MCAT Verbal Reasoning Distractors

Avoid these traps by reading attentively and carefully enough; when in doubt check the passage, question stem and answer choices until you are satisfied you have avoided the trap of The Distractors.

1. Words Out of Context

Definition: Uses the vocabulary from a passage in a distorted or different context. The Words-Out-Of-Context Distractor is Designed to trap test-takers who don’t go back to the passage at all(!) to confirm their answer choice. Other test-takers who fall for this trap didn’t reread the relevant parts of the passage carefully enough.

2. Half Right/Half Wrong

Definition: These wrong answers are "bait and switch" answers. The Half Right portion of these Distractors are exactly what you are looking for. But the Half Wrong portion of these answers are not supported by the passage. This is a trap set for people who make up their minds before they read all the answer choices. Other test-takers may try to "rehabilitate" an answer because of the portion that sounded good to them. Make sure an answer is COMPLETELY correct before you choose it.

3. Added of Subtracted Negatives

Definition: These Distractors include a phrase, sentence or idea taken directly from the passage. But then they add or remove a crucial "not" or "un-." These answers therefore sound almost exactly like the passage, but in fact directly contradict it.

4. Reversals & MixUps

Definition: This Distractor type extracts the words from a passage that almost exactly describes a relationship the question asks about. But a Reversal Distractor can trap you into choosing it (if you aren’t paying enough attention) by flipping a cause and effect sequence or mixing up the order of events in a chronology. The words look okay but they have been reversed.

5. Garbled Language

Definition:  This Distractor gives you some familiar words. But the order of them is difficult or impossible to understand. The Verbal Reasoning test writers hope you will pick this Distractor because while it is confusing, it seems to include the right words (even duplicates of words in the passage) and thus it must be correct. When you see garbled language, do not automatically eliminate it. But don't automatically pick it either. Use Process of Elimination quickly and carefully.

6. Right Answer/Wrong Question

Definition:  These Distractors are statements that are in fact directly supported by the passage. But they aren't relevant to the question being asked. Make sure you understand what the question is asking, ever if you have to reread it. Choose the answer that answers the question, even if it does not have words from the passage in it.

7. Absolutes

Definition: These Distractors include language that is almost like language in the passage. But these Distractor answers also include words like: none, always, never, or only that absolutely distort the passage’s meaning. 

8. Superlatives

Definition:  A Superlative Word relates to or is an extreme degree of comparison. A superlative Distractor includes words like first, last, best, most, worst, least, or primary. For instance, it may describe a theory as the first or the best theory, but the author simply says that it's an important theory. Superlative Distractors are more extreme that what the passage says about the same thing.

9. Moral Judgments and Recommendations

Definition: These Distractors judge whether something is good or bad. But in the passage the author mentioned the same something in a neutral tone. Or, this Distractor answer choice could assert that a certain proposal should be implemented or rejected. But in the passage, the author merely described that proposal without saying anything should be done about it.

10. Not Strong Enough

Definition: You’ll always find this Distractor attached to Strengthen/Weaken questions. Instead of being too extreme (like Absolutes, #9) Not Strong Enoughs are too wishy-washy to significantly Strengthen or Weaken a passage author's argument. Don’t fall into this trap. Make sure you compare answers to each other. On Strengthen/Weaken questions, you want the choice that goes farthest in the right direction.

11. Not the Issue

Definition: This Distractor brings in ideas or facts that are not discussed in the passage. Use Process of Elimination to eliminate these on your first read-through of the question and associated answer choices.

12. Outside Knowledge

Definition: This Distractor is a statement that is true based on your own knowledge. But, if you look carefully enough, you won’t find it supported in the passage.

13. Crystal Ball

Definition: This Distractor predicts the future as in stating possible outcomes or suggesting investigation that needs to be done (but the passage doesn't). Or this Distractor includes information beyond the timeframe of the passage.

14. No Such Comparison

Definition: This incorrect Distractor takes something mentioned in the passage and compares it to something else that is not mentioned in the passage. Or, it may take two things that are mentioned by the author and compare them in a way that is not supported by the passage.

15. Too Narrow/Too Broad

Definition: You will find the "Too Narrow" Distractor in Big Picture questions. Too Narrow Distractors contain only part of the passage author's argument. But make sure you match what the question is asking with the passage author’s argument. Keep in mind however that correct answers to some Inference questions can be related to pretty narrow portions or the passage. On the other hand, “Too Broad” Distractors overgeneralize and are not supported by facts or ideas in the passage.