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

How TOEIC Tests Your Understanding of What “It” Means

On TOEIC, sometimes the danger isn’t a long sentence or hard word.
It’s a tiny one — like it, they, this, or that.

These words seem harmless… until more than one thing they could refer to appears in the same sentence. That’s where TOEIC gets you.

1️⃣ The Vague Word Trap

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

🟥 Problem: Who is “they”? The guidelines? The legal team? Both?
If it’s not crystal clear, TOEIC will make it wrong.

2️⃣ What TOEIC Wants

They want you to pick the option where the meaning is clear — not just grammatically correct.

Clear:
The clients reviewed the proposal and decided to reject it. They disagreed with its terms.
✅ “They” = “The clients.” No confusion.

Unclear:
The proposal was shown to the team and the clients, but they had concerns.
🟥 “They” could be either group — unclear.

3️⃣ TOEIC-Style Example Question

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

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

✅ Answer: (A) It — Refers to one thing, most likely the report.
❌ (B) They — Would mean both were approved, which isn’t stated.
❌ (C) and (D) — Don’t clearly match.

4️⃣ How to Spot the Right Choice

Whenever you see it, they, this, that, them, he, she:

  1. Ask: “What exactly is this pointing to?”

  2. Is it 100% obvious which thing it replaces?

  3. If it could mean more than one, it’s a trap.

5️⃣ Quick Practice

Q1. The shipment and the invoice arrived together. ___ was delayed by customs.
(A) It
(B) They
(C) This
(D) He
✅ Answer: (A) It — Only one of them was delayed.

Q2. The manager spoke with the supplier and the client. ___ was unhappy with the delivery.
(A) It
(B) They
(C) This
(D) He
✅ Answer: (B) They — Both people were unhappy.

Q3. The team finished the proposal and the budget plan. ___ needs more detail.
(A) It
(B) They
(C) This
(D) He
✅ Answer: (A) It — Refers to one specific document.

📌 Strategy / Takeaway

  1. Identify exactly what the small word replaces.

  2. Make sure it can only mean one thing.

  3. If there’s more than one possible meaning, it’s probably wrong.

Golden Rule:

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

Final Word


TOEIC isn’t just checking if you know the word “it” — it’s checking if you can track its meaning without confusion. Always make sure the link is clear.

For more strategies and resources to master TOEIC pronoun traps, visit the English Library Collection and start locking in pronoun clarity confidence today.

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.
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