Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
January 27, 2017 by Hilarie Lloyd

Does Vocabulary Matter Anymore on the SAT & ACT?

At first glance, both the SAT and the ACT seem to have eradicated all of their vocabulary questions. Gone are the SAT questions where you had to choose the most fitting word for the blank in the sentence, and long gone are the old “analogy” questions of my SAT days. (ANALOGIES : SAT :: DODO BIRD : WORLD.) Do students need to bother with vocabulary at all, anymore?

YES.

Just because the obvious vocabulary questions are gone doesn’t mean that a strong college-bound vocabulary isn’t still helpful. There are still many challenging vocabulary words throughout the tests; the difference is that now the tests are more likely testing your ability to know how a word is being used in context.

For example, more and more passages on the Reading section of the tests are coming from older texts from the 1800’s or 1700’s. These older texts often involve a lot of vocabulary that modern students find unfamiliar. Being able to decode antiquated terminology becomes important to understanding the overall meaning of these older texts, so readily recognizing at least some of the lexicon might save a student from complete bewilderment.

Also, increasing numbers of questions on the grammar sections ask us to choose a word that fits a sentence, paragraph, or passage the best based on the purpose of the sentence and the surrounding structure of the passage. The words tested are nowhere near as esoteric as traditional “SAT words,” yet test takers sometimes still struggle. What happens when you don’t know what the words in the answer choices mean? Vocabulary strikes again!

We do still have “context” vocabulary questions in test reading section that ask us to choose the correct meaning of a word used in a sentence in the passage. The word is often a familiar, deceptively easy vocabulary word. No problem, right? The catch is that usually most of the answer choices do, strictly speaking, fall into the purview of that word’s definition. So, the way to get the question right is to figure out the particular, nuanced way that the word is being used in the context of that sentence and the surrounding sentences. Understanding the meaning of the surrounding language becomes crucial, and that often involves knowing vocabulary words in the surrounding sentences. We can’t escape vocabulary! It’s just everywhere.

So, how do we deal with the way the tests are approaching vocabulary, now? What are some ways apart from all-important context to succeed at the way vocabulary is being tested?

TONE: Knowing whether a word is positive or negative can get you pretty far.

ROOTS: Recognizing a Latin or Greek root helps unlock the meanings of countless English words, especially many of the tougher ones. Sometimes you will be able to use Latin or Greek roots by just noticing that an unfamiliar vocabulary word looks like a piece of a word you already know:

Benefactor. Beneficial? Benefit. Oh, I think the word benefactor must involve someone getting something good.

Circumscribe. Circumference of a circle! Scribbling lines on a paper. Perhaps circumscribe is to draw a line around something.

Graphical literacy may be more important in our 21st century assessments, but a college-level vocabulary never really goes out of style. Work on yours for greater success on test day and every other day!

ACT roots2words SAT vocabulary

Previous article2017 SAT & ACT Test DatesNext article Positive Self Talk on Test Day
Hilarie Lloyd(https://chariotlearning.com)
Hilarie Lloyd is a professor and tutor with a passion for teaching law, literature, college writing, and international relations at University of Rochester and Alfred State College. She loves being part of the Chariot Learning team because she likes seeing students improve their scores, open up college admissions choices, and pursue their dreams.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

Latest Posts

  • Conscripts Vs. Volunteers
  • Applying to the United States Naval Academy
  • Get Excited About Your Big Tests
  • Big Hairy Audacious Score Goals
  • Test Ready for Winter 2021
  • Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least: https://chariotlearning.com/thinking-about-what-matters/?platform=hootsuite&hs=HSCampaign
    by chariotlearning 3 days ago
    Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least: https://chariotlearning.com/thinking-about-what-matters/?platform=hootsuite&hs=HSCampaign
  • Believe you can and you
    by chariotlearning 5 days ago
    Believe you can and you're halfway there...
  • Hard work puts you where good luck can find you.
    by chariotlearning 7 days ago
    Hard work puts you where good luck can find you.
  • Always be awesome.
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    Always be awesome.
  • What are you working on in 2021?
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    What are you working on in 2021?
  • Let today be the start of something new. Happy New Year!
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Let today be the start of something new. Happy New Year!
  • Dear future... I am ready.
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Dear future... I am ready.
  • Believe there is good in the world... and be the good.
    by chariotlearning 3 weeks ago
    Believe there is good in the world... and be the good.
  • This holiday season, give yourself the gift of emotional agility :)
    by chariotlearning 4 weeks ago
    This holiday season, give yourself the gift of emotional agility :)
  • Goals... there
    by chariotlearning 4 weeks ago
    Goals... there's no telling what will happen when you act upon them.

Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

College Road is your source for expert educational advice, test news, college admissions action steps, special offers, and more. Sign up now!

Upcoming Events

  1. Free Practice Online ACT (1/16/21)

    January 16 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  2. TI-83/84 Calculator Clinic for the SAT & ACT

    January 17 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  3. TI-Nspire Calculator Clinic for the SAT & ACT

    January 17 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  4. Free Practice Online ACT (1/23/21)

    January 23 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  5. Advanced ACT Math Seminar

    January 24 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

View All Events

Testimonials

Working with Chariot Learning was the best preparation choice we could have made. Robert's test scores increased by nearly 50 percentile points. Plus he learned reading and writing skills that he was able to apply immediately in school. Thanks so much!

Bob & Sarah, Brighton parents

Read more testimonials...
© 2020 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.