<p>A few summers ago I analyzed over 60 past SATs and PSATs to find the top vocabulary words. We call them “Repeat Offenders.” Since I can’t give you the website with the definitions, I decided to just post the words here. They are too valuable not to share.</p>
<p>The numbers below show the percentage of tests that contained each individual word or a form of that word. For example, 49% of tests had a form of aesthetic, such as aesthete, aesthetically, aesthetics, etc. I recommend discarding any word you know and defining the ones that you do not. There are many, many more but obviously they are less common—let me know if you want me to post them.</p>
<p>Happy Sunday!</p>
<p>49% aesthetic
49% undermine
45% profound
45% refute
45% skeptical
44% ambivalent
44% hostile
40% condemn
38% assert
38% nostalgia
38% pretense
36% cynical
36% obscure
35% conventions
33% contempt
33% foster
33% pragmatic
33% revere
31% anecdote
31% disparage
31% exemplary
31% substantiate
31% trivial
29% depict
29% indifferent
27% anthropology
27% futile
27% indignant
27% reconcile
27% sarcasm
25% abstract
25% advocate
25% ambiguous
25% eccentric
25% implausible
25% intemperate
25% plausible
25% rhetoric
25% rigorous
25% subtle
25% temperate
24% archaeological
24% arrogant
24% complacent
24% embellish
24% evoke
24% immodest
24% modest
24% prudent
24% suppress
24% vindicated
22% deride
22% diligent
22% disdain
22% empathy
22% erroneous
22% fundamental
22% improvise
22% mundane
22% na</p>
<p>Words 412-1304:
7% absurdity
7% adamant
7% adroit
7% affable
7% affected
7% allude
7% ameliorate
7% anarchic
7% antiquated
7% arbitrary
7% aristocrat
7% ascertain
7% ascetic
7% assimilate
7% attain
7% avarice
7% benefactor
7% bereave
7% bombast
7% bureaucratic
7% cerebral
7% chronicle
7% circumvent
7% clandestine
7% coerce
7% commonplace
7% concession
7% concur
7% conflagration
7% conjecture
7% constitute
7% convene
7% convergence
7% cosmopolitan
7% credible
7% crude
7% cryptic
7% cursory
7% curtail
7% daunt
7% decimate
7% defiant
7% deficit
7% defunct
7% demagogue
7% demonstrative
7% despondent
7% destitute
7% diminutive
7% disavow
7% discourse
7% discretion
7% diverse
7% elusive
7% embittered
7% embody
7% emergent
7% eminent
7% endeavor
7% enervated
7% enthrall
7% epilogue
7% erratic
7% espoused
7% formidable
7% formulaic
7% forthright
7% frivolous
7% furtive
7% garrulous
7% genial
7% gratuitous
7% guile
7% ideology
7% immersed
7% impede
7% impertinent
7% impugn
7% indeterminate
7% inept
7% inexplicable
7% infallible
7% inscrutable
7% insightful
7% insinuate
7% insular
7% intricate
7% intrigued
7% inundate
7% itinerant
7% jubilant
7% lauded
7% lofty
7% lucid
7% magnanimous
7% malleable
7% melancholy
7% metaphor
7% minute
7% misanthrope
7% miser
7% narcissistic
7% nefarious
7% novelty
7% obsequious
7% ominous
7% outmoded
7% overt
7% parch
7% parenthetical
7% penchant
7% penitent
7% peril
7% pertinent
7% philanthropic
7% polarize
7% precipitate
7% precursor
7% predecessor
7% prestige
7% profusion
7% propensity
7% pseudonym
7% query
7% raucous
7% raze
7% rebuke
7% reciprocal
7% renounce
7% repressed
7% reproach
7% rouse
7% ruthless
7% salutary
7% scoff
7% shrewd
7% solicitous
7% spurious
7% squelch
7% stagnant
7% steadfast
7% stringent
7% stymie
7% subordinate
7% subversive
7% sully
7% supplement
7% synthesis
