SAT Writing and Language Test: Syllabus, Topics, Question Types, Tips
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SAT Writing and Language falls under SAT EBRW or Evidence-based Reading and Writing Test. There are four passages in SAT Language and Writing each having 11 questions each. The total time for SAT language and writing section is 35 minutes. SAT writing and language consists of three types of passages - Argument passage, narrative nonfiction, and informative and explanatory. All SAT writing and language questions are Multiple Choice Questions. SAT EBRW is scored on a range of 200 to 800.
SAT Writing and Language Syllabus
SAT writing and language asks candidates to solve the deliberate errors present in the passages. SAT writing and language strategies guide candidates in reading, finding weaknesses and mistakes, and ultimately fixing them. SAT writing and language of SAT syllabus mostly test high-school skills like proofreading and problem-solving.
A few of the passages may include infographics like charts, graphs, and tables. No math is required to solve these problems. Some writing and language test SAT questions ask candidates to concentrate on a single sentence. Whereas others require them to read the whole passage thoroughly. The topics of the passage range from history, science, to social studies, and humanities. Below are few points that will help candidates during SAT preparation while answering writing and language test section 2:
- There are many questions that are based on the context of the passage. Candidates need to read more than just the sentence to find the best answer.
- In case of no additional directions or questions, select the answer choice that is most appropriate and accurate
- Some SAT writing and language questions will contain more than one graphic for reference. The questions may ask candidates to consult the graphics for rectifying the error in the passage. Note: Candidates will never have to make corrections in the graphic itself.
SAT Writing and Language Passage Types
SAT writing and language test passages are different from the SAT reading test. The four passages in writing and language SAT range from 400 to 450 in length. The difficulty level is lower than the SAT reading test. The four topics of SAT writing and language test passages are career, history/social studies, humanities, and science. The following are the subtopics of the four main topics:
- Career: This includes passages related to trends, debates, and issues based on major career paths like healthcare or information technology. It also includes general-interest topics like business, industry, jobs, and more.
- History/Social Studies: Passages are based on anthropology, communication studies, economics, law, human geography, history, education, linguistics, political science, sociology, and other concepts.
- Science: The passages are based on topics like biology, physics, Earth Science, Chemistry, and other similar concepts. It may be based on recent discoveries, interesting hypotheses and theories, and innovative research studies and methods.
- Humanities: This includes topics based on classics, literature, language, law, performing arts, visual arts, theatre, philosophy, religion, and more.
The three types of SAT language and writing passages are:
- Argument passages: These passages have a strong position and use evidence to back a claim.
- Narrative nonfiction: These passages provide a concise story with a proper beginning, middle, and end.
- Informative/Explanatory: This type of passage provide information about a topic
SAT Writing and Language Question Types
SAT writing and language questions are categorized into two parts: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions.
- Expression of Ideas: This question asks candidates to develop the efficiency of communication in a piece of writing. A sample is shown to help candidates while writing SAT writing and language test 2 answers:
- Standard English Conventions: This question of SAT writing and language tests the candidate’s standard English conventions like - grammar, usage, conventions, punctuation, and more. A sample is shown below to help candidates with SAT writing and language test answers:
Skills Tested by SAT Writing and Language
SAT writing and language tests measure certain skills. Candidates need to work on the below skills to improve their SAT score:
- Command of Evidence: The question testing command of evidence asks candidates to enhance the way passages develop information/ideas. This can be done by adding a strong detail to an argument.
- Word in Context: Questions testing words in context ask candidates to develop their word choice. This can be done by making the passage more concise and precise, or by developing the syntax, tone, or style.
- Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science: Candidates need to read passages based on history, social studies, and science. They then need to develop the passage by making editorial changes.
- Expression of Ideas: Few questions ask about a passage’s structure and its impact. The candidates will be required to answer which structural changes add to the passage’s development, or how the sentences work together.
- Standard English Conventions: Sentence structure, punctuation, usage, are tested here. The candidates will be required to change clauses, words, punctuation. A few of the topics included are verb tense, subject-verb agreement, parallel construction, and more.
SAT Writing and Language Tips
Candidates need to work SAT language section by following proper SAT writing and language strategies. Below are a few of the writing and language SAT tips:
- Focus on regular grammar practice to answer SAT writing and language questions
- Eliminate the wrong answer choices. It will help you find the correct answer
- Only the answers which are concise and grammatically correct will be accurate
- The word ‘being’ is mostly a signal of a mistake
- Regularly practice from SAT practice papers. Below are a few of the SAT writing and language practice papers:
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.