- Synonym for CONCEAL?
- Hide — hide; to keep out of sight
- Synonym for NOVICE?
- Beginner — beginner; someone new to an activity
- Synonym for SOLEMN?
- Serious — serious; grave and dignified
- Synonym for STURDY?
- Robust — robust; strongly built and durable
- Synonym for HUMBLE?
- Modest — modest; not proud or arrogant
- Synonym for VACANT?
- Empty — empty; not occupied
- Synonym for PRAISE?
- Compliment — compliment; to express approval
- Synonym for ANCIENT?
- Old — old; from the distant past
- Synonym for BRAVE?
- Courageous — courageous; showing no fear
- Synonym for GRIEF?
- Sorrow — sorrow; deep sadness
- Synonym for WITHER?
- Shrivel — shrivel; to dry up and shrink
- Synonym for MURMUR?
- Whisper — whisper; to speak very softly
- Synonym for SUFFICIENT?
- Enough — enough; as much as is needed
- Synonym for FOE?
- Enemy — enemy; an opponent
- Synonym for COMMENCE?
- Begin — begin; to start
- Synonym for PECULIAR?
- Strange — strange; odd or unusual
- Synonym for ABUNDANT?
- Plentiful — plentiful; existing in large amounts
- Synonym for BENEVOLENT?
- Kind — kind; well-meaning and generous
- Synonym for CANDID?
- Honest — honest; frank and straightforward
- Synonym for DILIGENT?
- Hardworking — hardworking; careful and persistent
- Synonym for ELOQUENT?
- Articulate — articulate; fluent and persuasive in speech
- Synonym for FRUGAL?
- Thrifty — thrifty; careful with money
- Synonym for GREGARIOUS?
- Sociable — sociable; fond of company
- Synonym for HOSTILE?
- Unfriendly — unfriendly; aggressively opposed
- Synonym for IMMENSE?
- Huge — huge; extremely large
- Synonym for JOVIAL?
- Cheerful — cheerful; full of good humor
- Synonym for LETHARGIC?
- Sluggish — sluggish; lacking energy
- Synonym for METICULOUS?
- Careful — careful; very precise about details
- Synonym for NIMBLE?
- Agile — agile; quick and light in movement
- Synonym for OBSCURE?
- Unclear — unclear; not easily understood or seen
- Synonym for PLACID?
- Calm — calm; peaceful and untroubled
- Synonym for QUAINT?
- Charmingly old-fashioned — charmingly old-fashioned
- Synonym for RESILIENT?
- Tough — tough; able to recover quickly
- Synonym for SCARCE?
- Rare — rare; in short supply
- Synonym for TEDIOUS?
- Boring — boring; long and tiresome
- Synonym for VIVID?
- Bright — bright; producing strong, clear images
- Synonym for WARY?
- Cautious — cautious; on guard against danger
- Synonym for ZEALOUS?
- Enthusiastic — enthusiastic; eagerly devoted
- Synonym for ARDUOUS?
- Difficult — difficult; requiring great effort
- Synonym for BRISK?
- Quick — quick; energetic and lively
- Synonym for COURTEOUS?
- Polite — polite; showing good manners
- Synonym for DWINDLE?
- Shrink — shrink; to gradually grow less
- Synonym for ELATED?
- Overjoyed — overjoyed; very happy
- Synonym for FEEBLE?
- Weak — weak; lacking strength
- Synonym for GENUINE?
- Real — real; authentic, not fake
- Antonym for ANCIENT?
- Modern — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for CONCEAL?
- Reveal — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for HUMBLE?
- Arrogant — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for ABUNDANT?
- Scarce — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for BRAVE?
- Cowardly — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for EXPAND?
- Contract — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for PRAISE?
- Criticize — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for VACANT?
- Occupied — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for FRUGAL?
- Wasteful — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for HOSTILE?
- Friendly — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for LETHARGIC?
- Energetic — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for OBSCURE?
- Obvious — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for PLACID?
- Agitated — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for SCARCE?
- Plentiful — the opposite meaning.
- Antonym for GENUINE?
- Fake — the opposite meaning.
- Analogy type: Synonym analogy?
- Both pairs are synonyms. happy : joyful :: sad : sorrowful
- Analogy type: Antonym analogy?
