Words in Context: Quick Guide | Reading and Writing for Digital SAT PDF Download

What's on the test?

During the SAT Reading test, you are likely to encounter a significant number of questions that focus on the meaning of a word or phrase found in the passage. This type of question is among the most common ones you'll encounter, usually ranging from 7-9 questions. You may come across questions that require you to determine the meaning of a word or phrase used in a specific context, such as in line 8 or lines 10-12. Your responsibility is not just to provide the dictionary definition, but to comprehend how the author is using the word or phrase in the given context. If you encounter an unfamiliar word or phrase, don't panic! The passage usually provides helpful clues that can help you identify the meaning.

Common Errors

Words in context questions on the SAT Reading test often have incorrect answer choices due to a couple of common errors. The first is when a word or phrase has multiple definitions, and an incorrect answer may include a familiar definition that does not fit the context of the passage. The correct answer should be the definition that best fits the context in which the word or phrase is used. The second error is when an incorrect answer is a "near miss," meaning it partially reflects the meaning of the word or phrase but does not fully align with the context of the passage. For example, an answer choice may have a positive connotation but uses a word that is more commonly associated with things instead of people, which would not make sense in the given context.

Tips and strategies

Here are some helpful tips for approaching word comprehension questions on the SAT Reading test:

• Summarize the sentence to ground yourself in the context of the passage. Even if you don't know every word, understanding the sentence's meaning can often help you determine the meaning of the words and phrases it contains.
• Cross out or cover up the relevant word or phrase before looking at the answer choices. Try to substitute your own simple word or phrase in its place. This prediction can help you identify the correct answer more easily.
• Plug in each answer choice and reread the sentence to see if it fits. This method can be helpful in eliminating incorrect choices and narrowing down your options.
• Avoid selecting unfamiliar words in the answer choices unless you can confidently eliminate the other choices. Choosing an unknown word instead of a familiar one can backfire and lead to an incorrect answer.