Essential SAT Vocabulary Words You Must Know

If you are preparing for the SAT exam, then you must include SAT vocabulary words in your list of topics for preparation. SAT vocabulary is a part of the English language on the exam, and questions on Reading and Writing on SAT can be challenging with close options. For this, it is essential to build SAT vocabulary. Check out, how you can do this in this article. 

The ‘Craft and Structure’ domain of the SAT exam for its Reading and Writing (RW) section which tests 'Words in Context' includes vocabulary-based questions. There is a paragraph which describes a situation and questions are asked correspondingly. The questions on SAT RW are MCQ-based and there are close options which can be confusing for applicants. To ensure answer accuracy on the SAT, applicants must focus on building their vocabulary. We have discussed all the major details in this article about SAT vocabulary words. Those planning to submit SAT scores as part of UG admissions abroad can take a look at this article. 

Why Build a SAT Vocabulary?

Building a strong base for SAT vocabulary can be a daunting task, but it is essential to do so because of several reasons. Some of these are as follows:

• It will help applicants attempt the RW section more confidently and also help them meet SAT cutoffs (sectional) if required.
• Higher chance of answering SAT RW questions accurately. 
• To understand context, central ideas, details and words in context easily, it is essential to build SAT word vocabulary.
• Having a good vocabulary reduces the average time to answer a question on the SAT. 
• Also, the chances of scoring better on SAT’s RW section become stronger if you have a good vocabulary. 
• Finally, being able to understand the meaning of tough words and answer questions in and around them with ease is another major benefactor. 

Since it is important to have a strong SAT vocabulary, applicants should spare ample time for building their SAT vocabulary. This will enable them to be able to do everything that has been described above. 

What All You Need for SAT Vocabulary Prep?

To plan out on acing your SAT vocabulary, you must know the following areas: 

1. Understand the SAT Syllabus 
2. How to Build SAT Vocabulary?
3. Prep High-Frequency SAT Vocabulary Words
4. Frequently Used Synonyms & Antonyms for SAT Vocabulary Words
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing SAT Vocabulary
6. SAT Vocabulary Practice Questions

We have covered all these aspects of SAT vocabulary in this article, check them out in the following sections. 

SAT Reading & Writing Syllabus 2024

The following table summarises the SAT Reading and Writing syllabus for reference:

SAT Reading & Writing Section Areas	Skill / Knowledge Testing Areas
Craft and Structure	Words in Context Text Structure and Purpose Cross-Text Connections
Information and Ideas	Central Ideas and Details Command of Evidence based on - Textual and Quantitative Inferences
Standard English Conventions	Boundaries Form, Structure, and Sense
Expression of Ideas	Rhetorical Synthesis Transitions

This is what the SAT syllabus looks like for the Reading and Writing section. Applicants have to answer 54 questions in 64 minutes. There will be reading passages and applicants will have to answer questions based on the passages. 

How to Build SAT Test Vocabulary?

SAT vocabulary cannot be built overnight, thus, applicants looking at building SAT vocabulary will have to create a plan and then look at expanding their vocabulary. Check out the following points which can aid applicants in building their SAT test vocabulary: 

• Create a dedicated vocabulary journal
• Use flashcards to learn new words and their meanings
• Learn through a dictionary, always keep a pocket dictionary handy
• Use new words in sentences, writing and discussions
• Use root words and prefixes (like school, house, pet, etc)
• Practice with vocabulary exercises
• Join a study group and learn together
• Use mnemonic devices like acrostics, acronyms and using rhymes
• Set aside daily vocabulary study time

Building vocabulary is a long process and takes days and years to build one. To ace SAT exams and score well, these strategies could be implemented initially. Planning to take the SAT exam soon? Then you must get on with your SAT vocab building at the earliest.

Also, read about:

SAT Exam Dates	How to Register for SAT?
SAT Exam Centres	SAT Exam Pattern

Prep 40+ High Frequency SAT Vocabulary Words

Check out some of the high frequency SAT vocabulary words in the table below along with their meanings: 

