Download Sentence Correction MCQs
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Note that we did not state that the correct answer is always the most concise one. While this often is the case, it does not always hold true. You may find that you need to resist the temptation to always select the shortest answer choice.
Sentence Correction Tricks and Strategies
Do not waste time on a close reading of answer choice A.
Choice A always simply repeats the wording of the underscored section. If you've read the underscored text, you already know what it says. Keep in mind, however, that we are not saying to ignore choice A entirely. It will be correct approximately one fifth of the time. That said, we do advise clients not to succumb to the temptation to over analyze these questions or to assume that there is always a re-written answer choice that is better than the underlined segment presented in the question.
Trick - Look out for multiple errors.
A sentence might contain more than one error. A common fallacy that test-takers fall into is to find one error and then quickly choose the answer that corrects that mistake, without considering whether there are other errors in the sentence that an alternative answer choice might also address. The correct answer must correct all of the errors in the underlined text.
Trick - Employ process of elimination wherever possible.
The easiest way to use process of elimination in sentence correction questions is simply to eliminate any answer choices that are themselves grammatically incorrect. You can also eliminate any choices that alter the intended meaning of the sentence. If you are still unsure about how to answer a question even after narrowing your choices down to two, you will fare better by selecting the more concise of the remaining answer choices – provided that it does not use the passive voice.
Short cut - Spelling or Capitalization errors.
The test writers do not test for these 2 errors.
When in doubt, look for subtle differences among the different answer choices.
Examining how answer choices differ from one another can also be a good way to determine what errors might be present in the underlined text. This technique can also help you fight the tendency to read so carefully for meaning that you overlook grammatical mistakes.
Read the entire sentence a second time, inserting your selected answer choice.
We have found this to be a very powerful tip for dealing with sentence correction questions. It can keep you from making careless mistakes.
Trust your ears. If you become stuck, 'say' the choices in your head and then select the passage that sounds best to your ears. Most test takers, particularly native English speakers, have internalized many more grammar rules than they can explicitly identify.
Grammar Concepts and Rules You Should Know.
We do not have the time or space to review the material tested by the sentence correction section here. However, we have compiled the following "short list" of grammatical rules that the writers particularly like to test. You are strongly encouraged to memorize this list of grammar concepts and rules, and to refresh your knowledge of them, before you sit for the test.
- 'Among' versus 'between'
- Elliptical verb phrases
- Misplaced modifiers
- Parallel sentences
- Pronoun-subject agreement
- Proper use of adverbs (they modify verbs)
- Proper use of the semicolon
- 'Fewer' versus 'less'
- Run-on sentences
- Sentence fragments
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb tenses
- 'Who' versus 'whom'
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Best Preparation
You’ve probably heard the quote (originally credited to Alexander Graham Bell): Preparation is the key to success. When it comes to test taking, these are words to live by.