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Studying Vocabulary for ACT® & SAT® Tests*

Words are tools we use to communicate and think, so it's not surprising that an adacemic vocabulary is helpful when taking tests that measure college readiness.

The best way to prepare for the verbal sections of the ACT®* or SAT®* is to spend years reading thoughtfully--preferably with some awareness of new and useful words. Still, test makers are trying to assure that good thinkers will do alright on these tests even if they have not read as much as would be ideal.

Someone cramming for a test, is better off spending time understanding the mechanics of the testing format or reviewing required math. There are too many testable words to be memorized in an unnatural manner.

For the student learning vocabulary through reading, verbalworkout.com enhances word awareness by highlighting words thought more likely to be tested. Such words are flagged as Top 10, Top 100, and so forth. These words are gathered from three categories:

1. Common Words With Multiple Meanings

Some questions require inferring contextual meaning of words that are commonly used with different meanings.

Example From ACT®* The following sentence is from a longer passage displayed on an ACT®* practice test.†
Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides.
Choose the best alternative for the underlined phrase.
  1. NO CHANGE
  2. was defenseless in the face of
  3. depended on
  4. trusted in
† Source: English Practice Test Questions at act.org
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Example From SAT®* The following sentence is from a longer passage displayed on an SAT®* practice test.‡
I ask directly because the use of a go-between takes much time.
As used in line 1 and line 65, "directly" most nearly means
  1. frankly.
  2. confidently.
  3. without mediation.
  4. with precision.
‡ Source: SAT®* practice test at collegeboard.org
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2. General Academic Words

Some questions require knowing general academic words. These are words that are more commonly found in books of varying subject matter than heard orally.

Example From ACT®* The following sentence is from a longer passage displayed on an ACT®* practice test.§
Dozens of friends expedited this proper process by volunteering to help with the construction fo the boat.
Which choice best indicates that constructing the cork boat was challenging?
  1. NO CHANGE
  2. authentic
  3. rigorous
  4. grim
§ Source: This link will download the PDF: Preparing for the ACT®* Test (A full-length practice test published by Act, Inc, dated 2019/2020, hosted on website of University of Arkansas at Montecello)
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Example From SAT®* The following sentence is from a longer passage displayed on an SAT®* practice test.‡
This frequent experience of gift-giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers.
In line 10, the word "ambivalent" most nearly means
  1. unrealistic.
  2. conflicted.
  3. apprehensive.
  4. supportive.
‡ Source: SAT®* practice test at collegeboard.org
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3. Words From Test Instructions

Words that are often used in the test instructions.

Example From ACT®* The word, "inferred" in "it can reasonably be inferred from the passage that..." §

§ Source: This link will download the PDF: Preparing for the ACT®* Test (A full-length practice test published by Act, Inc, dated 2019/2020, hosted on website of University of Arkansas at Montecello)
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Example From SAT®* The word, "relevant" in "Which choice provides the most relevant detail?" ‡

‡ Source: SAT®* practice test at collegeboard.org
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General Academic Words are also called Tier 2 Words. You might like to read more about them on this site at Tier 2 Words.