Section 01 · Vocabulary
Core Word Power
MEMO · AMBIGUITY CLUSTER
Words that sound similar but mean differently — the #1 trick on SAT/IB. Watch for ambiguous / ambivalent / ambidextrous. Prefix ambi- = "both." Memorize the cluster, not just one word.
★★★ Hard
ambiguous
adjective
Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or inexact in meaning. SAT frequently tests this word in context questions about author intent.
The politician's ambiguous statement left voters unsure of his actual position on the issue.
★★★ Hard
mitigate
verb
To make less severe, serious, or painful. Commonly confused with "negate" (to cancel entirely). Mitigate = reduce, not eliminate.
Planting trees along highways can help mitigate the effects of noise pollution on nearby residents.
★★ Medium
meticulous
adjective
Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. Positive connotation — often confused with "obsessive" which implies excessive behavior.
The watchmaker's meticulous craftsmanship ensured every gear was perfectly aligned.
Section 02 · Reading Comprehension
Active Reading
MEMO · MAIN IDEA vs. DETAIL
"Best describes the passage" = Main Idea. "According to lines X–Y" = Detail. Never choose an answer that's too broad (universe) or too narrow (one line). The answer must fit the WHOLE passage.
The Language of Bees
Adapted · Natural Science · IB-Style Passage
1When Karl von Frisch first proposed that honeybees communicate through movement,
2the scientific community met his claim with considerable skepticism. It seemed
3inconceivable that a creature with a brain no larger than a sesame seed could convey
4precise navigational information. Yet decades of research confirmed that bees perform
5a "waggle dance" — a figure-eight movement whose duration and angle encode the exact
6distance and direction of food sources relative to the sun. This revelation forced
7biologists to fundamentally reconsider what it means to possess language.
The Price of Perfection
Adapted · Social Science · SAT-Style Passage
1Psychologists have long distinguished between two motivational orientations: mastery
2goals, in which individuals seek to develop competence, and performance goals, in
3which individuals seek to demonstrate superiority over others. While both orientations
4can produce high achievement, research suggests that performance-oriented students
5are more vulnerable to anxiety and less resilient in the face of failure. The pursuit
6of external validation, it seems, carries hidden costs that intrinsic motivation does not.
The Unreliable Narrator
Adapted · Literary Fiction · IB Literature Passage
1"I have always been honest," Marcus insisted, though the tremor in his voice suggested
2otherwise. He recounted the events of that evening with practiced fluency — too
3practiced, perhaps. The details were vivid, yet the chronology shifted subtly with
4each retelling. His sister watched from across the table, her expression unreadable,
5as if she alone understood that memory and truth are not always the same companion.
Section 03 · Grammar & Usage
Structure Rules
MEMO · PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Lists must be grammatically identical in form. Verb+ing, verb+ing, verb+ing. NOT: "running, to swim, and dance." This is SAT Writing's most-tested grammar rule. Check the FORM, not the meaning.
⚠️ Commonly Confused: Who vs. Whom
Use
Test: Replace with he/him. If "him" fits → use whom.
✗ Who did you speak to? → you spoke to him → ✓ Whom did you speak to?
who as a subject (replaces he/she/they).
Use whom as an object (replaces him/her/them).Test: Replace with he/him. If "him" fits → use whom.
✗ Who did you speak to? → you spoke to him → ✓ Whom did you speak to?
⚠️ Misplaced Modifiers — #1 Trap
A modifier must be placed directly next to the word it modifies.
✗ "Running through the park, the rain began to fall." (Rain doesn't run.)
✓ "Running through the park, she felt the rain begin to fall."
✗ "Running through the park, the rain began to fall." (Rain doesn't run.)
✓ "Running through the park, she felt the rain begin to fall."
Section 04 · Test-Specific Strategies
Beat the Exam
MEMO · ELIMINATE EXTREMES (SAT)
Words like "always," "never," "only," "completely" → usually WRONG on SAT critical reading. Authors rarely make absolute claims. Words like "often," "suggests," "may" → usually RIGHT. This alone eliminates 2 wrong answers per question.
🎯 IB PAPER 1 STRATEGY — Guided Analysis
When analyzing tone in IB Paper 1, use the SWAT method:
Style (formal/informal) · Word choice (connotation) · Audience · Tone (detached/urgent/ironic)
Never just say "the author uses descriptive language." Be specific: which word, what effect, why effective.
