SAT/GRE Sentence Completion Techniques
(Filling in blanks using sentence context)
The sentences in the sentence completion sections of the SAT and GRE are not normal sentences. The information you use to fill in the blank must always come from the sentence itself, not from outside knowledge or common sense.
Put your own word in the blank (recycle terminology when possible), and eliminate any answer choices that don't match your word.
Use the information in the sentence that talks about the same thing the blank talks about. This is usually the most descriptive part of the sentence and is often separated grammatically from the blank by some sort of punctuation.
- In this particular experiment he allowed a number of -------- results to slip by.
- Usually the first to spot data that were inconsistent with other findings, in this particular experiment he allowed a number of -------- results to slip by.
- Usually the first to spot data that were of primary importance, in this particular experiment he allowed a number of -------- results to slip by.
Notice grammatically important words and punctuation marks (e.g. words that signal contrast such as, but, however, although, and despite.)
- Despite the fact that the two politicians belonged to different political parties, they ------ the issue of how to finance the town debt.
- Because the two politicians belonged to different political parties, they --------- the issue of how to finance the town debt.
Do one blank at a time. For Sentence completions with two blanks, usually it's best to do each blank separately, starting with the blank that's easier to make up a word for. Twice the elimination!
- Although Turner is very outspoken on issues she cares about, she is not --------; she concedes the -------- of opposing arguments when they expose flaws inherent in her own.
However, sometimes you have to look at how the blanks relate to each other:
- Despite the fact that the two politicians belonged to ------- political parties, they ------- the issue of how to finance the town debt.