How can you use process of elimination effectively on SOL questions?

• A. Guess first and hope for the best.
• B. Read all options and choose the earliest one.
• C. Select the option with the most confident tone.
• D. Discard clearly incorrect choices first, then compare remaining options to the text.

Answer: (D)

Using process of elimination means relying on what the text actually says and quickly ruling out options that are clearly wrong. The best answer is the one that is supported by the passage without adding ideas that aren’t stated. Start by spotting choices that contradict the information in the text, misstate details, or go beyond what the passage allows. Those can be discarded. Then take a look at the remaining options and compare them directly to the wording and implications in the passage. The option that fits the evidence precisely and doesn’t overstep the text is the strongest choice. This approach reduces guesswork, keeps you anchored in the source material, and helps prevent being misled by wording or tone rather than substance. Remember that absolute statements, misinterpretations, or anything not clearly supported by the text are common traps, so discarding clearly incorrect ones first keeps you focused on what the passage actually communicates.