Kaplan Test Strategies 2

Question 1

When you encounter a long, complex reading passage on a standardized test, what is the most efficient first step?

Accepted Answer

Skim the passage for structure and main idea, then use questions to guide a closer read

Answer

Skimming first gives you a roadmap of the passage so you can locate specific answers efficiently.

Question 2

Kaplan's 'Back-Solving' strategy is most useful when:

Accepted Answer

The answer choices are numbers and plugging them in is faster than algebra

Answer

Back-solving (plugging in answer choices) saves time on math questions when working backward is simpler than solving algebraically.

Question 3

What does Kaplan mean by an 'attractors' trap in answer choices?

Accepted Answer

Wrong answers that seem appealing because they use familiar words or partial truths

Answer

Attractors are wrong answers designed to lure test-takers by echoing passage language or common assumptions.

Question 4

If you have 10 minutes left and 15 questions remaining, what is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Prioritize the easiest remaining questions first, then guess on the hardest

Answer

Tackling easier questions first maximizes correct answers within the time constraint, then strategic guessing covers the rest.

Question 5

On a test with no guessing penalty, the optimal strategy for unanswered questions is to:

Accepted Answer

Fill in every unanswered question before time expires

Answer

With no penalty, a random guess has a positive expected value, so leaving questions blank is always suboptimal.

(Kaplan) Kaplan Test Prep Practice Test