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SAT Writing and Language Test: Syllabus, Topics, Question Types, Tips

SAT Writing and Language falls under SAT EBRW or Evidence-based Reading and Writing Test. There are four passages in SAT Language and Writing each having 11 questions each. The total time for SAT language and writing section is 35 minutes. SAT writing and language consists of three types of passages - Argument passage, narrative nonfiction, and informative and explanatory. All SAT writing and language questions are Multiple Choice Questions. SAT EBRW is scored on a range of 200 to 800.

SAT Writing and Language Syllabus

SAT writing and language asks candidates to solve the deliberate errors present in the passages. SAT writing and language strategies guide candidates in reading, finding weaknesses and mistakes, and ultimately fixing them. SAT writing and language of SAT syllabus mostly test high-school skills like proofreading and problem-solving.

A few of the passages may include infographics like charts, graphs, and tables. No math is required to solve these problems. Some writing and language test SAT questions ask candidates to concentrate on a single sentence. Whereas others require them to read the whole passage thoroughly. The topics of the passage range from history, science, to social studies, and humanities. Below are few points that will help candidates during SAT preparation while answering writing and language test section 2:

  • There are many questions that are based on the context of the passage. Candidates need to read more than just the sentence to find the best answer.
  • In case of no additional directions or questions, select the answer choice that is most appropriate and accurate
  • Some SAT writing and language questions will contain more than one graphic for reference. The questions may ask candidates to consult the graphics for rectifying the error in the passage. Note: Candidates will never have to make corrections in the graphic itself.

SAT Writing and Language Passage Types

SAT writing and language test passages are different from the SAT reading test. The four passages in writing and language SAT range from 400 to 450 in length. The difficulty level is lower than the SAT reading test. The four topics of SAT writing and language test passages are career, history/social studies, humanities, and science. The following are the subtopics of the four main topics:

  1. Career: This includes passages related to trends, debates, and issues based on major career paths like healthcare or information technology. It also includes general-interest topics like business, industry, jobs, and more.
  2. History/Social Studies: Passages are based on anthropology, communication studies, economics, law, human geography, history, education, linguistics, political science, sociology, and other concepts.
  3. Science: The passages are based on topics like biology, physics, Earth Science, Chemistry, and other similar concepts. It may be based on recent discoveries, interesting hypotheses and theories, and innovative research studies and methods.
  4. Humanities: This includes topics based on classics, literature, language, law, performing arts, visual arts, theatre, philosophy, religion, and more.

The three types of SAT language and writing passages are:

  1. Argument passages: These passages have a strong position and use evidence to back a claim.
  2. Narrative nonfiction: These passages provide a concise story with a proper beginning, middle, and end.
  3. Informative/Explanatory: This type of passage provide information about a topic

SAT Writing and Language Question Types

SAT writing and language questions are categorized into two parts: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions.

  1. Expression of Ideas: This question asks candidates to develop the efficiency of communication in a piece of writing. A sample is shown to help candidates while writing SAT writing and language test 2 answers:
Expression of Ideas
 
  1. Standard English Conventions: This question of SAT writing and language tests the candidate’s standard English conventions like - grammar, usage, conventions, punctuation, and more. A sample is shown below to help candidates with SAT writing and language test answers:
Standard English Conventions

Skills Tested by SAT Writing and Language

SAT writing and language tests measure certain skills. Candidates need to work on the below skills to improve their SAT score:

  • Command of Evidence: The question testing command of evidence asks candidates to enhance the way passages develop information/ideas. This can be done by adding a strong detail to an argument.
  • Word in Context: Questions testing words in context ask candidates to develop their word choice. This can be done by making the passage more concise and precise, or by developing the syntax, tone, or style.
  • Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science: Candidates need to read passages based on history, social studies, and science. They then need to develop the passage by making editorial changes.
  • Expression of Ideas: Few questions ask about a passage’s structure and its impact. The candidates will be required to answer which structural changes add to the passage’s development, or how the sentences work together.
  • Standard English Conventions: Sentence structure, punctuation, usage, are tested here. The candidates will be required to change clauses, words, punctuation. A few of the topics included are verb tense, subject-verb agreement, parallel construction, and more.

