<p>So I took the SAT twice, did okay on the writing section twice, 680 and 710, respectively, but I find that when there is an error, I have no problem spotting it, but when there isn't one, I make up some kind of error in my head; is there any approach that helps with this problem? The ones with the answer of "no error" are the only ones I seem to get wrong...ugh</p>
<p>Don’t over-analyze the question. If it looks and sounds right to you, and you know all of your grammar rules, etc…, don’t make up an error for the sake of making one up.</p>
<p>Your experience is common. The “no error” writing questions have the highest wrong choice rate.</p>
<p>What to do?</p>
<p>In practice 20% of the answers are no error, so keep track of the percentage during the test.</p>
<p>Also avoid over-thinking the sentences. Confidence that you know what’s correct grammar and what is not is key. I realize that this is easier said than done. Still inspect each possible error, and move on to the next possible error once you decide it is correct. Try not to second guess yourself.</p>
<p>^Not on ALL practice tests. In fact, I’ve run into one W section where there was only 1 no error.</p>
<p>@fogcity I feel that sometimes I question the ambiguity of the question when it isn’t extremely explicit…
an example I just got wrong:
"Readers (can A) easily draw a distinction between a so-called literary classic and an escapist piece of pulp fiction by considering (how many ideas B) the books (give them C) to think (about D). No error (E)</p>
<p>I put C because I felt it was ambiguous in the sense that giving them" refers to readers but can be misinterpreted as meaning the ideas…ugh…I’m so dumb x_x</p>
<p>ambiguous pronouns are usually very obvious (this is a bit paradoxical I know). They are tested in a such always in the form:</p>
<p>Mark and Andrew went to the party, but Andrew left his bike at his house.</p>
<p>(his is the error)</p>
<p>I totally understand that one, as you aren’t sure if it’s Mark’s or Andrew’s, but when it comes to like number 27, 28, 29 I kind of lose confidence in my grammar abilities…I only received a 64 and a 66, respectively, on the two multiple choice subscores, but essays brought me up; received 10 and 11, respectively.</p>
<p>Ok, for ambiguous pronouns they are exclusively in the above form. For idioms (which seem to throw some people off), just say the thing in your head like 10 times, and if it sounds off then it is wrong.</p>
<p>Oh okay…I think I have a tendency of overthinking questions, which happens to be my downfall…I just need to chill out lol</p>
<p>yea overthinking things is especially bad on CR.</p>
<p>^ Agreed. One of the biggest problem I have on the CR :(</p>
<p>Tell me about it…650 over here x_X</p>
<p>Remember that your gut-reaction is usually right. When I spot a possible no error on the test, I usually mark it and come back to it for further examination later, but move on! Don’t overthink it then and there. If you can/have time, go back to it and mouth the words and say them in your head- because most of us learned English aurally, it helps a lot to ‘listen’ to it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This strategy has worked out pretty well for me. Sure, there are weird exceptions, but you should be getting 3-4 E’s in a 35-question writing section.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To expand on this: I like to separate the underlined sections and look at them by themselves. Is (A) in and of itself incorrect? How about (B)? And (C)? (D)? If the answer is yes to one of those, then you’re done. If you answer* no* to all of them, look at the choices in context. If nothing pops out at you, you can be confident that the correct answer is, indeed, E.</p>