Verbal Test Tactics
Master these strategies to maximize your score on the Verbal section.
- Cross out answers you know are wrong immediately
- Look for opposite meanings first - they're usually incorrect
- If stuck between two choices, consider word connotations
- Trust your first instinct if you've studied the vocabulary
- Spend no more than 30 seconds per question
- Skip difficult questions and return to them later
- Answer easier questions first to build confidence
- Leave 2-3 minutes at the end to review marked questions
- Create a sentence showing the relationship between the first pair
- Apply that same sentence structure to the answer choices
- Common relationships: part-to-whole, worker-to-tool, cause-and-effect
- Watch for reversed relationships in answer choices
- Don't choose answers just because they 'sound good'
- Avoid selecting words that are related but not synonyms
- Don't spend too much time on one difficult question
- Remember: there's a penalty for wrong answers, so guess strategically
Vocabulary Building Strategies
Learn common Latin and Greek roots. For example, 'bene-' means good (benevolent), 'mal-' means bad (malicious).
Even if you don't know a word, use the structure of the question to infer meaning. Look at word parts and related words you do know.
Create mental connections between new words and words you already know. Use mnemonics and visual imagery to remember definitions.
Learn 10-15 new words every day. Use flashcards, read challenging books, and practice using new words in sentences.
The SSAT has a guessing penalty: you lose 1/4 point for each wrong answer. However, if you can eliminate even one answer choice, it becomes statistically advantageous to guess.
Rule of thumb: If you can eliminate 1-2 answer choices, make an educated guess. If you have no idea, it's better to leave it blank.