New SAT/ACT Vocabulary

The new redesigned SAT is similar to the ACT in that there will be no official section for testing vocabulary. Though there aren’t any vocabulary sections where a student needs to define words, there will be 18 “word in context” questions. This means that students will need to know the definition of the word as well as understand how that word and subsequent definition fits into the given sentence and broader passage. In order to be prepared for these types of questions it it very important to study key vocabulary words.

These are just a few of them:

Anecdote- Short story/example

Exegesis- Summary

Odyssey- Long journey

Deplete- Empty

Maverick- Independent minded person

Serpent- Snake

Precocious- Advanced for one’s age

Whimsical- Fanciful/make believe/not realistic

Substantiate- To support with evidence

Savant- Brilliant person

Indulgent- Gives into

Austere- Serious/severe

Novel- New

Comply- Follow/obey

Contentious- Argumentative

Catholic- Universal

Peril- Destruction

Collegial- Friendly/good working relationship

Indifferent- Does not care either way