The Digital SAT Vocabulary List: 3,000+ Essential Academic Words

By James Hartwell

Most people think studying vocabulary for the SAT is pointless. After all, there are more than 170,000 words in the English language, and even native speakers know only about 20,000 of them. Trying to memorize everything sounds impossible, and honestly, it is.

But here's what those arguments miss: the SAT doesn't test all English words. It tests a very specific set of Tier-2 academic words. These are the words that appear in analysis, argumentation, and logical reasoning. They're not rare, but they show up again and again in passages, questions, and answer choices.

This book contains 3,000 essential academic words drawn from 20 years of teaching SAT prep in the Bay Area. Every word comes from patterns I've identified in official SAT materials, practice tests, and two decades of student feedback from actual test days, as well as the academic vocabulary that appears in AP courses and college-level reading.

Each word includes a short, clear definition designed for fast memorization and long-term retention. The list is alphabetically organized, easy to scan, and ready to print.

How It Works

The book has 71 pages with 45 lines each. Each week, you focus on one line. You'll memorize all the words that appear on line 1 across every page, then move to line 2 the next week, and so on. That way, you're learning words from A to Z together instead of getting stuck on one letter for weeks. Complete the system in 45 weeks or move faster if you're on a tight timeline.

Who It's For

- Students preparing for the Digital SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT
- English learners building deep, context-based vocabulary
- High school students tackling AP classes or college-level reading

What Students Say

"My plan was to take the SAT as a freshman so I could focus on AP classes and extracurriculars later. My mom bought me this vocabulary book in eighth grade because my math was strong but my English needed work. The booklet setup really helped expand my vocabulary quickly, and I started reading more advanced books like Beowulf and Catch-22. That ended up improving my writing and overall confidence. Honestly, it changed how I study and how I think. A lot of students at my school struggle with imposter syndrome, but I feel secure because I built such a strong foundation early on." - Emily L., Palo Alto

"I took the ACT and scored a 36 in both English and Reading and 33 in both Science and Math. Honestly, I couldn't have done it without memorizing vocabulary from this book. Knowing so many of the words made the reading passages much faster to get through, and I had time left to double-check my answers. I ended up changing a bunch of them. My composite rounded up from 34.5 to 35, so if I'd scored even slightly lower in English, I wouldn't have gotten a 35." - Alex P., Los Altos

"I didn't realize how many books I was reading without truly understanding them. I used to skip any word I didn't know and just move on. Now that I've learned those words, it's crazy how much more I actually understand when I read." - Amanda L., San Jose

Questions?

This book is updated regularly based on new test patterns and student feedback. If you have questions, spot an error, or want to share suggestions, please reach out at contact@jameshartwell.com.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G8DY3P7L
• ISBN13: 9798268765489
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 74 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"