* Complex vocabulary and grammatical structures: Questions might involve interpreting obscure passages from the Constitution or other complex texts, requiring a high level of reading comprehension far beyond what was needed for everyday life.
* Trick questions and intentionally misleading phrasing: Questions were often designed to trap test-takers with ambiguous wording or multiple correct answers, with failure resulting from any misinterpretation.
* Math problems unrelated to everyday life: Some tests included difficult mathematical calculations that had no practical application.
* Interpreting seemingly simple passages: Even seemingly straightforward passages might have subtle nuances that were exploited to fail applicants.
* Oral tests: In some areas, applicants were required to read aloud, and failure could stem from minor pronunciation errors or stumbling over complex sentences. Even if the applicant understood the passage, minor errors would result in failure.
* Subjective grading: There was little standardization in scoring, allowing for biased application and rejection of qualified candidates. The examiner often had considerable leeway in deciding whether an answer was "correct" enough.
The purpose of these tests wasn't genuine assessment of literacy, but rather the systematic suppression of Black voters' rights. The questions were deliberately obtuse and unfair, ensuring that many literate Black people would fail, while white voters were often given easier, or even waived, tests.