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SAT

Course: SAT > Unit 5

Lesson 2: Inside the SAT Writing and Language Test
Test prep
SAT
About the SAT Writing and Language Test
Inside the SAT Writing and Language Test
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Mark up the test: Writing and Language Test edition

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Marking up the test booklet is an important part of taking an active, engaged approach to the SAT on Test Day to maximize your score.
On the Writing and Language Test, there are four key ways you can mark up the test:
1) Circle or underline important elements of passages
To do your best, you'll need to read passages on the Writing and Language Test just as actively as you read the passages on the Reading Test. That means underlining and circling the most important elements so you can stay engaged with the point the author is making.
More on active reading strategies here.
Top tip: Understand what the passage is saying! Contrary to what some people think, the SAT Writing and Language Test is not just about grammar. Grammar-related questions (also called "Standard English Conventions") make up just one part of your score on the Writing and Language test. The other questions (the ones that fall into the "Expression of Ideas" category) require you to understand the point of the passage and the function of each paragraph within it, along with the function of each sentence in each paragraph. Underlining, circling and annotating can help.
Image of a Writing and Language passage with handwritten annotations on it.
The passage is about Dong Kingman, a Chinese landscape painter. In the first paragraph, the student has underlined the words "often compared" and circled the words "landscape artists" (the subject of the passage) and "however" a transition word. The student has also underlined "not on natural landscapes" a contrast and another use of a transition word "but".
In the second paragraph, in black ink, the student has underlined the fact that Kingman had skilled, "fine brushwork". In the third paragraph, the student puts a plus sign next to positive word, "acclaim", to show that Kingman was critically lauded.
2) Circle or underline important elements of questions
Many of the more challenging “Expression of Ideas” questions on the Writing and Language Test tell you very specifically what the correct choice has to do. It can help a lot to zero in on that part of the question, and just do what the question wants.
Image of a Writing and Language question with handwritten annotations on it. The question reads: "The writer wants to complete the sentence with a third example of a "detail" Kingman uses to create his majestic city skylines. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?" In black ink, the student has circled "detail" and underlined "third example" and "create his majestic city skylines" (with three underlines under "majestic city skylines").
Image of a Writing and Language question with handwritten annotations on it.
The question asks, "The writer wants to conclude the passage with a sentence that emphasizes the enduring legacy of Kingman's work. Which choice would best accomplish this goal?"
The student has underlined "emphasizes" and circled "enduring legacy" in black ink.
Top tip: A wrong word can disqualify a choice! Always remember that a single word can make a choice wrong. If you find yourself making excuses for a choice, eg: “Well, this could totally work if only…” or “I could see how this might work…”, the choice is probably wrong. If a shoe doesn’t quite fit, try a different pair of shoes. The College Board calls the ELA portion of the SAT “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” for a reason: the answer to every question will have evidence to support it.
NOTE: Remember that there are many questions on the Writing and Language Test that don’t have questions at all - these are called “stemless” questions and your job is to select the best version of a brief underlined portion of the passage itself. These are always grammar questions that will contribute to your “Standard English Conventions” subscore.
3) Cross out extra words to simplify complex sentences
If you’re having trouble figuring out a grammar question, it can help to simplify the structure of complex sentences by crossing out extra words that describe – or “modify” – the subject or the verb. This can help a lot on subject-verb and pronoun agreement questions like the one below:
Image of part of a subject-verb agreement question within a passage and the corresponding question.
The relevant passage excerpt reads: "When any one of these changes 2 occur, it is [end underline] likely the result of careful analysis conducted by transportation planners.
The corresponding question reads, 2. A) NO CHANGE B) occur, they are C) occurs, they are D) occurs, it is
In the passage, the words "of these changes" are highlighted in light blue and the words "any one" and "occur" are underlined in black ink.
4) Use Process of Elimination!
When you physically cross out a choice you have ruled out, it makes the rest of your task easier on your brain. Bad choices stop being distractions if you don't look at them again.
There are several ways to do this:
Image of answer choices crossed out and circled.
A) NO CHANGE (with an x in the margin to the left) B) occur, they are (with an x in the margin to the left) C) occurs, they are (with an x in the margin to the left) D) occurs, it is (with a check mark in the margin to the left)
A) NO CHANGE (with the "A" crossed out on a diagonal) B) occur, they are (with the "B" crossed out on a diagonal) C) occurs, they are (with the "C" crossed out on a diagonal) D) occurs, it is (with the "D" circled)
Some students like to cross out the entire choice – not just the letter of the choice – so they never have to look at it again:
Image of answer choices crossed out and circled.
Choices A, B and C are completely crossed out, while the entire question ("D) occurs, it is") is circled.
Good luck!
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