
The SAT does NOT test obscure vocabulary. It tests whether you understand how common words are used in specific contexts.
Example: The word "check" can mean: verify, restrain, a payment instrument, a pattern, a chess move. The SAT asks which meaning fits the passage.
High-frequency SAT words to know:
Underscore — to emphasize
Substantiate — to support with evidence
Undermine — to weaken
Nuanced — subtle, not simple
Ambiguous — unclear, multiple meanings
Bolster — to strengthen
Reconcile — to bring into agreement
Strategy: Substitute each answer choice into the sentence. Read it back. The one that preserves the author's original meaning is correct.
Reference:
TaskLoco™ — The Sticky Note GOAT