The Reading and Writing section of the SAT is notorious for tripping students up with its tricky wording. But, by learning which words are usually at the scene of the crime, you can avoid falling into the trap and instead start boosting your score. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 5 words that often appear in incorrect answer choices on the digital SAT Reading and Writing section.

1. “Always”

You may be tempted to select answer choices that contain the word “always” because it seems definitive and absolute, leaving no room for exceptions. However, on the SAT, absolutes are often incorrect. When a passage claims that a statement is “always true,” it opens the door for potential contradictions within the text. 

SAT passages are carefully crafted to include subtle nuances and exceptions, so using “always” to describe a situation is usually too extreme. Test-takers should be wary of answers that rely on absolute terms like “always,” as they are likely to be incorrect.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, students should also watch out for the word “never.” It may be an antonym of “always,” but that means that it is also an absolute term.

Other notable examples of absolute terms that you may encounter on the Digital SAT Reading and Writing Section include “all,” “none,” and “must.”

2. “Every–”

Students should also be wary of words that use the prefix “every–” for similar reasons. Think of words like “everyone,” “everything,” and “everywhere.” These align with universal claims, implying that a statement is true in all instances. This type of language is too extreme, so answer choices containing these words will typically be incorrect.

The SAT is designed to test your ability to analyze and interpret complex texts, and broad generalizations that use absolute terms like “always” and the prefix “every–” don’t align with this goal. When encountering these words, make sure to think hard about the context of the question and consider whether there might be exceptions or limitations to the statement being made.

3. “Only”

Just as “always” and “every–” are too broad, the words “only” and “exclusively” are far too narrow. When “only” appears in an answer choice, it restricts the statement, leaving very little room for alternative interpretations. We know that SAT Reading and Writing passages are generally quite nuanced, with authors presenting complex ideas that require careful analysis. By selecting answer choices containing “only,” you run the risk of oversimplifying the information presented in the passage and falling into a trap of narrow thinking.

SAT passages aim to assess critical thinking and analytical skills. Students must evaluate evidence presented to them and examine it from multiple perspectives. Statements using the words “only” and “exclusively” typically fail to capture the full breadth of possible interpretations within a given passage. As a general rule, try to approach “only” statements with skepticism. When making your decisions, consider whether there might be alternative explanations or interpretations of the text that are not accounted for, thus making the statement untrue and incorrect.

4. “Same”

The word “same” suggests uniformity between ideas, making it a deceptive and tricky term for SAT testers. Passages that appear in the Reading and Writing section usually highlight differences or variations among individuals, ideas, or events. These differences are often subtle, so you may not notice them right away. But, it’s unlikely that two ideas presented in the passage will ever be exactly the same. Answer choices that rely on the assumption of sameness tend to overlook these nuances, resulting in an incorrect statement. 

Pay attention to any subtle distinctions made in the passage and avoid answers that oversimplify complex relationships or concepts using the word “same.”

5. “Unique”

The word “unique” can also lead students down the dangerous path of oversimplification. Labeling something as “unique” can oversimplify its importance and overlook important details. Answers that rely solely on the assertion of uniqueness without providing sufficient evidence or context to support it are most likely going to be incorrect. Before making a choice, take time to critically evaluate the information presented in the passage and consider whether there could be alternative perspectives to the statement that make it untrue.

Tips to Overcome Tricky Words

The SAT is designed to make you think critically and pay attention to details. The presence of one of the 5 words we just discussed in an answer choice can make that choice incorrect. It’s important to be able to recognize those words and how they can change the whole meaning of a statement. So, let’s examine a few strategies you can use to avoid letting these tricky words trip you up.

Understand Your Mistakes

Practice tests and questions are a routine part of every SAT prep plan. They are vital resources that allow you to investigate your incorrect answers and understand why they’re wrong. For example, you can practice identifying tricky words in the questions you miss. Pay attention to how they change the meaning of the answer choice and why they make the statement incorrect. In many cases, the statement may seem true at first, which is probably what led you to pick it. Further inspection should reveal how terms that were too broad or too narrow made it untrue.

Eliminate Wrong Choices

You’ve probably heard of using the process of elimination to increase your chances of selecting the right answer on a test. Well, looking out for tricky words can help you narrow your choices down even more. 

There will only be one indisputably correct answer for every question on the SAT, but the test will try to trick you by including answer choices that seem like they could also be correct. To eliminate these extra choices, focus on finding a reason why they are not correct. Are they too broad or too narrow? Are they inverting the relationship between two concepts? Can you point directly to any evidence in the passage that supports the claim they’re making?

The 5 words we talked about earlier can be great indicators of an issue with an answer choice, especially when it comes to making claims that are either too specific or too broad.

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