How to Approach SAT Reading and Writing Questions

The SAT’s Reading and Writing section challenges students to analyze and interpret texts across various domains. One particularly tricky skill tested is Words in Context, where students must select the most logical and precise word or phrase to complete a passage. Let’s take a deep dive into an actual SAT question and discuss how to approach these types of questions effectively.

Understanding the Question

Here’s the passage from the SAT question bank:

“Rejecting the premise that the literary magazine Ebony and Topaz (1927) should present a unified vision of Black American identity, editor Charles S. Johnson fostered his contributors’ diverse perspectives by promoting their authorial autonomy. Johnson’s self-effacement diverged from the editorial stances of W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke, whose decisions for their publications were more ______.”

The goal here is to select a word that best contrasts Johnson’s approach with Du Bois and Locke’s editorial style. The given answer choices are:

• Proficient
• Dogmatic
• Ambiguous
• Unpretentious

The correct answer is dogmatic, meaning rigid in beliefs or principles. The passage contrasts Johnson’s openness to diverse perspectives with Du Bois and Locke’s preference for a unified vision, suggesting that they were more rigid or dogmatic in their editorial choices.

Why the Other Answers Are Incorrect

1. Proficient – This means “skilled,” which does not fit the context. The passage does not compare their editing abilities but rather their differing approaches.
2. Ambiguous – This means “unclear” or “open to interpretation.” However, the passage suggests that Du Bois and Locke had a clear vision, not one that was ambiguous.
3. Unpretentious – This means “not attempting to impress others.” The passage does not suggest that Du Bois and Locke were trying to impress; it discusses their editorial stance.

This question is labeled hard because it requires students to infer a contrast rather than finding a directly stated definition.

How to Approach Words in Context Questions

To succeed in these types of SAT questions, follow these steps:

1. Understand the Sentence Structure
   • Look for contrasts or comparisons (e.g., “diverged from” signals that Johnson and Du Bois/Locke had opposite styles).
2. Predict Before Looking at the Choices
   • Before reading the options, think about what word would logically complete the sentence.
3. Use Process of Elimination
   • Eliminate choices that don’t fit the sentence structure or meaning.
4. Plug in the Word to Test It
   • Substitute the remaining choices into the sentence to see which one makes the most sense.

Why These Questions Matter for College Admissions

The SAT Reading and Writing section is not just about memorizing vocabulary—it tests critical reading and reasoning skills, which are essential for success in college coursework. Universities, including recently UPenn, are reversing their test-optional policies, meaning that standardized test scores are once again playing a significant role in admissions decisions.

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