5 Resolutions to Increase Your SAT Writing Score

We are two weeks into the new year–are you sticking to your resolutions? For those of you taking the test next weekend, here are five SAT Writing questions to help you adhere to your goals.

1) The number of days between today and the May SAT are roughly equivalent to four months, so I must create four monthly goals.

A) are roughly equivalent to four months, so I

B) are equivalent roughly to four months, but I

C) are roughly equivalent to four months, but I

D) is roughly equivalent to four months, so I

E) is roughly equivalent being four months, so me

2) Before school let out for Winter Break, they said that I must register for the test by April 8, I need to set a reminder on phone’s calendar.

A) they said that I must register for the test by April 8, I need

B) they said that I must register for the test by April 8;  I need

C) he said that I must register for the test by April 8, thus I need

D) they said that I must be registered for the test by April 8, I need

E) my counselor said that I must register for the test by April 8, so I need

3) Each week I want to study the PowerScore math flash cards, answer the SAT Question of the Day, and to take three timed sections from The Official SAT Study Guide.

A) Day, and to take three timed sections from

B) Day, and take three timed sections from

C) Day; and to take three timed sections using

D) Day, and three timed sections taken with

E) Day, or to take three timed sections from

4) Although neither of my brothers knows his SAT scores, I want to ask my mom to locate Bob’s and Bruce’s scores so I can set a higher target score.

A) Although neither of my brothers knows his SAT scores

B) Because neither of my brothers knows their SAT scores

C) Although neither of my brothers know his SAT scores

D) Although neither of my brothers know their SAT scores

E) Despite the fact that neither of my brothers knows their SAT score results

5) I must ask my counselor if he has any insight in the average scores of incoming freshman at my preferred university.

A) if he has any insight in

B) whether he has any insight in

C) if he has any insight into

D) if he is insightful in such

E) whether he having any insight into

ANSWERS

1) D

The subject is number, which is singular, so the verb must be is.

2) E

This sentence contains two errors: it has an implied pronoun (they) and comma splice.

3) B

This resolution contains a parallel structure error. When the pronoun to is used with a list of three or more infinitives, it must appear with just the first (to study, learn, and take) or with all infinitives (to study, to learn, and to take).

4) A

This is a difficult sentence! Neither is the singular subject (not the plural brothers, which appears in a prepositional phrase), so the singular verb is knows and the singular pronoun is his.

The sentence is correct as is.

5) C

This is an idiom error. The correct idiom is has any insight into.