<p>did i just read that right? someone takes the test and remembers certain words and puts them on these lists?</p>
<p>No,</p>
<p>what the list is is that a company called Testmasters uses statistics to find like 250 words that are most likely to appear on that particular exam. They compile data on which words appear on which test dates and stuff like that. Supposedly, people have claimed that certain words did show up. How effective it is is disputed. Many say it's just better to study a large list of words since they're bound to show up anyway.</p>
<p>anyone have the list yet? i have the one from flashcardexchange, which was deleted from the website, but i'm not sure if it's the actual list</p>
<p>It hasn't been pronounced the October list, but its the most recent list. We can just ask around in Sept again if there has been an update. If not, its the list, I hope ...</p>
<p>so, anyone have the list yet?</p>
<p>I will ask the same question: Does anyone have the list?</p>
<p>I'm also interested in this. For anyone who has it... I'll trade an official online SAT course account for it.</p>
<p>We all know the testmaster's January list is solid, but has anyone found success for the October List?</p>
<p>OMG is there really a word list for each month? i actually have no idea. If anyone has the list, plz pm me i ll trade anything lol</p>
<p>I am ready to trade anything!!! A...N...Y...T...H...I...N...G</p>
<p>Just gimme that October list! :D</p>
<p>I'll trade anything for that list as well!</p>
<p>Does any expert here know the validity of this list? I heard it was a shot in the dark, unless it was for the January test date.</p>
<p>I never knew such a thing existed!</p>
<p>Does anyone know where one can find this January list? Thanks a bunchies!</p>
<p>anyone found it yet?</p>
<p>Yes, please, if someone has it, post it..........I'm sure every single member of the forum.........at least the ones who will be taking the test in october....will appreciate it...</p>
<p>Even i didn't know such thing existed. I would also want to know where you can find the january's list.</p>
<p>akahmed--it's an interesting question that you ask. it gets at the basic problem of how test questions are generated for a particular test.</p>
<p>one way the CB might generate test questions is to maintain a stable of potential test questions and select from among these to create a new test. if this is what they do, it's not likely that we would be able to use statistical analysis to predict future word lists. this would be like relying on the results of past lotteries to make predictions about which lottery numbers should come up on the next drawing--the results of a randomized event in the past tell you nothing about future results for that randomized event.</p>
<p>what if the college board does things differently, though? they might send out requests to their question writers for SC items that use particular words, and then deliberately use particular questions with particular words on particular days. if this is what they do, then a list like the testmaster's list might be a useful tool. in order for it to work, there has to be some sort of algorithm that the College Board uses to figure out which words go on which tests.</p>
<p>i don't know for a fact how the College Board develops questions, though i recall reading an article on the question when the latest version of the SAT came out (i can't find it on the internet :( ). my recollection of the article is that the first scenario above was closer to the way questions are designed, but i could be wrong. i did find this, though, on the college board web site:</p>
<p>"Q: Is the SAT fair?
"One of the College Board's highest priorities is to ensure that the SAT is fair for all students. It is the most researched test in the world. It takes more than two years to develop a form of the SAT. Each SAT question goes through a series of at least four content reviews (and sometimes several more) and a separate "sensitivity" review to be sure it is fair in content and tone for all students. In addition, a statistical review called differential item functioning, or "DIF," is used to compare how subgroups of students perform on each question. If students from different groups who have approximately equal knowledge and skill perform in substantially different ways on a test question, it is discarded or revised and reviewed again."</p>
<p>[ <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/about/news_info/sat/faqs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/about/news_info/sat/faqs.html</a> ]</p>
<p>if the question-creation process can be that complicated and unpredictable, it seems to me like the college board would have a hard time sticking to a schedule that required particular words for particular test dates.</p>
<p>on the other hand, there could be aspects of the question creation process i don't know anything about and/or am accidentally not considering. anybody have any other input?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering the question :)</p>
<p>The other thing to consider is that the people at College Board probably have access to this Testmaster's list, and every other list out there that promise to raise your SAT score. They may even view the list and laugh at the companies attempt to crack the system. Now, this raises the question about why the January List is so accurate. If College Board can see this January list available to only a few students who can afford the course, wouldn't they stop using those words, or a good portion of them on that test date so as to make the Jan test as fair as possible. It surprises me in the first place the Testmaster's was even able to predict the January words. However, we cannot rely solely on that and assume the October list will be as fruitful. That would basically be putting your SC score in Testmaster's hands. Really, this whole vocabulary aspect of the SAT has driven me crazy, and I always end up confused. I just go with the fact that if you do memorize words, it will only make you more knowledgeable on test day.</p>
<p>Other input would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>you make a lot of good points, akahmed. actually, i'd like to see the january TM list and the january SAT as well. does anybody actually know a person who used it successfully?</p>
<p>if the College Board really does follow some kind of algorithm in selecting new words, then it's committed to that standard and it can't deviate from it, even if test prep companies figure it out. (that's a pretty huge if.) the test can't change the rules it follows without sacrificing its standardization.</p>
<p>also, why didn't testmasters predict the vocabulary lists for other tests? does anybody know?</p>
<p>I have actually read posts here on CC after the January 2006 test on how accurate the list was. I even have the list and the test myself, and they seem to coincide well for the list being only around 250 words. I have heard of theories on how they cracked the system, one being that they send their employees to take the exam and memorize a certain number of words, but those are just theories. All I know is that they are experts at the January test. Perhaps they haven't cracked the algorithm for the other dates...</p>