- Both pairs are opposites. hot : cold :: tall : short
- Analogy type: Part to whole?
- First word is a part of the second. petal : flower :: page : book
- Analogy type: Whole to part?
- First word contains the second. book : page :: flock : bird
- Analogy type: Worker to tool?
- A worker and the tool they use. painter : brush :: writer : pen
- Analogy type: Worker to product?
- A worker and what they make. author : novel :: composer : symphony
- Analogy type: Worker to workplace?
- A worker and where they work. teacher : classroom :: chef : kitchen
- Analogy type: Cause and effect?
- First causes the second. rain : flood :: spark : fire
- Analogy type: Degree / intensity?
- Same idea, stronger. warm : scalding :: cool : freezing
- Analogy type: Object to function?
- An object and what it does. knife : cut :: pen : write
- Analogy type: Category to member?
- A group and an example. reptile : snake :: vehicle : car
- Analogy type: Item to group?
- One item and its collection. wolf : pack :: bird : flock
- Analogy type: Item to container?
- A thing and what holds it. book : library :: painting : gallery
- Analogy type: Clothing to body part?
- Clothing and where it goes. glove : hand :: sock : foot
- How do you attack a synonym question?
- Predict your own synonym before reading the choices, then pick the closest match. Watch for antonym traps.
- How do you solve an analogy?
- Build a bridge sentence for the first pair (e.g. 'an author creates a novel'), then apply it to the second pair.
- Why must analogy pairs stay in order?
- 'Page is to book' (part to whole) is not the same as 'book is to page'. Keep both pairs in the same direction.
- What if two analogy answers seem to fit?
- Make your bridge sentence more specific until only one answer survives.
- How can roots and prefixes help on Verbal?
- They estimate an unknown word's meaning. 'Bene-' means good (benevolent, benefit); 'mal-' means bad (malice).
- Common prefix: un-, in-, dis-?
- They mean 'not' or 'opposite of': unhappy, invisible, disagree.
- Common prefix: re-?
- It means 'again' or 'back': rewrite, return, review.
- Common prefix: pre-?
- It means 'before': preview, prepare, predict.
- Common root: -dict-?
- It means 'to say or speak': dictate, predict, contradict.
- Common root: -port-?
- It means 'to carry': transport, portable, export.
- Area of a rectangle?
- length × width
- Area of a triangle?
- ½ × base × height (height perpendicular to the base)
- Area of a circle?
- π × r² (r = radius)
- Circumference of a circle?
- 2 × π × r, or π × diameter
- Perimeter of a rectangle?
- 2 × (length + width)
- Volume of a rectangular box?
- length × width × height
- Sum of a triangle's interior angles?
- Always 180°
- Sum of angles on a straight line?
- 180°
- Sum of angles around a point?
- 360°
- Pythagorean theorem?
- a² + b² = c² for a right triangle (c is the hypotenuse)
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)?
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left→right), Add/Subtract (left→right)
- What is a prime number?
- A whole number > 1 whose only factors are 1 and itself: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11…
- Only even prime number?
- 2 — every other even number is divisible by 2
- Negative × negative = ?
- A positive number
- Negative × positive = ?
- A negative number
- Any nonzero number to the first power?
- Itself: n¹ = n
- Any nonzero number to the zero power?
- 1: n⁰ = 1
- How do you find a percent of a number?
- Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply. 60% of 85 = 0.60 × 85 = 51
- How do you find percent change?
- Change ÷ original value × 100. From 80 to 100: 20 ÷ 80 = 25% increase
- How do you solve a proportion?
- Cross-multiply. 3/75 = 8/x → 3x = 600 → x = 200
- Mean (average) of a data set?
- Sum of the values ÷ how many values there are
- Median of a data set?
- The middle value when the numbers are in order
- Mode of a data set?
- The value that appears most often
- Range of a data set?
- Largest value − smallest value
- How do you solve 5x − 7 = 28?
- Add 7: 5x = 35. Divide by 5: x = 7. Undo +/− before ×/÷.
- Slope in y = mx + b?
- m — the coefficient of x; b is the y-intercept
- What is the y-intercept?
- Where a line crosses the y-axis — the b in y = mx + b
- How do you add fractions?