7% systematic
7% tangible
7% transitory
7% trite
7% unassuming
7% utopia
7% veiled
7% verbose
7% versatile
7% vex
7% viable
7% virtuoso
7% vitality
7% vociferous
7% wane
7% wistful
5% abash
5% abridge
5% abstain
5% acrid
5% affinity
5% affluence
5% alacrity
5% allege
5% allegiance
5% altruism
5% amalgam
5% amenable
5% amorphous
5% animosity
5% annul
5% anomaly
5% anthology
5% apprehensive
5% arboreal
5% arcane
5% arduous
5% atrocity
5% attribute
5% auspicious
5% belabor
5% belligerent
5% benign
5% bequest
5% berate
5% blatant
5% boor
5% buttress
5% cacophony
5% castigate
5% cathartic
5% chicanery
5% circuitous
5% circumspect
5% clairvoyant
5% clientele
5% cloying
5% colleagues
5% colloquial
5% communal
5% compliant
5% comprehensive
5% condone
5% confection
5% consecrated
5% contradictory
5% conundrum
5% correlate
5% corrode
5% curriculum
5% dalliance
5% debacle
5% decorous
5% decry
5% deft
5% deject
5% delude
5% demise
5% deplete
5% deplore
5% depraved
5% deprecate
5% deterred
5% devious
5% dexterity
5% diffident
5% diffuse
5% dignitary
5% dilettante
5% dire
5% dissemble
5% dissipate
5% distill
5% diverge
5% divisive
5% divulge
5% doctrinaire
5% dour
5% drubbed
5% elated
5% emaciated
5% encumbrance
5% enumerate
5% ephemeral
5% equitable
5% equivocate
5% euphoric
5% exacting
5% exhilarated
5% expedite
5% expendable
5% explanatory
5% facile
5% farce
5% fastidious
5% fathom
5% felicities
5% fidelity
5% flamboyant
5% foreboding
5% foresight
5% forgo
5% fragility
5% frenetic
5% gaffe
5% galvanized
5% garish
5% grandeur
5% grandiose
5% grudging
5% heterogeneous
5% hindered
5% homogeneous
5% humdrum
5% hypocrisy
5% hypocrite
5% ignominious
5% illicit
5% immutable
5% impeccable
5% impenetrable
5% imperious
5% impromptu
5% inaudible
5% inception
5% incision
5% inclination
5% incoherent
5% incorrigible
5% indecorous
5% indiscriminate
5% inevitability
5% inexorable
5% infamous
5% inferred
5% infuse
5% innate
5% inoculate
5% insatiable
5% insidious
5% insoluble
5% insolvent
5% interminable
5% intrepid
5% jaunt
5% jocular
5% laconic
5% languid
5% latent
5% laypeople
5% lithe
5% machinations
5% malevolent
5% meager
5% mediate
5% menace
5% mercenary
5% mercurial
5% meritocracy
5% mimicry
5% mirth
5% modicum
5% monumental
5% morbid
5% mortality
5% multifaceted
5% multiplicity
5% multitude
5% munificent
5% novice
5% obliged
5% oblique
5% obliterate
5% obstreperous
5% obtrusive
5% obtuse
5% omnipresent
5% onerous
5% ostracize
5% paradigm
5% patron
5% pedantic
5% perennial
5% permeated
5% perseverance
5% petulant
5% phlegmatic
5% picayune
5% placate
5% pluralism
5% poignant
5% ponders
5% predominant
5% preeminent
5% prescient
5% prodigy
5% prohibitive
5% promulgated
5% proponent
5% proprietor
5% prosperity
5% provoke
5% pundit
5% pungent
5% quaint
5% querulous
5% quiescent
5% reciprocity
5% recount
5% rectify
5% refracted
5% refurbish
5% regressive
5% relic
5% relinquish
5% repeal
5% repetitious
5% replicate
5% resigned
5% revelry
5% rigidity
5% robust
5% romanticized
5% rustic
5% sagacious
5% scathing
5% scheme
5% scintillating
5% sensationalism
5% servile
5% shroud
5% skulk
5% soliciting
5% soluble
5% solvent
5% soporific
5% sporadic
5% squalid
5% squander
5% status quo
5% stoic
5% subterfuge
5% succinct
5% sullen
5% taint
5% tangential
5% terrestrial
5% terse
5% theoretical
5% tractable
