QOTD 4/15/2026

Let’s use today’s QOTD to see how much you might already be thinking like the test writers.

1. What is a way the test writers push many testers away from the correct answer within a Writing question?

2. What is a way the test writers push many testers away from the correct answer within a Fill-in-the-Blank(FitB) question?

3. What is a way the test writers push people toward a wrong answer within a Math question?

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If you have a response to even one of the three questions above, it is a happy sign that you’re on a path toward next-level scores.

There is no single correct answer here.

current priority level - we all want things here eventually

Here are two things that could have been said for each question….

1. Writing Q

• i) One rather specific way is to start a sentence with a word that many people do not think it is ok to start a sentence with. Two such words are “Because” and “With”.
• ii) Something broader we can acknowledge is how the test writers can mask what’s truly getting tested. When many see answer options like “were advancing” and “are advancing”, they think that tense is getting tested. But, it is exceptionally likely that our friend the 3/4 SvP Pattern is what’s actually in play.(Do you see that “But” at the start of the sentence by the way.😉)

2. FitB

• i) This is not a simple thing to notice(nor is it a common thing), but the test writers could craft an answer option that sort of works.
• ii) Going hand in hand with what’s above, when a stretched/sort of option is present, there is also a solid chance that the correct answer is a word that many of us do not know, which understandably leads to hesitation to select it.

If neither idea above resonates right now, we’re good. But, if you haven’t already read this page about our Reading mentalities, now might be a good time to read it.

3. Math question

• ) One rather specific move of the test writers is to ask for something kind of random, such as the value of x - 2, knowing that many people will naturally think that the final question is asking for the value of x.
• ii) More broadly, if it’s not already on your radar that the test writers definitely know how to craft compelling wrong answers, maybe now’s the time to give this page a read.

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