Easy Answers Are Lousy Answers on the GRE
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There are a few different types of wrong answers on the GRE. Some wrong answers are just there in hopes that you’ll guess incorrectly: they actually don’t make much logical sense, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, they look just as good as any other option. Other wrong answers are meant to trick test-takers who make particular mistakes. If you pick an answer on a Text Completion problem that’s exactly the opposite of the correct one, because you missed a critical word like despite or although, this is the type of wrong answer you’ve fallen for.
The third type is more interesting than either of those, and that’s the type we’ll discuss in this article. This type of wrong answer is designed, intentionally, to look easy. A hard problem will sometimes have an easy answer or two, designed to tempt test-takers who aren’t quite sure what to do. In order to make the best guesses, and improve the confidence of your answers, learn to spot these “too easy” answer choices and stay away from them.
Idioms
Prodigal son. Grand gesture. Foreign reporter. Proceeded by rote. All of these are common, idiomatic English expressions that you’ve likely heard before. When you spot them in a Text Completion or Sentence Equivalence problem, watch out!
Imagine that the sentence includes the phrase ______ son, and one of the answer choices is prodigal. It might be correct, but it also could be a “too easy” trap. The writers know that you’ve heard the expression prodigal son before, and that it probably sounds good to you. To fool test-takers who simply choose whatever sounds best, instead of deeply understanding the sentence, they include it alongside the worse-sounding, but technically correct, right answer. On TC or SEq problems, never choose an answer just because it seems to go well with the words close to it: instead, base your answer on a careful reading of the entire sentence. If you decide to guess, don’t go straight for an answer choice that creates a common idiom. And remember that TC and SEq problems aren’t testing writing ability! An option that makes the sentence sound awkward or poorly written could be correct, if it’s the only choice that logically fits.
Quantitative Comparisons
The easiest guess to make on a QC problem is often (D). Here’s an example, from our 5lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems:
a, b, and c are positive even integers such that 8 > a > b > c.
Quantity A: The range of a, b, and c
Quantity B: The average (arithmetic mean) of a, b, and c
At first glance, it seems like you have too little information to decide which quantity is greater. After all, a, b and c could be anything — right? Nonetheless, (D) is a lousy answer to pick on this problem. It’s just too easy. In fact, the problem was designed to look like you lack information, while secretly giving you enough information to solve. That happens often enough that you should look out for it.
The solution is to never choose (D) without formally proving it, and to avoid guessing (D) on problems that look like this, even if you’re really pressed for time. In order to prove (D), show that Quantity A could be greater, or Quantity B could be greater, depending on the values you test. (Check out our recent article on QC case testing for much more info!) When you try that with this problem, you’ll notice quickly that the only case that seems to work is a = 6, b = 4, and c = 2. The problem doesn’t make that restriction obvious, but it’s there. And with those three values, the two quantities will be equal, making the right answer (C).
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comp passages are tough to understand. It’s easy to miss the really important stuff — the way that ideas in the passage relate to each other — in favor of the useless but flashy stuff, particularly jargon. The test writers throw a ton of jargon into Reading Comp passages, to disguise what usually is a very simple structure. (Since the longest passages are only a few paragraphs, there isn’t room for complicated rhetoric.) They want you to miss the forest for the trees.
In Reading Comp questions, particularly general questions, avoid answer choices that use a lot of fancy terms and phrases directly from the passage. If one of these answer choices seems correct to you, be skeptical. Don’t fall for an answer choice that actually reverses, or subtly changes, what the passage is saying. And never guess an answer choice that repeats a lot of technical terms from the passage. It could be right, but it’s probably just there to tempt you.
What to do next
There are two ways to use the information in this article.
First, use it to step up your guessing! Inevitably, you’ll make guesses on the GRE. Your goal is to get as many problems right as possible, but some problems are much harder than others. The smartest way to approach each section is to solve the easiest problems, then only attempt the more time-consuming ones if you have extra time. On the remainder, make the best guesses you can. If an answer choice looks too simple at first glance, don’t pick it: the GRE is a tough test designed for intelligent people, and it’s unlikely that the test writers will give you a question you can solve without any work.
Second, use this article to double-check your work and improve your review. If you’re tempted to choose (D) on a QC problem, always prove it first. If you’re thinking about selecting a jargon-filled RC answer, spend an extra few seconds to be certain you aren’t missing anything. Step up your standards for proof when the answer to a TC or SEq problem looks ‘too good to be true’. Keep your eyes open, and get ready to outwit the GRE. 📝
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Chelsey Cooley is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Seattle, Washington. Chelsey always followed her heart when it came to her education. Luckily, her heart led her straight to the perfect background for GMAT and GRE teaching: she has undergraduate degrees in mathematics and history, a master’s degree in linguistics, a 790 on the GMAT, and a perfect 170/170 on the GRE. Check out Chelsey’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here.