The multiple choice questions on the Writing sections of the SAT and PSAT require you to identify and correct grammatical errors and errors in diction. The grammatical errors are generally of certain predictable types; familiarizing yourself with these concepts will be to your advantage in taking this test. It may be a bit more challenging to prepare for the identification and correction of errors in diction because there are so many in standard American English. However, certain errors are more common than others and are more likely to appear on the test.
Review these grammatical errors and errors in diction to prepare for the Writing sections of the SAT and PSAT:
Grammatical Errors
- Agreement Shifts
- Dangling Participles
- Faulty Comparisons
Continue reading "Common Errors on the SAT and PSAT Writing Sections"
The "Improving Sentences" questions in the Writing Skills sections of the SAT and PSAT require you to identify and correct grammatical errors and errors in diction.
One Writing Skills section will consist of 35 questions, 11 of which will be "Improving Sentences" questions. A separate Writing Skills section will consist of 14 questions of this type. Each examination will contain one experimental section; if it is a Writing Skills section, it will be in the 35-question format.
Each question will present a sentence with some or all of the words underlined. The underlined portion of the sentence may contain one or more errors; however, sometimes the sentence will be correct as written. You will be given 5 different formats of the underlined section, the first of which (option A) is always the same as the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as written, choose option A. If it is incorrect, choose the answer that corrects the error(s).
Keep these tips in mind when answering the "Improving Sentences" questions:
- Never read option A. Option A is always exactly the same as the underlined portion of the sentence. Do not waste your time reading this option.
- Try to identify the error(s) before you read the answer. The error(s) may be obvious to you as you read the sentence. Some of the answers may duplicate an error; cross these out as you read the choices.
- Do not introduce a new error. Some answers may correct the error(s) in the sentence but will be incorrect because they introduce a new error. Eliminate the choices that do not correct the error(s), then compare the remaining choices. Only one will be correct, so make sure that your choice does not contain a new error.
Continue reading "6 Improving Sentences Tips for the SAT and PSAT"
The sentence correction questions on the GMAT require you to identify and correct grammatical errors and errors in diction. The grammatical errors are generally of certain predictable types; familiarizing yourself with these concepts will be to your advantage in taking this test. It may be a bit more challenging to prepare for the identification and correction of errors in diction because there are so many in standard American English. However, certain errors are more common than others and are more likely to appear on the test.
Review these grammatical errors and errors in diction to prepare for the sentence correction questions on the GMAT:
Grammatical Errors
- Subject/verb agreement
- Pronoun/antecedent agreement
- Misplaced modifiers and dangling participles
Continue reading "Common Errors on GMAT Sentence Correction Questions"
