The improving paragraphs section of the PSAT is designed to test your ability to make choices that will:
- improve the logic of a flawed passage
- improve the coherence of a flawed passage
- improve the organization of a flawed passage
In the improving paragraphs section, you will be given the early draft of a short essay, each sentence of which will be numbered. Some parts of the essay will need to be revised. For each question, you will be given five choices and asked to pick the best revision. One of the choices may be to leave the part in question alone.
Following are suggestions on how to approach an improving paragraphs question:
- Read the whole essay quickly to get the overall sense of it. Do not linger on the errors--these are what you will be asked questions about.
- Pay close attention to the context of the sentence or paragraph in question, making sure that your revision (if any) makes sense in terms of the whole essay.
- Choose the best answer from the five choices, even if you can think of a better revision than the ones offered.
