The October SAT Trial 2025 Vocabulary Breakdown
Every SAT trial gives us a glimpse into what the College Board values most — clarity, precision, and contextual understanding. The October SAT Trial 2025 was no exception. It featured words that reward deep reading skills, especially those that appear in literary, scientific, or social studies contexts.
Here’s my breakdown of the top-tested words — with explanations written to help you understand, not just memorize.
Courteous
Means polite or respectful.
Example: The courteous student held the door open for everyone.
👉 A common word in social or historical passages describing behavior or manners.
Congested
Refers to being so crowded with traffic or people that freedom of movement is limited.
Example: The streets were congested during the morning rush hour.*
👉 Often appears in passages about cities, environments, or ecosystems.
Denotes
Means to be a sign of or indicate.
Example: A red flag often denotes danger.*
👉 A favorite word in scientific contexts or data-driven SAT questions.
Lucid
Means expressed clearly or easy to understand.
Example: Her explanation was so lucid that even complex ideas seemed simple.*
👉 Perfect for passages that praise clarity of thought or style.
Attenuated
Means reduced in force, effect, or intensity.
Example: The sound became attenuated as it traveled through the forest.*
👉 A higher-level academic word common in scientific writing.
Extrapolate
Means to apply or extend known information to an unknown situation.
Example: Scientists can extrapolate future trends from current data.*
👉 A top-tier SAT reasoning word — critical for data analysis passages.
Vestige
Means a trace or small remaining part of something that once existed.
Example: Ancient ruins are the last vestige of a lost civilization.*
👉 Great for historical or archaeological reading passages.
Remnant
Means the remains of something that is no longer used or exists.
Example: The old wall was a remnant of the medieval city.*
👉 Similar to “vestige,” but used more broadly across subjects.
Condescension
Means an attitude of superiority or patronizing behavior.
Example: His tone carried a hint of condescension.*
👉 Often appears in literature questions about character tone or relationships.
Rigor
Means a sudden chill or a sense of severity — in academic contexts, “strictness.”
Example: The rigor of the new policy surprised the employees.*
👉 A dual-meaning word — test writers love that!
Rigorous
Means careful, severe, or strict.
Example: The program is known for its rigorous training.*
👉 Very common in SAT passages about education, science, or methodology.
Fidelity
Means faithfulness, accuracy, or loyalty.
Example: The researcher’s fidelity to facts made her study reliable.*
👉 A sophisticated word that shows up in both literature and science passages.
Inculcated
Means to teach or instill an idea, often repeatedly.
Example: Teachers inculcate values of honesty and discipline.*
👉 A favorite in passages about education or moral instruction.
Additional Words from the Digital SAT List
Ubiquitous
Means found or appearing everywhere.
Example: Smartphones are now ubiquitous in modern society.*
Incensed
Means extremely angry or enraged.
Example: The unfair decision left the crowd incensed.*
Subsume
Means to include or absorb into a larger category.
Example: These ideas can be subsumed under one theory.*
Prefiguring
Means serving as an early indication of something later to happen.
Example: The dark clouds prefigured the coming storm.*
Subverted
Means to undermine or overturn something’s power or structure.
Example: The artist subverted traditional styles with modern techniques.*
Ebb
Means to recede or gradually decrease; often used for tides or emotions.
Example: As the night progressed, her excitement began to ebb.*
Full Digital SAT Vocabulary List
Final Thoughts
What I noticed from the October SAT Trial 2025 is that the vocabulary wasn’t about obscure or “dictionary-only” words — it tested contextual awareness. Students who understand how tone, structure, and meaning interact were the ones who excelled.
So, don’t just memorize definitions — read, infer, and connect. Use passages, not flashcards, and you’ll start recognizing these words in context naturally.
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