The "Intuition Plateau"

"It just sounds right" only takes you so far. Then what?

Photo by Wyron A on Unsplash

Nearly every student who comes to me for SAT® help has reached what I call the "intuition plateau" - that point where relying on what "sounds right" no longer produces score improvements. This is especially true with grammar questions.

The resistance I often encounter is fascinating: "But I don't want to become a grammar nerd!" Good news: you don't have to. The SAT® tests a manageable subset of grammar concepts and skills, and getting a basic handle on these can significantly improve your score.

What's required is a shift from intuition to analysis - knowing exactly which structural elements to look for in each question type. For Verb Form Questions like today's example, having a clear, methodical approach transforms what seems like linguistic guesswork into a straightforward process of elimination.

My SAT® Grammar Crash Course teaches you exactly what you need for SAT® success - nothing more, nothing less. You'll master critical skills like sentence simplification, and verb form identification without drowning in unnecessary grammatical jargon. I’ve helped hundreds of students use this focused approach to finally break through their score plateaus and start climbing again.

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Today’s Free SAT® Practice Question

Renowned evolutionary biologist Björn ______ his field research to document the adaptations of island species to climate change, studies microscopic changes in finch populations across the Galápagos archipelago.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Magnússon is conducting

B) Magnússon, conducts

C) Magnússon, conducting

D) Magnússon conducts

(Strategy Guide and Answer Explanations Below)

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🔍 QUICK TIP:

VERB FORM QUESTION STRATEGY:

1️⃣ SIMPLIFY the sentence with the blank.

2️⃣ DETERMINE if you need a main verb or a “verbal.”

3️⃣ ELIMINATE answer choices in the wrong category.

4️⃣ CONFIRM your answer sounds natural. (Notice this is the last step, not the first.)

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Answer Explanations and Strategy Guide