What are the SAT Writing and Language Test Questions Like?

✍️ Writing and Language Test Overview

The Writing and Language test is one of the two tests in the SAT's Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section. The test measures a student’s ability to edit pieces. The section consists of 44 multiple-choice questions and students have 35 minutes to complete this portion of the test. This means that you have approximately 45 seconds to answer each question. 

Types of Passages

The passages on the Writing and Language Test are about 400 to 450 words long. There are three main types of passages: informative/explanatory, nonfiction narratives, and argumentative. These passages explore topics ranging from humanities to careers. Some passages might be occupied by informational graphics. 

📑 Types of Questions

There are 5 types of questions on the Writing and Language test. 

Command of evidence questions 🗃️ ask you to improve the development of ideas in the passage. These questions typically ask you to add supporting evidence or details that strengthen the author's argument. 

Word-in-context questions 📚 ask you to improve the author's word choice. It's important to keep the style of the passage and its tone in mind when answering these questions. 

Analysis questions 🔍 test your ability to analyze the information provided in history/social studies and science passages. Frequently, these questions involve making changes to the passage in accordance with data provided in tables and graphs. 

Expression of ideas questions 📝 measure how well you can improve the function of the passage by changing the organization or structure of the passage. For example, the question might ask you to rearrange the order of the sentences in a paragraph to make it more coherent. 

Standard English convention questions 📔 assess your grammatical skills. To do well on these types of questions, you need to have a strong grasp of punctuation rules. These questions are straightforward and can be answered quickly. 

Practice makes perfect! The more practice tests you take, the better you will perform in the Writing and Language Section. Understanding the types of questions can help you hone in on specific areas that you need to work on. 🤓