We’re excited to kick off our SAT Strategy Series! Over the next few months, we’ll be breaking down every question type on the digital SAT and share the most effective strategies to tackle them. We’re starting with one of the trickiest types—vocabulary in context questions.
Let’s jump right into it! These questions challenge students because they often feature words that aren’t part of your everyday vocabulary. A common concern I hear is: “Nick, I don’t know all these words. How can I get the right answer?” Here’s the thing—if you recognize at least three of the words in the choices, you can get the right answer nearly every time. And I’m going to show you how.
First, yes, knowing more vocabulary is helpful, so definitely review and study. But don’t waste time memorizing 5,000 words for just a few questions on the SAT. What you need is a strategy, and that’s what makes all the difference.
The Predictive Strategy
This is the key to acing vocabulary in context questions. Instead of relying on the answer choices, predict your own word for the blank. It sounds simple, but it’s powerful. Let me explain how to apply this strategy:
Step 1: Read the Question Stem First
Always start by carefully reading the question. Even though vocabulary questions have similar structures, you want to understand exactly what’s being asked. Make sure you’re clear on the context and focus of the sentence.
Step 2: Ignore the Answer Choices
This might sound crazy, but trust me—it works! Don’t let the answer choices distract you. Before even looking at them, you need to think about what you would put in the blank based on the sentence’s context.
Step 3: Identify Key Words
Use the Highlight tool on the SAT to mark important words or phrases that help guide the sentence’s meaning. Pay special attention to words that indicate contrast or conclusion—words like “however” or “thus” can be critical in determining the correct answer.
Step 4: Predict Your Own Word
Once you’ve identified the key parts of the sentence, make your prediction for the word that would logically fit in the blank. Don’t worry about it being a fancy SAT-level word—it just needs to match the meaning.
Step 5: Match Your Prediction to the Answer Choices
Now, finally, look at the answer choices and see which one aligns with your predicted word. If you’ve followed the strategy correctly, you’ll be able to eliminate the wrong choices quickly.
Example Breakdown
Let’s put this strategy into practice with a sample question:
While many people initially believed that the invention of the automobile would lead to a decline in urban pollution, the rapid increase in the number of cars on the road has instead ______ the problem, resulting in higher levels of smog and harmful emissions.
First, notice the key contrast here: they thought pollution would decline, but in reality, it did the opposite. I’d predict a word like “increased” for the blank. Now, let’s match that to the answer choices:
A. Exacerbated
B. Diminished
C. Eradicated
D. Celebrated
Right away, we can eliminate options that don’t match our prediction. Diminished means to make smaller—wrong. Eradicated means to eliminate—also wrong. Celebrated doesn’t fit the context at all. This leaves us with exacerbated, which means to make something worse or increase it. Perfect match!
Why This Strategy Works
This predictive approach simplifies the SAT vocabulary in context questions. It saves you from overthinking and second-guessing, allowing you to focus on the logic of the sentence instead of unfamiliar words. Even if you don’t know every word in the answer choices, this method makes it easier to spot the right one.