ACT Preparation / Unit 23 ACT 2210 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Eliminating to an Educated Guess
The idea
When a question resists, guess well in three steps. First, compare the choices and note how they differ, because the differences show what the question tests. Second, eliminate every choice you can rule out by a rule or by the passage. Third, choose from what remains, flag the question, and move on.
In practice
Worked example: four English choices differ only in what joins two complete clauses: a comma, a semicolon, a comma with but, and no mark at all. The comma alone makes a splice and no mark a run-on, so both go. But signals a contrast the clauses lack, so it goes too. Only the semicolon remains. Even if only two had fallen, a guess between the rest would be right half the time.
Where people slip
Eliminating even one choice raises a blind guess from one chance in four to one in three.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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