GMAT: Sentence Correction

What do idioms, verb tenses and ambiguous pronoun references have to do with your ability to manage?  I have no idea, but MBA programs believe they can predict your performance in business school.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that sentence correction is the easiest section of the GMAT to master. I know that drives some people crazy, but hear me out.

The sentence correction section involves correcting grammatical errors.   And because there are only about 25 or 30 errors tested on the exam, they can all be memorized.

Of course, each error has its variations, and the test authors do their best to disguise the errors; but still, they can be memorized.  And with practice they can be mastered.  Sentence correction was the first section I mastered completely.

But You're a Writer!

OK, so I had an advantage.

Should I Read Grammar Books or Take an English Class?

I get asked this question all the time.  It makes sense if you know very little about the test, but those of us who are experienced with it know that the GMAT curriculum is highly specific and very limited in scope.  Most of what you would read in a grammar book or learn in an English class isn't tested on the exam.  It's better to focus on GMAT-specific grammar, so taking a class that isn't focused on the exam is usually a bad idea.

Favorite Grammatical Error Tested?

Misplaced modifier.  Simple, easy to fix, most test takers blow it.  Total low-hanging fruit.

Least Favorite Grammatical Error Tested?

Subjunctive mood.  Stupid thing to test.  Important in the Romance languages; not important in English.

Any Study Recommendations?

Yes, focus on sentence correction before critical reasoning or reading comp.  Of the three verbal question types, sentence correction is the easiest to learn.

Next: GMAT Critical Reasoning >