Grade: Grade 11 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Strategy Playbook SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Strategy Selection

📖 Learn

Different question types require different strategies. This lesson teaches you how to recognize question types quickly and select the most effective approach for each, helping you work smarter rather than just harder.

The Strategy Selection Process

Expert test-takers don't just know the content - they know HOW to approach each question type. When you see a question, your mental process should be: Recognize → Select Strategy → Execute. The faster you can recognize question types, the more time you have for actually solving them.

Reading Question Types and Strategies

Question Type How to Recognize Best Strategy
Main Idea "Central claim," "main purpose," "primary focus" Consider the whole passage; eliminate too narrow or too broad answers
Detail/Explicit "According to the passage," "the author states" Find the specific reference in the text; answer is stated directly
Inference "Implies," "suggests," "can be inferred" Look for what the text strongly supports, not stated directly
Vocabulary in Context "As used in line X, the word means" Re-read context; substitute answer choices to test fit
Author's Tone/Attitude "The author's attitude," "tone can best be described" Look for word choice clues; eliminate extremes
Evidence "Which choice provides the best evidence" Look for lines that directly support your previous answer

Math Strategy Selection

Three Main Approaches to Math Problems

  1. Algebraic: Solve using equations and formulas - best when variables lead directly to answer
  2. Plug In: Substitute numbers for variables - best when answer choices contain variables
  3. Backsolve: Try answer choices - best when answers are specific numbers and checking is quick
Problem Type Recognition Recommended Strategy
Solve for x Equation with one unknown Algebraic (standard solving)
Variable expressions "Which expression equals..." with variables in answers Plug In (choose easy numbers)
"What value of x..." Specific number answers, equation to satisfy Backsolve (try answers)
Word problems Story with quantities to find Translate to algebra; draw diagram if geometric
Geometry Diagrams, shapes, angles Label everything; use formulas; estimate when possible
Data/Statistics Tables, graphs, mean/median Read carefully; identify what's being asked; use calculator

Grammar/Writing Strategy Selection

Question Type Recognition Strategy
Punctuation Answer choices differ only in punctuation Know comma, semicolon, colon, dash rules
Verb tense/agreement Different verb forms in answers Find the subject; check tense consistency
Pronoun Different pronouns in answers Identify the antecedent; check number and case
Word choice Different words with similar meanings Consider context and precise meaning
Sentence placement "Where should this sentence be placed?" Read for logical flow; look for transition clues
Concision Some answers are wordier than others Shorter is usually better if meaning is preserved

ACT Science Strategy Selection

Passage Type Recognition Strategy
Data Representation Graphs, tables, figures with questions about data Go to questions first; find relevant figure; read axes carefully
Research Summary Describes experiments with methods and results Understand IV and DV; compare experiments; look for patterns
Conflicting Viewpoints Multiple scientists/students with different positions Note what each person claims; look for agreements/disagreements

Time Management Strategies

The Two-Pass Method

  1. First pass: Answer questions you can do quickly and confidently
  2. Mark and skip: Flag questions that take more thought
  3. Second pass: Return to flagged questions with remaining time
  4. Final sweep: Ensure all questions are answered (no blanks)

Process of Elimination (POE)

  • Cross out definitively wrong answers: Even if unsure of the right one
  • Extreme answers: "Always," "never," "all," "none" are usually wrong
  • Out of scope: Eliminate answers that bring in information not in the passage
  • Half-right trap: An answer partially correct is still wrong - every part must be right
  • Opposite pairs: When two answers are opposites, one is usually correct

💡 Examples

See strategy selection in action.

Example 1: Choosing Between Algebraic and Backsolving

Problem: If 2x + 5 = 17, what is the value of x?

A) 3 B) 5 C) 6 D) 8

Analysis: This is a simple equation with number answers.

Strategy options:

  • Algebraic: 2x + 5 = 17 → 2x = 12 → x = 6
  • Backsolve: Try C: 2(6) + 5 = 17 ✓

Recommendation: For this simple equation, algebraic is fastest. But if the equation were more complex, backsolving might be quicker.

Answer: C) 6

Example 2: Using Plug In for Variable Answers

Problem: If a + b = 10, what is (a + b)² - (a + b)?

A) 10 B) 20 C) 90 D) 100

Analysis: We could expand and simplify, OR we could use substitution.

Plug In Strategy:

  • Let x = a + b = 10
  • The expression becomes: x² - x
  • = 10² - 10
  • = 100 - 10
  • = 90

Why this works: We don't need to know a and b separately - we just need (a + b), which we're given.

Answer: C) 90

Example 3: Reading - Recognizing Question Types

Question stem: "Based on the passage, it can be inferred that the author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?"

Recognition:

  • "Inferred" signals this is an INFERENCE question
  • "Author would agree" signals it's about AUTHOR'S VIEWPOINT

Strategy:

  1. Don't look for a directly stated answer
  2. Look for what the author's overall argument supports
  3. The correct answer should be consistent with the passage but not necessarily quoted from it
  4. Eliminate answers that contradict anything in the passage

Example 4: Grammar - Identifying the Rule Being Tested

Sentence: "The team of scientists have discovered a new species."

