Note: There is a copious and commodious amount of information here
including vocabulary resources, but also (towards the bottom) links to
blogs, websites and other resources that are useful.
Enjoy!
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Standard Tests Comparison |
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|
SAT |
ACT (with Essay) |
|
|
As Described by the Test Creators and Publishers as… |
“assessing how well students analyze and solve problems” |
“curriculum-based” |
| Overall Scoring | Each section scored between 200 and 800 for summer scores out of 1600 (old style) or 2400 (new style)Essay subscore of 2 — 12 | Each section scored between l and 36 Composite score is weighted average of section scores. Essay subscore of 0 — 12 Writing score not included in composite score |
|
Total Length |
4 hours, 15 minutes |
3 hours, 45 minutes |
|
Types of Sections (Time in Minutes) |
1 Essay (25) 2 MC Writing (25, 10) 3 or 4 Math (20 or 25) 3 or 4 Reading (20 or 25) |
1 English (45) 1 Math (60) 1 Reading (40) 1 Science (35) 1 Essay (30) |
| Content | Vocab-based sentence completionsAlgebra, Geometry, ArithmeticEssay required No ScienceMostly Multiple Choice with some ‘grid in’ responses |
No vocab-based completions Science Algebra, Geometry, Trig Essay optional / recommendedAll multiple choice |
|
Sections Scoring Structure |
1 un-scored “experimental” section – not indicated | All Sections Scored |
|
Question Scoring Structure |
-1/4 point penalty for all question types except for Math Grid-ins | No Penalty for Incorrect Answer |
|
Calculator Use |
Yes, scientific graphing calculator | Yes, scientific graphing calculator |
|
Cumulative Test |
Each score report includes complete score history for all tests taken including SAT Some colleges may use highest score in each section (up to 5 most recent test) to create composite score |
Releases a separate record for each test date requested Some colleges may choose to average scores from different test dates to create composite |
|
Students Prefer??? |
“Type A”?, more organized, logic based, analytical | “Type B”?, more information based, able to work more quickly |
|
Websites |
www.collegeboard.com | www.actstudent.org |
VOCABULARY BUILDING RESOURCES
If you are using my ‘index card’ system… this fits right in.
(if you’re not.. ASK about it.. it WORKS!)
ABSTRACT theoretical, not concrete
ACQUIESCE to agree without protesting
ADULATION flattery, admiration
ADVERSARY opponent
ADVOCATE urge, plead for, represent
AFFIRMATION confirmation, postivie assertion
ALTRUISTIC unselfish, concerned for others
AMBIGUOUS unclear, doubtful in meaning
AMBIVALENCE having contradictory or conflicting attitudes
AMORPHOUS irregular, not regularly shaped
ANARCHIST a person who seeks to overturn established government
ANOMALY irregularity, not normal
APATHY lack of caring, indifference
APOCRYPHAL untrue, false, made up
ARBITRARY capricious, random
ARTICULATE effective, distinct
ASCENDANCY controlling influence, domination
ASTUTE wise, shwed, keen
ATROPHY wasting away
AUDACIOUS daring, bold
AUSTERE severely simple, stern
BANAL trite, trivial, commonplace
BEGUILE mislead, trick, delude
BENEVOLENT generous, charitable, giving
BEQUEATH to leave by a will, hand down
BLIGHTED suffering from disease or decay
BREVITY conciseness, shortness
CAJOLE coax, wheedle
CAPRICIOUS unpredictable, fickle
CENSORIOUS critical, finding fault
CENSURE blame, criticize
CLEMENCY leniency, mild temper
COERCION use of force to get someone to obey
COMPLIANCE readiness to yield, conformity
CONCILIATORY reconciling, soothing
CONCISE brief, compact, especially in speak or writing
CONDONE overlook, forgive, excuse
CONVERGE approach, come together
CONVICTION judgment of guilt, a strongly held belief
CORROBORATE confirm, support
