Writing Skills
Understanding the PSAT/NMSQT test sections
Writing skills questions present sentences and paragraphs that contain the kinds of errors that students must look for and learn to correct in their own writing, including:
- Expressing ideas effectively in Standard Written English
- Recognizing faults in usage and structure
- Using language with sensitivity to meaning
Identifying sentence errors
Identifying sentence errors questions test knowledge of grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom. Students are required to find errors in sentences or indicate that there is no error.
Learn more about the identifying sentence errors questions in the student section of this website.
Improving sentences
Improving sentences questions ask students to choose the best, most effective form of an underlined portion of a given sentence.
Learn more about the improving sentences questions in the student section of this website.
Improving paragraphs
Improving paragraphs questions require students to make choices about improving the logic, coherence, or organization in a flawed passage.
Learn more about the improving paragraphs questions in the student section of this website.