SAT Writing and Language Test: Syllabus, Topics, Question Types, Tips

Content Curator | Updated On - May 4, 2024

The SAT Writing and Language test is a multiple-choice exam in which you read passages and identify and correct errors and deficiencies. The 35-minute SAT Writing and Language part consists of 44 multiple-choice questions and 4 passages. Each of the four paragraphs on the exam contains 400–450 words. The passages' degree of difficulty varies; some are harder to understand than others. The excerpts cover a range of SAT writing subjects, such as science, the humanities, vocations, history, and social studies. SAT EBRW is scored on a range of 200 to 800.

Table of Contents

SAT Writing and Language Syllabus
1.1 Passage Types
1.2 Question Types
Skills Tested by SAT Writing and Language
SAT Writing and Language Test Score
SAT Writing and Language Tips
4.1 SAT Writing and Language Grammar Rules
SAT Writing and Language Book
SAT Writing and Language Practice Test
FAQs

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 Test Score

Candidates often enqire "what is a good SAT writing and language score?" Average Writing and Language Test scores range from 10 to 40 for students, and they make up one of the two equally weighted components of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score (200-800). The SAT Writing and Language Test scores are determined by performance in two key areas:
Expression of Ideas and Usage of Standard English. The former places a strong emphasis on rhetoric, which is here described as the "substance and quality" of writing, whereas the latter is built on students' comprehension of "correct" English. Some questions also contribute to the subscores for Words in Context and Command of Evidence (1–15), as well as the cross-test scores for Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science (10–40).

SAT Writing and Language Tips

Candidates oftren wonder “How to ace the SAT writing and language section?” 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

SAT Writing and Language Grammar Rules

Here are the grammar tips for the SAT Writing and Language section listed below:

The Subject and Verb Must Agree in Number: Subject-verb agreement is one of the grammar principles that is most frequently examined on the SAT® Writing Section. Simply put, there should be a singular verb for a singular subject (one) and a plural verb for a plural subject (more than one).
Collective Nouns are Singular: The SAT Writing and Language Test frequently deceives test-takers by using items like collective nouns to muddle simple subject-verb agreement. To prepare for the SAT, keep in mind that group nouns that relate to numerous people are singular subjects.
Prepositional Phrases DO NOT Make a Subject Singular or Plural: Prepositions are not used to indicate whether a subject is singular or plural, which is one of the most crucial grammar principles to keep in mind as you study for the SAT Writing and Language Test. Instead, we employ the verb form indicated by the head noun, or the noun being changed.
Pronouns Must be Clear in Reference and Number: Candidates should always be able to circle a pronoun and draw an arrow to the precise person, place, or thing being mentioned on the SAT Writing and Language Test. Connecting pronouns to their nouns is something you should practice on the SAT.
Modifiers have to Appear Next to Whatever they’re Modifying: The SAT Writing Section has a prevalent error type: the use of dangling and improperly placed modifiers. Modifiers are words or phrases that add information to another term to help the reader understand it better. In your SAT Review, keep in mind that the word immediately after the comma must be the term being changed whenever you see a modifier, particularly at the start of a phrase.

SAT Writing and Language Book

Here are the list of SAT writing and language book PDF. This will help candidates to understand the SAT Writing and Language topics, SAT Writing and Language tips, and SAT Writing and Language question types. Additionally these conatins SAT Writing and Language practice test for regular practice sessions and good score:

The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar and the accompanying workbook by Erica Meltzer
Barron's SAT Writing Workbook (5th Edition) by George Ehrenhaft
English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
Easy Grammar Plus by Wanda C. Phillips
StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language
Mind the Test SAT Writing and Language
SAT Writing: New Grammar Tests
SAT Reading and Writing Workbook
SAT Verbal Prep Book for Reading and Writing Mastery
McGraw-Hill Education Conquering the SAT Writing and Language Test
SAT Reading & Writing Prep by Kaplan
The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar
SAT Prep Black Book
The College Panda’s SAT Writing

SAT Writing and Language Practice Test

Regularly practice from SAT practice papers. Below are a few of the SAT writing and language practice papers:

SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 1	SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 2
SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 3	SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 4
SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 5	SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 6
SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 7	SAT Writing and Language Practice Paper 8

FAQs

Ques: What is the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: The SAT Writing and Language section is a portion of the SAT exam that assesses your ability to identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and usage within written passages.

Ques: How many questions are in the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: The SAT Writing and Language section consists of 44 multiple-choice questions, which you need to answer within a 35-minute time frame.

Ques: What types of passages are featured in the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: The passages in this section cover a range of topics, such as history, social studies, science, and literature. The goal is to test your ability to analyze and edit various types of written content.

Ques: How is the SAT Writing and Language section scored?

Ans: Each correct answer adds a point to your raw score, while incorrect answers deduct a fraction of a point due to the penalty for guessing. Your raw score is then converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800.

Ques: What grammar concepts are tested in this section?

Ans: The SAT Writing and Language section tests a variety of grammar concepts, including subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun usage, modifiers, sentence structure, and punctuation rules.

Ques: Can I use a calculator during the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: No, the SAT Writing and Language section does not permit the use of a calculator. It focuses on your understanding of language and grammar rather than mathematical calculations.

Ques: Can I study for the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: Yes, you can definitely study for this section. Reviewing grammar rules, practicing with sample questions, and taking practice tests can help you become more familiar with the types of questions you'll encounter.

Ques: Are there any strategies to approach the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: Absolutely. Strategies include reading the passage carefully, identifying errors by reading aloud, considering the context of the passage, and eliminating answer choices that don't fit grammatically.

Ques: Can I bring my own scratch paper for notes during the SAT Writing and Language section?

Ans: No, the SAT provides scratch paper for use during the exam, including the Writing and Language section. You'll need to turn in your scratch paper after the test.

Ques: How does the SAT Writing and Language section relate to college admissions?

Ans: The SAT Writing and Language section, along with the other sections of the SAT, provides colleges with a standardized measure of your readiness for college-level work. Many colleges consider SAT scores as part of their admissions process.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.