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Turn an SAT word list or a topic into vocabulary and concept cards with definitions and example sentences — built for test-day recall.

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The SAT rewards two things flashcards are perfect for: a strong vocabulary and quick recall of tested grammar and math concepts. Our SAT Flashcard Maker turns a word list or a topic — like "SAT high-frequency vocabulary" or "SAT algebra concepts" — into a study-ready deck. Vocabulary cards pair each word with a clear definition and an example sentence that shows how it is used in context, which is how the digital SAT actually tests words.

Paste your own list of words you keep missing on practice tests, or let the AI build a themed set for the reading, writing, or math section. Then drill with quiz modes and spaced repetition so your review time goes straight to the words and rules you have not locked in yet. It is just as useful for a focused week before test day as it is for a months-long prep plan, and every card is editable so you can tailor it to your target score.

Example flashcards

A taste of what you get — generated cards look like this:

Front
Ephemeral
Back
lasting a very short time — The ephemeral beauty of the sunset faded within minutes.
Front
Pragmatic
Back
dealing with problems practically — She took a pragmatic approach to the budget.
Front
Ambiguous
Back
open to more than one interpretation — The poem’s ending is deliberately ambiguous.

Key Features

🎯

Vocabulary + Concepts

Build cards for SAT words and for tested grammar and math concepts.

💬

Definitions & Examples

Each vocab card includes a definition and an example sentence in context.

📝

List or Topic

Paste your own SAT word list, or name a section and let the AI build a set.

⚡

Ready in Seconds

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Spaced Repetition

Words you keep missing resurface more often so they stick by test day.

✏️

Editable Decks

Tune any card to your target score, weak areas, or practice-test misses.

How It Works

1

Enter Words or an SAT Topic

Paste an SAT word list, or type a theme like "SAT vocabulary" or "SAT grammar rules".

2

AI Builds Your Cards

Vocabulary cards get a definition and example; concept cards get clear explanations.

3

Review the Deck

Get your SAT flashcards in seconds and edit anything you like.

4

Drill to Test Day

Use quiz modes and spaced repetition to build recall before the SAT.

Free SAT Vocabulary flashcards: 34-card starter set

This is a starter set of academic words of the kind that show up in short college-level passages: words for describing claims and evidence, people and attitudes, change and effect, and style. Each card gives a definition and a short original example sentence. The words are chosen because they are common in this style of writing; no one can promise that any particular word will appear on a given test, and this is an independent study aid, not a College Board product.

No signup needed. Progress saves in your browser, and in your account if you sign in. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

Claims and evidence (10)

cogent (adjective)
Clear, logical and convincing. Example: The author gave a cogent argument for restoring the wetland, backed by three years of data.
corroborate (verb)
To support a claim or statement with additional evidence. Example: A second survey corroborated the first survey's findings.
substantiate (verb)
To provide evidence that proves or supports a claim. Example: The historian could not substantiate the rumor with any letters or records.
empirical (adjective)
Based on observation or experiment rather than theory alone. Example: The theory needed empirical support from field measurements.
plausible (adjective)
Seeming reasonable or likely to be true (not necessarily proven). Example: A plausible explanation for the dip is the early frost.
tenuous (adjective)
Weak, thin or poorly supported. Example: The link between the two events was tenuous at best.
equivocal (adjective)
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous or unclear. Example: The study's results were equivocal, so the team ran it again.
ostensible (adjective)
Apparent or stated, but possibly not the real reason. Example: The ostensible purpose of the trip was research, though most of it was sightseeing.
refute (verb)
To prove a claim or argument wrong. Example: New fossils refuted the claim that the species was extinct by that date.
undermine (verb)
To weaken something gradually, such as confidence or an argument. Example: Inconsistent data undermined the credibility of the report.

