SAT Vocab Genius

I paid for this app already, but now with this update they charge you again. Before you could use the paid app without having to make a Brainscape account (with hundreds of accounts with other things, I would rather not make another if I don't have to; the account is used to sync your vocab progress in the app with their website). Now when you update, the app comes "locked" and in order to unlock the app (although you bought it already) and "prove" you already purchased it, they want you to log-in to your Brainscape account. However, if you never made an account before (because you never had to), you cannot unlock the app. You are then forced to repurchase the app to unlock it. Either Brainscape is dishonest or there is a bug in their update.

I am a Junior studying for the SAT. I have been playing with this app for the past hour or so and I am about a fourth of the way through the first set of words. I've also taken 2 Advil because staring at the screen reading complicated vocabulary words can give you a major headache. This app definitely provides a good way to get all those lengthy vocab words memorized before the test or even just to broaden your vocabulary in general. I don't recommend this app if you aren't serious about studying. It's not a fun app by any means. It's very repetitive and dull. However, in the end it gets the job done!

Even the free apps have a quiz mode and speak the word and definition. This app does neither. Its only redeeming quality is that it uses spaced-recall techniques, although the spacing between words seems too short. Additionally, it has less than 1000 words. Hopefully, the developer will improve this app. In the mean time, save your $4.99 and support one of the developers of the free apps by using their apps, which are at the time of this review vastly superior. Date of review: May 2012