25 SAT Vocabulary Words in Official College Board Practice
These 25 words appear in official College Board practice tests 7 through 11. The examples and teaching notes are original, and appearance does not imply a word will occur on a future SAT.
This is an evidence ledger, not a prediction list. Each headword was checked against the public PDFs for official College Board practice tests 7 through 11. Some occur in passages and some in answer choices. Learn the meaning, then practice choosing by context.
to confirm or give supporting evidence for a claim, statement, or theory
Two independent witnesses corroborated her account of the accident.
to correct something that is wrong
The committee revised the totals to rectify the counting error.
to spread information widely
The lab used a public archive to disseminate its findings.
to find a way around an obstacle or rule
The new route circumvents the flooded section of road.
focused on practical results rather than theory
Her pragmatic proposal solved the immediate problem first.
calm and undisturbed, free from noise or agitation
The lake was tranquil at dawn, its surface unbroken by wind.
able to recover or adapt after difficulty
The resilient seedlings survived an unusually dry month.
likely to cause public disagreement
The council postponed its most controversial proposal.
too slight to be noticed
The color shift was almost imperceptible at first.
clearly true and impossible to reject
The second trial produced undeniable evidence of improvement.
to give a task or responsibility to someone else to carry out
A good manager knows how to delegate instead of doing everything alone.
to explain or decide the meaning of something
Two readers can interpret the same ending in opposite ways.
to formally give up or reject
The leader refused to renounce the claim without new evidence.
lawful, valid, or reasonable
Cost is a legitimate concern when comparing the two plans.
strongly convincing or captivating
The researchers offered a compelling explanation for the pattern.
impossible to pass through or understand
Without a legend, the dense chart seemed impenetrable.
impossible to read or interpret
Water damage left the final line indecipherable.
fair and not favoring either side
An impartial panel reviewed both proposals.
required by a rule or authority
Safety training is mandatory for every new volunteer.
to prevent progress or make a task very difficult
Missing records could stymie the investigation.
to speak of something as unimportant or inferior
The review praised the sequel without disparaging the original.
to exceed or grow faster than
Demand began to outstrip the factory's capacity.
out of place or inconsistent with its surroundings
The formal portrait looked incongruous in the casual studio.
having sharp, practical judgment, especially in business or financial matters
The shrewd negotiator sensed the buyer's urgency and refused to lower the price.
modest and unpretentious, making no show of one's importance
For all his fame, he was an unassuming man who queued for coffee like everyone else.
Do not stop at recognition. Cover each definition, explain the word aloud, and write one sentence whose context makes the meaning necessary.
