Writing and Language
Writing and Language - what the exam tests
This domain tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, usage, and rhetorical effectiveness: transitions, concision, organization, and relevance of evidence. Items ask you to revise underlined portions or choose the best version of a sentence.
Core rules
- Subject-verb agreement: locate the true subject and ignore prepositional phrases; 'the box of tools is,' not 'are.'
- Pronouns: match number and person, and make the antecedent unambiguous. 'They' cannot refer to a singular noun.
- Comma splices: two independent clauses need a period, semicolon, or comma plus a conjunction-not a comma alone.
- Semicolons and colons: a semicolon joins independent clauses; a colon follows a complete sentence and introduces a list, explanation, or quotation.
- Modifiers: place a descriptive phrase next to the noun it describes; otherwise it dangles.
- Parallelism: items in a list or comparison must share grammatical form.
- Verbs: keep tense consistent unless the meaning requires a shift.
- Rhetoric: choose the shortest version that preserves meaning, and pick transitions that match the logic-contrast, cause, addition, example.
Worked example
'The team of researchers, who spent years in the field, (was/were) surprised.' The subject is 'team,' singular, so 'was' is correct. 'Of researchers' is a prepositional phrase, and the 'who' clause is extra information that does not change the subject.
Traps that cost marks
- Accepting 'NO CHANGE' without testing the other options.
- Inserting a comma between a subject and its verb.
- Using 'less' for countable nouns instead of 'fewer.'
- Confusing 'its' (possessive) with 'it's' (it is).
- Choosing a longer, fancier revision that adds no meaning.
- Picking a transition that sounds formal but reverses the logic.