Word Completion Test is an important part of IQ and Logical Reasoning that tests your ability to complete words by identifying missing letters and recognising common word patterns.
For Officer Cadet Entrance Exam preparation, these questions help develop vocabulary, spelling, pattern recognition, and quick verbal reasoning skills. Explore the complete Officer Cadet Exam resources and IQ for Officer Cadet preparation for additional practice and study materials.
What is a Word Completion Test?
A word completion question presents a word with one or more letters replaced by blanks or underscores. Your task is to identify the missing letter or letters and restore the word to its correct, meaningful, and correctly spelled form.
Example: C_T → possible words include CAT, COT, and CUT If a clue or answer choices are given, use them to pin down the exact word.
What Skills Do These Questions Measure?
Word completion questions assess several cognitive abilities:
- Vocabulary knowledge – Recall words from partial information
- Spelling and word recognition – Identify correct letter combinations
- Pattern recognition – Match visible letters to familiar word shapes
- Logical deduction – Narrow down possibilities using clues and structure
- Speed and accuracy – Work efficiently under time pressure
Types of Word Completion Questions
For Officer Cadet preparation, you’ll encounter several types:
1. One Missing Letter
Only one letter is missing from the word.
Example: Complete the word: H_PPY Options: A) A B) E C) I D) O The word is HAPPY, which has the letter A in that position. Answer: A) A
2. Multiple Missing Letters
Two or more letters are missing. The missing letters may be the same or different.
Example: Complete the word: B__K Options: A) OO B) AA C) EE D) II The word is BOOK, which has the letters O and O in those two positions. Answer: A) OO
3. Multiple-Choice Completion
Several possible letters or letter combinations are given. You select the option that completes the word correctly.
Example: Complete the word: STR_G_LE Options: A) E, L B) U, G C) E, G D) U, L The word is STRUGGLE (S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E). The first blank is U, and the second blank is the repeated G. Answer: B) U, G
4. Clue-Based Completion
A definition or short clue helps you identify the word.
Example: Complete the word: P_NCIL (A writing instrument) Options: A) E B) A C) I D) U A writing instrument is a PENCIL (P-E-N-C-I-L), which has the letter E in that position. Answer: A) E
5. Scattered Missing Letters
Missing letters appear in different parts of the word rather than grouped together, so you must picture the whole word to find the blanks.
Example: Complete the word: _A_PY (Feeling of joy) Options: A) H, P B) H, E C) H, A D) H, I A feeling of joy is HAPPY (H-A-P-P-Y). The first blank is H, and the second blank is the repeated P. Answer: A) H, P
Common Word Patterns
Recognizing these patterns will help you solve questions faster.
Common Prefixes
| Prefix | Examples |
|---|---|
| un- | unhappy, unkind, unusual |
| re- | reuse, redo, rewrite |
| pre- | preview, preheat, prepare |
| dis- | dislike, disappear, disagree |
| mis- | mistake, misplace, mislead |
Common Suffixes
| Suffix | Examples |
|---|---|
| -ing | playing, singing, jumping |
| -ed | played, jumped, walked |
| -tion | nation, action, option |
| -able | lovable, readable, breakable |
| -ful | careful, hopeful, useful |
Common Short Word Patterns
| Word | Pattern |
|---|---|
| CAT | C_T |
| DOG | D_G |
| SUN | S_N |
| RUN | R_N |
| BAG | B_G |
Common Longer Word Patterns
| Word | Pattern |
|---|---|
| BOOK | B__K |
| PENCIL | P__CIL |
| APPLE | _PPLE |
| WATER | W_T_R |
| HAPPY | H_P_Y |
Tip: The number of underscores in each pattern always equals the number of missing letters — double-check this before choosing an answer.
How to Solve Word Completion Questions
Follow this step-by-step method during your exam.
Step 1: Count the Letters
Count the total number of letters, including the blanks, and note exactly where each blank falls. This total length is a hard constraint — your final answer word must match it exactly.
Step 2: Think of Possible Words
Use the visible letters and the word’s length to brainstorm every word that could fit the pattern.
Example: For C_T, possible words include CAT, COT, and CUT.
Step 3: Use the Clue
If a definition or clue is provided, use it immediately to narrow the possibilities down to one specific word.
Example: For C_T with the clue “an animal,” the answer is CAT.
Step 4: Check the Options
If the question is multiple choice, place each option in the blank and test whether it forms a real, correctly spelled word.
Step 5: Verify Spelling and Letter Count
Confirm the completed word is a valid English word, and double-check that the number of letters you’ve filled in exactly matches the number of blanks shown. A mismatch here is one of the most common sources of error.
Important Tricks
Trick 1: Think of Common Words First
Start with the most familiar words that fit the pattern — for _A_, common completions include BAG, BAT, CAR, CAT, and DAY.
Trick 2: Use the Clue Carefully
If a clue is given, use it right away to narrow down possibilities rather than guessing blindly.
Trick 3: Eliminate Incorrect Options
Remove any choice that does not form a real, meaningful word.
Trick 4: Look for Repeated Letters
Many words hide a repeated letter, like the double G in STRUGGLE or the double P in HAPPY. Don’t assume both blanks must be different letters.
Trick 5: Recognize Common Prefixes
Prefixes such as un-, re-, pre-, dis-, and mis- can help you identify words quickly.
Trick 6: Recognize Common Suffixes
Endings such as -ing, -ed, -tion, -able, and -ful are useful patterns that narrow the possibilities immediately.
Trick 7: Check the Letter Count
Before finalizing an answer, always confirm the number of letters you’re filling in matches the number of blanks shown — this single check catches most careless mistakes.
Trick 8: Build Your Vocabulary
The wider your vocabulary, the faster you’ll recognize a word from just a handful of visible letters. Regular reading builds this skill naturally.
Quick Solving Checklist
Before selecting your answer, use this checklist:
- Counted the total letters, including blanks
- Noted exactly where each blank falls
- Brainstormed possible words matching the pattern
- Used any given clue to narrow the options
- Tested each multiple-choice option in the blanks
- Checked for repeated letters
- Looked for familiar prefixes or suffixes
- Verified the completed word is correctly spelled
- Confirmed the letter count matches the number of blanks
- Avoided spending too much time on one difficult word
Practice Questions
Conclusion
Mastering the Word Completion Test is essential for the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Examination. Success requires a strong vocabulary and systematic checking rather than guesswork.
Follow this disciplined approach:
Read → Count → Use Clues → Check Options → Verify Spelling
Regular vocabulary building and timed practice improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.
This resource is part of the Officer Cadet Entrance Exam Preparation series, focusing on IQ and Logical Reasoning for the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Exam. For structured lessons, comprehensive practice banks, and mock tests, explore the Word Completion Test course on the Pratima Academy LMS.