The September 2025 SAT Vocab Survey + Quiz - US Version (Round 2)

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 2 - Warm-up Reading Passage

Instructions: Read this passage carefully before taking your quiz. All 15 vocabulary words from September 2025 US SAT Round 2 appear in context. Pay attention to how each word is used naturally in the story.

The Climate Discovery

Dr. Elena Vasquez knew her groundbreaking climate research was underpinned by years of meticulous data collection, but she still had to surmount the skepticism of senior colleagues who questioned her unconventional methodology. Her findings had become increasingly entangled with political debates, making objective scientific discussion more challenging than ever.

The key breakthrough came when Elena discovered that soil permeability rates varied dramatically across different geographic regions, affecting carbon absorption in ways that previous models had failed to predict. Her data showed remarkable durability over multiple seasonal cycles, contradicting established theories about environmental fluctuation patterns.

The research revealed a troubling disparity between current climate projections and actual observed changes. Elena had identified what appeared to be a significant anomaly in atmospheric carbon processing that could magnify the effects of global warming far beyond previous estimates. She knew she needed to rectify misconceptions in the scientific literature before policy makers made decisions based on outdated information.

Elena's presentation style was notably halting at first—the magnitude of her discoveries made her nervous about potential criticism from the established scientific community. Unlike colleagues who favored elaborate presentations, Elena preferred a utilitarian approach that focused on data rather than dramatic visuals. Her casual demeanor during the conference Q&A session helped put skeptical researchers at ease.

The implications of Elena's research demonstrated the extensibility of climate science—how new discoveries could fundamentally reshape understanding of environmental systems. Senior researchers gradually recognized that her work opened entirely new avenues for investigation, potentially revolutionizing how scientists approached climate modeling.

Elena's persistence in challenging conventional wisdom ultimately advanced scientific understanding in ways that could influence environmental policy for decades. Her willingness to question established theories, despite initial resistance, exemplified the spirit of inquiry that drives meaningful scientific progress.