All of us at ePrep are thoroughly impressed with the new WordSmith Challenge top score. Shermaine G. appears to have what the College Board calls “a large and varied working vocabulary.” Not only are we convinced that Shemaine will do well on the CR section of the SAT, but we are also convinced that her verbal skills will help her succeed in college and life beyond.
Please tell us your secret, Shermaine.
“jendend” just upped the ante with 103,500. (Sick score.) Did she stop intentionally or loose her last life due to exhaustion?
“bertthehurt” has set an incredibly high bar for ePrep’s WordSmith Challenge. Great job! If no one beats the new high score within the next week or so, we may have to retire it, . . . so others feel like they have a chance.
It’s time to have fun with SAT vocabulary. Last night we launched the “WordSmith Challenge” vocabulary game on ePrep. This addictive game tests your knowledge of common SAT vocabulary words in a fun, simple and competitive quiz. You can check out WordSmith Challenge by clicking on the “Vocabulary” tab above or simply here. WordSmith Challenge is an extension of our full WordSmith Vocabulary Builder which is included in all our ePrep for the SAT programs (including the free ePrep Express).
We often talk about the “long ramp” required to master vocabulary. Essentially, the argument is that unlike math or critical reading, where you can short-cut your knowledge in preparation for the SAT, vocabulary requires consistent and progressive focus over time. You cannot simply master 2000 common SAT vocabulary words in a few weeks or months. However, you can start your long ramp now and easily pick up 3 to 5 new words a day, thereby expanding your vocabulary by 1,000 to 1,500 words in only a year. Take a look at ePrep’s previous posts on SAT vocabulary:
Complete list of ePrep posts on Vocabulary
And somebody please knock me off the leaderboard of WordSmith Challenge!
Within the next ten days, juniors will be getting their 2007 PSAT scores back. Some students and their parents will be sorely disappointed. Trust me; it happens every year. They will be completely dumbfounded. How can a student with a GPA (grade point average) above 3.5, score below the 70th percentile on the PSAT? It just doesn’t make sense.
Parent Response Options: (1) my child is simply not a good standardized test-taker, and there is nothing we can do about it; (2) the SAT is a flawed test, and my child is perfect; once colleges discover these truths, they will disregard his/her scores completely; (3) my child should definitely take the ACT; I heard that it’s easier and that it doesn’t require preparation; (4) preparing for the SAT the “right” way will be challenging, but ulitmately rewarding.
My thoughts on the parent response options above are briefly as follows: (more…)
This entry is the fourth of five video posts dedicated to explaining the 5 different categories of the SAT essay grading rubric - or scoring guide. In this entry Karl talks about Sentence Structure.
This entry is the third of 5 video posts dedicated to explaining the 5 different categories of the SAT essay grading rubric - or scoring guide. In this entry you’ll find out how essay graders view your choice of vocabulary words.
SAT Vocabulary Building Manga?
For SAT students that dread traditional vocabulary building techniques but love manga media, there is a new product on the market — the manga graphic novel edited to contain SAT vocabulary words. Take a popular fantasy book, rewrite it a bit to include SAT required vocabulary words and you have an academic twist on a manga story. (more…)
“One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.” - Evelyn Waugh
Wordsource | Quizlet | Dictionary Tooltip Review
By now you’ve likely heard about “Web 2.0″, which means a lot of things but generally relates to the new wave of websites that look and feel more like desktop applications. Another Web 2.0 hallmark is the rise of social networks and user generated content (a fancy way of saying that end-users - meaning YOU - play an active role in creating the content that drives the site). High school kids are more likely to encounter new vocabulary online instead of reading the newspaper or a magazine. Today we profile a collection of websites and tools that make the building of your vocabulary less painful, if not even mildly fun. (more…)
We all remember that classic scene in the movie Caddyshack when Carl, the Bushwood greenskeeper, plots the demise of the gopher while humming “Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts”. Based on this quote, or any number of the cleaning product commercials on TV, you might think you understand the definition of ‘grime‘. Not so fast! If you’re anything like me, you will be surprised to discover the definition is not so straightforward.
Join me in this prepcast video as I explain why it’s so critical to take the time to look up vocabulary words, not just to score higher on your SAT, but to prepare yourself for success in life. (more…)
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