SAT Vocab Audit: December 2024

Tracking the most troublesome tested words

No matter what your goals in life, you’ll find that a strong academic and practical vocabulary helps you learn and succeed at a higher level. That benefit applies double on most high stakes tests. That's why I avidly analyze trends into what words most frustrate test takers on important exams.

I took me a while to turn my attention to the last test of 2024, doubtless because I was distracted by the holidays. However, self-prep heroes on the r/SAT subreddit—led by supermod yodatsracist—had a lot to say about the most challenging vocabulary on the December 2024 SAT. Here are the encountered words we've already featured:

eclipse (verb) - to surpass or diminish another’s importance, fame, or reputation; to be part of a solar or lunar eclipse; also any loss of repute or prominence
BREAKDOWN: EC- (out) + LIP- (to abandon) + -SE (action)

elicit (verb) - to call forth or bring out
BREAKDOWN: E- (out) + LAC- (lure or snare)

idiosyncratic (adj) - peculiar to a specific individual; having strange, specific, or distinctive habits
BREAKDOWN: IDIO- (peculiar) + SYN- (together) + CRA- (mixture) + -TIC (characterized by)

mitigate (verb) - to lessen or make less severe
BREAKDOWN: MIT- (mild) + IG- (drive) + -ATE (to make)

prevail (verb) - to succeed or prove superior; to become widespread or predominant
BREAKDOWN: PRE- (before) + VAL- (strong)

vindicate (verb) - to clear from guilt or accusation; to uphold or defend; to justify or redeem
BREAKDOWN: VIN- (force) + DIC- (show) + -ATE (to do)

Many of the challenging words we haven’t covered (yet) were based on word roots:

aesthetic: AU- (perceive) + THE- (set or put)

ameliorate: MELIO- (better)

ascribe: SCRIB- (write)

augment: AUG- (increase)

belie: BE- (to do) + LIE- (lie)

capitalize: CAPIT- (head)

cite: CIT- (move, set in motion)

commend: MEND- (fault)

copious: OP- (produce in abundance)

disquieting: QUIE- (rest, calm)

emissary: MIS- (to send)

exacerbate: ACERB- (sharp)

hypothesize: HYPO- (under) + THE- (set or put)

incongruous: GRU- (rush, fall)

placate: PLAC- (peace)

propagate: PAG- (to fasten)

proxy: PRO- (on behalf of) + CUR- (care for)

sanction: SANCT- (sacred)

underscore: SCORE- (cut with notches)

unsympathetic: PATH- (feeling)

wrought: ERG- (work)

Some of the most challenging words had more tenuous or tortured connections to classic roots but still fall squarely into the category of words college students should know, including calibrate, harbinger, and stipulate.

If the SAT is in your future, you should learn all of these words. Be sure to add words from the October SAT and November SAT to your list as well.

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.” —Niels Bohr