📘 Why “It Was Approved” Can Still Be Wrong on TOEIC

How TOEIC Tests Your Understanding of What “It” Means

💭 The Problem Learners Face

You’re reading a sentence in TOEIC.
Everything looks fine: correct grammar, clear vocabulary.
Then comes a small word: “it.”
Or maybe “they,” “this,” “that.”

You think:

“That just means the report, right?”

But TOEIC isn’t checking your grammar here.
It’s checking your understanding of what that word is pointing to.
And if more than one thing is possible — that’s where you lose the point.

🚨 The Trap: TOEIC Tests Vague Pronouns

TOEIC loves to hide little traps using words like “it” or “they.”
The sentence may be correct, but the meaning?
Too vague.

Take this example:

The new guidelines were reviewed by the legal team before they were submitted.

🟥 Wait — who was submitted?

  • The guidelines?

  • The legal team?

If “they” could refer to more than one thing, it’s a problem — and that’s the exact kind of question TOEIC loves in Part 5 and 6.

👀 What TOEIC Wants You to See

TOEIC expects you to choose the sentence where the meaning is 100% clear.

Compare these two:

The clients reviewed the proposal and decided to reject it. They disagreed with its terms.
✅ Clear: “They” = “The clients.”

Now try this:

The proposal was shown to the team and the clients, but they had concerns.
🟥 Who is “they”? The team? The clients? Both?

If a pronoun can point to more than one thing, TOEIC often marks that as incorrect — even if the sentence is grammatically fine.

🧪 TOEIC-Style Example

Here’s a clean TOEIC-style example — no confusion, no bias:

The final report and the presentation were submitted on Friday. ___ was approved on Monday.

(A) It
(B) They
(C) He
(D) This

✅ Correct: (A) It — because it refers to one thing, most likely the report.
🟥 “They” would be wrong — it suggests both were approved, which isn’t stated.
🟥 “He” and “This” don’t clearly connect to the subject.

That’s the skill TOEIC is testing:
Can you follow what the sentence is really about — not just the grammar?

🔧 The Fix: Ask “What does this word point to?”

Every time you see a small word like:

  • it

  • they

  • this

  • that

  • them

  • he / she

👉 Ask yourself:

“What exact word is this replacing?”
“Is it clear and unambiguous?”

If the sentence doesn’t make that crystal clear — it’s probably a trap.

🧠 Quick Test

Which sentence is better?

A) The document was reviewed by the team and submitted. It was helpful.
B) The team reviewed and submitted the document. The process was helpful.

✅ B is better — “the process” is specific.
❌ A is vague — “it” could mean the document, the team, or the review process.

✅ Summary

🟨 TOEIC loves testing words like “it,” “they,” and “this”
🟥 If a word can point to more than one thing — it’s wrong
🟢 Always match these words clearly to a noun that came before
🧠 Golden Rule:

“If you’re not sure what a word refers to — TOEIC will punish you for it.”

Why is “it” wrong in some TOEIC questions? Because TOEIC checks if “it” clearly refers to one thing. If it’s not clear, it’s wrong. How do I know what “they” means in a sentence? You need to find the noun that came before. If there’s more than one option, “they” is probably a mistake. What does “this” refer to in TOEIC? “This” must clearly point to one thing from the sentence before. If it’s vague, TOEIC marks it wrong. Can “it” mean a sentence or idea? Yes, but TOEIC usually prefers “it” to point to a specific noun, not a whole sentence. Why is “them” sometimes confusing in TOEIC? Because “them” must clearly match a plural noun. If two or more are possible, it’s unclear. How do I avoid mistakes with “he” or “she” on TOEIC? Make sure the sentence clearly tells you who “he” or “she” is. If not, use a noun instead. Is it better to use the noun again instead of a pronoun? Yes — if the pronoun could be unclear, repeating the noun is safer. Why does TOEIC ask about “this” and “that”? Because they can be unclear. TOEIC wants you to match each word to one idea, not two. What does TOEIC test with words like “it” and “they”? It tests your ability to follow the meaning — not just grammar. You need to know exactly what each word points to. Can “it” refer to the last word in the sentence? Only if that word is a clear noun. If not, TOEIC may treat it as incorrect. Why is “they” wrong when it seems okay? Because TOEIC only allows pronouns that point to one clear noun — not two or three. What’s a pronoun mistake on TOEIC? When “it,” “they,” or “this” could refer to more than one thing, that’s a mistake. What’s the trick to understanding “it” in Part 5? Ask: What does “it” mean here? If you can’t answer in one second, don’t pick that option. Can “this” refer to a full action in the sentence? Yes, but only if that action is clearly described. TOEIC still prefers it to point to a noun. Why does TOEIC hide what the pronoun means? To see if you really understand the meaning — not just follow the grammar. When is it safe to use “he” or “she”? Only if the sentence clearly identifies the person. If not, use a name or title instead. What’s the best way to check a pronoun on TOEIC? Replace the pronoun with the original noun. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s probably correct. How can I practice this skill before the test? Find TOEIC-style sentences and underline every “it,” “they,” or “this.” Ask what each word refers to. Is “it” the most common pronoun on TOEIC? Yes, and it’s also one of the most common sources of mistakes. Can TOEIC trick me even if the grammar looks perfect? Yes — especially with pronouns. If the meaning isn’t clear, it’s still wrong.