SAT: Two correct answers to a question in the R&W section. Which is right?

Question

SAT: On the R&W portion of the SAT, what is the correct answer when there are TWO correct answers?

Answer 1

When answering a question on any standardized test that appears to have two correct answers, the best route to take is to select the best or most correct answer. Sometimes there will be a few questions that are designed to trip up students by having two technically correct answers. The goal of the question is to determine a student's ability to pick the ideal solution to the problem at hand. The ideal solution can be selected by utilizing the process of elimination and a further analysis of the long term effectiveness of each possible solution.

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Answer 2

On the SAT Reading & Writing section, sometimes it feels like two answers could be right. It’s important to remember that there’s often a decent answer and a best answer. A decent answer might make sense if you stretch your thinking a little, but it’s typically not the one the test writers want. Be careful of answers that are too broad, too narrow, or extreme; words like “always” or “never” are usually a red flag.

A good strategy is to try to predict the answer before looking at the choices. Ask yourself, “What would I write if I were answering this question?”. Then see which answer comes closest to your prediction. The best answer will directly respond to the question, use key words or evidence from the passage, and not rely on an inference that’s too big of a leap.

Sometimes it depends on the question type. For example, in Command of Evidence or Text Structure questions, you want an answer that connects clearly to the passage. In Words in Context, it’s about which word fits the tone and meaning most precisely. For the most part, though, the same principles apply: avoid extremes, avoid unsupported leaps, and pick the answer that matches what the text actually says.

Answer 3

This is a great and common question that highlights a key difference between the SAT and a typical high school test.

The fundamental principle of the SAT Reading and Writing (R&W) section is that there is only one absolutely correct answer for every multiple-choice question.

If you are stuck between two answers, it means one of two things is happening:

1. The SAT's Rule: One Answer is "Best"

Even when two answers seem correct, one will be objectively better or more directly supported by the passage or the rules of Standard English. The other will have a subtle, often technical flaw that makes it incorrect.

Type of Question	The Rule	How the "Wrong" Answer is Flawed (The "Rotten Spot")
Reading Comprehension (Information & Ideas)	The correct answer is the one most directly supported by the text and answers the question as worded.	It might be true, but unrelated to the question. It might be a plausible inference but not a provable fact. It might be too extreme (using words like always or never).
Words in Context (Craft & Structure)	The correct definition is the one that most precisely fits the word's function in that specific sentence.	It might be a common definition of the word, but it doesn't work in the context of the sentence.
Grammar/Standard English Conventions	The correct answer is the one that adheres perfectly to the rules of Standard English (e.g., punctuation, subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage).	It may be grammatically acceptable but introduces a new error (like a run-on sentence), or it's stylistically redundant or awkward.
Expression of Ideas (Transitions, Sentence Order)	The correct choice is the one that establishes the most logical and coherent relationship between the ideas.	It uses a transition word that is close but inaccurate (e.g., using "consequently" when the relationship is merely one of addition).

Example with Explanation (Reading Question)

Imagine a passage discusses how a scientist, Dr. Lee, used geological dating to conclude that an ancient volcanic eruption was 1.2 million years old, and the text later mentions that a rival scientist, Dr. Chen, also published a date for the same eruption.

Question: Which of the following statements is best supported by the text regarding the dating of the volcanic eruption?

Choice	Why it's a Distractor (The Flaw)	Why it's the Correct Answer
A. The eruption was definitively shown to have occurred million years ago.	FLAW: The word "definitively" is too extreme. The text only mentions one scientist's conclusion but doesn't state that the debate is over, especially since Dr. Chen has also published a date.
B. The exact age of the eruption is a point of contention among scientists.	FLAW: "Point of contention" is a strong interpretation. The text only says Dr. Chen published a date, not that she disagreed with Dr. Lee. This is an unsupported inference.
C. At least two different dates have been proposed for the volcanic event.	CORRECT.	EXPLANATION: This is the most simple and provable fact. Dr. Lee proposed million years. Dr. Chen also published a date (implicitly a second one). This answer is a factual restatement of the information in the passage, making it the best-supported choice.
D. The dating method utilized by Dr. Lee is universally accepted as the most accurate.	FLAW: "Universally accepted" is an absolute/extreme term. The text only says Dr. Lee used the method; it never evaluates its status in the broader scientific community. This is an unsupported assumption.

The Takeaway: When stuck between two answers, don't try to justify them. Instead, actively look for the flaw in each choice. The correct answer is the one you cannot disprove based on the evidence.

2. The Exception: Math Grid-In Questions

The only section of the SAT where a single question can have multiple technically "correct" answers is the Math section's student-produced response (grid-in) questions.

1. Range of Answers: If a question asks for "a possible value of " and has multiple valid answers (e.g., two roots to a quadratic equation), either one you enter is correct.
2. Rounding: If the answer is a repeating decimal like , you can correctly enter or (or fill the grid with as many s as possible). Any of these representations will be marked correct.

Answer 4

Finding 3 WRONG answers is often easier, on the SAT, than finding the one right answer.

Look closely and think hard about the 2 answers you think are right. One of them is wrong in some way. Although the error may be subtle, it is definitely there.

Answer 5

My first thought was: why do you think there are two right answers? I'd be interested in hearing what the question was and what the answer options were, and why you thought there were two correct ones. As others have said, there's one best-right-answer, and the SAT has been vetted enough that finding an error is incredibly slim, though it has happened. It's more likely that you're wrong than the test is. The underlying question you have here is actually: how do I determine what the correct answer is when two questions appear to me to be correct? There are several strategies you can take -- but whatever you do, don't dwell on it (move quickly!), since the SAT is timed and you don't want to spend time agonizing over one question. Here are some ideas:

1. Frequently, the correct answer more specifically answers the question (it's less general or less vague) -- so if you really can't decide, then pick the more specific answer.
2. If there is any "absolute" language, the answer is often incorrect. So, look for words like: never, always, none, no one, or all -- if you see those kinds of words, it might be an indication that the answer is incorrect, so go with the less extreme answer.
3. See which answer directly answers the question being asked -- it could be correct, but it might not be actually answering the question.
4. If you still can't decide, then you can always try looking to see what letter has frequently been used a bunch in the last 10-15 questions. If the last three answers have been an A, then it's unlikely (though not impossible!) the next answer will also be an A. Note that this isn't the preferred method of making a choice, but if you don't know what else to do, it's better than nothing!

Note that I'm not saying the above methods are the only way to choose a correct answer -- I'm saying that when you're moving quickly and you need to just make a decision and move on, these are some quick ways you can increase your odds of choosing correctly. Try these approaches on sample tests you take and then go back and see if you chose correctly!

Answer 6

/* Step 1: Import data from Excel into SAS */

libname Teach "/home/u59417293/Tutoring_Codes_W" ; /* Creates a library called Teach, and grabs the data file from the SAS file.*/ Data Teach.Parents HTs ;

infile "/home/u59417293/Tutoring_Codes_W/Parent_Children_HT.txt" dlm="09"x Firstobs=2 ; /* Integrates the above uploaded file into the current SAS session. */ input father_HT mother_HT First_Son_HT First_Daughter_HT;

Answer 7

The answer is... NEITHER. If a question has TWO correct answers, they are both wrong. There is only ONE correct answer per question. Then using your POE (Process of Elimination), you need only choose from the remaining two. Need a talented SAT tutor at a reasonable cost? I can help!