Style (formal/informal) · Word choice (connotation) · Audience · Tone (detached/urgent/ironic)
Never just say "the author uses descriptive language." Be specific: which word, what effect, why effective.
Self-Test · 10 Questions
SAT · IB · Grade 8 Level
As used in line 2 of "The Language of Bees," the word "skepticism" most nearly means:
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: B — doubt and disbelief."Skepticism" derives from the Greek skeptikos (to inquire, doubt). In context, the scientific community resisted von Frisch's claim — this signals strong disbelief, not mere "polite disagreement" (D) which is too mild. "Enthusiastic curiosity" (A) is the opposite tone. The passage says the claim "seemed inconceivable," confirming active doubt.
Which of the following is the best definition of "mitigate"?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: C — to lessen the severity."Mitigate" means to reduce, not eliminate (A). This is the most common SAT trap — students confuse it with "negate." The Latin root mitis means "soft" or "mild." Think: mitigation = making something milder. In law, "mitigating circumstances" reduce a sentence but don't cancel the crime.
A scientist who checks every decimal point three times before publishing could best be described as:
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: A — meticulous."Meticulous" carries a positive connotation — careful, precise, professional. "Obsessive" (B) implies unhealthy excess and has a negative tone. Context here is scientific precision (admirable), not excess. SAT tests your ability to choose words with the correct connotation, not just denotation.
Which of the following best states the main idea of "The Language of Bees" passage?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: D.(A) is too broad — the passage doesn't claim scientists are "frequently" wrong. (B) is a detail from lines 5–6, not the main idea. (C) is beyond what the passage claims. (D) captures the arc: initial skepticism → confirmed research → reconsidering the concept of language. When choosing main idea, find the answer that covers the whole passage, not just one part.
In "The Price of Perfection," the highlighted phrase "intrinsic motivation" (line 6) serves primarily to:
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: B.The passage argues performance goals carry "hidden costs." The phrase ends by contrasting this with intrinsic motivation, which "does not" carry those costs — this is a direct contrast that reinforces the author's point. (A) is wrong because intrinsic motivation supports, not undermines, the argument. (D) is opposite to what the passage states.
In "The Unreliable Narrator," what does the sister's "unreadable" expression most likely suggest?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: C.The passage explicitly states she understood "that memory and truth are not always the same companion" (line 5). An "unreadable" expression suggests controlled knowledge — she knows something Marcus won't admit. (A) and (D) are unsupported by the text. IB literary inference questions require you to connect character behavior to thematic meaning, not just literal reading.
Which version of the sentence uses correct parallel structure?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: A.Parallel structure requires all items in a list to have the same grammatical form. (A) uses three -ing gerunds: reading, watching, hiking ✓. Options B, C, D mix forms (infinitives + gerunds), which violates parallelism. The rule: once you establish a form (gerund OR infinitive), ALL items in the list must follow that same form.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: D.Test: "I spoke to him" → "him" fits → use whom. (A) incorrectly uses "who." (B) uses "Who" but should be "Whom" — "I invited him." (C) uses "whoever" correctly (subject of "deserves"), but (D) is the most clearly correct formal form matching the question's error-spotting intent.
A passage states: "Studies suggest that regular exercise may improve cognitive function in adolescents."
Which answer choice would be MOST LIKELY WRONG on an SAT inference question?
Which answer choice would be MOST LIKELY WRONG on an SAT inference question?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: B — "always" and "all" are extreme words.The passage uses hedging language: "suggest," "may." Extreme words like always, never, all, only, completely overstate what the passage claims. (B) replaces cautious language with absolutes. On SAT, when an answer uses extreme words but the passage uses hedged language → immediately suspect. Answers A, C, D all preserve the "possible/potential" meaning.
An author writes: "The committee's decision was, as usual, perfectly timed to achieve absolutely nothing."
Which term BEST describes the author's tone?
Which term BEST describes the author's tone?
📖 Explanation
Correct Answer: C — Sardonic / Sarcastic."Perfectly timed to achieve absolutely nothing" uses irony — praising something to mock it. This is the definition of sardonic or sarcastic tone. (B) "Objective" is wrong because the author clearly expresses a negative opinion. (D) The informal phrasing ("as usual") is not academic. In IB Paper 1, use precise tone vocabulary: sardonic, wry, cynical, indignant, reverent, melancholic — not just "negative."