SAT prep meets Twilight: new book aims to improve vocabulary

 

Fans of the Twilight series now have a weapon in their fight for higher standardized test scores. Brian Leaf’s new Defining Twilight takes readers through the book (you’ll need your own copy), highlighting 600 words that you might see on the SAT, ACT, GED, or SSAT.

While the approach is gimmicky, it’s also smart. Not every student is willing to learn vocabulary by reading Kafka and Conrad, or by working through the official College Board study guide. Good test prep meets students where they are—and since many of them are buried in Stephenie Meyer’s books this summer, why not use them to study?

Defining Twilight gives page references for each word, inviting students to first define them in context. On the next page, the correct definition is offered. Leaf then provides drills, including the dreaded analogies that were scrapped the last time the SAT was overhauled but apparently remain on the SSAT. Quizzes provide reinforcement along the way.

Kaplan has been using classics to build SAT vocabulary for years, which leads to the question: if your vocabulary is weak (most likely due to a lack of challenging reading material), are you really going to pick up the “SAT Score Raising” version of The Scarlet Letter? Leaf is on to something, and promises more: Defining New Moon will be out in October.