People and attitudes (8)

candid (adjective)
Honest and direct, even when it is uncomfortable. Example: In a candid interview, the coach admitted the team had played poorly.
reticent (adjective)
Reluctant to speak about one's thoughts or feelings; reserved. Example: She was reticent about her own achievements.
ambivalent (adjective)
Having mixed or conflicting feelings about something. Example: He felt ambivalent about moving, excited yet sad to leave.
obdurate (adjective)
Stubbornly refusing to change one's mind or course of action. Example: Despite the evidence, the mayor remained obdurate.
pragmatic (adjective)
Dealing with problems in a practical, realistic way rather than by theory. Example: The committee took a pragmatic approach and chose the cheaper repair.
prudent (adjective)
Showing care and good judgment about the future. Example: It is prudent to back up your files before updating.
skeptical (adjective)
Doubtful; not ready to accept a claim without evidence. Example: Scientists were skeptical of the result until it was replicated.
meticulous (adjective)
Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. Example: The curator kept meticulous records of every artifact.

Change, effect and quantity (8)

mitigate (verb)
To make something less severe, harmful or painful. Example: Planting trees can mitigate the effects of flooding.
exacerbate (verb)
To make a problem or bad situation worse. Example: Drought exacerbated the shortage of clean water.
ephemeral (adjective)
Lasting only a very short time. Example: The ephemeral blossoms were gone within a week.
ubiquitous (adjective)
Present or found everywhere. Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in cities around the world.
pervasive (adjective)
Spreading through and present in every part of something. Example: A pervasive smell of smoke filled the whole building.
copious (adjective)
Plentiful; abundant in quantity. Example: The student took copious notes during the lecture.
superfluous (adjective)
More than is needed; unnecessary. Example: The editor cut several superfluous adjectives from the paragraph.
burgeon (verb)
To grow or increase rapidly. Example: The town's population burgeoned after the factory opened.

Style, meaning and perception (8)

nuanced (adjective)
Showing subtle differences in meaning, tone or expression. Example: The essay offers a nuanced view of the policy rather than simple praise or blame.
eloquent (adjective)
Fluent, forceful and persuasive in speaking or writing. Example: Her eloquent speech moved the audience.
laconic (adjective)
Using very few words. Example: His laconic reply was simply "Fine."
discern (verb)
To notice or recognize something that is not obvious. Example: Readers can discern a hint of irony in the narrator's tone.
belie (verb)
To give a false impression of; to contradict. Example: His calm voice belied how nervous he really was.
scrutinize (verb)
To examine something closely and carefully. Example: The auditors scrutinized every receipt.
paradox (noun)
A statement or situation that seems contradictory but may contain truth. Example: It is a paradox that the busiest city can feel the loneliest.
conventional (adjective)
Following accepted standards or traditional ways of doing things. Example: The novel breaks from conventional storytelling by starting at the end.

What this set covers

Word count
Core academic words, each with a definition and a short example
Grouped by
Evidence and claims, people and attitudes, change and effect, style and meaning
Best used for
Building the vocabulary-in-context habit: reading a word in a sentence and checking it fits
Not covered
Grammar and punctuation rules, math, or a complete word list

How to study this set

Vocabulary sticks when you meet each word in context several times. Use the example sentence, then write your own, and always check a word against the sentence around it.

  1. 1
    Day 1

    Go through one group at a time. For each word, read the example, then say the definition out loud before you flip the card.

  2. 2
    Days 2-7

    Review the whole set once a day. For every word you miss, write your own sentence on paper, then retry the card at the end of the session.

  3. 3
    Week 2

    Mix in the words from your own practice passages. Add any unknown word with the sentence it appeared in, so the card keeps its context.

  4. 4
    Final week

    Do short sessions on the words you still miss. Test yourself on replacing the word with a plain synonym and check whether the sentence still works.

Spaced repetition schedules each card to come back just before you would forget it, so reviews get shorter as your recall gets stronger. Cards you miss come back sooner.

Common mistakes to avoid

Memorizing one meaning only

Many academic words are used in context in ways that differ from their first dictionary sense. Always check which meaning fits the sentence around the word.

Confusing near-opposites

Pairs such as exacerbate and mitigate, or laconic and eloquent, are easy to swap when you are rushing. Study them as pairs and say which one makes things worse or better.

Studying words without sentences

A bare definition does not show how a word behaves. Practice with a sentence so you notice whether the word is describing a person, an argument or a change.

