A blasphemous question: Is Xiggi wrong?

[xiggi]

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However, DH seems to be more than just another “must read” list of words. It helped me and a large number of CCers prepare for the PSAT/SAT. Its record of success is now fully documented. Xiggi, I encourage you to take a look at DH. I will be very interested in your evaluation.

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<p>DK, I understand your point of view regarding DH. </p>

<p>Although I did not discuss it in my prior post, your quotation of my earlier statement was a tad out of its original context. As stated in my prior post, I formed my opinion SEVERAL years ago, and well before the Direct Hits became available. I believe that it is still pretty clear today that a listing that includes “TestMasters: 2 Hits; Princeton Review: 2 Hits; Hot Words: 3 Hits; Rocket Review: 2 Hits; and finally Barron’s: 9 Hits” is hardly a positive testimonial for spending time on such lists, especially when analyzing the EXACT words that provided a “hit.” </p>

<p>All in all, as your analysis seems to indicate, it is entirely possible that reading Direct Hits offers a much better return on one’s time and investment than it was possible a few years ago. After all, there is a world of difference between reading words in context and simply trying to memorize 3500 words. </p>

<p>For good measure, I paste the original exchange. HTH! </p>

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@xiggi

@dark knight

Here they are:
redundancy, crystallize, polymath, lexicon, hobble, plasticity, admonition, captious, edifying, elude, slapstick, recrimination, eclectic, wry, mock, and rustic. So how did the best known vocabulary books perform? Here is my preliminary report:</p>

<ol>
<li>Direct Hits: 400 Words/9 Hits/1 Hit per 44 words</li>
<li>TestMasters: 254 Words/2 Hits/1 Hit per 127 words</li>
<li>Princeton Review: 253 Words/2 Hits/1 Hit per 127 words</li>
<li>Hot Words: 396 Words/3 Hits/1 Hit per 132 words</li>
<li>Rocket Review: 323 Words/2 Hits/1 Hit per 161 words</li>
<li>Barron’s Mini Dictionary: 3500 Words/ 9 Hits/1 Hit per 388 words

<br></li>
</ol>

<p>Just as it was easily established years ago on this site, the exercise of seeking a magical list of words remains one of utter futility. While one does learn a LITTLE bit by locating and reading any of the lists on the market, working on other parts of the SAT will pay much larger dividends. </p>

<p>Again, caveat emptor!

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