Sentence Correction

An under-thought of When it comes to improving Sentence Correction performance a very under utilized but highly effective approach is to address this with where you are in the spectrum of knowing formal written English. The answer, of course, depends on your background. Formal written English is still sometimes taught in high school English classes, but nowadays, many schools emphasize other priorities (and many people don't pay very close attention in high school English class anyway).

Some people, especially those who read a lot, will find that they have already picked up a feeling for the tone and style of formal written English (even if they didn't know that that is what it is called); others will find that what is considered "correct" in the formal written style sounds odd to them because it differs from the English used in everyday conversation. It's worthwhile to take a few moments to think about how you experience formal written English.

In our experience, learners come in three types:


1. Native speaker with an ear attuned to formal written English. If you grew up reading a lot, and/or if you like to read non-fiction and more "intellectual" magazines, you may already have a gut feeling for what sounds smoother, more polished, or "more correct" according to the standards the GMAT is testing. Your strategy for mastering the Sentence Correction section will be to build on the instincts you already have. You can trust your ear a lot of the time, though you still need to memorize the specific rules that the GMAT tests, as well as practice quickly identifying the stereotypical tricks and traps of the SC section.

2. Native speaker with less familiarity with formal written English. If you don't like to read very much, or if you tend to read only websites, popular fiction, or heavily technical material, you may not have developed an intuitive feeling for the structures and patterns of formal written English. Some of what the GMAT considers correct may strike you as very old-fashioned, stilted or simply weird. For learners in this group, the strategy is different. You can trust your ear sometimes, but not very often; you need to focus on memorizing rules and applying them almost as if you were studying a foreign language. In particular, you have to get used to the idea that what strikes your ear as 'wrong' may nevertheless be the choice the GMAT is looking for. You can draw on your knowledge as a native speaker to a limited extent, but you need to make a serious, focused effort to memorize the patterns that the GMAT is testing.

3. Non-native speaker of English. Non-native speakers often wonder whether they have any hope of scoring well in Sentence Correction. Clearly, native speakers have an advantage in this area. However, if you are a non-native speaker, the news isn't all bad. You will need to focus on memorizing rules and applying them without relying on your ear, but at times you may find the job easier than do the learners in category 2. Native speakers who aren't familiar with formal written English are often misled by their ears. They think that because something sounds right to them, it is right. For some native speakers, it's hard to think about it any other way. Non-native speakers know that they can't trust the judgment of their ears, so they're able to get down to the business of memorizing rules more efficiently.

Not sure where you fit on the spectrum? We have a 5 - 10 minute quiz to help students figure it out. Let me know if you'd like me to send it to you!