The September 2025 SAT Vocab Survey + Quiz - US Version (Round 1)

With the help of reports from Reddit's r/SAT, I’ve compiled a list of the most common and challenging vocabulary from the September 2025 US SAT. I've put these into a quiz format for students and parents to challenge themselves. Good luck!

SAT Vocabulary September 2025 US - Round 1 - Warm-up Reading Passage

Instructions: Read this passage carefully before taking your quiz. All 15 vocabulary words from September 2025 US SAT Round 1 appear in context. Pay attention to how each word is used naturally in the story.

The Artist's Vision

Sofia Martinez stood before her latest painting, searching for the quintessential example of her artistic evolution. The gallery opening was tomorrow, and she had spent weeks ensuring every detail was perfectly embellished with thoughtful touches that would captivate her audience. Her art dealer, however, had declared her pricing strategy completely untenable, arguing that emerging artists couldn't command such premium rates in the current market.

Sofia refused to subdue her artistic vision for commercial considerations. The critical consensus about her work had been unequivocal—reviewers consistently praised her ability to capture the multifariousness of human emotion within single compositions. While some gallery visitors might find her bold color choices conspicuous, Sofia believed that truly impactful art should never remain inconspicuous or safely conventional.

During the preview evening, Sofia delivered an extemporaneous speech about her creative process that moved several collectors to tears. She remained resolute in her belief that authentic expression mattered more than market trends. The curator had culled works from various periods of her career, creating a retrospective that denotes her growth as an artist. Sofia chose not to renounce her earlier, more experimental pieces, despite pressure from advisors who worried they might appear amateur.

By evening's end, she realized she had refused to let commercial pressures subjugate her artistic integrity. The opening reception proved that staying true to her vision—rather than conforming to market expectations—had been the right choice. Critics and collectors alike recognized something authentic in her work, something that couldn't be manufactured or strategically calculated.

The success taught Sofia that artistic courage often requires accepting uncertainty, but that audiences ultimately respond to genuine expression over calculated appeal.