How to Stop Selecting the Wrong one of two answers

Almost everyone has been there—they narrow it down to two answer choices and select the wrong one. This is one of the most common issues my students experience. In this post, we will discuss strategies and study tactics that have helped them overcome this hurdle.

Make predictions

People often don't think actively about the passage. As a result, they don't have a clear idea of what they are looking for in the answers. If you don't know what you are looking for, multiple answer choices will seem correct. A prediction can serve as your "compass" and when you are down to two, you can simply select the answer that gets closest to your prediction.

Of course, this requires a strong ability to form predictions. In the beginning, it can feel like guesswork. But if you carefully and consistently reverse engineer questions you missed, you will be able to find patterns in the way the passage is laid out, along with patterns in ways the correct answer is phrased. Missing a question using this technique is not proof that you should give up on making predictions altogether. It simply means you need to sharpen your prediction skills.

Don't attribute it to overthinking or careless errors

People often believe they understand the concepts and attribute their mistakes to “overthinking.” While this can occasionally happen, it is rarely the real issue. The harsh reality is that the overthinking itself usually stems from not fully understanding the underlying concepts or logical structure. The problem is typically a flawed thought process, not thinking too much.

Additionally, this type of thinking does not benefit the student because they end up thinking the solution is to think less about the question rather than focusing on the underlying logic of the LSAT. They end up feeling unconfident with each question because they have no way of gauging whether they are thinking about it "just enough".

Instead, try to understand the mistake you made. Never give up in the middle of the question to check the correct answer. Always have a very specific reason why you chose your answer and why you eliminated the others. If you got it wrong, carefully analyze the correct reasoning and identify exactly where your thought process went astray so you don’t repeat the same error.

Take Your time on the passage

People often speed through the passage and read the answer choices carefully to save time. This is one of the main reasons people end up picking the wrong answer even after narrowing it down to two. The LSAT tests very specific details in the passage—if you miss them, you’ll get the question wrong no matter how carefully you read the choices.

Believe it or not, the opposite approach is more effective. Read the passage very carefully and this will help you quickly eliminate incorrect answers. If you are still stuck, don't be afraid to refer back to the passage. In some cases, a single word can make or break an answer.

Get more exposure to Difficult questions—It takes practice

Unfortunately, there is no single quick fix to stop selecting the wrong answer. It can take time to reach a point where you understand the reasoning of the LSAT. Consistent drilling with thorough review is the best way to avoid making the same mistakes. The more high-quality practice you do and the more carefully you analyze your mistakes, the fewer times you’ll find yourself stuck between two answers wondering which one is correct.