SAT Writing & Language:
Practice Test 4

Directions: Each SAT Writing passage is followed by 11 questions. Read the passage and select the answer to each question that is most effective in improving the quality of the writing or in making the passage conform to the standard conventions of English.

Questions 1–11 are based on the following passage.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides information about education and training requirements for hundreds of occupations. The BLS uses a system to assign categories for entry-level education, work experience in a related occupation, and typical on-the-job training to each occupation for which BLS publishes projections data.  1  The assignments allow BLS to group occupations in order to create estimates of the outlook for occupations with various types of education and training needs. This classification system  2  were first used with the 2010–20 projections and replaced an earlier system that  3  was used between 1995 and 2008.  4  The two systems are not comparable.

BLS assigns occupations to a designation within three categories:  5  typical entry-level education, work experience in a related occupation, and typical on-the-job training. The categories and assignments within each are as follows:

Typical education needed for entry — represents the typical education level most workers need to enter an occupation. The assignments for this category are the following:

• Doctoral or professional degree
 6  Masters degree, Bachelors degree, or Associates degree
• Postsecondary non-degree award
• Some college, no degree
• High school diploma or equivalent
• No formal educational credential

Work experience in a related occupation — indicates  7  if work experience in a related occupation are commonly considered necessary by employers for entry into the occupation, and are a commonly accepted substitute for formal types of training. The assignments for this category are the following:

• 5 years or more
• Less than 5 years
• None

Typical on-the-job training — indicates the typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the skills needed in the occupation. The assignments for this category are the following:

• Internship/residency
• Apprenticeship
• Long-term on-the-job training: more than 12 months
• Moderate-term on the job training: more than 1 month  8  and also up to 12 months
• Short-term on-the-job training: 1 month or less
• None

In some cases, assigning education and training categories can be straightforward. Some occupations, such as physicians and lawyers, are governed by federal and state regulations that give clear guidelines, regarding the education or training required for a given occupation.  9  Similarly, the choice of categories is less clear. BLS economists determine the typical path to entry for an occupation and apply it across all three categories.

The education categories in the table presented here reflect only the highest level of education attained.  10  They do not take into account completion of training programs in the form of apprenticeships and other on-the-job training, which may also influence earnings and unemployment rates.

Adapted from US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Educational Attainment Data

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Question 1
 1  Which choice best maintains the sentence structure already established in the paragraph?

A
NO CHANGE
B
The BLS allows the assignments to group occupations and to create estimates of the outlook for occupations with various types of education and training needs.
C
The BLS groups occupations using these assignments in order to create estimates of the outlook for occupations with various types of education and training needs.
D
In order to create estimates of the outlook for occupations with various types of education and training needs, BLS uses the assignments to group occupations.
Question 1 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). This question asks you to revise text to ensure consistency of style within a series of sentences. Choice (C) is the best answer because it most closely maintains the sentence pattern established by the two preceding sentences, which begin with a noun and verb phrase (“The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides… The BLS uses…). In order to keep the same style, the next sentence should begin with “The BLS” and a conjugated verb. Choice (B) also does this, but it does not make logical sense to say that “the assignments” are performing the actions of “group” and “create.” Those actions are performed by the BLS, not by the assignments.
Question 2
 2  

A
NO CHANGE
B
had been first used
C
were used first
D
was first used
Question 2 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). In this question, we must maintain grammatical agreement between subject and verb. The subject of the sentence is the singular “system.” To be grammatically correct, a singular subject needs a singular verb, in this case “was.” The simple past tense form is the most appropriate because the event described occurred only once. We do not need the past perfect tense (“had been used”) or the plural past tense (“were used”).
Question 3
 3  

A
NO CHANGE
B
were
C
is
D
are
Question 3 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). On the SAT, sentences must maintain parallel structure. The simple past tense “was” here correctly mirrors the correct simple past tense “was” in the previous question. In addition, “an earlier system” is singular, and should not use a plural verb. Since the event discussed took place in the past, the present tense should not be used.
Question 4
 4  Which choice most effectively transitions to the information that follows in the next paragraph?

