1. SAT Prep
Sentence Completion

2. 19 sentence completion items on the verbal SAT.

3. Difficulty level on a scale of 1-5

4. Sentence completion strategies
Read entire sentence
Pay attention to precise word meanings
Consider all answer choices
Be aware of unusual usage of words.
Make sure sentences make sense
No outside information is needed
Two blank questions:
Right answer must fit both blanks
Answer second blank first

5. Why wrong choices are wrong
Does not make an idiomatic phrase.
Does not support the logic of the sentence.

6. Anticipate and Test strategy
1. Read the sentence for understanding. 2. Anticipate a word that would complete the sentence. 3. Look at the answer choices for the closest match to the anticipated word. 4. Test the answer back in the sentence.

7. Eliminate the fluff
Cross out the extra words in the sentence that do not relate to finding the answer.

8. There are two main types of sentence completion questions.

9. Clue Words: and so, therefore, since, because, as a result.
Thought Extenders
Clue Words: and so, therefore, since, because, as a result.
Moves the thought of the sentence forward.

10. Clue Words: although, but, else, in spite of, despite, however.
Thought Reversers
Clue Words: although, but, else, in spite of, despite, however.
Needs a contrast of the first thought expressed.

11. Has a question stem that uses BOTH the extender and reverser words.
Combined Reasoning
Has a question stem that uses BOTH the extender and reverser words.
Pay attention to the location of the blanks and punctuation.

12. Go to Pieces Strategy
For hard questions
Isolate a part of the sentence you DO understand and test the answer choice against this word/part/structure.

13. Difficult questions have difficult answers.
Remember……
Difficult questions have difficult answers.

14. PRACTICE & TACTICS
Tactic 1:
First read the sentence carefully to get a feel for its meaning

15. TACTIC 2
Before you look at the choices, think of a word that makes sense.

16. TACTIC 3
Look at ALL the possible answers before you make your final choice

17. TACTIC 4
Watch out for negative words and prefixes

18. TACTIC 5
Use your knowledge of context clues to get at the meanings of unfamiliar words

19. TACTIC 6
Watch for signal words that link one part of the sentence to another.

20. TACTIC 7
In double-blank sentences, go through the answers, testing the first word in each choice (and eliminating those that don’t fit).