Writing: Sentence Structure, Conventions, and Clear Organization
What the Writing section asks
TASC writing items ask you to revise and edit. You will choose the best version of a sentence, fix errors in grammar and usage, and improve organization and word choice. The tested areas are sentence boundaries, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, verb tense consistency, punctuation, capitalization, parallelism, modifiers, and concision.
Concepts to master
Know the three sentence errors: fragment (missing a subject or verb, or a dependent clause standing alone), run-on (two independent clauses joined with no punctuation), and comma splice (two independent clauses joined by only a comma). Fix them with a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction. Ensure pronouns have one clear antecedent. Keep modifiers next to the words they describe. Use parallel structure in lists and comparisons.
Traps to expect
- Distractor punctuation: a semicolon before a dependent clause, or a comma between two complete sentences.
- Nearest-noun agreement: verbs agree with the true subject, not the noun closest to the verb ("The box of files is heavy").
- Dangling modifiers: "Walking to work, the rain began" wrongly attaches the action to rain.
- Wordiness: the shortest grammatical choice is often correct, but not if it changes meaning.
- Shifts in tense or person inside one paragraph.
Rule of thumb
Read each choice aloud mentally and ask two questions: Is every group of words a complete sentence or clearly attached to one? Does every pronoun and modifier point to exactly one thing? Eliminate choices that create a new error while fixing the original one.
Worked example
"The report was finished by the team, they submitted it early." This is a comma splice. Correct options include "The team finished the report and submitted it early" or "The report was finished by the team; it was submitted early." A choice using a comma alone remains wrong even if it sounds smoother.