Cracking the SSAT & ISEE - The Princeton Review 2019
Learning vocabulary
Part i the basics of both tests
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOCABULARY
Both the ISEE and the SSAT test synonyms, and you need to know the tested words to get those questions right. While ISEE Sentence Completions and SSAT Analogies allow for a more strategic approach, the fact remains that knowing words is important to scoring points on these questions.
Having a strong vocabulary will also help you throughout your life: on other standardized tests, of course; in college; in your job; and when you read.
Flash Cards
Making effective flash cards is important. We’ll address how to do so shortly!
BUILDING A VOCABULARY
The best way to build a great vocabulary is to keep a dictionary and flash cards on hand and look up any new words you encounter. For each word you find, make a flash card, and review your flash cards frequently. We’ll discuss effective ways of making flash cards shortly.
Reading a lot helps ensure that you will encounter new words. Read newspapers, magazines, and books. If you think you don’t like reading, you just haven’t found the right material to read. Identify your interests—science, sports, current events, fantasy, you name it—and there will be plenty of material out there that you will look forward to reading.
Not sure what you should read? Ask a parent or favorite teacher. Below are just a few suggestions, but there are so many more.
Title |
Area of Interest |
Editorial and op-ed pages of The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal |
News, politics, and economics |
U.S. News and World Report |
|
The Economist |
|
The New Yorker |
Culture and trends |
Scientific American |
Science |
National Geographic (different editions for different age levels) |
Science and environment |
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien |
Fantasy and adventure |
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
|
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
Mystery |
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass |
Autobiography |
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen |
|
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke |
Science Fiction |
You can also learn words through vocab-building websites, such as vocabulary.co.il or quizlet.com, which present drills in the form of addictive and rewarding games.
The vocabulary list in this chapter is for Upper Level. Lower/Elementary, and Middle Level vocabulary lists can be found online. But it’s much more fun to learn words you might not know. Imagine how smart you’ll sound!
Finally, in the coming pages, you will find lists of words that you may see on the SSAT or ISEE.
Making Effective Flash Cards
Most people make flash cards by writing the word on one side and the definition on the other. That’s fine as far as it goes, but you can do much better. An effective flash card will provide information that will help you remember the word. Different people learn words in different ways, and you should do what works best for you. Here are some ideas, along with a couple of examples.
Relating Words to Personal Experience
If the definition of a word reminds you of someone or something, write a sentence on the back of your flash card using the word and that person or thing. Suppose, for example, you have a friend named Scott who is very clumsy. Here’s a flash card for a word you may not know:
Relating Words to Roots
Many words are derived from Latin or Greek words. These words often have roots—parts of words—that have specific meanings. If you recognize the roots, you can figure out what the word probably means. Consider the word benevolent. It may not surprise you that “bene” means good;think beneficial. “Vol” comes from a word that means wish and also gives us the word voluntary. Thus benevolent describes someone who is good-hearted (good wish). Your flash card can mention the roots as well as the words beneficial and voluntary to help you remember how the roots relate to benevolent.
Often if you don’t know the exact meaning of a word, you can make a good guess as to what the tone of the word is. For example, you may not know what “terse” means, but if a teacher said “My, you’re being very terse today,” you’d probably assume it meant something bad. Knowing the tone of words can be very helpful even if you can’t remember the exact definition. As you go through your flash cards, you can separate them into three piles: positive, negative, and neutral. This will help you more rapidly recognize the tone of advanced vocabulary.
Here are some roots that may show up in words on the SSAT or ISEE.
Root |
Meaning |
Example |
ambi |
both |
ambidextrous |
a/an/anti |
not/against |
amoral, antibiotics |
anim |
life |
animated |
auto |
self |
autograph |
ben |
good |
beneficial |
chron |
time |
chronology |
cis/cise |
cut/shorten |
scissors, concise |
cred |
belief |
credibility |
de/dis |
away from/not |
deficient, dissent |
equ |
equal |
equality, equate |
fort |
strength |
fortress |
gress |
movement |
progress |
il/im/in |
not |
illegal, imperfect |
laud |
praise |
applaud |
loc/loq |
speech |
eloquent |
mag/magna |
great |
magnify, magnificent |
mal |
bad |
malicious |
mis |
wrong |
mistake |
ob |
against |
obstruct |
pac |
peace |
pact, pacifier |
path |
feeling |
sympathy, apathetic |
phil/phile |
love |
philanthropy, bibliophile |
ver |
truth |
verify |
vit/viv |
life |
vital, revive |
Other Methods
There are many other ways to remember words. If you are visually inclined, you might draw pictures to help you remember words. Others use mnemonics (a word that comes from a Greek word for memory), such as sound associations or acronyms (such as PEMDAS: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally). Some people remember words if they speak the words and definitions out loud, in addition to writing flash cards. A great way to remember a word is to start using it in conversation. Ultimately, whatever works for you is the right approach!
