshops.
Conclusion
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis remains one of the finest vocabulary building books for competitive exam aspirants in India. With its unique root word method and story based approach, it makes learning new words simple and long lasting. If you really want to improve your English vocabulary for RPSC, REET, RAS, CTET, SSC, Bank PO, GMAT, GRE, CAT, TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, IELTS and other exams, this book deserves a permanent place in your book-collection.
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