Skipping connotation

Words like obdurate and tenacious both mean persistent but carry different feelings (negative vs positive). Note the tone when you learn them.

Make your own from your notes

A starter set is a head start, not your whole course. Your class notes, slides and textbook are what your teacher actually tests, so turn them into cards too.

  • Put the word in a sentence from your own practice passage on the front, with the word underlined, and the definition on the back.
  • Add one plain synonym and one opposite to the back so you can test substitution.
  • Avoid long lists of words from one page; make cards from passages where you actually missed a word.
  • Tag cards by tone (positive, negative, neutral) to keep similar words apart.
Generate cards from a topic or notesTurn a PDF into flashcards

SAT Vocabulary flashcards: questions

Will these exact words be on the SAT?

No one can say that. These are common academic words of the kind used in college-level passages, which makes them useful to know, but the test does not publish a word list.

How is SAT vocabulary tested now?

In the digital format, vocabulary appears mostly in context: you read a short text and choose the word or phrase that fits. Check the current question types on the official College Board site, as formats can change.

How many new words should I learn per day?

Five to ten new words a day with regular review is a realistic pace for most students. More than that without review is usually forgotten within a few days.

Should I memorize definitions or learn from sentences?

Use both. A short definition gives you the core meaning, and an example sentence shows how the word fits. Writing your own sentence is the fastest way to make it stick.

Is this set enough to prepare for the SAT?

No. It is a starter set for vocabulary only. You will also need practice with grammar conventions, passage structure and math, which these cards do not cover.

Sources and review

These cards are an independent study aid, not official exam content, and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam body or publisher. They were written by hand and checked against the sources below on 2026-10-17. Always confirm details with your course materials and the current official documents.

  • Wiktionary — Wiktionary definitions were looked up for cogent, corroborate, substantiate, ostensible, equivocal, obdurate, reticent, belie and burgeon. The other definitions were written from general knowledge of standard dictionary senses and not looked up individually.
  • Merriam-Webster Dictionary — General reference dictionary for any word; not fetched during review (the site blocked automated access).
  • College Board: Digital SAT Suite — Official page for the Reading and Writing section; link checked, the cards do not depend on its content.

Need a bigger deck than the starter set?

Pro lets you build full decks from your notes and PDFs and import whole chapters. The starter set above stays free.

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Quick facts

Without an account
1 deck per day, up to 10 cards per deck (10 decks in total). Paste notes or type a topic; no sign-up.
Free account
3 free decks; the first 10 cards of each deck are free, plus cloud sync and spaced-repetition review.
Documents
Text-based PDF and Word import. Your first import is free with a free account (up to 15 cards).
Export
Anki (.apkg), CSV and TSV (imports into Quizlet and spreadsheets). The first export is free; Pro exports without limit.
Study modes
Flip cards, multiple-choice quiz, typed answers with smart answer checking, spaced repetition and printable cards.
Pro
$9.99/month or $95.88/year: unlimited decks, up to 100 cards per deck. 7-Day Pass: $4.99 one-time; Exam Pass: $19.99 one-time (3 months). Passes do not renew.
Languages
Cards in any language; site in English, French, German and Polish.

Updated 2026-10-28 by the FlashcardMaker.me team. All limits and prices: FlashcardMaker.me facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cover SAT vocabulary and math?

Yes. Enter a vocabulary list or a topic like "SAT vocabulary" for word cards, or "SAT algebra" / "SAT grammar rules" for concept cards.

Do vocab cards include example sentences?

Yes. Each vocabulary card includes a definition and an example sentence, which matches how the digital SAT tests words in context.

Can I paste my own SAT word list?

Absolutely. Paste the words you keep missing and the AI builds a definition and example for each, so you study exactly your weak spots.

Is the SAT flashcard maker free?

Yes, you can try it for free. Free users get a preview deck; Pro users and credit holders unlock unlimited full SAT decks.

How many words should I study a day?

Consistency beats volume — spaced repetition over a few weeks builds far more durable recall than cramming, even at 15-20 minutes a day.

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