CREDULITY gullibility, belief based on minimal evidence
CRITERION a standard used to judge
CRYPTIC mysterious, hidden, secret
CURSORY casual, hastily done
DAUNT intimidate, frighten
DEBILITATE weaken, enfeeble
DELINEATE portray, describe
DEPRAVITY extreme corruption, wickedness
DEPRECATE express disapproval, protest against
DISCREPANCY lack of consistency
DESSICATE dry up
DETERRENT something that discourages, hindrance
DEPOSE dethrone, remove from office
DIMINUTION lessening, reduction in size
DISCERNING mentally quick and observant
DISCORDANT not harmonious, conflicting
DISDAIN view with scorn or contempt
DISINCLINATION unwillingness
DISPARAGE belittle
DISPARITY difference, condition of inequality
DISPERSE scatter, spread
DISSEMINATE distribute, spread, scatter
DISSONANCE discord, not harmonious sounding
DISTEND expand, swell
DIVERGENT differing, deviating
DOGMATIC opinionated, doctrinal
DUPLICITY hypocritical, two sided
ECLECTIC drawn from many different sources
EFFACE rub out, erase
ELABORATION addition of details
ELOQUENCE expressive manner of speak
ELUSIVE evasive, baffling, hard to grasp
EMACIATED thin, wasted
EMBELLISH adorn, ornament
EMULATE imitate, rival
ENERVATE weaken
ENGENDER cause, produce
ENIGMA puzzle, mystery, difficult to solve
EPHEMERAL short lived
EQUIVOCAL ambiguous, misleading intentionally
ESOTERIC hard to understand, secret, known only by a few
EULOGY expression of praise, usually at a funeral
EUPHEMISM mild expression that replaces an unpleasant one
EXACERBATE worsen, embitter
EXEMPLARY a model, perfect example
EXHAUSTIVE thorough, comprehensive
EXONERATE acquit, exculpate, free
EXPEDIENT suitable, practical, fitting
EXPLICIT totally clear, definite, out in the open
EXTOL praise highly, glorify
EXTRICATE free, disentangle
FALLACIOUS false, misleading
FANATICISM excessive zeal, extreme devotion
FASTIDIOUS difficult to please, picky
FERVOR glowing ardor, intensity of feeling
FLAGRANT blatant, outrageous, conspicuous
FLORID flowery, ruddy, fancy
FRIVILOUS lacking seriousness, carefree, self indulgent
GRAVITY seriousness
GREGARIOUS sociable
GUILE deceit, trick
HACKNEYED commonplace, trite
HAMPER obstruct
HAUGHTINESS pride, arrogance, conceit
HEDONIST one who aims for pleasure
HERESY opinion contrary to the common belief
HOMOGENEOUS of the same kind, similar
HYPOCRITICAL deceiving, pretending to think one way but act another
HYPOTHETICAL based on theory only, on paper
IMMUTABLE unchangeable
IMPLICATION a suggestion or hint
IMPLICIT understood but not stated directly
IMPECUNIOUS poor, without money
INANE meaningless, silly
INCEPTION start, beginning
INCIDENTAL not essential, minor
INCITE arouse to action
INCONGRUOUS not fitting, out of place
INCONTROVERTIBLE indisputable, undeniable
INCORRIGIBLE not correctable
INDEFATIGABLE tireless
INDELIBLE not able to be erased
INDICT charge (as with a crime)
INDOLENT lazy
INFAMOUS notoriously bad
INGENIOUS cleaver, resourceful
INHERENT firmly established, of one’s nature
INNATE inborn
INNOCUOUS harmless
INSIPID dull, pointless, lacking flavor
INSTIGATE urge, start, provoke
INSUPERABLE insurmountable, unbeatable
INTRACTABLE unruly, stubborn, unyielding
IRONIC resulting in an unexpected outcome
IRRESOLUTE uncertain, wavering
IRREPROACHABLE blameless, impeccable
JOCULAR funny, said in jest
LACONIC brief and to the point
LAMPOON satire, ridicule
LAUD praise
LETHARGIC drowsy, dull
LEVITY not serious, light
LURID clear, graphic, gruesome, unhidden negatives
MAGNANIMOUS generous, great hearted, giving in great degree
METICULOUS painstaking, excessively careful
MISERLY cheap, unwilling to spend money
MITIGATE appease, moderate, make easier
MOROSE ill-humored, sullen, melancholy
MUNDANE germane, commonplace, not exciting
NOTORIETY ill fame, disrepute
