PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
The author was a master at writing science fiction that transported his readers to another dimension.
transported his readers to another dimension.
that transports his readers to another dimension.
that transported his readers to another dimension.
that transporting his readers to another dimension.
transporting his readers to another dimension.
that transported his readers to another dimension.
The sentence is correct as is. The use of "was" indicates the second verb, in the underlined portion, also needs to be in the past tense. Additionally, "that" is needed to refer back to the author's writing.
Example Question #52 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Choose the best answer from the options given.
The reason Mary and Kelly got into a fight was not their personalities but instead their shared love interest.
but rather their shared love interest
but instead their shared love interest
than their shared love interest
as it was sharing love interest
than because of their shared love interest
but instead their shared love interest
The original sentence is most concise and effective.
Example Question #34 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A salon, or a social gathering of important intellectuals and artists, is not to be confused with a Wild West saloon. No error
intellectuals and artists,
is not to be
with
No error
salon, or
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #61 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Henry was a fiercely stubborn child; he would carry out incredibly successful hunger strikes if he was not served macaroni and cheese for dinner. No error
was
No error
for dinner
incredibly successful
child; he
No error
This sentence is correct as written. The semi-colon between “child” and “he” is grammatical, “incredibly successful” uses adverbs and adjectives to modify the appropriate words, “was” is in the correct tense, and “for dinner” is an acceptable prepositional phrase.
Example Question #62 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Melissa and Tom dream of becoming owners of a gourmet ice cream shop when they grow up, and they are already creating their flavor list. No error
dream of
their
when they grow up
No error
owners
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Dream of” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “owners” is a noun that agrees in number with the subject, “when they grow up” is an acceptable adverbial phrase, and “their” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “Melissa and Tom.”
Example Question #55 : Identifying No Error Questions
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One of the first abstract impressionists, Jackson Pollock was concerned with neither the praise of his supporters nor the criticism of his detractors. No error
No error
concerned with
nor
criticism of his detractors
One of the first abstract impressionists
No error
This sentence contains no errors. The modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence, "One of the first abstract impressionists," correctly modifies the subject right after it, "Jackson Pollock." The answer choice "concerned with" is correctly phrased. The answer choice "nor" is fine; it goes with the "neither" to form a correct "neither . . . nor" construction. Finally, the answer choice "criticism of his detractors" is fine because it preserves the parallel structure introduced earlier in the sentence by the phrase "praise of his supporters."
Example Question #34 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas invited us over for a home-cooked meal at his place, but I doubt he could so much as scramble an egg. No error
doubt
invited us over for
but
his
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Invited us over for” is a conventional use of prepositions, “his” is a pronoun that agrees with “Thomas,” “but” is the appropriate conjunction, and “doubt” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #61 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite the odd smell and the suspicious noise it made when I turned left too quickly, the old car served its basic function of traveling down the road. No error
served
Despite
when
No error
and the suspicious noise
No error
This sentence is correct as written! “Despite” works with the logic of the sentence, “and the suspicious noise” is grammatically parallel to “odd smell,” “when” introduces the dependent clause appropriately, and “served” is in the correct tense.
Example Question #61 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Performers are starting to move their art outdoors; they seek to engage a new audience by bringing theater to the sidewalks and public parks. No error
and
they
by bringing
No error
are starting
No error
This sentence is correct as written! The progressive tense works for “are starting,” “they” agrees with “performers,” “by bringing” is a correctly phrased transition, and “and” is the logical conjunction.
Example Question #62 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The agency’s response was swift and thorough: all agents were immediately removed from the field and told not to disclose any details of the incident. No error
told
immediately
agency's response
swift and thorough
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written! “Agency’s response” is a correctly-formed possessive, “swift and thorough” are two adjectives coordinated correctly, “immediately” is an adverb that modifies a verb, and “told” is a verb in the correct tense.
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