Upper Level Vocabulary (SSAT and ISEE)
Includes Lower, Elementary, and Middle Level Vocabulary
Ab through An
Abandon
Abbreviation
Abdicate
Abhor
Abridge
Abrupt
Abundant
Abyss
Acclaimed
Accord
Acknowledge
Acrid
Acumen
Acute
Adamant
Adapt
Adept
Adhere
Adhesive
Admire
Admonish
Adversary
Aesthete
Affiliation
Agenda
Aggrandize
Aggravate
Aggregate
Agile
Ail
Aimless
Akin
Alarmed
Allege
Aloof
Alter
Altruism
Amalgamate
Ambiguous
Ambivalent
Ameliorate
Amiable
Amorphous
Analyze
An through Be
Ancient
Androgynous
Anguish
Animosity
Annex
Antagonistic
Antipathy
Anxious
Apprehension
Approximate
Arbitrary
Arid
Ascertain
Ascetic
Aspect
Aspiration
Assail
Assent
Assert
Assess
Assured
Astonish
Attenuate
Austere
Astute
Audible
Auspicious
Authentic
Authoritative
Avarice
Banal
Barrage
Barren
Barrier
Bashful
Bastion
Bedlam
Bellicose
Belligerent
Bemoan
Benevolent
Benign
Bequest
Betray
Be through Co
Bewilder
Biased
Blatant
Blunt
Bolster
Bombastic
Bourgeois
Brandish
Brash
Brazen
Brittle
Burgeon
Cache
Callow
Candid
Capitulate
Capricious
Cascade
Cater
Cauterize
Cautious
Censor
Chagrin
Chasm
Chronic
Chronicle
Coalesce
Coerce
Commodities
Compassion
Compel
Competent
Composure
Comprehensive
Conceal
Concise
Condemn
Condescending
Condone
Confer
Confine
Conform
Confound
Congenial
Co through De
Conjure
Conniving
Connoisseur
Consensus
Conspicuous
Consume
Contemplation
Contented
Contradiction
Contrite
Controversial
Conventional
Copious
Cordial
Corpulent
Corrosion
Counsel
Counterfeit
Cower
Credible
Creed
Crucial
Cunning
Dawdle
Debate
Debt
Deceive
Decline
Decree
Defensive
Defiant
Deficient
Deft
Dejection
Deliberate
Delicate
Depict
Despair
Desolate
Detest
Detrimental
Deviate
Devotion
Dexterity
Di through Ep
Dignity
Dilute
Differentiate
Disavow
Discreet
Disgraced
Dismayed
Dispel
Disparage
Disperse
Display
Disputed
Dissect
Distasteful
Distend
Distort
Diversity
Docile
Domestic
Dominate
Dormant
Doubtful
Drastic
Dread
Drenched
Dubious
Duration
Eager
Economize
Egotist
Egress
Elegant
Elegy
Elongate
Eloquent
Embodiment
Embryonic
Emphasize
Endeavor
Enigma
Entrust
Envy
Ephemeral
Epitome
Eq through Fo
Equity
Equivalent
Eradicate
Erratic
Esoteric
Essential
Esteem
Euphemism
Evacuate
Evade
Evict
Exacerbate
Exalt
Exasperate
Excavate
Excel
Exemplify
Exhilarating
Exile
Exquisite
Extend
Extent
Extinct
Extol
Extravagant
Facet
Fallacy
Fallow
Falter
Fathom
Fatigue
Feasible
Feeble
Feign
Feisty
Fickle
Flaccid
Flamboyant
Flatter
Fleeting
Flotsam
Flourish
Fluctuate
Foolhardy
Fo through In
Foreseen
Forge
Formulate
Fortunate
Foster
Fragile
Frank
Frugal
Fulcrum
Fundamental
Furious
Furtive
Gap
Genesis
Genial
Generous
Genuine
Germane
Glean
Glint
Glutton
Graceful
Gratified
Grievances
Gullible
Haphazard
Hardship
Hasten
Haughty
Hazard
Hesitate
Hideous