Words	Meanings
Aberration	A deviation from what is normal
Ambivalent	Having mixed feelings or contradictory attitudes
Assiduous	Showing great care and persistence
Anticipate	Expect or predict
Capricious	Changing suddenly and unpredictably
Contentious	Causing or likely to cause an argument
Credulous	Too ready to believe things and be easily deceived
Cursory	Done quickly and without much attention to detail
Derogatory	Expressing a negative opinion of someone or something
Disparity	A great difference
Egregious	Shockingly bad
Ephemeral	Lasting for a very short time
Epitomise	Idolise or a perfect example
Exacerbate	Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse
Fastidious	Very careful and attentive to detail
Garrulous	Talkative and rambling
Gregarious	Fond of company; sociable
Insidious	Gradually and secretly causing harm
Intrepid	Not afraid of danger or risk
Jarring	Clashing or incongruous strikingly or shockingly
Laconic	Using few words
Magnanimous	Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival
Maudlin	Sentimental and self-pitying
Melodic	Pleasant musical quality
Nefarious	Wicked or criminal
Obdurate	Stubborn and refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
Paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but true
Precarious	Dangerous and risky
Prudent	Wise and cautious
Querulous	Complaining in a whiny way
Recalcitrant	Resisting authority or control
Reinforce	Strengthen or support
Reticent	Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings
Sanguine	Cheerful and optimistic
Scrupulous	Careful and precise
Serendipitous	Occurring by chance in a happy way
Taciturn	Reserved or uncommunicative in speech
Tenacious	Holding firmly to one's beliefs or purpose
Transcend	To surpass
Tranquil	Peaceful and quiet
Ubiquitous	Found everywhere
Vacillate	Waver between different opinions or actions
Verbose	Using more words than are necessary
Vexatious	Causing irritation or annoyance
Wary	Cautious and alert
Zealous	Having great enthusiasm for a cause or activity

Check out: Vocabulary Guide for International Students

5 Techniques to Learn High Frequency SAT Words Easily

While the above-mentioned SAT vocabulary list looks complicated, there are multiple ways in which you can learn them and their meanings and incorporate them. There are different mnemonics which could be used to learn difficult word meanings and they are as follows:

1. Acronyms: Make acronyms to learn word meanings. For example, the word ‘Supercilious’ means showing disdain or arrogance. Acronym: SUPER (Showing Unwarranted Pride Excessively Rude)
2. Visualisation: using visualisation, applicants can easily remember word meanings. They can create imagery and relate words to certain meanings so they don’t forget. So if the word - Magnanimous comes up, they can imagine something huge. 
3. Link/Chain Method: This method is used for linking words with images or locations that act as memories. So for the word meaning of Ubiquitous, applicants can remember it this way - Visualize small, identical figures crawling all over your walls, bed and floor. (basically means everywhere)
4. Acrostics: Using minimum words, explain the meaning of difficult words. For example, Laconic (meaning: using few words). Acrostic: Little Accurate Concise Only Necessary Information Communicative
5. Keyword Method: So if the word is Recalcitrant (means: resisting authority or control). Keyword: "Calculate" (similar sound). Imagine a person who refuses to calculate their taxes.

Based on these mnemonics, applicants easily make notes and remember difficult words and their even difficult meanings. 

Read more about:

• How to Prepare for SAT?
• Best Books for SAT Preparation

Frequently Used Synonyms & Antonyms for SAT Vocabulary Words

There will be different fill-in-the-blank types of questions in SAT Reading and Writing section. The MCQs can have identical sets of choices, but the one that fits the best based on context is the answer.

For example: The following text is from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby:

[Jay Gatsby] was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American—that comes, I suppose, with the absence of lifting work in youth and, even more, with the formless grace of our nervous, sporadic games. This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness. 

As used in the text, what does the word “quality” most nearly mean? 

1. A) Characteristic 
2. B) Standard 
3. C) Prestige 
4. D) Accomplishment

Answer Explanation: 

• Choice A is the best answer. Here, “quality” refers to a trait or attribute (“characteristic”)—specifically, Jay Gatsby’s “resourcefulness of movement,” which manifested as restlessness. 
• Choices B, Choice C and D are incorrect.

Top 20 Commonly Used Synonyms & Antonyms for SAT

To prepare for questions like these, applicants should have a good vocabulary and try not to confuse synonymic options. Here are a few common synonyms and their antonyms to aid SAT vocabulary practice:

