5PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
Process of Elimination comes in handy on any standardized test. Often, the right answer is hidden among some
very tempting wrong answers. The key is learning to spot and eliminate these wrong answers in order to increase
your odds of choosing correctly. Every elimination increases your odds!
Remember: Messy tests are good tests. Statistics show that students who write on their exams, who ask rhetorical
questions and physically eliminate answers, do better! So mark that test booklet up!
GUESSING
On multiple-choice questions you get 1⁄4 of a point off for each wrong answer. On the Critical Reading and Math
portions of the SAT, I tell you not to be afraid to leave answers blank, as you don’t get penalized; however,
I want you to take educated guesses on EVERY question on the Writing sections. I give you all the grammar
rules you need to know, which means you should be able to eliminate AT LEAST two (probably more) answer
choices. You should be taking educated guesses. If you are absolutely stuck on a question and can’t eliminate
ANY answer choices, then you are off the hook and can leave it blank, but after studying the grammar rules in
this book, I doubt you will find yourself in that situation.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
I’ve structured this book so that you can skip around to different chapters if you already know your strengths
and weaknesses. I encourage you to work through the whole book, but if you are a higher scoring student you
might only need coaching on some of the trickier grammar rules.
Each chapter that covers the grammar rules contains a lecture on the different rules with sample problems
illustrating each, and a comprehensive drill at the end. An answer key and explanation of the problems follow
every comprehensive drill.
Before reviewing the material in this book or on the DVDs, take a PSAT or other SAT diagnostic test, such as a
diagnostic test in The Official SAT Study Guide. A basic familiarity with the test and a baseline score to monitor
your progress will provide a helpful frame of reference.
Let’s start with the different question types and the best technique to use for each.