How to Improve Sentences for SAT Questions

Learning test-taking strategies can help you save time on the SAT.

One section of the SAT requires test-takers to identify sentence errors. All questions in this section are multiple choice and you must pick the answer that best improves the underlined part of the question. Option "E" always repeats the underlined part, so only select "E" if you think the sentence is fine as is. Otherwise, choose "A," "B," "C" or "D." Possible sentence errors include common grammatical problems such as subject-verb disagreement, as well as general awkwardness.

Instructions

1. Read the entire sentence and decide if it contains any errors. Try and identify the problem, if you are able. If you know it is a subject-verb disagreement, you can easily narrow down your answer choices.

2. Read all the options, except for "E." You can skip "E" because it is the same as the original, and doing so will save you time.

3. Eliminate all options that are obviously wrong or that change the meaning of the sentence.

4. Read the sentence with the answer you think is correct in your head. If it sounds correct, circle the answer. If the original sentence sounds correct and doesn't require improvement, circle "E."

Tips & Warnings

• Generally the SAT arranges sentence-improvement questions in order of difficulty. Remember, though, that what another person finds difficult you might find easy, and vice versa, so don't worry if you find one of the first questions hard -- just come back to it later.

• Learn the eight parts of speech, the various verb tenses and the rules that govern sentence structure. Knowing all of these will help you identify errors in sentence-improving questions with ease.

References

• "Barron's Writing Workbook for the New SAT"; George Ehrenhaft, 2006

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish