The Writing Subject Test

UT Austin requires only the 40-minute multiple-choice portion of the SAT II: Writing Test. UT Austin does not offer the 20-minute essay portion of the test. The information on this page describes the multiple choice portion of the SAT II: Writing Test. For a descripton of the test available in national administrations, see The Official Guide to the SAT II: Subject Tests.

The Writing Subject Test is offered five times a year during all national administrations of SAT II: Subject Tests. One hour long, the Writing Test replaces the English Composition Test (ECT) and the Test of Standard Written English (TSWE).

Consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions and a 20-minute essay, the SAT II: Writing Test measures the ability to express ideas effectively in standard written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning. The Writing Test differs from the other Subject Tests in that it measures skills you have developed over many years. These skills are gained through extensive experience with language, especially written language.

The multiple-choice questions in the test do not ask you to define or to use grammatical terms, nor do they test spelling or capitalization. In some questions, punctuation marks such as the semicolon are important in arriving at the correct answer, but these questions primarily test the structure in which the punctuation appears.

The chart below illustrates common writing problems covered by questions in the Writing Subject Test. In the chart, each kind of problem is accompanied by a sentence illustrating that problem.

Some sentences require students to recognize that there is no error.

Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

Three types of multiple-choice questions appear in the Writing Subject Test. The directions that follow are identical to those in the test. For the multiple-choice questions, you must choose the best response from the five choices offered.

Identifying Sentence Errors

Directions: The following sentences test your knowledge of grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom.

Some sentences are correct.

No sentence contains more than one error.

You will find that the error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. Elements of the sentence that are not underlined will not be changed. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

If there is an error, select the (one underlined part) that must be changed to make the sentence correct and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer sheet.

If there is no error, fill in answer oval E.

EXAMPLE:

(The other) delegates and (him) (immediately) accepted the
A B C
resolution (drafted by) the neutral states. (No error)
D E

SAMPLE ANSWER

1. Few people (cannot hardly) (tell) the difference between purple and
A B
fuchsia, (even when) samples of these related colors (are) placed
C D
side by side. (No error)
E

2. The (tallest) structure in the United States (is) a television tower
A B
that (raises) 2,063 feet (above the plains) in Blanchard, North Dakota.
C D
(No error)
E

3. Among the civilizations of the ancient world, that of the Romans (are) A
(far better) known to (us) than (any other). (No error) B C D E

4. The commission (investigating) the accident at the laboratory was less
A
interested in why the experiment was conducted (than in) whether
B
(they were) conducted (properly). (No error)
C D E

5. (That) their documentary on spiders was praised (highly) by the
A B
Hollywood critics (who) previewed it (came) as a surprise to the
C D
young filmmakers. (No error)
E

6. Uncontrolled harvesting of forests for timber could affect the weather because land (covered by) large trees (absorbs and releases) twice
A B
(as much) moisture as (smaller plants). (No error)
C D E

Improving Sentences

Directions: In each of the following sentences, some part or all of the sentence is underlined. Below each sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity, and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer sheet. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English. Choose the answer that best expresses the meaning of the original sentence.

Answer (A) is always the same as the underlined part. Choose answer (A) if you think the original sentence needs no revision.

EXAMPLE:

Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book (and she was sixty-five years old then).

(A) and she was sixty-five years old then
(B) when she was sixty-five
(C) at age sixty-five years old
(D) upon the reaching of sixty-five years
(E) at the time when she was sixty-five

SAMPLE ANSWER

7. (The struggles and triumphs of the Mexican worker, which are brilliantly depicted in the murals of Diego Rivera).

(A) The struggles and triumphs of the Mexican worker, which are brilliantly depicted in the murals of Diego
Rivera.
(B) The Mexican worker's struggles and triumphs being brilliantly depicted in the murals of Diego Rivera.
(C) Diego Rivera, in his brilliant murals, depicting the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican worker.
(D) The murals of Diego Rivera brilliantly depict the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican worker.
(E) Diego Rivera, whose murals brilliantly depict the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican worker.

8. As one travels inland, the details of the landscape (become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten people).

(A) become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten people
(B) become harsh, brutal, and frightening
(C) when they become harsh, brutal, and frightening
(D) becoming harsh and brutal, and frightening to people
(E) become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten one

9. (Because of their increasing popularity), wilderness areas are becoming overcrowded.

(A) Because of their increasing popularity
(B) Their popularity is increasing
(C) Due to their popularity's increase
(D) The popularity of them being on the increase
(E) Their popularity having been increased

10. (Dorothy Hafner is a New York ceramist, she is widely known for her bold colors and patterns, and she) will conduct the workshop.

(A) Dorothy Hafner is a New York ceramist, she is widely known for her bold colors and patterns, and she
(B) Dorothy Hafner is a New York ceramist who is widely known for her bold colors and patterns and
(C) Dorothy Hafner, a New York ceramist whose bold colors and patterns being widely known,
(D) Dorothy Hafner, a New York ceramist widely known for her bold colors and patterns,
(E) Dorothy Hafner, a New York ceramist, the bold colors and patterns of which are widely known,

11. Encompassing over 800 square miles, the (name of the Great Smokies is owed to) the haze that shrouds the mountains.

(A) name of the Great Smokies is owed to
(B) name of the Great Smokies are owed to
(C) name of the Great Smokies comes from
(D) Great Smokies' name comes from
(E) Great Smokies owe their name to

12. Juggling two careers is common among state legislators, the majority (of them serve) in states where the legislature is in session only part of the year.

(A) of them serve
(B) of them are serving
(C) which serve
(D) of whom serve
(E) serve

Improving Paragraphs

Directions: Each of the following passages is an early draft of a student essay. Some parts of the passages need to be rewritten. Read each passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure and word choice. Other questions refer to parts of the essay or the entire essay and ask you to consider organization and development. In making your decisions, follow the conventions of standard written English. After you have chosen your answer, fill in the corresponding oval on your answer sheet.

Questions 13-18 are based on the following essay, which is a response to an assignment to write about an economic issue facing the United States today.

(1) Recently a group of workers from a clothing factory in my hometown picketed peacefully in front of a department store. (2) They carried signs, and passing shoppers were urged by them to buy products that were made in the United States. (3) A newspaper article suggested that they were wrong. (4) It pointed out that nearly all stores now sell goods that are not made in this country. (5) However, I would argue that the demonstrators are right, consumers should think about the effect they can have on industries here in the United States.

(6) Consumers have the right to buy whatever they want. (7) They should consider the effects of their choices. (8) In the last several years, hundreds of thousands of workers in United States industries have lost their jobs. (9) They represent billions of dollars of lost wages and taxes. (10) Consumers should know that consumer goods that are not made in the United States contribute to the loss of jobs in many different American industries and businesses. (11) Buying goods made in the United States means investing in our future. (12) Without government subsidies, our industries only have the American consumer to help them compete in the world market and therefore guarantee jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers in the United States.

13. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 2 (reproduced below)?

(They carried signs, and passing shoppers were urged by them) to buy products that were made in the United States.

(A) (As it is now)
(B) They carry signs and urge passing shoppers
(C) Carrying signs and urging passing shoppers, the workers asked them
(D) The workers carried signs that urged the passing shoppers
(E) These signs urged passing shoppers

14. In context, which is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portions of sentences 3 and 4 (reproduced below)?

(A newspaper article suggested that they were wrong. It pointed out) that nearly all stores now sell goods that are not made in this country.

(A) A newspaper article suggested that the demonstrators were wrong, pointing out
(B) They were wrong, a newspaper article suggested, it pointed out that
(C) Suggesting that they are wrong, in a newspaper article it says
(D) The newspaper article suggests that the shoppers were wrong,
(E) In the newspaper article was the suggestion that they were wrong and

15. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portions of sentences 6 and 7 (reproduced below)?

(Consumers have the right to buy whatever they want. They should consider) the effects of their choices.

(A) (As it is now)
(B) Consumers certainly have the right to buy whatever they want, but they should consider
(C) Consumers certainly have the right to buy what they want, regardless of
(D) Although consumers have the right to buy whatever they want, they also consider
(E) Apparently, consumers have the right to buy whatever they want. If only they would consider

16. Which of the following best replaces the word "They" in sentence 9?

(A) The consumers
(B) These lost jobs
(C) The industries
(D) Those arguments
(E) The United States

17. Which sentence would be most appropriate to follow sentence 12?

(A) I see now that the demonstrators were right.
(B) Consumers have rights, too.
(C) In conclusion, we have no one else to blame.
(D) The next time you go shopping, think of the workers and their families in your community.
(E) We, the American consumers, must find out how to invest in our industries.

18. Including a paragraph on which of the following would most strengthen the writer's argument?

(A) The effects of strikes in industry
(B) A comparison of working conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world
(C) Quotations from the newspaper article referred to in sentence 3
(D) Buying patterns of different groups of consumers
(E) The impact that the closing of a factory has had on a particular community

Answers to the Writing Subject Test multiple-choice questions