Hinder
Hoard
Homely
Idiosyncrasy
Ignoble
Illuminate
Illustrate
Imbue
Immaculate
Impasse
Imply
Impulsive
Inane
Incident
Incidental
Incision
In through Lu
Incisive
Incite
Incognito
Indifferent
Indignant
Infiltrate
Ingenuity
Ingress
Inhabit
Initial
Innate
Innocuous
Innovate
Inquiry
Insight
Insinuate
Insipid
Insolent
Integrity
Intermission
Integrate
Intricate
Inundate
Invoke
Irate
Jaded
Jargon
Jeer
Jest
Jubilant
Justify
Keen
Kinetic
Knoll
Laudatory
Lavish
Legacy
Lament
Legend
Legitimate
Lenient
Liberate
Limber
Linger
Lofty
Loquacious
Lucrative
Luminous
Lu through Op
Lure
Malicious
Meager
Meander
Meddle
Meek
Menace
Mentor
Merge
Meritorious
Meticulous
Mimic
Mirage
Misery
Model (adjective)
Modify
Molten
Moor
Moral
Morose
Muddled
Mundane
Mystify
Myth
Nag
Narcissism
Navigate
Negate
Neglect
Noncommittal
Nostalgic
Notorious
Novel
Novice
Noxious
Null
Obfuscate
Obscure
Obstacle
Obstinate
Obstruct
Obtuse
Occupy
Ominous
Omit
Onerous
Opaque
Opportune
Op through Pr
Optimistic
Opulent
Ornery
Ostentatious
Overbearing
Overt
Pacify
Pact
Palpable
Paltry
Paradigm
Parody
Parsimonious
Particle
Partisan
Patron
Peak
Pedestrian (adj)
Permeate
Perpetuate
Perplexed
Persevere
Persist
Perturb
Plea
Plight
Pluck (noun)
Plunder
Pompous
Porous
Pragmatic
Precipitate (with object)
Precise
Precocious
Predicament
Prediction
Predominate
Prejudiced
Presume
Pretentious
Prevalent
Primary
Pristine
Prominent
Prone
Prophesy
Prototype
Pr through Re
Provoke
Prudent
Pungent
Puny
Puzzled
Qualm
Quiescent
Ratify
Ravenous
Raze
Recalcitrant
Reckless
Refute
Reject
Reluctant
Reminisce
Remote
Rendezvous
Renounce
Renown
Personify
Pervasive
Pessimistic
Petty
Pigment
Pilfer
Pinnacle
Pious
Placate
Plausible
Remonstrate
Remuneration
Reparation
Replete
Replenish
Replica
Reprehensible
Repress
Reprimand
Reproach
Repudiate
Repugnant
Reservations (about something)
Residual
Resilience
Restore
Resume
Re through Su
Reticent
Reveal
Revere
Reverent
Robust
Rouse
Routine
Rue
Ruminate
Ruse
Rustic
Ruthless
Salvage
Sate
Satire
Savor
Sedate
Scant
Scarce
Scorn
Seclude
Seldom
Sequence
Shrewd
Simulate
Sincere
Sinister
Solemn
Solitary
Somber
Soothe
Specific
Sporadic
Speck
Spirited
Spontaneous
Stagnate
Stature
Steadfast
Stoic
Stringent
Subside
Succinct
Sullied
Superb
Superfluous
Suppose
Surrogate
Ta through Ul
Tact
Tangible
Taper
Task
Taunt
Tenacious
Terse
Testify to
Thrive
Thwart
Timid
Tiresome
Toil
Torment
Totemic
Tragedy
Trifle
Trite
Tumult
Ultimate
Un through Vi
Uncouth
Undermine
Underscore
Unique
Unruly
Uproot
Utilitarian
Utilize
Vacillate
Vend
Veneration
Vernacular
Versatile
Vetted
Vibrant
Viewpoint
Vigorous
Vigilant
Vindication
Vivacious
Vi through Ze
Vivid
Voracious
Vow
Voyage
Vulnerable
Wane
Wax (verb)
Weary
Wily
Wrath
Writhe
Zany
Zealous (or zeal)