NULLIFY to make invalid
NURTURE nourish, foster, raise up
OBDURATE very stubborn
OBLIVION obscurity
OPAQUE not clear, not transparent, dark
OSTENTATIOUS showy, pretentious, attracting attention
PACIFIST lover of peace, antiwar
PARTISAN one sided, prejudiced, committed to one side only
PERFUNCTORY superficial, ,unenthusiastic
PERIPHERAL marginal, on the outside
PERVASIVE pervading, spread everywhere, complete
PHILANTHROPIST great giver, especially money
PEITY religious devotion
PLACTATE pacify, conciliate
PONDEROUS thoughtful, “heavy”
PRAGMATIC practical
PRECLUDE make impossible, eliminate
PRECOCIOUS advanced, ahead of a normal pacing
PREDILECTION partiality, preference
PREVALENT widespread, accepted all over
PROFANE violate, desecrate, curse
PROFOUND deep, not superficial, complete
PROFUSION overabundance, lavish expense
PROLIFIC abundantly fruitful, of great quantity
PROXIMITY nearness
QUANDARY dilemma, problem
REBUFF snub, beat back
RECLUSE hermit, loner, antisocial
RECTIFY set right, correct
REDUNDANT repetitious, superfluous, wordy
REFUTE disprove
RELEGATE banish to an inferior position, demote
RENOUNCE abandon, disown, repudiate
REPREHENSIBLE deserving blame
RETICENCE quite, shy, uncommunicative, silent
RETRACT withdraw, take back
RESLENDENT dazzling, glorious, brilliant
SANCTION approve, ratify
SATIRICAL mocking
SAVORY tasty, attractive
SCRUPULOUS conscientious, thorough
SERVILE slavish, clinging, not independent
SOMBER gloomy, depressing, dark
SOPORIFIC sleep inducing
SPURIOUS false, forged, bogus
STAGNANT still, motionless, stale
STEADFAST loyal, unswerving
STOIC unemotional, impassive
STUPEFY make numb, stun
SUCCINCT to the point, terse, compact
SUPERRFLUOUS extra, excessive, unnecessary
SURREPTITIOUS secret, furtive, sneaky, hidden
SYCOPHANT servile flatterer, one who says or does what another wants
TERSE short, concise, to the point, abrupt
TORPOR dormancy, lethargy, sluggishness
TREPIDATION fear, nervous apprehension
TURBULENCE state of agitation, unsettled
UNKEMPT disheveled, sloppy
UNOBTRUSIVE inconspicuous, not blatant, hidden
VACILLATE change, fluctuate, waver
VENERATE revere, adore
VIABLE practical, workable, capable of maintaining life
VILLIFY slander, talk badly
VIRTUOSO highly skilled artist
VIRULENT hostile, poisonous
ZEALOT fanatic, overly enthusiastic person
Vocabulary List 2
One way to learn vocabulary is by grouping words that have similar meanings.
If you are using my ‘index card’ system… this fits right in.
(if you’re not.. ASK about it.. it WORKS!)
Words by Category
Unoriginal/Lacking in Substance: Prosaic, Pedestrian, Banal, Cliché, Trite, Hackneyed, Vapid, Vacuous, Quotidian, Mundane, Insipid, Derivative
Stubborn – Obstinate, Obdurate, Intransigent, Intractable, Tenacious
Brief – Fleeting, Ephemeral, Transitory, Cursory, Transient
Beyond normal human understanding – Esoteric, Recondite, Abstruse, Arcane
To Make Better/Relieve Pain – Ameliorate, Alleviate, Assuage, Palliate, Mitigate Varied, Diverse – Heterogeneous, Eclectic, Motley, Multifarious
Talkative/Outgoing – Loquacious, Garrulous, Gregarious
Using few words – Laconic, Terse, Perfunctory, Spare
To Insult – Impugn, Disparage, Deprecate, Malign, Censure (also means punish), Decry, Vilify, Vituperate
To Praise/Hold in high regard – Tout, Extol, Revere, Laud
Generosity – Munificence, Magnanimity, Largess, Greed – Avarice, Cupidity
Inclination toward – Penchant, Proclivity, Predilection, Affinity
Prevent – Forestall, Preclude, Thwart
Highly decorated – Florid, Ornate, Baroque
Indigent – Poor, Penurious, Impecunious
Shy – Reticent, Aloof, Diffident, Reticent
Hardworking – Assiduous, Diligent, Sedulous
Cheerful – Jovial, Jocund, Mirthful
Overjoyed – Exultant, Elated, Jubilant, Ebulliant
Lazy – Indolent, Slothful
Arrogant – Condescending, Supercilious
