Words tested on the SAT used to be a bunch of BS because they were words that most people had never even heard of. Many students breathed a sigh of relief when the College Board announced that it was dropping rarely used and esoteric vocabulary from the SAT. These questions were thought to be among the hardest on the test and students often had to memorize lists of thousands and thousands of words to prepare for this part of the test. However, since the reading and writing sections have been redesigned, words tested on the SAT have changed a lot. There is a greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact. One area that is commonly tested is the usage of commonly confused and misused words in everyday language.

You will need to show that you know the difference between words like affect and effect, whether or weather, and fewer and less. There are two categories of words that are the most problematic: confused words (homonyms that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings) and misused words (pairs so often used incorrectly the errors sound acceptable to most people). You probably know a lot of these already, but it will help to refresh your memory and you will probably learn a few that you weren’t sure of. So, here is the list of most commonly confused and misused words tested on the SAT:

Confused Words

A list of most commonly confused words tested on the SAT.

WORD DEFINITION a lot (noun ) many allot (verb ) to give or share in arbitrary amounts accept (verb ) to recognize except (prep. ) excluding access (noun, verb ) means of approaching; to approach excess (noun, adj. ) extra addition (noun ) increase edition (noun ) an issue of a book or newspaper advice (noun ) a recommended opinion advise (verb ) to give advice; inform affect (verb ) to influence effect (noun ) result effect (verb ) to bring about all ready (adj. ) completely prepared already (adv. ) by or before a specified or implied time all together (adj. ) in a group; in unison altogether (adv. ) completely or thoroughly allude (verb ) to refer to something not specifically mentioned elude (verb ) to escape notice or detection ascent (noun ) the act of climbing or rising assent (verb ) to agree or accept a proposal or opinion assure (verb ) to make certain (assure someone ensure (verb ) to make certain insure (verb ) to secure from harm; to secure life or property in case of loss beside (adj. ) next to besides (adv. ) in addition to bibliography (noun ) list of writings biography (noun ) a life story capital (noun ) money invested; a town or city where the government sits capitol (noun ) a government building choose (verb ) to select chose (verb ) the past tense of choose cite (verb ) to acknowledge; to quote as a reference sight (noun ) the ability to see; vision site (noun ) a place or location complement (noun ) match compliment (noun, verb ) praise; to give praise consul (noun ) an official appointed by the government to live in a foreign city and attend to the interests of the official’s country council (noun ) a group of people called together to provide advice counsel (noun, verb ) advice; to give advice continual (adj. ) taking place in close succession continuous (adj. ) without break or let up cooperation (noun ) assistance; help corporation (noun ) type of business organization decent (adj. ) well mannered descent (noun ) decline; fall dissent (noun ) disagreement desert (noun ) arid, sandy region dessert (noun ) sweet served after a meal disburse (verb ) to pay disperse (verb ) to spread out disinterested (adj. ) impartial; no strong opinion either way uninterested (adj. ) don’t care elicit (verb ) to stir up illicit (adj. ) illegal envelop (verb ) to surround; to cover completely envelope (noun ) flat paper container for letters or other documents farther (adv. ) beyond further (adj. ) additional flack (noun, verb ) press agent (noun flak (noun ) criticism forth (adv. ) forward; onward fourth (adj. ) next in number after the third hear (verb ) to perceive by the ear here (adv. ) in this or at this place hoard (verb ) to collect and keep horde (noun ) a huge crowd imply (verb ) to hint or suggest infer (verb ) to assume; to deduce loose (adj. ) not restrained; not fastened lose (verb ) to fail to win; to be deprived of loath (adj. ) reluctant loathe (verb ) to feel hatred for medal (noun ) a badge of honor meddle (verb ) to interfere metal (noun ) a mineral substance passed (verb ) the past tense of past past (adj. ) finished; gone by personal (adj. ) individual personnel (noun ) employees principal (adj. ) main principal (noun ) person in charge principle (noun ) standard quiet (adj. ) still; calm quit (verb ) to stop; to discontinue quite (adv. ) very; fairly; positively stationary (adj. ) not moving stationery (noun ) writing paper taught (verb ) the past tense of teach taut (adj. ) tight than (conj., prep. ) in contrast to then (adv. ) next their (pronoun ) belonging to them there (adv. ) in a place they’re contraction for they are to (prep. ) in the direction of too (adv. ) also; excessively two (adj. ) the number after one weather (noun, verb ) atmospheric conditions; to last or ride out whether (conj. ) if it be the case; in either case who (pronoun ) substitute for he, she, or they whom (pronoun ) substitute for him, her, or them your (pronoun ) belonging to you you’re contraction for you are

Misused Words

A list of the most commonly misused words that are tested on the SAT.