Process of Elimination (POE)

Why Process of Elimination Matters

Key SAT fact: There is NO guessing penalty

• Correct answer: +1 point
• Wrong answer: 0 points
• Blank: 0 points

Therefore: ALWAYS guess! Even if you have no idea.

But with Process of Elimination, you can often get it right even when you don't know the answer.

The POE Strategy

Step 1: Eliminate the Obviously Wrong

Look for answers that are:

• Factually incorrect
• Contradict the passage/problem
• Use extreme language ("always," "never," "only")
• Impossible based on the data

Example (Reading):

Question: The author's tone is best described as...

A) Hostile and aggressive
B) Thoughtful and analytical
C) Completely neutral
D) Wildly enthusiastic

POE: If the passage discusses pros and cons calmly → Eliminate A and D (too extreme), probably C too (likely has SOME perspective). Choose B.

Step 2: Use Partial Knowledge

Even if you don't know the full answer, you might know:

• What it's NOT
• A constraint it must meet
• One part of a multi-step problem

Example (Math):

Question: If $x^2 = 16$ and $x < 0$, what is $x$?

A) 16
B) 8
C) 4
D) -4

POE:

• A is wrong (16² = 256, not 16)
• B is wrong (8² = 64, not 16)
• C is wrong (problem says $x < 0$, so must be negative)
• D must be correct ✓

Step 3: Check Reasonableness

Eliminate answers that:

• Don't make sense in context
• Are way too big or too small
• Have wrong units
• Violate basic rules

Example (Word Problem):

A car travels 60 miles in 2 hours. What is its average speed?

A) 0.033 mph
B) 2 mph
C) 30 mph
D) 120 mph

POE: A and B are way too slow for a car. D seems too fast (60 miles in 2 hours). Must be C.

Subject-Specific POE Strategies

Reading POE

Eliminate if the answer: ❌ Goes too far (passage says "suggests," answer says "proves")
❌ Contradicts stated facts
❌ Uses words NOT in the passage (for vocabulary questions)
❌ Is too narrow (doesn't cover whole passage) or too broad (includes things not discussed)

For "main idea" questions:

• Eliminate answers about minor details
• Eliminate answers too general (could apply to any passage)

For "evidence" questions:

• Must directly support the previous answer
• Eliminate if it talks about something else

Writing POE

Eliminate if it: ❌ Is grammatically incorrect
❌ Changes the meaning
❌ Is wordy when a concise option exists
❌ Has unclear pronoun references
❌ Creates run-on sentences or fragments

Quick checks:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Verb tense consistency
• Pronoun-antecedent agreement
• Parallel structure

Math POE

Eliminate if it: ❌ Doesn't answer what's asked (question asks for $2x$, answer gives $x$)
❌ Results from a common mistake (forgetting negative sign, dropping exponent)
❌ Fails a quick substitution check
❌ Violates constraints (e.g., negative when must be positive)

Strategy: Plug in answer choices

For "solve for x" questions, test each answer:

Example: $2x + 5 = 13$

A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16

Test A: $2(2) + 5 = 9 \neq 13$ ✗
Test B: $2(4) + 5 = 13$ ✓ (STOP, found it!)

Advanced POE: When Down to Two

When you've eliminated to 2 choices:

Reread Carefully

• Look for subtle differences
• Check exact wording in passage/problem
• See which matches more precisely

Look for Trap Answers

SAT includes "partial" correct answers:

• Right idea, wrong application
• Correct for different question
• Mixes up cause and effect

Example:

Passage says: "The invention, though innovative, was too expensive for widespread adoption."

Question: Why wasn't the invention adopted?

A) It wasn't innovative
B) It cost too much

POE: A contradicts the passage. B is correct (even though the passage mentions innovation, that's not WHY it wasn't adopted).

Trust Patterns

After eliminating, if both seem possible:

• Avoid extreme language
• Pick the more specific one (for reading)
• Pick the simpler calculation (for math)
• Choose active voice over passive (for writing)

Common POE Mistakes

❌ Eliminating too quickly — read all choices first
❌ Not committing — if you eliminate, REALLY eliminate (don't second-guess without reason)
❌ Ignoring gut feeling — if something "feels wrong," there's often a reason
❌ Choosing first answer that sounds okay — compare ALL before deciding
❌ Not physically marking — cross out eliminated answers on test booklet

POE in Action

Mental checklist for each answer:

1. ☐ Is this factually correct?
2. ☐ Does this match the question asked?
3. ☐ Is this reasonable/logical?
4. ☐ Does this match the passage/data given?
5. ☐ Is this better than other remaining choices?

Time-Saving POE

When short on time:

1. Read the question
2. Predict the answer (if possible)
3. If your prediction matches a choice → pick it
4. If not → eliminate obviously wrong answers
5. Guess from remaining choices

Remember: Eliminating even ONE wrong answer increases your odds significantly:

• 4 choices: 25% chance
• 3 choices: 33% chance
• 2 choices: 50% chance
• 1 choice: 100% chance!

The POE Mindset

Think like this:

"I might not know the right answer, but I can definitely spot wrong answers."

Approach each answer asking: "Can I eliminate this?" (not "Is this correct?")

Why this works:

• Less pressure
• Uses partial knowledge
• Often easier to spot wrong than to know right
• Increases confidence even when uncertain

Practice Drill

For your next practice test:

1. Before looking at choices: Try to predict answer
2. Read all 4 choices
3. Physically cross out eliminated choices
4. Make note: How many did you eliminate?
5. Track: Did eliminating help?

Goal: Get comfortable eliminating 1-2 choices on EVERY question where you're not 100% confident.