Complicated – Byzantine, Convoluted
Clear – Lucid, Perspicuous
Harsh, Burning – Caustic, Vitriolic
Sickeningly Sweet – Cloying, Treacly, Maudlin, Mawkish
Mystery – Enigma, Conundrum
Unpredictable – Mercurial, Capricious
Narrow-Minded – Provincial, Insular, Parochial
Broad-Minded – Cosmopolitan
Small Amount – Paucity, Dearth
Large Amount – Myriad, Copious, Plethora
Fake – Spurious, Specious
Suspicious of – Wary of, Chary of Fraud, Trickery – Charlatanism, Chicanery
Naive – Ingenuous, Guileless Calm – Phlegmatic, Placid Easily Angered – Irascible, Cantankerous Violent – Bellicose, Pugnacious Supplementary, not of central importance – Ancillary, Peripheral Irrelevant, Unimportant – Picayune, Trivial Free from blame, find innocent – Exonerate, Exculpate, Vindicate
credit: http://ultimatesatverbal.blogspot.com/p/top-sat-words.html
by Erica Meltzer
Vocabulary List 3
Abate – Subside
Abhor – Loathe
Acumen – Knowledge of, smarts
Adroit – Skillful
Aesthetic – Having to do with beauty of appearance
Amass – Assemble
Ambivalent – Having mixed feelings, uncertain
Anachronism – Out of harmony with the present
Anomaly – Oddity
Aptitude – Ability
Ascetic – One who practice self-denial
Astute – Smart, “with it”
Benevolent – Kindly
Blithe – Carefree
Bombastic – Overblown, inflated
Bucolic – Related to country living
Circuitous – Roundabout, indirect
Circumspect – Careful, Cautious
Clamorous – Noisy
Condone – To overlook bad behavior
Diaphanous – Filmy, sheer
Decorous – Well-Mannered
Dichotomy – Division into two mutually exclusive groups
Didactic – Intended to teach
Dilatory – Dragging one’s feet, delaying
Dupe – Trick, fool
Effusive – Gushing
Elated – Overjoyed
Eminent – Well-known, respected
Emollient – Balm, intended to soften or soothe
Enervate – Sap of energy, tire out
Epitome – Essence
Equivocal – Vague, Refusing to give a clear answer
Feasible – Doable
Fortuitous – Occurring by (lucky) chance
Germane – Relevant
Guile – Trickery
Harbinger – Warning
Hyperbole – Exaggeration
Iconoclast – Revolutionary, disdain traditions
Idiosyncratic – An (odd) characteristic particular to an individual
Indict – Formally accuse
Ineffable – Inexpressible
Ingenious – Clever
Imminent – About to happen
Innocuous – Harmless
Intrepid – Brave
Irrevocable – Unable to be undone
Lackadaisical – Not caring, indifferent
Latent – Present but not visible
Malleable – Easy to mold, change shape
Mar – Stain or Ruin
Mellifluous – Sweet-Sounding
Mercenary – Soldier for hire
Meticulous – Precise, detail-oriented
Noxious – Foul, harmful
Obliterate – Destroy thoroughly
Obsequious – Servile, used to describe a sycophant
Obtrude – Stick out
Onus – Burden
Ostentatious – Showy, over the top
Paradox – Apparent contradiction
Paradigm – Model
Parsimonious – Stingy, tight-fisted
Pedantic – Knowledgeable but exceedingly boring
Peruse – Inspect closely
Pragmatic – Practical
Prolific – Productive
Propagate – To spread
Protean – Capable of assuming many different forms
Prudent – Practical
Prurient – Titillating
Pulchritude – Beauty
Quandary – Dilemma, difficult situation
Quell – Put a stop to
Quiescent – Quiet
Quixotic – Romantic and impractical
Rancor – Fury
Recidivism – Slipping back into crime or bad behavior/habits
Renege – Go back on one’s word
Scrutinize – Examine very closely
Sporadic – Occurring inconsistently
Solicitous – Caring, Concerned
Superfluous – Excessive
Surreptitious – Secretive
Sybarite – One who loves luxury
Sycophant – Suck-up
Tedious – Boring
Temporize – Procrastinate
Torpid – Inactive or sluggish
Unequivocal – Decisive
Unwieldy – Awkward, difficult to handle
Visceral – Instinctive, opp. of rational
Watershed – Tipping point
Zenith – High point, apex
WEBSITES and BLOGS of VALUE
Erica’s Writing / Reading Improvement Blog
http://ultimatesatverbal.blogspot.com/