5% travesty
5% understudy
5% unwitting
5% urbane
5% usurp
5% vague
5% valor
5% vapid
5% vehemence
5% vestige
5% vignettes
5% virtuous
5% vivacious
5% wayward
4% aberration
4% abrupt
4% absolve
4% acclaim
4% accord
4% accumulated
4% acquit
4% admonish
4% adorned
4% affiliate
4% afflicted
4% aggrandize
4% allocated
4% allure
4% aloof
4% amenities
4% ample
4% annex
4% antipathy
4% appease
4% approbation
4% appropriate
4% arable
4% archipelago
4% assail
4% asylum
4% atrophy
4% attuned
4% audacious
4% aura
4% authenticate
4% autocrat
4% avenge
4% avow
4% balm
4% bane
4% belittle
4% bemuse
4% beneficiary
4% blithe
4% boisterous
4% boon
4% bounty
4% bourgeois
4% brandish
4% bravado
4% brevity
4% brittle
4% brusque
4% bucolic
4% buoyancy
4% cadence
4% calamity
4% carnivore
4% carouse
4% carp
4% cartography
4% cataclysms
4% censorious
4% champion
4% charisma
4% chronic
4% chronological
4% clamorous
4% coalition
4% cogent
4% cognizant
4% collusion
4% colossus
4% combatants
4% combustible
4% commandeer
4% commerce
4% commodity
4% compatriot
4% compensate
4% compliance
4% compounded
4% compulsion
4% condensed
4% condolence
4% confer
4% conflated
4% congenial
4% congregate
4% connoisseur
4% connotation
4% constituents
4% continuity
4% coronation
4% crass
4% culminate
4% culpable
4% cultivate
4% cumulative
4% defector
4% definitive
4% degrade
4% demean
4% demure
4% demystify
4% denuded
4% denunciation
4% derelict
4% derogate
4% desolate
4% despoiled
4% differential
4% disenfranchised
4% dishearten
4% disheveled
4% dispassionate
4% dispatch
4% disrepute
4% divisible
4% dormant
4% drone
4% dupe
4% duplicitous
4% eclipsed
4% ecstatic
4% efface
4% effervescent
4% efficacious
4% effrontery
4% elegy
4% elongate
4% elude
4% emollient
4% encroaching
4% endow
4% engrossed
4% enmity
4% entice
4% entity
4% entourage
4% entreat
4% entrenched
4% entrepreneurs
4% episodic
4% erudition
4% eschew
4% evanescent
4% exalt
4% excavated
4% excerpt
4% exerted
4% exhortation
4% exotic
4% expatriate
4% explication
4% expropriated
4% expunge
4% extant
4% extenuating
4% extrapolated
4% extricate
4% extrinsic
4% exultant
4% fa</p>
<p>Thanks for the list!! it looks about 70% the same as DH at first glance.</p>
<p>this is FANTASTIC! which 60 tests? (don’t list them all, but going back how many years and up until 2010 tests?) </p>
<p>also, were these just sentence completions or also found in the Critical reading answers?</p>
<p>Finally, were these all CORRECT answer choices, or did you include incorrect answer choices?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your hard work!</p>
<p>The tests were really random, based on what we had collected and been given by students. The oldest was from 1995, I believe, and the newest were likely the winter and spring 2009 tests (I did this 2 summers ago). They included both SATs and PSATs.</p>
<p>I took words from Sentence Completion questions and answer choices (right and wrong) and from Passage-Based Reading questions and answer choices (right and wrong). There were also some words taken from the analogy sections of the old tests. I did not take words from the passages themselves because they were not written by the test makers. An overwhelming majority of the words, however, came from SC answer choices.</p>
<p>Link to the stickied thread has been added.</p>