Isn't it ironic?


Reader!

Fact: The SAT writers take simple ideas and make them complicated with weird language and flashy jargon.

So, when these same writers call someone else’s work "frustratingly dense prose,” is it not the ultimate SAT irony?

I just wanted to point that out. Thanks for listening.

Now, no matter what your understanding of irony, here’s a “fun” one for you. (And yes, “fun” is in quotes to signal sarcasm!)

Did you notice that “frustratingly dense” is actually the clue here?

Here are the definitions of these words. Let's add them to the Vocab Vault, and try to use at least one today!

Authoritative: Having or showing confident, reliable knowledge; commanding respect.
The guidebook was so authoritative that tourists treated it like a local tour guide.

Opaque: Not transparent; difficult to see through or understand.
The instructions were so opaque that assembling the bookshelf felt like solving an ancient riddle.

Empirical: Based on observation, experience, or experiment rather than theory.
Her claim that chocolate improves mood was backed by empirical evidence: everyone who ate it smiled.

Facile: Too easy or superficial; lacking depth or true understanding.
His facile explanation for why he forgot the homework fooled no one—definitely not his teacher.

Remember to float these at dinner, in the car, or anytime!

Your SAT friend and partner,

-Kate

PS - The answer is B - opaque! Did you get it? Let me know!




SAT Vocab Vault

SAT vocabulary is a slow build! Let's start right now. Join 200+ parents and high school students as we gain fancy vocabulary words and useful tips to CRUSH the SAT.

Read more from SAT Vocab Vault

By now, you've had a full 48 hours to sit with your teen's March SAT score. And that’s usually when families do one of two things: (1) Decide to “wait and see”(2) Decide - now - to do something different for next time Here’s what I see... Every. Single. Year. The students who wait until summer feel rushed, stressed, and overwhelmed. Why? Well, once summer hits, your focus shifts to college visits, essays, and apps. Add SAT prep on top of all that and it adds up fast. June SAT prep doesn’t...

Here are some great SAT words to use with the kids this week: A. hypothesis B. affinity C. anomaly D. corroboration There is a hypothesis among parents about their teenagers…. A teenager with a natural affinity for ignoring their parents' advice turns out to be no anomaly, as evidenced by the corroboration of exasperated parents nationwide who find their SAT vocabulary suggestions met with dramatic eye-rolls. That said, let's keep trying to use with words with our kids! Just for fun, let's...

Does your teenager know these words? (I came across these answer choices on an SAT question.) Maybe your kid is totally familiar with these four words. In that case, it would be impractical to force your kid to make them into vocabulary flash cards. In fact, that may cause a fight. The only way to find out if your kid knows these words is to try them out in front of your teen. Perhaps an innocuous comment at dinner tonight could turn into a happy vocabulary moment. There is no need to be...