PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It is rare but not unheard of for goats to start chasing wild turkeys. No error.
start chasing
No error.
It is
but not unheard of
rare
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "It is" is an appropriate pronoun-verb combination, "rare" is an adjective describing an idea, "but not unheard of" is an appropriately used idiom, and "start chasing" is the correct conjugation of the verb.
Example Question #15 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As to the astonishing amount of radishes piled on her front porch, Mrs. Lawton was flabbergasted. No error.
No error.
her
piled
As to
was flabbergasted
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "As to" is an appropriate transition to introduce a new topic, "piled" is the correct form of the verb, "her" is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent, and "was flabbergasted" is an appropriate verb-adjective combination.
Example Question #16 : Identifying No Error Questions
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The professor was certain that her research would provoke controversy and heated discussion throughout the academic community. No error.
throughout the academic community
would provoke
No error.
was certain
her
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "Was certain" has a verb that agrees with its noun and an adjective that modifies that noun, "her" is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent, "would provoke" is a verb in the correct tense, and "throughout the academic community" is a correctly-formed prepositional phrase.
Example Question #21 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Johnny much preferred flannel shirts and bluegrass music to suits and jazz. No error.
to
No error.
flannel shirts and bluegrass music
much
preferred
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! "Much" is an adverb modifying "preferred," "preferred" is a verb in the correct tense and person, "flannel shirts and bluegrass music" follows parallel structure, and "to" creates the comparison.
Example Question #22 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Gail voraciously attacked the steak dinner that Carl had prepared for her birthday. No error.
No error.
voraciously
had prepared
attacked
that
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Voraciously” is an adverb that modifies a verb, “attacked” is a verb in the correct tense, “that” is an appropriate relative pronoun, and “had prepared” is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #23 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Many countries have their own carnival celebrations where all of the people dress up and frolic in the streets. No error.
where
dress up and frolic
No error.
their
Many
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Many” is an adjective describing a noun, “their” is a pronoun that matches its antecedent, “where” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “dress up and frolic” uses correct parallel structure.
Example Question #24 : Identifying Sentence 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 dancers hopped like frogs across the stage, and Duncan wondered what was going on. No error.
hopped like frogs
what
going
No error.
stage, and
No error.
This sentence is correct as written. “Hopped like frogs” is a correctly-formed verb phrase, the comma in “stage, and” is correct, “what” is the correct pronoun, and “going” is an appropriately-used gerund.
Example Question #31 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Far from being elected prom king, Dan received only a single vote, which he himself cast. No error.
single
being
No error.
which
himself
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! The gerund “being” is used correctly, the adjective “single” appropriately modifies a noun, “which” is the appropriate relative pronoun, and “himself” correctly uses a reflexive pronoun for emphasis.
Example Question #21 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Listening at his parents’ bedroom door, Gerald was appalled to learn that one of the neighborhood children had had a horrific bike accident the week before. No error.
appalled
had had
No error.
Listening
parents'
No error.
The sentence is grammatically correct as written.
Example Question #1 : 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.
Anne later discovered that Paul and she were the members of the choir to sing the correct notes of the song. No error
were
she
No error
to sing
later discovered
No error
There are no inherent grammatical errors in the sentence above. The phrase "Paul and she were" may ring some alarms, but it is the same as the phrase "she and Paul were." You can break it down into "Paul was the only person" and "she was the only person." When combined, it should appear as written in the question. "She" is used properly in the subject form of the pronoun, rather than "her," the object form; "she" is performing the action in the sentence.
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