<p>I've gone through all the grammar rules. I've taken so many practice sections, but I always end up getting a ton of questions wrong. I got a 620 on the Writing section in May, and I thought my grammatical knowledge had increased since then. I just took a practice section again however (they were improving sentences questions) and I only got 9/14 right. I just don't understand it. I look at the problem, and I feel like the answer should be obvious, but it's not...</p>
<p>Do you diligently go over your mistakes? That would help. Do you double-check, even triple-check? Look through all the choices?</p>
<p>And the 620…what was your essay score?</p>
<p>My essay was only an 8. I’m convinced it should be higher when I compare it to then 10s, but whatever. And I got a 64 on the MC. My essay score will definitely improve; it’s the MC that gets me screwed…</p>
<p>I go over every option twice.</p>
<p>An 8 is okay. A 10 would definitely help increase your score by a lot though.</p>
<p>Hmm. Is there a pattern in the types of questions that you usually answer incorrectly?</p>
<p>Well, improving sentences question are the ones I get the most wrong. I got 5 of those wrong on the SAT, 3 of the ones where you locate the error, and I always get every improving paragraph question right, so I’m good with those.</p>
<p>I get stumped with all of the different alternative ways the sentences are given. They all seem to say the exact same thing. </p>
<p>I cannot summarize it well, but here are the five I got wrong with the right answer and my answer.</p>
<ol>
<li>Although only two inches long, the shrew is a mammal and therefore a relative of elephants and giraffes.</li>
</ol>
<p>Right choice: (A) Although only
My choice: (D) While its size is</p>
<ol>
<li>Many prospective actors in the area auditioned for roles in the movie, and only a few were selected.</li>
</ol>
<p>Right choice: (C) Many prospective actors in the area auditioned for roles in the movie, but only a few were selected.
My Choice: (A) Many prospective actors in the area auditioned for roles in the movie, and only a few were selected.</p>
<ol>
<li>Because the workers approached their jobs with very little interest and almost no energy, their productivity was, not surprisingly, very low.</li>
</ol>
<p>Right Choice: (A) their productivity was, not surprisingly, very low.
My Choice: (E) their productivity, being very low, was not surprising.</p>
<ol>
<li>Many changes occurred while she was president of the college, and they increased its educational quality as well as effectiveness.</li>
</ol>
<p>Right Choice: (E) college; these changes increased both the educational quality and effectiveness of the college.
My Choice: (D) college; these chances increased its educational quality and effectiveness.</p>
<ol>
<li>High school graduates usually do not end up earning as much as college graduates do, this being why so many high school students go on the pursue college degrees.</li>
</ol>
<p>Right Choice: (C) do; this fact explains why so many high school students
My Choice: (E) do, explaining why so many high school student</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you can get out of that…</p>
<p>A rule to remember: The more concise, the better. That is almost always the case.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The correct answer is the more concise one, and also provides a kind of contrast. “While its size is two inches long” does not do anything to show why most wouldn’t consider the shrew to be grouped along with larger animals like the elephant and giraffe. The key word here is “only.”</p></li>
<li><p>This is a tricky one. A really tricky one, since the only different is “but” and “and.” Again, there is kind of a contrast element with the “but.”</p></li>
<li><p>For this kind of question, try reading the answers without the insertions with commas. What makes more sense in the context of the question: “Their productivity was surprising” or “Their productivity was low”? Since the first provides no information without the insertion, the latter is the correct answer.</p></li>
<li><p>The word “its” is kind of ambiguous, so the answer that actually says “the college” is better.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s kind of hard to get the right answer with phrases that are kind of long, so try shortening the phrases first.
“High school graduates usually do not end up earning as much as college graduates do, this being why so many high school students go on the pursue college degrees.” –> High school graduates do not earn as much as college graduates do, this being why so many high school students go on to college.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>High school graduates do not earn as much as college graduates do, explaining why so many high school students <- This already sounds a bit weird. A better term would’ve been “which explains.” But if that answer is not available, look for the next best answer.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, I’m not very good at explaining, so if this didn’t help very much…yeah, I’m really sorry. Do your books ever have answer explanations that you can go over?</p>
<p>Another trick I use is, when I read the sentence, if it sounds funny, I try to correct it in my head before actually looking at the answers. Basically, whatever sounds correct already in your head is the right answer.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I’m not sure what the pattern is either. I think it’s more of just getting stumped. Well, good luck for the next time you take the SATs!</p>