Odd Word Out

In this lesson, you will learn how to tackle odd word out questions, which appear frequently in CEM 11+ exams. These questions test your ability to classify words and spot the one that does not belong.

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What Is an Odd Word Out Question?

You are given a list of words — usually four or five — and you must find the one word that does not fit with the others. The remaining words all share something in common.

Example:

apple banana carrot grape plum

• Apple, banana, grape, and plum are all fruits.
• Carrot is a vegetable.
• Odd word out: carrot

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Why This Appears in CEM Exams

CEM exams test your ability to think flexibly and categorise information. Odd word out questions require you to:

• Recognise categories (types of animal, colours, emotions, etc.)
• Understand word meanings deeply
• Think beyond the obvious — CEM often uses subtle connections

The format of CEM questions can vary year to year, so be prepared for different presentation styles.

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Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Read All the Words

Do not jump to an answer immediately. Read every word carefully.

Step 2: Look for a Connection

Ask yourself: What do most of these words have in common?

Think about:

• Category (all fruits? all animals? all colours?)
• Meaning (all mean "happy"? all mean "big"?)
• Grammar (all nouns? all verbs? all adjectives?)
• Sound (all rhyme? all start with the same letter?)

Step 3: Find the One That Does Not Fit

Once you have identified what connects the majority, the remaining word is the odd one out.

Step 4: Double-Check

Make sure the odd word truly does not fit the pattern. Could there be a different connection that includes it?

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Worked Example 1: Category-Based

Question: Which is the odd one out?

violin cello trumpet viola harp

Step-by-step:

1. These are all musical instruments.
2. Violin, cello, viola, and harp are all string instruments.
3. Trumpet is a brass instrument.
4. Odd word out: trumpet

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Worked Example 2: Meaning-Based

Question: Which is the odd one out?

joy delight sorrow bliss happiness

Step-by-step:

1. Joy, delight, bliss, and happiness all mean feeling happy.
2. Sorrow means feeling sad — the opposite.
3. Odd word out: sorrow

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Worked Example 3: Subtle CEM-Style Connection

CEM exams often use trickier connections. The obvious category may not be the right one.

Question: Which is the odd one out?

Mars Venus Snickers Jupiter Saturn

Step-by-step:

1. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are all planets in our solar system.
2. Snickers is a chocolate bar.
3. But wait — Mars is also a chocolate bar! Is that the connection?
4. Think carefully: four of these are planets. Snickers is ONLY a chocolate bar.
5. Odd word out: Snickers