A
NO CHANGE
B
The Labor Bureau does not frequently change its classification system, but when it does, there has always been a significant need for the change.
C
Grouping occupations is important in order to give analysts the ability to make sense of such a large amount of data.
D
DELETE the underlined portion.
Question 4 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). On the SAT, students must determine the most effective transition between ideas. Choice (A) is not the best answer. Noting that these systems are incompatible is not necessary since the section immediately after this sentence does not further the discussion of the differences between the two systems. This information is not relevant to the rest of the passage, and therefore should not be included. Choice (C) does not make sense with the sentence that immediately precedes it, and refers to something much earlier in the passage. Choice (B) is not the best answer because it provides information that is not relevant to the passage. Establishing the context within which sentences exist is critical for successfully answering questions of this type.
Question 5
 5  

A
NO CHANGE
B
typical entry-level education, related-occupation work experience, and typical on-the-job training
C
entry-level education that is typical, work experience in a related occupation, and typical on-the-job training
D
entry-level typical education, occupationally related work experience, and on-the-job training that is typical
Question 5 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). On the SAT, items in a list should be in parallel structure. If the items are nouns, as is the case here, then they should all be in similar form. In choice (B) each item follows the same adjective-adjective-noun pattern.
Question 6
 6  

A
NO CHANGE
B
Masters’ degree, Bachelors’ degree, or Associates’ degree
C
Master’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or Associate’s degree
D
Masters’, Bachelors’, or Associates’ degrees
Question 6 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). On the SAT, students must recognize and correct inappropriate uses of possessive nouns and pronouns as well as differentiate between possessive and plural forms. Students must also recognize and correct cases in which unnecessary punctuation appears in a sentence. Choice (C) is the best option here because it shows the correct possessive relationship between the words, “Master,” “Bachelor” and “Associate.” Because the word “degree” is singular, a simple apostrophe followed by the letter “s” is all that is required to indicate possession.
Question 7
 7  

A
NO CHANGE
B
whether or not work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry into the occupation, or commonly are a
C
whether or not work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry into the occupation, or commonly are a
D
if work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry into the occupation, or is a commonly
Question 7 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). “Work experience” is a singular noun, so we require the singular verb “is.” Abstract ideas such as “love”, “honor”, and “commitment” are always singular on the SAT. In addition, the word “if” sets up a discussion of two hypothetical situations. Therefore, we require the conjunction “or” between the two clauses. Only choice (D) correctly fixes both errors. Notice that answer choice (C) introduces unnecessary punctuation — commas should only be included if they are grammatically necessary.
Question 8
 8  

A
NO CHANGE
B
and up to 12 months
C
and also up to 12 months or a year
D
or up to 12 months or a year
Question 8 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). On the SAT, students must improve the economy of expression. The correct answer must not only be grammatically correct, but also be devoid of wordiness and redundancy. In (A), the word “also” is unnecessary. The words “and” and “also” do not need to be used together. Choices (C) and (D) also exhibit redundancy, because “12 months” and “a year” express the exact same amount of time. Only (B) is concise and clear.
Question 9
 9  

A
NO CHANGE
B
For instance
C
In other cases
D
Furthermore
Question 9 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). On the SAT, students must determine the most logical transitional word or phrase that best connects ideas. Choice (C) is the best answer because it provides the correct contrast to the idea that preceded it. It is also nicely parallel with the earlier transition phrase, “In some cases.” We need a contrasting transition here to make the word “straightforward” connect to the idea of something being “less clear.” Choice (B) incorrectly introduces an example, and (D) implies these ideas are similar and build on one another, when in fact they are opposite and contrasting. Understanding the function of transition words is essential for both recognizing and producing quality writing.
Question 10
 10  The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?

A
Kept, because it provides additional information about the graphic provided that is necessary for its interpretation.
B
Kept, because it provides significant details about how the BLS categorizes its data.
C
Deleted, because it doesn’t give specific examples of how the education data is gathered and organized.
D
Deleted, because it does not relate to any other part of the passage.
Question 10 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). Without this sentence, there would only be one sentence in the passage explaining the data table. This sentence should be kept because it provides important details to assist in interpreting the graphic. The information provided by the final sentence gives additional, useful information that is necessary for fully understanding the table. A trick for deciding whether or not a word or sentence is necessary is to consider how its absence impacts the cogency of the passage.
Question 11
 11  Which of the following sentences are accurate based on the data provided in the graphic?

A
More doctors were employed in 2014 than individuals with only a high school diploma.
B
People with an associate’s degree had a median income that was less than half that of people with a professional degree in 2014.
C
Among individuals 25 years old and under, people with some college but no degree had a higher rate of unemployment than people with bachelor’s degrees.
D
Individuals with a high school diploma were less unemployed than individuals with some college but no degree.
Question 11 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Choice (A) may be tempting, but remember that the left-side of the graphic represents a percentage, and not actual real-world numbers. According to the graphic, the median weekly income for an associate’s degree holder was $792, and the median for a professional degree holder was $1,639 — more than double $792. Choice (C) is incorrect because the data presented only covers individuals 25 years old and over. Choice (D) is incorrect because the table gives the same percentage, 6.0, for both groups.
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