PSAT Writing : Identifying No Error Questions
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Example Questions
Example Question #20 : 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.
Some people think that they are better than everyone else, but others don't think highly enough of themselves. No error
better
others
everyone else
No error
highly enough of themselves
No error
This sentence is grammatically correct as written, and needs no stylistic improvements made to it.
Example Question #21 : 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.
Haiti, which suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010, is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, where nearly eighty percent of the population lives below the poverty line. No error
lives
in
No error
which
where
No error
This sentence is correct as written. None of the SAT's "go-to" errors are present in the sentence. Both the subject and verb of the sentence agree; "which" is used correctly; and the prepositions in the sentence are properly used as well.
Example Question #22 : 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.
The environmental activists successfully effected social change; the legislators decided to table the bill that would have allowed corporations to pollute local rivers with impunity. No error
No error
would have allowed
with
to table
effected
No error
The difference between "effect" and "affect" is tested routinely on the SAT. "Effect" is a noun meaning the result of an action; "affect" is a verb meaning change. However, "effect" can also be used as a verb that means cause, so it is used correctly in the sentence. There are no errors in the sentence, so "No error" is the best option.
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.
Lindsey, Krista, and Whitney pooled their allowances to buy a new game for them to share. No error
their
and Whitney
to buy
No error
for them to share
No error
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 #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.
Charlie preferred tackling new and exciting challenges to repeating the same boring procedures. No error
to
No error
the same boring procedures
preferred
new and exciting
No error
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 #25 : 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.
Joan always wanted to be a famous surgeon when she grew up, but my ambition was to be a landscape architect. No error
was to be a
but
No error
famous
she
No error
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 #26 : 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.
Susan, a fabulous salsa dancer, is also a brilliant data analyst. No error
is
brilliant
No error
analyst
a fabulous salsa dancer
No error
This sentence contains no grammatical errors and needs to stylistic adjustments made to it.
Example Question #27 : 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.
Unfortunately, the organization suffered from poor governance at the national level. No error
suffered from
Unfortunately
the national level
No error
poor
No error
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 #28 : 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 a severe drought in the western half of the country, produce prices skyrocketed. No error
severe
skyrocketed
western half
Because of
No error
No error
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 #29 : 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
one
turn down
that
No error
was going to revolutionize
No error
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.
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