- Find a common denominator, add the numerators, keep the denominator. 1/4 + 1/4 = 2/4 = 1/2
- How do you multiply fractions?
- Multiply the numerators and the denominators. 2/3 × 3/4 = 6/12 = 1/2
- How do you divide fractions?
- Multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction). 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 2
- Convert a fraction to a decimal?
- Divide the numerator by the denominator. 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75
- Convert a percent to a decimal?
- Drop the % and move the decimal two places left. 25% = 0.25
- Convert a decimal to a percent?
- Move the decimal two places right and add %. 0.4 = 40%
- What is an integer?
- A whole number, positive, negative, or zero — no fractions or decimals
- What is the greatest common factor (GCF)?
- The largest number that divides two numbers evenly. GCF of 12 and 18 = 6
- What is the least common multiple (LCM)?
- The smallest number both numbers divide into. LCM of 4 and 6 = 12
- Average speed formula?
- distance ÷ time
- How do you estimate a sum quickly?
- Round each number first. 6.92 + 3.05 ≈ 7 + 3 = 10
- Probability of an event?
- Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes — always between 0 and 1
- What is an exponent?
- How many times to multiply a number by itself. 2³ = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8
- Area of a square?
- side × side (side²)
- What does 'sum' mean?
- The result of adding numbers
- What does 'difference' mean?
- The result of subtracting one number from another
- What does 'product' mean?
- The result of multiplying numbers
- What does 'quotient' mean?
- The result of dividing one number by another
- Next term in 5, 11, 17, 23, …?
- 29 — add 6 each time (an arithmetic sequence)
- How do you find a fraction of a number?
- Multiply. 2/3 of 12 = (2 × 12) ÷ 3 = 8
- What is a ratio?
- A comparison of two quantities, like 5 to 8 or 5:8
- Reduce the ratio 65:104?
- Divide both by 13 → 5:8
- Sum of angles in a quadrilateral?
- 360°
- What is the main idea of a passage?
- The central point the whole text supports — broader than any one detail
- How do you find the main idea?
- Ask what the author most wants you to understand; check the first and last sentences
- What is a supporting detail?
- A specific fact or example the passage states to back up the main idea
- What is an inference?
- A conclusion the passage implies but doesn't state outright
- How do you make a strong inference?
- Combine the text's clues with logic; pick the best-supported, not the most dramatic, choice
- What signals an inference question?
- Words like 'suggests', 'implies', 'most likely', or 'the author would probably agree'
- What is tone?
- The author's attitude toward the subject — admiring, critical, nostalgic, humorous, neutral
- How do you determine tone?
- Look at word choice; charged or emotional words reveal the author's attitude
- What is author's purpose?
- Why the passage was written — to persuade, inform, describe, or entertain
- What is vocabulary in context?
- Figuring out a word's meaning from the surrounding sentence, not a memorized definition
- How do you do a vocabulary-in-context question?
- Read the whole sentence, predict a meaning that fits, then choose the closest answer
- Golden rule of SSAT reading?
- Every answer must be supported by the passage — never by outside knowledge
- What is a primary (main) idea question trap?
- An answer that is true but too narrow (one detail) or too broad (beyond the passage)
- What is a metaphor?
- A comparison that says one thing IS another without 'like' or 'as': 'time is a thief'
- What is a simile?
- A comparison using 'like' or 'as': 'brave as a lion'
- What is personification?
- Giving human qualities to non-human things: 'the wind whispered'
- What is a theme?
- The underlying message or lesson of a story (e.g. perseverance, friendship)
- What is the difference between fact and opinion?
- A fact can be proven; an opinion is a belief or judgment
- What is the setting of a story?
- The time and place in which the events happen
- What is the narrator?
- The voice telling the story — first person ('I') or third person ('he/she/they')
- What is a passage's structure?
- How it is organized — e.g. chronological, cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution
- How should you handle SSAT reading passages?
- Read for the main idea, then go back to the passage to find support for each answer
- What does 'the author implies' ask for?
- An inference — what the text suggests without stating directly
- Types of SSAT reading passages?
- Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry — usually 7–8 short passages
- What is a counterargument?
- A point that opposes the author's claim, often raised so it can be answered
- SSAT Verbal section: format?
- 60 questions in 30 minutes — 30 synonyms and 30 analogies
- SSAT Quantitative section: format?
