Paid by the Word

Tutors have said it and students have heard it thousands of times, but that is because it is true. The best way to improve your vocabulary is to read. We don't mean the Oxford English Dictionary or the Encyclopedia Britannica. Read everything or anything, and you'll see a surprising expansion of your vocabulary.

Not sure where to start? Why not read about people just like you? High school students struggling to survive while balancing homework, extracurriculars, friends, family and standardized tests. Confessions of a High School Word Nerd is a collection of hilarious essays written by actual students about their sometimes calamitous, sometimes discomfiting and always entertaining adventures in high school. The best part? You'll be studying without even knowing it! The stories themselves contain 1500 of the most commonly tested SAT vocabulary words in context. Give your flashcards a much needed vacation.

Think your life is movie-of-the-week material, or at least that others will find it amusing? Put your gift of gab to good use! Enter The Word Nerd High School Essay Contest and win a $500 scholarship.