A) NO CHANGE B) has discovered C) are discovering D) discover

Recognition: Answer choices show different verb forms → SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT question

Strategy: Find the subject and determine if it's singular or plural

  • Subject: "team" (not "scientists")
  • "Team" is a collective noun - grammatically singular
  • Singular subject needs singular verb
  • "Team... has" (not "have")

Answer: B) has discovered

Key insight: Prepositional phrases like "of scientists" don't affect subject-verb agreement.

Example 5: ACT Science - Efficient Data Reading

Question: "According to Figure 2, at what temperature did the reaction rate reach its maximum?"

Recognition: "According to Figure 2" → Data Representation, go directly to figure

Strategy:

  1. Skip the passage introduction for now
  2. Go directly to Figure 2
  3. Identify axes: x-axis (temperature), y-axis (reaction rate)
  4. Find the peak (maximum) point on the curve
  5. Read down to the x-axis for the temperature

Time saved: Reading the entire passage before answering would waste 1-2 minutes. For straightforward data-reading questions, go straight to the figure.

✏️ Practice

Test your strategy selection skills.

1. A math problem asks "Which expression equals 3x + 6?" with variable expressions as answer choices. The best strategy is:

A) Algebraic simplification only

B) Plug in a number for x and test answers

C) Guess randomly

D) Skip it

2. A reading question asks "Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?" This is:

A) A main idea question

B) An inference question

C) An evidence question

D) A vocabulary question

3. When answer choices differ only in punctuation, the question is testing:

A) Word choice

B) Sentence structure

C) Punctuation rules

D) Paragraph organization

4. For a word problem that asks "What is the value of x?" with number answers, backsolving means:

A) Working backwards from the answer choices

B) Solving algebraically

C) Drawing a diagram

D) Skipping the problem

5. In process of elimination, answers with words like "always" or "never" are:

A) Usually correct

B) Usually incorrect

C) Equally likely to be correct or incorrect

D) Always correct

6. The two-pass method involves:

A) Reading every question twice

B) Answering easy questions first, then returning to harder ones

C) Skipping all hard questions permanently

D) Spending equal time on every question

7. For ACT Science "Conflicting Viewpoints" passages, you should focus on:

A) Memorizing scientific facts

B) What each scientist/student claims and where they disagree

C) Only the data tables

D) The introduction paragraph only

8. If a grammar question tests subject-verb agreement, you should first:

A) Look at the punctuation

B) Find the subject of the verb

C) Choose the shortest answer

D) Pick the answer that sounds best

9. "As used in line 15, the word 'elevated' most nearly means" is testing:

A) Main idea

B) Vocabulary in context

C) Author's purpose

D) Inference

10. When two answer choices are opposites (like "increase" and "decrease"), you should:

A) Eliminate both

B) Recognize that one is likely correct

C) Choose randomly between them

D) Skip the question

Answer Key
  1. B - When answers contain variables, plugging in numbers makes comparison easier.
  2. C - "Best evidence" questions ask you to find textual support for a previous answer.
  3. C - When only punctuation differs, you're being tested on punctuation rules.
  4. A - Backsolving means trying the answer choices in the original problem.
  5. B - Extreme words are usually traps because few things are always or never true.
  6. B - The two-pass method prioritizes answerable questions, then returns to harder ones.
  7. B - Focus on each viewpoint's claims and where they agree/disagree.
  8. B - You must identify the subject to determine if the verb should be singular or plural.
  9. B - "As used... means" signals a vocabulary in context question.
  10. B - Opposite answers suggest one is the trap and one is correct.

✅ Check Your Understanding

Reflect on your strategy selection skills.

1. Why is recognizing question types quickly so important?

Consider this

Time is your most limited resource on standardized tests. If you spend 30 seconds figuring out what a question is asking before you start working, you've lost time that could have been spent on other questions. Expert test-takers recognize question types almost instantly because they've seen hundreds of similar questions. This allows them to immediately apply the appropriate strategy rather than inventing an approach for each new question. Practice categorizing questions until recognition becomes automatic.

2. When should you use backsolving instead of algebraic solving?

Consider this

Backsolving works best when: (1) answer choices are specific numbers, (2) checking an answer is quick, and (3) the algebra would be complicated. For example, if a question asks "What value of x makes this equation true?" and gives four number choices, you can often test them faster than solving. Start with C (middle value) to narrow down quickly. However, for simple equations or when answers are expressions, algebraic solving is usually faster. The best test-takers know both methods and choose based on the specific problem.

3. How do you develop the skill of quick strategy selection?

Consider this

Like any skill, it comes from deliberate practice. When reviewing practice tests, don't just check right/wrong - analyze your approach. Ask: "What type of question was this? What strategy did I use? Was there a faster approach?" Keep a log of question types you encounter and which strategies work best for each. Over time, patterns emerge. With enough practice, you'll see a question and immediately think "This is a subject-verb agreement question - I need to find the subject" without conscious effort.

4. What if you don't immediately recognize a question type?

Consider this

First, don't panic - not every question fits neatly into a category. Read carefully to understand what's being asked. Look at the answer choices for clues (do they contain numbers, variables, or words?). If still stuck, use general problem-solving: eliminate obviously wrong answers, look for patterns, and try different approaches. If a question is truly baffling after 30-45 seconds, mark it and move on - returning with fresh eyes often helps. Remember: the goal isn't to categorize perfectly but to solve efficiently.

🚀 Next Steps

  • Review any concepts that felt challenging
  • Move on to the next lesson when ready
  • Return to practice problems periodically for review