SAT Writing and Language Tips 

Candidates need to work SAT language section by following proper SAT writing and language strategies. Below are a few of the writing and language SAT tips:

  1. Focus on regular grammar practice to answer SAT writing and language questions
  2. Eliminate the wrong answer choices. It will help you find the correct answer
  3. Only the answers which are concise and grammatically correct will be accurate
  4. The word ‘being’ is mostly a signal of a mistake
  5. Regularly practice from SAT practice papers. Below are a few of the SAT writing and language practice papers:

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

SAT 2021 : 5 answered questions

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Ques. Is 1160 a good score in the SAT to get a call from the IIM Ranchi IPM program?

● Top Answer By Radhika Srivastava on 19 Jan 23

People with scores of 1500 or higher often aim for the IIM Ranchi IPM program. With a score of 1160, you may not be in a strong position to get a call from IIM Ranchi, but if you have strong extracurricular activities and good academic performance in the past (e.g. in 10th and 12th grade), you may still have a chance.  If you do not receive a call from IIM Ranchi, you can still try for the IIM Indore IPM-AT program. You must keep in mind that IIM Ranchi may also consider applicants for the IIM Indore IPM-AT program. It's worth giving it your best effort....Read more

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Ques. Do I have to take the SAT for the IPM course provided by IIM or only for IIM Ranchi?

● Top Answer By Yashluv Virwani on 19 Jan 23

IIM Ranchi has not disclosed a specific cutoff score for the SAT for admission to their Integrated Program in Management (IPM) program. However, according to an interview with the IIM Ranchi IPM admission panel, students who score highly on the SAT may be invited to participate in a personal interview.  It is worth noting that this information is based on assumptions and research, and a score of 1400+ on the SAT may be considered a safe bet for admission consideration. However, it is also possible that a score of 1350+ could be sufficient if luck is on your side....Read more

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Ques. I got 1090 in my SAT attempt. Will my marks be eligible for the IIM Ranchi IPM program?

● Top Answer By Juhi Gupta on 12 Jan 23

I am willing to give you my honest opinion in this regard. Your score is good but not at par with the competition posed during IPM admissions. I have seen scores higher than this while attempting to get admission to the IPM program. But don’t let this discourage you as Indore also conducts an aptitude test IPMAT and admission is based on that too. You can work on this exam and compensate for your past low scores.  Another option to compensate for your low marks is to upgrade your extracurricular background. IIM Indore actively considered extracurricular activities during admissions. But in the end I will still ask you to depend on IPMAT mostly for your admission...Read more

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Ques. I'm in the ST category. I got 930 in my SAT. Is it good enough to get into IPM IIM Ranchi?

● Top Answer By Ankur Shukla on 12 Jan 23

IIM Ranchi offers an IPM Program based on SAT / IPMAT Scores. The Expected Cutoff for IPM via SAT is 930. Apart from this, we don’t have many criteria to base this admission on. So the benefit of the doubt goes to applicants having SAT scores soaring at about 1100–1600. The admission criteria for other programs are more flexible as it is based on parameters such as 10,12, UG scorecards. So it’s highly unlikely that even high marks will get you into IIM Ranchi....Read more

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Ques. What will be a good SAT score to get into IIM Ranchi with decent academics?

● Top Answer By Saurav Pandey on 11 Jan 23

The admissions to the IPM Program are based on SAT / IPMAT Scores. The Expected Cutoff for IPM via IPMAT is 265 / 300 . SAT Expected Cutoff for IPM Admission 2023 is as follows:   Category  SAT Cutof f General 1350 Other Backward Classes (OBC) 1050 Emotionally Weaker Sections (EWS) 1030 Scheduled Caste (SC) 930 Scheduled Tribes (ST) 930 Differently Abled (DAP) 800...Read more

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