SATT 2025 REVIEW: Verbal Analogies, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension

This set covers Verbal Analogies, common relationships, tips, test items from pretests, vocabulary, grammar (prepositions and verb tenses), and reading comprehension concepts with example questions.

What is a Verbal Analogy?

Pairs of words related in a particular way, used to determine the connection between another pair of words.

What is the primary purpose of verbal analogies?

To test recognition of word relationships using analytical thinking, problem-solving, and mental flexibility.

Tool: User / User: Tool relationship

Who uses the tool; e.g., hammer: carpenter.

Tool: Object / Object: Tool relationship

A tool used on an object; e.g., hammer: nail. (paper: scissors is another example.)

Category: Example relationship in analogies

A category and a specific example (e.g., dog: Shih Tzu).

Cause: Effect relationship in analogies

A cause leads to an effect (e.g., rain: flood).

Increasing Intensity relationship in analogies

Tells a progression from less intense to more intense (e.g., unhappiness: misery).

Decreasing Intensity relationship in analogies

Tells a progression from more intense to less intense (e.g., hot: warm).

Noun to adjective / Adjective to noun relationship in analogies

A noun closely related to an adjective or vice versa (e.g., elephant: enormous; brave: hero).

Tips for solving analogies

Identify the relationship, eliminate irrelevant choices, and do not interchange terms.

Petal: Flower :: Tire: Bicycle

Part: Whole relationship (Petal is part of a Flower; Tire is part of a Bicycle).

Oath: Promise :: Contract: Agreement

Synonym relationship (Oath and Promise; Contract and Agreement).

Glimmer: Flicker :: Murmur: Whisper

Semantic similarity (both are related in meaning).

Bow: Arrow :: Gun: Bullet

Tool: Object relationship (Bow to Arrow; Gun to Bullet).

Canvas: Painter :: Marble: Sculptor

Material: User relationship.

Call: Telephone :: Type: Keyboard

Action: Tool relationship.

Segregate: Unify :: Repair: Damage

Antonym relationship.

Scrub: Wash :: Sob: Cry

Decreasing intensity relationship.

Iron: Metal :: Granite: Rock

Category: Example relationship (Granite is a kind of Rock).

Fire: Ashes :: Explosion: Debris

Cause: Effect relationship.

Petal: Flower :: Tire: Bicycle

Part: Whole (redundant example for Part-Whole).

1 The list of items on the table is _

is (Subject-Verb Agreement; singular subject 'list' takes singular verb)

02 My friends going to the party tonight.

are going (Plural subject requires a plural verb)

03 Frank plays the guitar well, _ not that great.

but

04 Tim _ two spelling mistakes since the spelling bee started.

has made

05 I _ you are looking for.

am

06 Ben _ last week due to old age, so it is up to us to finish the job.

retired

07 Conceal in the sentence above means _ .

hide

08 An interpellation means _ .

questioning

09 If I _ you, I would not do it.

were

10 Obstinate means _ .

stubborn

VOCABULARY: What is the SAT Vocabulary section about?

Vocabulary in SAT checks understanding of word meaning in context, not just memorizing definitions.

Vocabulary tip: Read the whole sentence first

Context clues help determine word meaning in context.

Vocabulary tip: Use elimination

Cross out obviously wrong choices to improve guessing chances.

Vocabulary tip: Build reading habits

Reading varied materials helps recognizing words in exams.

Vocabulary tip: Manage your time

Answer known questions first; don’t get stuck on hard ones.

What is reading comprehension?

The ability to read text, process it, and understand its meaning.

Main point of the First Passage (Matisse/Picasso figurine)

A small Vili figurine greatly influenced artists like Matisse and Picasso.

Purpose of the First Passage

Explain or illustrate how the figurine impacted modern art.

A question answered by the First Passage

What role did the figurine play in the lives of Matisse and Picasso?

A correct statement about the First Passage

20th-century French artists drew inspiration from the Vili figurine.

Most appropriate title for the First Passage

Matisse and Picasso: Inspirations Behind Their Art.

Second Passage: The main problem in the town

People in town are worried about repairs and readiness if there is a fire.

What will people likely do about the fire station problem?

Help fix the fire station themselves (they will figure out a solution).

According to the Second Passage, water went everywhere because the pipe _

burst

The phrase 'solve the problem' most likely means _

fix the fire station

The feeling at the end of the Second Passage is likely _

hopeful

Preposition: What is a preposition?

A word showing the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word, often indicating place, time, direction, cause, manner, or means.

Common prepositions for place

in, at, on

Common prepositions for time/dates

at, on, in, since, for

Preposition usage: for country/city examples

in Japan, in Africa, in Manila

Verb Tenses: Simple Present structure

Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)

Present Continuous structure

am/is/are + verb-ing

Present Perfect structure

has/have + past participle

Present Perfect Continuous structure

has/have been + verb-ing

Past Simple structure

Subject + past form of verb

Past Continuous structure

was/were + verb-ing

Past Perfect structure

had + past participle

Past Perfect Continuous structure

had been + verb-ing

Future Simple structure

will + base verb

Future Continuous structure

will be + verb-ing

Future Perfect structure

will have + past participle

Future Perfect Continuous structure

will have been + verb-ing

The list of items on the table is correct because it is a singular subject

The subject 'list' is singular; use 'is' not 'are'.

Subject-Verb Agreement basics

Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Singular subjects

Add -s or -es to the verb for present tense (e.g., She Plays).

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Plural subjects

Do not add -s or -es to the verb in the present tense (e.g., They Play).

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Collective nouns

Usually treated as singular; examples: group, committee, audience.

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Either/or and Neither/nor

The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Indefinite pronouns

Singular: everyone, somebody; Plural: few, many, several.

KKEEYY RRUULLEESS: Quantities as single units

Phrases like 'Ten kilometers is…' take a singular verb.

Reading comprehension: Definition

The ability to read, process, and understand text.

Why is reading comprehension important?

Supports cognitive development, critical thinking, and academic success.

Reading tips: Identify key concepts

Pull out main points from the text.

Reading tips: Build vocabulary

A broader vocabulary improves comprehension.

Reading tips: Think critically

Identify genre, purpose, and what happens next.

Reading tips: Interpretation and prediction

Form interpretations and predict outcomes.

Reading tips: Generate questions

Ask questions that fit the text's message.

First Passage main point (art heritage)

A small Vili figurine influenced major artists like Matisse and Picasso.

Second Passage main idea (fire station)

Town residents will find a way to fix the fire station/problem.