Some SAT Writing questions will ask you to improve or revise sentences within a passage. The test-makers may ask you if you want to change a word or two, insert another word at some point in the sentence, or even delete the sentence entirely. Getting lots of test prep will be important for mastering this question type. Go to Grockit to play interactive games and get help from trained instructors. You’ll also be able to chat with others who are studying for the test. It’ll be a great way to prepare for the test. But, to answer any improving or revising sentences question, remember the following tips:
- Know the passage’s purpose. Although you might be able to answer some improving and revising sentences questions without knowing the main idea of the passage, for most knowing the passage’s purpose will be very helpful.
- Understand the sentence’s context. It’s very important to know what comes before and after the sentence asked in the question. If the sentence seems out-of-place, deleting it will be an easy choice. If the sentence needs some readjusting to fit, find the best answer to make it fit.
- Know transition words. There are words that indicate the thought process of the passage will continue in the same direction; there are other words that indicate the thought process will change. Remember the following words to help on test day:
- Words indicating the same thought process—and, also, in addition, moreover, furthermore, and as well as.
- Words indication a changing thought process—however, on the other hand, still, although, though, nonetheless, and on the other hand.
Now, try to use these strategies while attempting to answer the sample question below:
(1) Childhood is not merely a period of physical and mental development but a social concept that has changed greatly over the centuries. (2) Today childhood is much longer than it once was. (3) It is defined as the twenty years after birth during which children are nurtured and prepared to be adults when they are older. (4) Thus, modern children receive schooling and are prevented from working until almost the age of twenty, and this is several years after they have reached the physical maturity of adults. (5) Prior to the nineteenth century, by contrast, childhood as a period of nurturing ended almost as soon as children could walk. (6) Children were considered adults, given the according responsibilities, and put to work from an early age.
Which answer choice would most improve sentence 3?
It is defined as the twenty years after birth during which children are nurtured and prepared to be adults when they are older.
- Delete it.
- Change “children” to “they”.
- Change “during which” to “where”.
- Insert “Therefore,” before “it is defined.”
- Delete “when they are older”.
Try this question for more SAT improving sentences practice!
Can you figure out which answer’s correct? First off, the sentence is important since it defines what childhood is. For this reason, we can eliminate A. Now we have to figure out which of the options to improve the sentence fits best in context with sentences 2 and 4. Should “children” be switched to “they”? It shouldn’t because “children” hasn’t been used before this point in the passage, only the term “childhood.” How about changing “during which” to “where”? There’s nothing wrong with the use of “during which,” so we can also eliminate C. Should we insert “Therefore” at the beginning of the sentence? We could, although it doesn’t seem necessary since the two sentences as they are flow together well. Let’s keep it for now. Can we delete “when they are older”? Yes, we can since the phrase “adults when they are older” is redundant. Now we can eliminate D and choose E as our answer.
As you can see, knowing the rules of writing and utilizing process of elimination are so important for SAT Writing questions. Make sure you head over to Grockit to get all the practice you need. You’ll get to study with others preparing for the test and even get help from trained instructors.
