NPOST common mistakes
NPOST · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Solving a word problem with the numbers in the order they appear instead of first writing down what quantity is asked for.
Under time pressure, candidates grab the visible numbers and start computing, and the first operation that 'works' becomes the answer.
What to do instead
Before computing, write one line: 'Find: ___' and one line listing the given values with their units. Only then choose an operation, and check the final answer against the 'Find' line.
Treating ratio, rate, and percentage problems as one blended category and applying the wrong base (e.g., dividing when a part-to-whole percent is needed).
These problem types share surface wording ('per', 'of', 'out of') and candidates pattern-match on keywords rather than structure.
What to do instead
Classify each problem into one of three templates (part = percent x whole; rate = amount / time; ratio a:b means a parts to b parts) and label the knowns in the template before solving.
Answering a reading comprehension question from general knowledge or personal opinion rather than from the passage.
The topic feels familiar, so the brain supplies a plausible answer that the passage never states.
What to do instead
For every answer choice, locate and underline the sentence in the passage that supports it; if no sentence supports it, eliminate the choice regardless of how true it sounds.
Confusing the main idea with a supporting detail, or picking a choice that is true but too narrow.
Detail sentences are concrete and memorable, while the main idea is abstract, so the detail feels like the 'right' answer.
What to do instead
Test each choice by asking 'Does this cover the whole passage, or only one paragraph/sentence?' Eliminate choices that fit only part of the text, and prefer the choice that summarizes the passage's overall point.
Choosing the answer to a grammar question by how the sentence sounds rather than by the rule being tested.
Everyday speech habits make certain errors (e.g., 'between you and I', 'could of') sound normal, and correct formal constructions can sound stiff.
What to do instead
Identify the specific rule the question targets (subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, tense consistency, modifier placement) and apply that rule mechanically before judging how the sentence sounds.
Missing subject-verb agreement when a phrase separates the subject from the verb, or when the subject is an indefinite pronoun.
The noun nearest the verb (inside the interrupting phrase) gets treated as the subject.
What to do instead
Cross out the interrupting phrase, then read subject and verb together. Memorize that each, either, neither, everyone, and everybody take singular verbs.
Writing an incident report as a narrative of feelings and impressions ('the subject seemed agitated and was acting weird') instead of observable facts.
Candidates write the way they would tell the story to a colleague, focusing on interpretation rather than what could be seen and heard.
What to do instead
Convert every judgment into an observable: quote exact words, describe actions and times, and state who did what. Replace 'seemed angry' with the exact statement and behavior observed.
Omitting the core report elements: who, what, when, where, and what action was taken, or leaving out exact times and names.
The writer assumes the reader already knows the context, so key identifiers are left implicit.
What to do instead
Use a fixed checklist before submitting: date, time, location, persons involved (full names/IDs), sequence of events, actions taken, and reporting officer. Verify each item is present.
Writing sentence fragments or run-on sentences in the constructed-response section.
Candidates write in bursts of thought and join clauses with commas instead of periods or conjunctions, or leave a dependent clause standing alone.
What to do instead
Read each sentence aloud and confirm it has a subject and a working verb and expresses a complete thought. Split any sentence containing more than one independent clause joined only by a comma.
Shifting tense or point of view partway through a paragraph or report.
The writer moves from past-tense narration into present-tense commentary without noticing, or switches between first and third person.
What to do instead
Pick one tense (usually past) and one point of view before drafting, then do a final pass reading only the verbs and pronouns to confirm consistency.