Direct Hits Essential Vocabulary , targets middle-school and early high school learners. The book focuses on words students need to know as part of the Common Core curriculum, as well as words frequently found on standardized tests like the SSAT and PSAT. The following features are included in the book: Selective vocabulary found in the Common Core academic language curriculum for grades 6 - 9, high frequency vocabulary found on the recent SSATs and PSATs, students remember the vivid examples from literature, history, current events and pop culture, and a prefix or root reference card and pro-tip is found in every chapter.