- 50 questions across two 30-minute math sections — no calculator
- SSAT Reading section: format?
- 40 questions in 40 minutes on 7–8 short passages
- SSAT guessing penalty (Middle & Upper)?
- +1 correct, −¼ point per wrong answer, 0 for omitted. Eliminate one choice, then guess.
- Smart-guessing rule on the SSAT?
- Each question has 5 choices; if you can eliminate even one, guessing is statistically worth it
- SSAT Writing Sample: is it scored?
- No — it's an unscored essay, but a copy is sent to every school you apply to
- SSAT score: what matters most to schools?
- Your percentile (1–99), comparing you to same grade and gender over 3 years
- SSAT levels?
- Elementary (grades 3–4), Middle (grades 5–7), Upper (grades 8–11)
- Upper Level SSAT scaled score range?
- 500–800 per section (1500–2400 total)
- Middle Level SSAT scaled score range?
- 440–710 per section
- Who publishes the SSAT?
- The Enrollment Management Association (EMA), formerly SSATB
- Synonym for AMIABLE?
- Friendly — friendly; good-natured
- Synonym for BRUSQUE?
- Abrupt — abrupt; blunt in manner
- Synonym for CORDIAL?
- Warm — warm; friendly and sincere
- Synonym for DORMANT?
- Inactive — inactive; temporarily asleep or resting
- Synonym for ENIGMA?
- Mystery — mystery; something puzzling
- Synonym for FICKLE?
- Changeable — changeable; not steady
- Synonym for GAUNT?
- Thin — thin; bony and haggard
- Synonym for HAMPER?
- Hinder — hinder; to slow or block
- Synonym for IMPARTIAL?
- Fair — fair; not favoring one side
- Synonym for JUBILANT?
- Joyful — joyful; triumphantly happy
- Synonym for KEEN?
- Sharp — sharp; eager or perceptive
- Synonym for LAVISH?
- Extravagant — extravagant; very generous or abundant
- Synonym for MUNDANE?
- Ordinary — ordinary; dull and everyday
- Synonym for NOVEL (ADJ.)?
- New — new; original and unusual
- Synonym for OPAQUE?
- Unclear — unclear; not see-through
- Synonym for PENSIVE?
- Thoughtful — thoughtful; deep in reflection
- Synonym for QUELL?
- Suppress — suppress; to put an end to
- Synonym for REBUKE?
- Scold — scold; to criticize sharply
- Synonym for SERENE?
- Calm — calm; peaceful and untroubled
- Synonym for TRIVIAL?
- Unimportant — unimportant; of little value
- Synonym for UNDERMINE?
- Weaken — weaken; to erode the base of
- Synonym for VERBOSE?
- Wordy — wordy; using too many words
- Synonym for WHIMSICAL?
- Playful — playful; fanciful or unpredictable
- Synonym for YEARN?
- Long for — long for; to desire strongly
- Synonym for ZENITH?
- Peak — peak; the highest point
- Synonym for ADEPT?
- Skilled — skilled; highly proficient
- Synonym for BOUNTIFUL?
- Plentiful — plentiful; abundant
- Synonym for CONCISE?
- Brief — brief; short and to the point
- Synonym for DETER?
- Discourage — discourage; to prevent by fear
- Synonym for ERRATIC?
- Irregular — irregular; unpredictable
- Synonym for FUTILE?
- Useless — useless; pointless
- Synonym for HAUGHTY?
- Arrogant — arrogant; proud and scornful
- Synonym for INEPT?
- Clumsy — clumsy; lacking skill
- Synonym for LANGUID?
- Sluggish — sluggish; lacking energy
- Synonym for MONOTONOUS?
- Repetitive — repetitive; dull and unvarying
- Synonym for OBSTINATE?
- Stubborn — stubborn; refusing to change
- Synonym for PRUDENT?
- Wise — wise; careful and sensible
- Synonym for RASH?
- Reckless — reckless; hasty without thought
- Synonym for SPARSE?
- Thin — thin; thinly scattered
- Synonym for TRANQUIL?
- Calm — calm; peaceful and quiet
- Synonym for VIGILANT?
- Watchful — watchful; keeping careful watch
- Synonym for WANE?
