Just as you must spend time analyzing passages for clues that lead you to correct answers, you should dedicate time to analyzing answer choices if you want to improve your ability to eliminate wrong ones. This step is often overlooked, but it is essential. Careful analysis of answer choices will show you that the GRE relies on recurring patterns in how it constructs wrong answers. Once you recognize these patterns, you will be less likely to fall into the traps the test presents and more efficient in working through Verbal questions.

In other words, the GRE uses predictable strategies to make wrong answers look tempting. The more you examine answer choices, the more you will see these recurring themes. This is true across Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence questions.

For example:

• In Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion, you will often see answer choices that are antonyms of the word or phrase you actually need. Being aware of this pattern can help you quickly eliminate incorrect choices. However, it is important to remember that the presence of antonyms does not guarantee that one of them must be correct. The value lies in using this recognition to narrow down possibilities, not in assuming a direct rule.
  
• In Reading Comprehension, a frequent trap is the “true but irrelevant” answer. The test may present an option that is factually correct in the real world or sounds highly plausible, but it does not answer the question or connect directly to the passage. Because the statement feels right, it is easy to accept it, even though it does not serve the task at hand.
  
• Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions also use what might be called “real-world pairings.” A sentence about research may include tempting options such as “comprehensive” or “meticulous,” because those words often describe research in real life. Yet in the sentence itself, those choices may have no relevance. They only feel appealing because they mirror how we normally speak.

Recognizing these kinds of traps can save you valuable time and improve your accuracy. One practical strategy is to keep a brief record of the traps you encounter as you practice. For instance, you might note “partially correct” as a common Reading Comprehension trap, with the description “answers only part of the question or is only partially true.” This does not need to be an exhaustive list, but maintaining a short record helps reinforce what you have seen and keeps those traps top of mind when you return to practice.

Over time, as you engage in deliberate practice and reflection, you will begin to see these patterns almost immediately. That familiarity can reduce uncertainty, prevent wasted time, and keep you focused on selecting the answer that truly fits the question.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep