<p>There are some vocab-based questions on the sat, but is studying vocab really necessary? I have the grubers book and their vocab list is 3400 words long! Is this useful to study? I mean, is it worth the time? How much vocab should ones study? And if so, which list? THANKS SO MUCH!</p>
<p>There are 19 sentence completions and a number of vocabulary related reading passage questions so if you want a high score you need to study vocabulary.</p>
<p>Many CCers find Direct Hits very helpful, others have worked through the longer lists like Grubers or Barrons. You should definitely work through the College Board Blue Book and look up any word you don’t know in the 30 CR sections in the book.</p>
<p>Vocabulary is a very important factor in the CR success, perhaps the most important of all. You should “climb” in your vocabulary studies as to have progress. You should start with Direct Hits and then, climb higher, I mean learn other lists; however, they won’t be as effective as the “Direct Hits” would. I made a big mistake: after I finished the Direct Hits, I was trying to memorize the Barron’s list, which is “something more than enormous”. Despite the fact that it is enormous I have done about 30% of it. Maybe even less. I droped it. Now I am at the point where I started before. I will go to my exam, which is in May, with the following vocabulary “power”:
1)
Direct Hits
Spark Notes 1000
Rocket Review
PR's Hit Parade
While the vocabulary plays 80% of all CR success, other part takes reading comprehension. For that reason, I suggest reading NYT or any other book.</p>
<p>^Last time I checked 19/67 questions were vocab. That is <30% (Good luck on math section).</p>
<p>There are 19 sentence completions plus there are also at least 4-5 vocabulary related questions in the reading passages like tone and attitude of the author(s). I would look through an old SAT, it’s closer to 40% (good luck on the critical reading section).</p>
<p>
Nope. That wasn’t my point. Without understanding the passage you won’t be able to answer the questions, which are very detailed, I mean questions, except the General ones, usually ask for details(ex. a particular word, a particular phrase, etc) So without vocabulary there is nothing you can do unless you are a native, who can guess words’ meanings and so.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, do not spend all of your time on vocab; many of my friends would make flashcards as an excuse for not studying for the rest of the test as they were technically studying.</p>
<p>I have a fairly good vocabulary, so I didn’t focus on it all that much. I just figured out the words that I really needed to know. I have friends who spent hours making flashcards, etc, but I did better then them on CR, and I credit a lot of that to the fact that I focused on studying for the passages. It really comes down to how good your vocabulary is. The first 1-3 sentence completion questions were usually throwaways for me, and then for the rest I got by with knowing some words, knowing the gist of others, and guessing the meanings of the rest. If you take a language, that can be really helpful when it comes to guessing. Also, learn synonyms of the word “banal”… the SAT loves them.
That being said, on one of my tests, I would have gotten an 800 if I hadn’t gotten two sentence completions wrong, so I do wish I had put more effort into it.</p>
<p>In terms of how much vocab is really on the test, 80% seems a little extreme to me, but the point is still a good one, that it’s also important for the passages.</p>
<p>I dont think you should spend your time learning lists that are thousands of words long. Just do Direct Hits or look up words on the practice exams and spend your time on other things.</p>
<p>Just actually read books and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>■■■ all of the answers to the hard vocab questions on this SAT was in the Sparknotes 1000. DAMMITTTTTTT</p>
<p>12/10 test: Easy vocab.
3/11 (a.k.a. today): Harder vocab. Who ever heard of dalliance?</p>
<p>I’ve never really studied SAT vocab, but I know most of the words either by deduction (Latin roots, etc.) or just intuitive feeling (can’t explain that).</p>
<p>If you want the 800, you should definitely study. I suggest taking real SAT practice tests (i.e. blue book) and compiling a vocab list from the words you don’t know in the questions. As a side note, the SAT Question of the Day vocab is too easy.</p>