When in Doubt, Cross It Out: Smarter SAT Reading Strategies

When students struggle with the SAT Reading section, the first thing they usually ask is:

“Should I read the questions first?”
“Should I annotate the passage?”
“Should I skim?”

These are fair questions — but not the most important ones.

How you read the passage matters less than how you process the answer choices. In fact, many high scorers use completely different reading methods. Some start with the passage, some jump to the questions. The real difference comes down to how they evaluate answers — especially when things get tricky.

So let’s talk about the mindset that separates great test-takers from the rest. It starts with one shift:

👉 Don’t try to prove what’s right. Try to find what’s wrong.

Your Brain Is a Master of Justifying Things

Let’s be honest — we’re all great at convincing ourselves.

• You stare at a $200 pair of sneakers and come up with reasons you “need” them.
• You stay in a bad relationship and tell yourself it’s “just a phase.”
• You bomb a test and say, “Well, I wasn’t feeling well that day.”

This same tendency shows up on the SAT — especially in Reading. You latch onto an answer choice, and suddenly, your brain is working overtime to justify it.

It’s called confirmation bias — and it’s been proven in psychology experiments for decades. One of the most famous studies involved number patterns. Participants were shown 2-4-6 and asked to guess the rule. Most tested only patterns that confirmed what they already believed (“even numbers”) — instead of trying to disprove it. As a result, most got the rule wrong.

Moral of the story? We tend to seek evidence for what we want to be true, rather than looking for what’s actually true.

What That Looks Like on the SAT

Imagine a passage that’s overall lighthearted and nostalgic — about a family vacation. A student reads one line that describes dark clouds and picks the word “ominous” to describe the tone.

Why? Because in literature class, storm clouds usually mean something bad is coming. But on the SAT, that one sentence doesn’t outweigh the rest of the happy, reflective passage.

Here’s what happened:
The student wanted the answer to be “ominous,” so they found a way to make it make sense — even though the rest of the evidence pointed elsewhere.

Another example? I once fell into the trap myself. A passage described a scientist’s frustration in the jungle — nothing went as planned, the research left more questions than answers, and the whole thing was exhausting.

But my brain latched onto the word “jungle,” and suddenly, I was thinking about adventure. I picked the word “thrilling.” Wrong, of course. The tone was clearly challenged or problematic — not excited.

We don’t do this because we’re careless. We do it because we’re human.

But great test-takers learn to pause and ask:
“Is this really the best choice… or am I just making it fit?”

Eliminate First, Justify Later

Here’s the trick that changes everything:
Instead of asking, “Why is this answer right?”
Start asking, “Why is this answer wrong?”

That’s how the best students work their way through the reading section. They’re not always 100% sure what’s correct — they’re just great at identifying what’s definitely incorrect.

And once they’ve eliminated enough options, what’s left is usually the winner.

Here’s why this works so well:

• Most wrong answers are flawed in obvious ways — they’re too extreme, too vague, off-topic, or unsupported.
• You don’t need to defend a choice — you need to disprove the others.

Signs an Answer Choice Is Probably Wrong

When eliminating answer choices, look for these red flags:

• ❌ Too extreme (“always,” “never,” “completely”)
• ❌ Too broad or vague
• ❌ Focuses on a minor detail
• ❌ Doesn’t directly answer the question
• ❌ Isn’t supported by the passage
• ❌ Depends on your assumptions, not the author’s point

Once you spot even one solid reason a choice is wrong, that’s enough. Cross it out and move on.

And yes — physically cross it out on your practice tests. It helps you commit to the decision and focus on what’s left.

Don’t Just Pick the “Least Wrong” Option

A common mistake? Students start eliminating choices, then pick the one that “sounds best.”

But they never really stop to ask, “Is this fully supported?”

Be stricter. Every right answer on the SAT Reading section is defensible using evidence from the passage — clearly and directly.

If you find yourself choosing an answer that you hope is right, hit pause.
Ask: Would I be able to explain this to someone else using lines from the passage?

If not — keep digging.

Final Thought: Think Like a Test-Maker, Not Just a Test-Taker

The College Board doesn’t want to debate you. Every question is built to have one correct answer and four justifiably wrong ones.

So train your brain to hunt for flaws.
Play devil’s advocate with yourself.
And when you're stuck, don’t try to vindicate an answer — try to nullify it.

TL;DR:

✅ Focus on eliminating wrong answers, not defending right ones
✅ Watch out for common traps like extreme language or off-topic ideas
✅ Keep your thinking rooted in the passage — not your own assumptions
✅ Cross out answers with intention
✅ Practice with self-awareness, not just speed

Want to practice this mindset in action?
Try Preppinbee’s SAT Reading questions — complete with detailed explanations that show why every answer is right or wrong.

👉 Start free and sharpen your strategy → https://sat.preppinbee.com/signup

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