SAT Prep – SAT Standard English Conventions

SAT Reading and Writing Section Basics

While the SAT has historically been a paper-and-pencil exam, the test underwent a transition to become a digital exam in 2023 (2024 for students in the United States). The latest version of the SAT is composed of two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. The Reading and Writing section contains 54 questions, and students are given 64 minutes to complete them. In addition to being a digital exam, the SAT is also computer adaptive, and the Reading and Writing section is divided into two equal modules, each containing 27 questions to be completed in 32 minutes. Students receive a mixture of easy, medium, and difficult questions for their first module, and how they perform on the first module determines the questions they receive on their second module. If a student performs well on the first module, they receive more challenging questions on their second module. If they struggle completing the first module, however, they receive less challenging questions on their second module. 

The Reading and Writing section of the SAT involves a series of reading passages that students must read and then revise through the use of multiple-choice questions, identifying mistakes and weaknesses when present. Students are no longer required to write an essay as part of the SAT, as the test contains questions to assess both reading and writing skills. Each text passage is roughly 25-150 words in length, and test-takers are asked only one question per text passage. Passage subjects are varied and will address career issues, social studies, history, the humanities, and science, with one or more passages being dedicated to each subject. Several passages also contain informational graphics in the form of charts, graphs, and tables. 

Based on information made available by the College Board, questions on the Reading and Writing section can be divided into four content domains, or categories:

  1. Craft and Structure
  2. Information and Ideas
  3. Standard English Conventions
  4. Expression of Ideas

We examine Standard English Conventions questions below.

Standard English Conventions Content Domain

Standard English Conventions questions ask test-takers to edit provided texts so that they conform to the core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. These types of questions account for approximately 26% of all questions on the SAT Reading and Writing section. Additionally, the College Board has identified two subskills that are also assessed by these types of questions:

  1. Boundaries
  2. Form, Structure, and Sense

Boundaries Questions

When it comes to Boundaries questions, students are asked to demonstrate their knowledge of how phrases, clauses, and sentences are linked together in written English. Boundaries questions tend to focus on linking clauses, supplements, and punctuation. Linking clauses is achieved through coordination, subordination, and punctuation. Supplements deal with formatting and punctuating supplemental information that has been provided within a given sentence. And punctuation may focus on the beginning, middle, or end of a given sentence. Boundaries questions will appear similar to the following:

Charles Darwin, known as the father of evolution, only briefly studied medicine beginning in _____ two years, he left the University of Edinburgh to study divinity at Cambridge. 

Q: Which choice completes the text so that if conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) 1825; after

B) 1825 after

C) 1825! After

D) 1825, after

The correct answer is A, as the other answer choices do not conform to Standard English conventions as far as punctuation within a sentence is concerned.

When approaching Boundaries questions, students should start by investigating the blank space and noting where in the sentence it appears, as this will most certainly affect punctuation (e.g., you would not put a period in the middle of a sentence). It is also important to determine the specific convention that is being tested, as students should be familiar with grammar and punctuation rules through classes they have taken, especially high school-level English classes. 

Form, Structure, and Sense Questions

Form, Structure, and Sense questions ask students to demonstrate their knowledge of the rules associated with various parts of speech, as well as their usage. Test-takers can expect to be asked questions focusing on rules related to:

  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Pronoun-antecedent agreement
  • Verb forms
  • Subject-modifier placement
  • Plural and possessive nouns

Form, Structure, and Sense questions will appear similar to the following:

The space shuttle Apollo 13 was launched on April 11th, 1970. While the explosion of an oxygen tank prevented the intended lunar landing, the mission was still considered a ______ the three astronauts on board returned safely to Earth.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) success. Because

B) success because

C) successful mission primarily due to the fact

D) success even though

The correct answer is B. Answer A does not conform to Standard English grammar rules. Answer D does not make logical sense. And while answer C contains correct information, the rules of Standard English state that information should be conveyed without word repetitions or the inclusion of unnecessary words, as succinctness promotes clarity. 

When it comes to answering Form, Structure, and Sense questions, students should start by identifying the grammar rule they are being tested on. Test-takers should read the text closely, paying special attention to the blank to determine what it needs to provide. The answer choices should then be examined for differences, with students noting what changes exist between the given choices: are different pronouns used? Are verbs conjugated differently? Are different subject-verb options provided? Combining this process with the process of elimination is the best way to arrive at the correct answer.

SAT Reading and Writing Section Score

When the SAT transitioned from a paper-and-pencil test to a digital one, the College Board took the opportunity to streamline the number of scores students received after taking the test. While previous versions of the SAT contained subscores and various other combinations of scores, the digital SAT only results in three scores. This was intentional on the part of the College Board, who hoped the reduction would make it easier for scores to be understand and utilized by test-takers, parents, and other academic professionals. The three scores test-takers receive after completing the SAT include:

  1. SAT Total Score
  2. Reading and Writing Section Score
  3. Math Section Score

The SAT Total score is based on a scale ranging from 400-1600, with higher scores indicating a better test performance. Both the Reading and Writing section and the Math section are based on scales ranging from 200-800.

Purpose of the SAT Reading and Writing Section

The Reading and Writing section of the digital SAT was designed to mimic the editing process students will encounter in college-level writing courses. Every test question is based on a reading passage, so achieving a high score on this section does not depend on rote memorization, which was a widespread criticism of past versions of the SAT. After the latest revision, Reading and Writing questions now ask students to improve text passages through revisions such as clarifying ideas, making the order in which information is presented more logical, selecting more precise words, and making changes to grammar and punctuation. If a passage contains an informational graphic, students must also use this to identify errors and improve both the accuracy and clarity of the associated text.

Types of Questions and Answers on the SAT Reading and Writing Section

Every question on the Reading and Writing section of the SAT is multiple-choice, with each question having four possible answer options to choose from. Answer choices may vary widely in how plausible they are, but students will encounter many choices that are very similar to one another (for example, two or three answer choices may differ only in the placement of a single comma). Some answer options may include leaving the word, phrase, or passage unchanged. 

Other questions may ask if a particular sentence should be deleted due to issues of repetition or the fact that the main point is clouded. Still other questions ask a test-taker to focus on the most logical place to insert supporting information or whether the wording of a specific idea is effective. Questions may ask students to effectively combine sentences, unify passages, restate primary claims, incorporate additional supporting evidence, and adhere to stylistic patterns with regards to rhetorical technique or sentence structure.

Preparing for the SAT Reading and Writing Questions

When it comes to preparing for the Reading and Writing section of the SAT, students are advised to take practice tests to familiarize themselves with the various types of questions. In addition to completing practice tests, students are also encouraged to work with a test prep professional, through group courses or a customized private tutoring program, to establish and measure goals related to the SAT. The more familiar a test-taker is with answering Reading and Writing questions, the faster he or she will be able to recognize the type of question being asked and utilize the most effective strategy to arrive at the correct answer.