2.0 SAT Writing - Identifying Sentence Errors

Identifying Sentence Errors:  When compared to improving sentence errors, most students find these questions easier since the task is simply to spot the error rather than think critically about fixing the error.  In this sense, you should not take the full 42 seconds for each question.  The SAT test maker underlines four small sections for your consideration.  The thorn in this side, however, is the "No Error" choice that occurs at the end of the sentence.  Often, if too many "No Error's" exist, you might second-guess yourself.  Consider the following bullet points to help you through these questions:

• On this section you do not have to worry about degrees of wordiness.  Instead, this type of question calls on your mechanical ability. 
• Be on the keen lookout for subject-verb agreement errors, pronoun errors, sentence structure errors, and common misuses of language. 
• Any time a verb is underlined ask yourself two quick questions: (a) Does the verb tell the right time and (b) does the verb agree with the subject of the sentence?  The test maker tends to underline many verbs, so you need to engrain these questions into your strategy and discipline.  You must do this quickly. 
• Any time a pronoun is underlined, there are four possible errors: case, person, agreement, reference.  I outlined these in the Big Seven.  Given this, you need to quickly determine if the pronoun is used correctly on these levels.  Once again, you need to disciple yourself to do this quickly every time a pronoun is underlined; these leaves no room for error and there are many pronoun errors, so this is certainly an area to gain big points on the SAT exam. 
• Study a glossary of usage since at least 3 questions containing usage errors occur such as the difference between the verbs "lie" and "lay," "fewer" and "less," etc.   This may help you to gain points on these questions, but it's difficult to control the variables here since the test maker has so many misuses of language to pull from its hat.  If you wish to study smart, you will spend time considering a glossary.  However, realize that even a glossary has limitations.  It's much smarter to lock down clear mechanical areas like sentence structure errors, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun errors. 
• If a conjunction is underlined, whether it is subordinating or coordinating, consider if there is a fragment or whether the conjunction is the correct conjunction to use given the idea at hand. Often students misuse conjunctions, always using "and" when they were looking to build a contrast. 
• Expect 3, and at the most 4, "No Error" questions among the 18.  If you surpass this, say with 6 or 7 "No Error" answer choices, then something went wrong.
• Typically, the SAT exam begin with easy questions.  For example, perhaps an adjective such as "smooth" needs to be used as an adverb "smoothly."  Look for these easy questions and expect them to arise at the start of the test.  Often the more difficult choices are at the end, and this makes sense since the test maker wants to fluster you before the final segment of the exam. 
• If you struggle to find errors, it may be a "No Error" question.  Just keep note of how many "No Error" answer choices that you have chosen.