Overview
The SAT tests writing skills for prospective college students with sentence-based and paragraph-based multiple-choice questions, as well as an essay on demand. Some of the characteristics of effective writing include consistency, logical expression of ideas, clarity and precision, and appropriate use of conventions. Since students must be able to recognize errors in their own writing, they are tested for their abilities to check writing quickly and identify any grammatical mistakes. Also, they must be able to produce writing that is clear, concise, and complete on essay tests and first drafts of longer papers.
Writing Consistency
The SAT tests for grammar and usage with questions that allow students to choose and correct examples that contain specific errors. Some of the most common errors involve writing consistency. For example, all of the tenses within a sentence or passage should follow a sequence. Pronouns should not shift; so that if you are writing a sentence, one shouldn’t change the pronoun in the second clause. The correct usage in that case is either “if one is writing a sentence, one shouldn’t change the pronoun in the second clause” or “if you are writing a sentence, you shouldn’t change the pronoun in the second clause.” Similarly, nouns and number should agree, and so should subjects and verbs.
Logical Expression of Ideas
Another source of common writing errors is logical expression of ideas. For example, comparisons should be logical. Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges; not apples to oranges. Watch carefully to see what clauses are modifying.
Clarity and Precision
Once again, pronouns can cause all the trouble. Is the pronoun referring to a specific antecedent? We have met them, and they are us. Who are we, them, they and us? Wordiness is the enemy of both clarity and precision. Active verbs are usually preferred to weak passive verbs, and using them can eliminate some wordiness.
Appropriate Use of Conventions
Some SAT questions target the appropriate use of conventions, such as adverb-adjective confusion, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and idioms. Those conventions in writing are confused easily. Adjectives modify nouns, and adverbs modify verbs. The test booklet can be marked and underlined to aid appropriate usage.
Interested in SAT tutoring services? Learn more about how we are assisting thousands of students each academic year.
SchoolTutoring Academy is the premier educational services company for K-12 and college students. We offer tutoring programs for students in K-12, AP classes, and college. To learn more about how we help parents and students in Jackson, AL: visit: Tutoring in Jackson, AL
