How Helpful are Word Roots on the SAT?
Let's review the last two tests...
The benefits of a strong academic and practical vocabulary last long beyond your school years. Really, the ability to precisely understand, articulate, and communicate makes life better. Nevertheless, if you’re a teen trying to get into the college of your choice, your commitment to vocabulary building likely depends in part on how many points that effort unlocks on critical tests like the SAT.
(This is an extra-long post, so clear your schedule…)
Does learning word roots translate to higher scores on the SAT? Let’s explore all of the words from our SAT Vocabulary Audits of the October and November 2024 exams. First come the words we’ve featured on this site:
ambiguous (adj) - open to or having two or more possible meanings or interpretations
BREAKDOWN: AMBI- (both) + IG- (do) + -OUS (full of)
amorphous (adj) - lacking a definite shape; formless; vague or indefinite
BREAKDOWN: A- (no) + MORPH- (shape) + -OUS (state of)
anomalous (adj) - abnormal, peculiar, or irregular; deviating or departing from the common order, form, or rule
BREAKDOWN: AN- (not) + HOMO- (same) + -AL (pertaining to) + -OUS (state of)
conflate (verb) - to bring together, blend, or merge into one
BREAKDOWN: CON- (together) + FLAT- (to blow)
demarcation (noun) - the act, process, or result of marking off a boundary; an established line of separation
BREAKDOWN: DE- (down) + MARC- (boundary) + -ATION (action)
desultory (adj) - half hearted, unfocused, or uninspired; random or without a plan
BREAKDOWN: DE- (down) + SAL- (to leap) + -TORY (relating to)
evince (verb) - to show or demonstrate convincingly; to prove
BREAKDOWN: E- (out) + VINC- (overcome)
mitigate (verb) - to lessen or make less severe
BREAKDOWN: MIT- (mild) + IG- (drive) + -ATE (to make)
nebulous (adj) - uncertain, ambiguous, or vague; difficult to understand or describe; nebular
BREAKDOWN: NEB- (cloud) + -UL (relating to) + -OUS (full of)
palpable (adj) - capable of being perceived, particularly touched or felt; plainly evident or obvious
BREAKDOWN: PALP- (touch) + -ABLE (able to be)
recalcitrant (adj) - extremely stubborn and unwilling to obey; hard to deal with or manage
BREAKDOWN: RE- (back) + CALC- (heel) + -ANT (inclined to)
sanguine (adj) - confidently cheerful and optimistic, sometimes to an unrealistic extent; hopeful; ruddy or reddish in color
BREAKDOWN: SANG- (blood) + -INE (quality)
vindicate (verb) - to clear from guilt or accusation; to uphold or defend; to justify or redeem
BREAKDOWN: VIN- (force) + DIC- (show) + -ATE (to do)
Next are all the challenging words from October and November we haven’t featured yet. How many of those words are based on classic roots? Almost all of them!
amass: A- (to) + MASS- (heap, pile)
appraise: A- (to) + PREC- (price, value)
authentic: AUTH- (self) + -ENT (one who does) + -IC (pertaining to)
catalyzing: CATA- (down) + LYS- (loosen) + -ING (act or state)
confound: CON (together) + FUND- (to pour)
continuity: CON- (together) + TIN- (hold) + -ITY (quality)
corroborate: CO- (together) + ROB- (strength) + -ATE (to make) [variant of RUB-]
discretion: DIS- (away) + CRET- (distinguish) + -ION (act or state)
disperse: DIS- (away) + SPER- (scatter, spread)
exploit: EX- (out) + PLOIT- (plait, fold) [variant of PLIC-]
feasible: FEAS- (do) + -ABLE (able to be) [variant of FAC-]
forsake: FOR- (completely) + SAKE- (dispute, accuse) [variant of SAG-]
foster: FO- (feed, protect) + -STER (one who does)
fraudulent: FRAUD- (deceit, guile) + -UL (relating to) + -ENT (state of)
heterogeneity : HETERO- (other) + GEN- (class) + -ITY (quality)
incongruous: IN- (not) + CON- (with) + GRU- (rush, fall) + -OUS (inclined to)
inconspicuous: IN- (not) + CON- (thoroughly) + SPIC- (look) + -OUS (having qualities of)
indoctrinate: IN- (in) + DOC- (belief) + -INE (pertaining to) + -ATE (to do)
induce: IN- (toward) + DUC- (lead)
insurmountable: IN- (not) + SUR- (over) + MOUNT- (mountain) + -ABLE (capable of)
intercede: INTER- (between) + CED- (go)
irrefutable: IR- (not) + RE- (back) + FUT- (beat) + -ABLE (able to be) [variant of FUT-]
manifest: MAN- (hand) + FEST- (seize)
misanthropic: MIS- (hate) + ANTROP- (humans) + -IC (characterized by)
nominal: NOMEN- (name) + -AL (pertaining to)
notional: NOT- (know) + -ION (act or state) + -AL (pertaining to)
placate: PLAC- (peace) + -ATE (to make)
preclude: PRE- (before) + CLUD- (shut)
pretentious: PRE- (before) + TENS- (stretch) + -IOUS (full of)
reiterate: RE- (again) + ITER- (to repeat) + -ATE (to do)
substantiate: SUB- (under) + STAN- (stand, be firm) + -IATE (to make)
transpose: TRANS- (change) + POS- (place)
veritable: VER- (true) + -ITY (quality) + -ABLE (able to be)
Basically, nearly every word that test takers described as challenging on the last two SATs could be decoded with knowledge of bases, prefixes, and suffixes.
How many didn’t derive from classic roots? Just two: earnest and entice.
The best way, bar none, to build a robust vocabulary for tests, school, and life is to read at least 15 minutes every day. But if you haven’t yet cultivated that habit or need to supercharge your knowledge of the English language quickly, learn how to recognize and apply lots of the right word roots. Luckily, you’re in the right place, so stick around and learn!