SAT® Writing and Language Prep: Practice Tips for Writing
How to Practice for the SAT Writing and Language Test Section
Prepping yourself for the SAT Writing and Language Test is about understanding grammar and language, which is why we’ve created tips to help work through the section with greater proficiency. Learn more about what to expect from the SAT Writing and Language section, then check out Sylvan’s SAT Writing and Language tips below!
All questions on the SAT Writing and Language Test are multiple choice and based on a passage. Like the Reading Test, some passages have informational graphics, such as tables, graphs and charts. The Writing Test requires you to look at each passage (and informational graphic) with a critical eye so you can improve the passage as an editor would. You will be presented with four passages, each of which is 400-500 words.
There are 44 multiple-choice writing and language questions, and you will have 35 minutes to complete them. What do the Writing and Language questions ask you to do?
- Command of Evidence. Improve the way passages develop information and ideas.
- Words in Context. Improve word choice.
- Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science. Read and revise passages with a critical eye.
- Expression of Ideas. Improve a passage for organization and intended impact.
- Standard English Conventions. Revise sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.
5 SAT Writing and Language Tips to Help You Practice
Tip 1: Do Your Grammar Homework!
The best way to improve your score on the Writing and Language Test is to know the rules of standard written English. While some strategies—such as process of elimination or looking for clues in sentences—may help you save time and answer some questions correctly, knowing your grammar is your best strategy.
Nearly half of the questions on the test address your knowledge of standard written English conventions. Those conventions, or writing rules, fall within the following categories: sentence structure, conventions of usage, conventions of punctuation.
Questions about sentence structure and formation address problems in the building of whole sentences—whether a sentence has a subject and verb, and whether all related parts of a sentence are in a correct order. These questions also test your ability to recognize and correct inappropriate shifts between sentences (ie shifts in pronouns or verb tense).
Practice Question 1: Sentence Structure
While mosquitos can be annoying and even dangerous to humans and pets, playing an important role in the food chain.
A. NO CHANGE
B. pets play an important role in the food chain.
C. pets: playing an important role in the food chain.
D. pets, they play an important role in the food chain.
The example sentence is not a complete sentence. The conjunction “while” makes the first part of the sentence a dependent clause—or a full sentence able to stand on its own. But the second part of the sentence lacks a subject.
Answer choice D creates a complete sentence by adding a subject and changing the verb to agree with it.
Practice Question 2: Sentence Structure
Maggie was riding her bike when their front breaks stopped working.
A. NO CHANGE
B. her
C. its
D. whose
The pronoun “their” is a plural pronoun; however that pronoun acts as a replacement for the noun “bike,” which is singular.
Therefore, the correct pronoun in this case is answer C, “its.”
Practice Question 3: Conventions of Usage (frequently confused words example)
While walking home from school, Lena thought that she saw a bear, but it turned out to be an allusion.
A. NO CHANGE
B. being an allusion.
C. to be an illusion.
D. being an illusion.
In this example, “allusion” is used incorrectly for the word “illusion.” Therefore, C is the correct answer.
Practice Question 4: Conventions of Usage
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest steel arch bridge. It 1 was not only a famous and beautiful landmark, it is also a vital transit structure that connects the northern and southern shores of Sydney.
A. NO CHANGE
B. is
C. has been
D. were
Answer A, “No Change” isn’t an option since the verb tense is incorrect. Answer choice C, “has been,” is also an incorrect verb tense. Answer choice D isn’t an option, as “were” is incorrect subject/verb agreement.
Therefore, answer choice B, “is,” is the correct answer to make the answer present tense and consistent in that tense.
Conventions of punctuation include commas and dashes within sentences, apostrophes indicating possession, commas separating items in a series, commas separating parenthetical information and punctuation wrongfully included in a sentence.
Practice Question 5: Conventions of Punctuation
The gentleman in front of me moved so slowly—without a care in the world, that I missed my train.
A. NO CHANGE
B. world—that
C. world; that
D. world! That
Notice that in this example, a complete break in thought interrupts the sentence. The writer needs a second dash to set off the break in thought, so B is the correct answer here.
Practice Question 6: Conventions of Punctuation
Emmas day was going well until his history teacher surprised the class with a quiz.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Emmas'
C. Emma's
D. Emmas's
The correct answer is C. A singular possessive noun needs an apostrophe and “s.”