Habits for Success

Based on the analysis of thousands of official SAT questions, these are the thinking patterns that consistently lead to correct answers.

Top 5 Habits for Success

1. Predict Before You Look

Form an answer in your head BEFORE looking at the choices. This prevents attractive wrong answers from pulling you off track. Even a rough prediction ("something negative" or "a contrast word") helps you stay anchored.

2. Eliminate with Reasons

Don't go with gut feelings. For each answer you eliminate, identify the specific reason it's wrong. "This says 'all' but the passage says 'some'" is a reason. "This doesn't feel right" is not.

3. Check All Parts

Verify that your answer matches ALL parts of what the question asks. Many wrong answers are "half right" — they get one part correct but miss another. If any part is wrong, the whole answer is wrong.

4. Use Signal Words

Pay attention to words like "but," "however," "thus," "for example," and "despite." These tell you the structure of the passage — whether ideas agree, contrast, or build on each other. Missing a signal word can flip the meaning entirely.

5. Verify Against the Text

Before committing to an answer, find where in the passage it's supported. If you can't point to specific words that back it up, you might be adding information that isn't there.

Top 5 Habits to Avoid

1. Word Matching

Picking an answer just because it uses words from the passage. "It mentions the same terms, so it must be right." Wrong. The answer has to actually answer the question, not just be related to the topic.

2. Picking What Sounds Smart

Gravitating toward sophisticated vocabulary or complex phrasing. Words like "belies," "emblematic," or "underscores" sound impressive but are often wrong. Simple, precise answers beat fancy vague ones.

3. Speed Reading

Skimming too quickly and missing key words — qualifiers like "some" vs "all," contrast words like "however" or "although," hedging language like "may" or "suggests." One missed word can flip the meaning entirely.

4. Stopping at "Good Enough"

Picking the first answer that seems reasonable without checking the others. The SAT loves putting a "pretty good" answer before the "exactly right" answer. Always check all four choices.

5. Panic Rushing

Speeding up after a hard question to "make up time." This spikes anxiety and causes careless errors on questions you would have gotten right. Take a breath. The quick questions will balance it out.

Franklin Yard SAT Reading & Writing Guide