Sentence Equivalence

Section: Sentence Equivalence Estimated study time: 45 minutes Content: Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions present a single sentence with one blank and six answer choices. You must select exactly two answers that (a) each correctly complete the sentence and (b) produce sentences that are equivalent in meaning. You receive credit only if you select both correct answers — no partial credit for getting one of the two right. This dual-selection requirement is the defining feature of SE questions. It means you cannot simply find one good answer — you must find a pair. If you have identified one word that works perfectly but cannot find a second that creates a similar sentence, reconsider your first choice. The correct pair will produce two sentences with the same essential meaning, not just two sentences that are each individually acceptable. The prediction strategy works exactly as in Text Completion. Before looking at the choices, predict a word or concept that fits the blank. Then look for two choices that are synonymous (or near-synonymous) with your prediction and with each other. If you find two that clearly belong together in meaning, that is almost certainly the correct pair. Common SE traps: (1) Two words that are correct individually but mean different things in context — these cannot both be right. (2) One very precise fit and one that "sort of" fits — the correct pair should fit equally well. (3) A word pair that seems equivalent out of context but in the sentence one member fits and the other does not. Always insert both words into the sentence and verify that the two resulting sentences convey the same meaning before selecting. Vocabulary is critical…