- Decrease — decrease; to grow smaller
- Synonym for ADVERSARY?
- Opponent — opponent; an enemy or rival
- Synonym for BAFFLE?
- Confuse — confuse; to puzzle completely
- Synonym for CEASE?
- Stop — stop; to bring to an end
- Synonym for DISMAL?
- Gloomy — gloomy; depressing
- Synonym for AMPLE?
- Plentiful — plentiful; more than enough
- Synonym for FEIGN?
- Pretend — pretend; to fake
- Synonym for GRIM?
- Stern — stern; harsh and forbidding
- Synonym for HINDER?
- Obstruct — obstruct; to get in the way of
- Analogy relationship: Bird : flock :: ?
- Whole/group — many birds make a flock (wolf : pack)
- Analogy relationship: Library : books :: ?
- Container — a library holds books (gallery : paintings)
- Analogy relationship: Hot : cold :: ?
- Antonym — opposites (tall : short)
- Analogy relationship: Petal : flower :: ?
- Part to whole — a petal is part of a flower (page : book)
- Analogy relationship: Glove : hand :: ?
- Clothing/body — a glove goes on a hand (sock : foot)
- Analogy relationship: Rain : flood :: ?
- Cause and effect — too much rain causes a flood (spark : fire)
- Analogy relationship: Happy : joyful :: ?
- Synonym/degree — joyful is very happy (sad : sorrowful)
- Analogy relationship: Knife : cut :: ?
- Object/function — a knife is used to cut (pen : write)
- Analogy relationship: Teacher : classroom :: ?
- Worker/workplace — a teacher works in a classroom (chef : kitchen)
- Analogy relationship: Whisper : shout :: ?
- Degree — a shout is a loud whisper (walk : run)
- Analogy relationship: Warm : scalding :: ?
- Degree — scalding is extremely warm (cool : freezing)
- Analogy relationship: Painter : brush :: ?
- Worker/tool — a painter uses a brush (writer : pen)
- Analogy relationship: Reptile : snake :: ?
- Category/member — a snake is a reptile (vehicle : car)
- Analogy relationship: Joke : laughter :: ?
- Cause and effect — a joke causes laughter (insult : anger)
- Analogy relationship: Drop : ocean :: ?
- Part to whole, tiny — a drop is a small part of an ocean (grain : beach)
- What is a factor?
- A number that divides another evenly. Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
- What is a multiple?
- The product of a number and an integer. Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16…
- What is an even number?
- An integer divisible by 2 (…, −2, 0, 2, 4, …)
- What is an odd number?
- An integer not divisible by 2 (…, −1, 1, 3, 5, …)
- What is the absolute value of −7?
- 7 — the distance from zero, always non-negative
- What is the reciprocal of 3/4?
- 4/3 — flip the numerator and denominator
- Percent of increase from 40 to 50?
- Change 10 ÷ original 40 = 25% increase
- What is a right angle?
- An angle of exactly 90°
- What is an obtuse angle?
- An angle greater than 90° but less than 180°
- What is an acute angle?
- An angle less than 90°
- Diameter vs radius?
- The diameter is twice the radius; it passes through the center
- How do you average a set of numbers?
- Add them and divide by how many there are
- What is a variable?
- A letter that stands for an unknown number, like x or n
- Solve 8n = 2n + 30?
- Subtract 2n: 6n = 30. Divide by 6: n = 5
- What is the perimeter of a shape?
- The total distance around its outside (sum of all sides)
- What is an antagonist?
- The character or force that opposes the main character
- What is a protagonist?
- The main character of a story
- What is foreshadowing?
- Hints early in a text about what will happen later
- What is dialogue?
- The spoken words between characters, usually in quotation marks
- What is a stanza?
- A grouped set of lines in a poem, like a paragraph
- What is rhyme?
- Matching end sounds in words (moon / June)
- What is point of view?
- Who is telling the story — first person ('I') or third person
- What is a summary?
- A short restatement of a passage's main points in your own words
- What is context?
- The surrounding words and ideas that give a word or sentence meaning
- What is a conclusion (in reading)?
- A judgment reached by combining the information a passage gives
- What is mood (in literature)?
- The feeling or atmosphere a passage creates in the reader
- What is a fable?
- A short story, often with animals, that teaches a moral lesson