The Reading and Writing section asks you to fix and improve sentences. These are the rules that come up most often, each with a wrong version and a corrected one.
✗ The list of items are on the table.
✓ The list of items is on the table.
The subject is 'list' (singular), not 'items'.
✗ Every student must bring their own laptop, don't they?
✓ Every student must bring his or her own laptop.
A singular subject takes a singular pronoun.
✗ Yesterday I walk to the store.
✓ Yesterday I walked to the store.
Match the tense to the time word.
✗ I bought apples, and oranges.
✓ I bought apples and oranges.
Don't separate two items with a comma before 'and'.
✗ I was tired; so I went home.
✓ I was tired, so I went home.
Use a semicolon only between two full independent clauses.
✗ The recipe includes: flour, sugar, and eggs.
✓ The recipe includes flour, sugar, and eggs.
A colon must follow a complete sentence before a list.
✗ The winner—the fastest runner—is my sister.
✓ The winner, the fastest runner, is my sister.
Dashes work like commas for emphasis, but don't mix them mid-sentence.
✗ Its raining outside.
✓ It's raining outside.
It's = it is. Its = belonging to it.
✗ Walking down the street, the trees looked pretty.
✓ Walking down the street, I saw pretty trees.
The opening phrase must describe the subject right after it.
✗ She likes hiking, swimming, and to run.
✓ She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Keep items in a list in the same form.
✗ It was raining, therefore we went out.
✓ It was raining; therefore, we went out.
Use a semicolon before transitions like therefore and however.
The Reading and Writing section has 44 questions across two modules. Many test Standard English Conventions like the rules on this page.
No. You need to spot and fix errors, not name the rule. Practice with wrong/right examples like these.