Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
Exam vocabulary: learn the word with the meaning you need
Turn an unfamiliar word into a context-based recall prompt, then check whether it fits a fresh sentence.
Keep the sentence with the word
When an unfamiliar word blocks understanding, save the sentence and identify its job. Is it naming a thing, describing a change or connecting two ideas? Check the dictionary sense that fits this use.
For “The committee tabled the proposal”, the meaning of tabled depends on variety and context. A list of translations alone may not settle the intended action. Look at the surrounding sentences and the dictionary’s usage labels.
Test one useful distinction
Make a prompt that requires the meaning, reading or phrase you actually missed. Avoid placing several unrelated senses on one card. If you need to distinguish two near-synonyms, include a sentence that makes the distinction visible.
For “Prices rose sharply”, a prompt might ask you to explain sharply in this sentence. A second prompt could ask for a natural phrase using rose. These test meaning and production separately.
Use the word in fresh material
After review, explain a new sentence containing the word. If you can recall a translation but cannot understand the sentence, examine the grammar or collocation around it. Add the missing distinction, rather than collecting another long word list.
Choose vocabulary from level-appropriate reading and listening. Keep broad language study alongside your exam tasks; a remembered deck does not by itself establish reading or listening readiness.
Try it yourself
In “Attendance fell sharply”, does sharply describe a small or a large change? Write a short paraphrase.
Show the answer and explanation
It describes a large or sudden decrease: attendance dropped considerably.
The sentence gives the relevant sense. It is different from the physical sharpness of a knife.