The most common error found in the improving sentence error portion of the exam is wordiness. The SAT test makers reward simple, straight-forward, powerful language, and excessive wordiness or ornamentation is considered an error. Savvy test takers must learn to keep an eye out for this type of mistake.
A test maker may add just one word too many, and it could be anything from a pronoun to a gerund. Occam’s Razor is a theory that suggests the simplest explanation is the best explanation when choosing among competing theories in science. This theory can also be applied to SAT test taking, and can prove a useful guide when navigating the written portion of the test.
Another simple rule of thumb: if you can state the sentence using fewer words, without distorting the meaning, then this is the statement you should choose among the answer choices. This is a helpful notion when choosing between two or even three different choices – the one with the least amount of words is usually the correct one.
