The writing section of the SAT can be challenging, but with some practice and the right strategies, you can improve your score. Here are 10 tips to help you succeed:
- Review grammar and syntax: Make sure you have a strong foundation in grammar and syntax by reviewing the rules of standard written English.
- Understand the test format: Familiarize yourself with the structure and format of the writing section of the SAT. This will help you know what to expect and how to manage your time.
- Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with the types of questions you will encounter on the test. Use practice tests and online resources to get in some extra reps.
- Work on your vocabulary: A strong vocabulary is an important part of effective writing. Make an effort to expand your vocabulary by reading widely and learning new words.
- Understand transitional words and phrases: Transitional words and phrases are often tested on the writing portion of the SAT. There are common ones such as “therefore” and “similarly”, but there are also some that are more difficult to use: “indeed” and “to these ends”.
- Pay attention to paragraph structure: A well-structured paragraph has a clear topic sentence and supporting details. Make sure your paragraphs are organized and easy to follow.
- Use concrete examples: Sometimes on the test, a question will ask you whether certain information should be included or deleted. Make sure the content is specific for what the question wants to include. For example, if a question asks to include examples of the issue in the previous sentence, then the content to include should have more than one specific example.
- Avoid common errors: Watch out for common errors such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and misplaced modifiers.
- Check your work: Before you submit your answers, double-check your work to make sure you haven’t made any careless mistakes.
- Review your mistakes from past and practice tests: After the test, review any questions you got wrong. This can help you learn from your mistakes and identify any areas where you need to focus your studies.
By following these tips and staying committed to your studies, you can improve your performance on the writing section of the SAT. Remember that your writing score is only out of 400. Your total English score is a combination of writing and reading, so make sure to review tips for improving your SAT reading score also.
