🧩 Patterns You Should Notice
The SAT Loves “Almost Right” Answers
One of the biggest patterns on the SAT is:
Wrong answers are often partially correct—but not completely correct.
What this looks like:
An answer that matches the passage but twists one detail
A math answer that comes from a small calculation mistake
A grammar choice that sounds right but breaks a rule
Example (Reading):
The passage says a character feels “uncertain but hopeful.”
A trap answer might say: “completely confident about the future.”
It’s close—but not accurate.
What to do instead:
Double-check that every word in the answer matches
Be careful of answers that feel “kind of right”
If even one part is off → eliminate it
Key Rule:
On the SAT, answers are either completely right or completely wrong—there’s no partial credit