PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : 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.

Lindsey, Krista, and Whitney pooled their allowances to buy a new game for them to share. No error

Possible Answers:

their

for them to share

and Whitney

No error

to buy

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence has no grammatical errors. It correctly utilizes the oxford comma to separate "Krista" from "Whitney" in the list of subjects, the plural pronoun "their," the infinitive "to buy," and the prepositional phrase "for them to share."

Example Question #21 : 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.

Charlie preferred tackling new and exciting challenges to repeating the same boring proceduresNo error

Possible Answers:

new and exciting

the same boring procedures

No error

preferred

to

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written! "Preferred" is in the correct tense, "new and exciting" are adjectives modifying a noun, "to" is the correct word to make a comparison, and "the same boring procedures" is an appropriate noun phrase.

Example Question #862 : 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.

Joan always wanted to be a famous surgeon when she grew up, but my ambition was to be a landscape architect. No error

Possible Answers:

famous

but

she

was to be a

No error

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written! "Famous" is an adjective describing a noun, "she" is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent, "but" is the appropriate conjunction, and "was to be a" is a correct combination of verbs and an indefinite article.

Example Question #61 : Psat Writing Skills

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Susan, a fabulous salsa dancer, is also a brilliant data analystNo error

Possible Answers:

a fabulous salsa dancer

No error

is

analyst

brilliant

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence contains no grammatical errors and needs to stylistic adjustments made to it.

Example Question #61 : Psat Writing Skills

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Unfortunately, the organization suffered from poor governance at the national levelNo error

Possible Answers:

the national level

poor

No error

suffered from

Unfortunately

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written. "Unfortunately" is an adverb modifying the sentence as a whole, "suffered from" uses the correct tense and preposition, "poor" is an adjective modifying a noun, and "the national level" is a correctly formed noun phrase.

Example Question #23 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Because of severe drought in the western half of the country, produce prices skyrocketedNo error

Possible Answers:

Because of

skyrocketed

severe

No error

western half

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written! It's okay to start a sentence with "because" if you have a main clause after, "severe" is an adjective modifying a noun, "western half" is formatted correctly (no capitalization!), and "skyrocketed" is a verb in the correct tense.

Example Question #24 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Never one to turn down a challenge, Pablo decided that he was going to revolutionize the classic canvas tote bag. No error

Possible Answers:

was going to revolutionize

that

No error

one

turn down

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written! "One" is the appropriate pronoun, "turn down" is a verb in the correct tense, "that" is the correct relative pronoun, and "was going to revolutionize" is a correctly formed verb phrase.

Example Question #51 : 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.

Since he arrived in Minnesota two weeks ago, my uncle Ted has gone fishing at least ten times. No error

Possible Answers:

two weeks ago

No error

has gone fishing

my

arrived in

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written. “Arrived in” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “two weeks ago” is a correctly formed adverbial phrase, “my” is a pronoun used correctly, and “has gone fishing” is in the appropriate tense.

Example Question #62 : Psat Writing Skills

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Covered in tapestries, paintings, and maps, the cozy library looked like it held a million secrets. No error

Possible Answers:

cozy

looked

No error

it

Covered in

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

Nothing in this sentence needs to be changed!

Example Question #62 : Psat Writing Skills

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I would rather run an entire marathon than spend one more day sitting at that table nibbling crumpets. No error

Possible Answers:

nibbling

that

than spend one more day

No error

entire

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written. “Entire” is an adjective that modifies a noun, “than spend one more day” is a logical comparison, “that” is a demonstrative pronoun used correctly, and “nibbling” is a present progressive verb that describes a concurrent action.

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