Sentence completion can be one of the more difficult parts of SAT test prep for students who do not have strong vocabularies. However, there are many strategies to use to ace the SAT reading section, even without learning every SAT vocabulary word. The next time you have to fill in a one- or two-word blank, keep these tips in mind:
1. Read the Sentence Carefully - All of the information you need is right there in front of you; it’s just a matter of finding it. Sentence completion sentences offer lots of clues about the meanings of the missing words, so make use of those clues by reading the sentence thoroughly. Note words that indicate contradiction like “but” or “though,” and pay attention to the relation of different concepts mentioned in the sentence.
2. Mark Pluses and Minuses - Once you’ve read the sentence carefully and found clues about the words, mark a + or a – in the blank to indicate what kind of word you’re looking for. If the word is used in a positive context, mark a plus. If the word is used in a negative context, mark a minus. You can also use pluses and minuses to indicate whether the words should be synonyms or antonyms.
3. Fill in Your Own Words - Before you look at the answer choices, use your own words to fill in the blank. This strategy will force you to pay attention to the context of the sentence. It will also help prevent you from being distracted or intimidated by the answer choices. If you know roughly what words you’re looking for, process of elimination will be much easier.
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