SAT Words	Synonyms	Antonyms
Aberration	Anomaly, deviation, irregularity	Normality, regularity, typicality
Ambivalent	Indifferent, conflicted, uncertain	Certain, resolute, decided
Assiduous	Diligent, hardworking, persevering	Lazy, indolent, careless
Capricious	Impulsive, fickle, unpredictable	Consistent, reliable, dependable
Contentious	Argumentative, quarrelsome, divisive	Peaceful, harmonious, conciliatory
Credulous	Gullible, trusting, naive	Sceptical, incredulous, disbelieving
Cursory	Hasty, superficial, perfunctory	Thorough, meticulous, detailed
Derogatory	Disparaging, insulting, belittling	Complimentary, flattering, laudatory
Disparity	Difference, inequality, discrepancy	Equality, similarity, sameness
Egregious	Flagrant, outrageous, shocking	Mild, insignificant, trivial
Ephemeral	Fleeting, transitory, short-lived	Lasting, enduring, permanent
Exacerbate	Worsen, aggravate, intensify	Improve, ameliorate, alleviate
Fastidious	Meticulous, fussy, particular	Careless, sloppy, indifferent
Garrulous	Talkative, loquacious, verbose	Silent, taciturn, reticent
Gregarious	Sociable, outgoing, friendly	Introverted, solitary, reclusive
Insidious	Cunning, treacherous, sly	Honest, straightforward, open
Intrepid	Brave, courageous, fearless	Cowardly, timid, fearful
Laconic	Concise, terse, succinct	Verbose, wordy, rambling
Magnanimous	Generous, noble, forgiving	Stingy, mean, petty
Maudlin	Sentimental, tearful, overly emotional	Stoic, unemotional, impassive

These are just a few synonyms and antonyms for the high frequency SAT words, there can be lots of similar words which can be incorporated. Thus, applicants can keep building their SAT vocabulary list. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing SAT Vocabulary

Here are a few common mistakes which can be avoided by applicants when they are preparing for the SAT exam and SAT-related vocabulary: 

• Brush up grammar rules regularly for the use of conjunctions, modals, adverbs and others.
• Understand the use of their vs there, neither nor vs either or, accept vs except and other such examples.  
• Also, be very careful with your punctuation rules, to avoid non-compliance.
• Be very clear with your subject-verb-agreement rules and revise them daily as they can be very tricky. 
• Practice carefully on the root form of the verb and how its spellings can change when using a prefix or a suffix. 
• Avoid following up on the daily practice, learning new words daily is a must.

Thus, by avoiding these common mistakes, it is possible to aim for a good SAT score and get admission to top universities abroad. 

SAT Vocabulary Practice Questions

To practice vocabulary type questions, applicants can check out the SAT vocabulary practice questions below based on different passage types, given below along with the answer key afterwards. 

SAT Vocabulary Practice Question 1

For a 2020 exhibition, photographer and neurobiologist Okunola Jeyifous ______  a series of new images based on a series of alphabet posters from the 1970s known as the “Black ABCs,” which featured Black children from Chicago. Jeyifous photographed the now-adult models and layered the photos over magnified images of the models’ cells, resulting in what he called “micro and macro portraiture.”

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. validated
2. created
3. challenged
4. Restored

SAT Vocabulary Practice Question 2

In studying the use of external stimuli to reduce the itching sensation caused by an allergic histamine response, Louise Ward and colleagues found that while harmless applications of vibration or warming can provide a temporary distraction, such ______ stimuli offer less relief than a stimulus that seems less benign, like a mild electric shock.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. deceptive
2. innocuous
3. novel
4. impractical

SAT Vocabulary Practice Question 3

In the mid-nineteenth century, some abolitionist newspapers ______ westward migration in the United States; by printing a letter that described the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California during the Gold Rush, Frederick Douglass’s newspaper North Star was one such publication that inspired readers to relocate.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. stimulated
2. assigned
3. opposed
4. disregarded

SAT Vocabulary Practice Question 4

Given that the conditions in binary star systems should make planetary formation nearly impossible, it’s not surprising that the existence of planets in such systems has lacked ______ explanation. Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee shed light on the subject when they used modelling to determine a complex set of factors that could support planets’ development.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. a discernible
2. a straightforward
3. an inconclusive
4. an unbiased

SAT Vocabulary Practice Question 5

Former astronaut Ellen Ochoa says that although she doesn’t have a definite idea of when it might happen, she ______ that humans will someday need to be able to live in other environments than those found on Earth. This conjecture informs her interest in future research missions to the moon.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

1. demands
2. speculates
3. doubts
4. establishes

Answer Key: 1.B, 2.B, 3.A, 4.B, 5.B

To ace the SAT exam, applicants must take a full SAT exam mock and check out some of the sample SAT question papers.  Applicants can understand how they perform and work on their progress if required. Ideally, applicants planning to study abroad must start their SAT preparation early and leave no stone unturned when it comes to SAT prep or SAT vocab prep. Keeping track of progress is equally important. Thus, based on key strategies and techniques, aiming for a strong base for SAT vocabulary would not be a faraway dream.