How to “Mathify” the Reading and Writing Section of the SAT for a Higher Score

By David Tian

(Academic Instructor at The Edge Learning Center)

For many of our students, especially those who do not speak English as a first language, the SAT Reading and Writing section might feel intimidating. While it might seem entirely like a test of intuition, in reality, you can approach it using the same logical, methodical, and structured approach as the math section.

Using the techniques you will learn in this blog post, you can use a systematic approach to eliminate incorrect answers and land on the right choice with confidence, or, at least, maximize your chances of doing so. Many of our students have improved their verbal scores by 100+ points using this strategy.

Here’s how you can “mathify” the vocabulary-in-context questions:

Step 1: Identify the Connotation Before Looking at the Answer Choices

When tackling a vocabulary-in-context question, your instinct is likely to look at the answer choices first.

Our advice: don’t! 

Instead, determine whether the word you’re being asked about is positive, negative, or neutral in the sentence, and then use that information to eliminate the wrong answers. This is known as connotation. 

For example, let’s say you see the following sentence:

“The scientist was ___ in her approach, always ensuring that no detail was overlooked, which made her the most trusted coworker in the lab.”

Before looking at the answer choices, ask yourself: 

• Is the missing word positive, negative, or neutral?
• What kind of scientist is being described? Someone careful, meticulous, and precise. Additionally, these traits earned the scientist in question the trust of her colleagues. That means the word should have a positive connotation.

Now, when you look at the answer choices, eliminate anything with a negative or neutral connotation right away.

If the choices were:

• A) careless
• B) average
• C) methodical
• D) reckless

Begin systematically with choice A. “Careless” generally carries a negative connotation; if someone said you were careless, you would probably feel upset. Thus, we can eliminate it.  

Next, let’s look at choice B. “Average” generally has a neutral connotation, depending on the context. If your performance on the SAT were “average,” you would probably feel neither upset nor excited. However, someone average does not necessarily earn the trust of colleagues. Thus, we can eliminate it.

After that, let’s look at choice C. “Methodical” is used to describe someone who is systematic and thorough, and generally carries a positive connotation. This fits the sentence perfectly! We will keep it, but we will still look at choice D just to double check. 

Finally, choice D is “reckless.” This word has a highly negative connotation; it implies that someone is irresponsible to the point of potentially causing harm, and is basically the complete opposite of what we are looking for. We can safely eliminate it, and we can select choice C with confidence. 

By taking this approach, you avoid being tricked by tempting but incorrect words and stay focused on what the sentence actually demands.

Step 2: Make a Prediction Before Looking at the Answers

Imagine this: Your friend Grace tells you, “I got a 1300 on the SAT!” You believe her instantly because it’s a reasonable score. 

Now, your friend Bob tells you, “I got a 1650 on the SAT!” Immediately, you know something is off—1650 isn’t even a possible score.

Why? Because you already have an idea of what makes sense before hearing the numbers.

The same logic applies to SAT reading questions. Just like in math, in which you might estimate an answer before solving exactly, predicting the correct answer before reading the choices can help you avoid traps. 

Specifically, when answering critical reading questions, summarize the key idea in your own words first. This prevents you from getting swayed by misleading answer choices.

For example, let’s say the passage describes a historical figure who fought tirelessly against injustice despite facing personal hardship. Here is the passage:  

Despite 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela remained committed to justice. Instead of seeking revenge, he chose forgiveness and unity, leading South Africa toward democracy. His resilience and moral strength made him a global symbol of perseverance.

Suppose you get the question:

“Which choice best describes the author’s attitude toward this historical figure?”

Before reading the answer choices, summarize the tone in one word. Based on the description, the author likely admires or respects this figure.

Now, let’s look at the answer choices:

• A) Condescending
• B) Critical
• C) Reverent
• D) Neutral 

Because you predicted the author’s attitude was admiring, you can systematically go through the answer choices and eliminate A, B, and D. That leaves C (reverent) as the correct answer!

Step 3: Treat Answer Choices Like Multiple-Choice Math Questions

When solving a math problem, you don’t pick an answer just because it “feels right.” Instead, you eliminate wrong choices and work through the possibilities logically. Do the same for reading questions!

For each answer choice, ask yourself: Does this match my prediction?

• If yes, keep it.
• If no, eliminate it.
• If partially, leave it for later review.

By the time you finish going through all the choices, you should have one clear winner—just like in math. 

Final Thoughts 

The SAT is not a test of gut feelings—it’s a test of pattern recognition, process of elimination, and structured thinking. When you treat the verbal section like a math problem, you make it so that you can systematically take advantage of the test’s format to get you closer to the right answer and earn the score you deserve. 

So next time you tackle the SAT Reading and Writing section, mathify it—predict, categorize, eliminate, and solve. With this methodical approach, you’ll be well on your way to earning a  higher score than you ever thought possible! 

Our expert tutors have helped students increase their scores by hundreds of points—with one even earning a perfect score. We would be thrilled to see you get a perfect score next! 

Need assistance preparing for your or your child’s SAT test or US university application? Contact us today—we are happy to help!

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About The Edge

Established in 2008, The Edge Learning Center has grown into a premier one-stop provider of educational services for Grade 7 through Grade 12, targeting students who intend to pursue overseas education. Our three departments – Academic Tutoring, Test Preparation, and Admissions Consulting – offer a broad range of educational services spanning from SAT and IB Test Prep to colleges and boarding schools application counseling. The Edge Learning Center operates in multiple regions including Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam.