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Code your answers in groups. You will be given a test booklet containing the problems you are to
work on and a separate answer sheet for recording your answers. Recording answers is an extra adminis-
trative hassle. Be careful! Make sure you code your responses neatly and completely. Don’t leave any
stray marks on your answer sheet. Finally, code your answers in groups. Work a few items without record-
ing your responses. Just circle the correct choice in your test booklet. Then, as you reach the end of a
group of problems or are about to turn the page in your test booklet, take out your answer sheet and tend
to the clerical task of transferring choices.
This method of coding in groups is more efficient than entering responses one by one. In addition, it
minimizes the danger of your making a mistake in managing your answer sheet. Of course, as time begins
to run out, you should code your responses as you finish each item.
Bring a watch and set it for test time. You don’t need a fancy stopwatch to keep track of time on the
test. A simple analog watch—one with hands—will be perfect. At the start of the test, just set the minute
hand of the watch to “12.” This way you can tell at a glance almost exactly how much time you have left.
Familiarize yourself with the directions before the test. No additional time is given during the test
to read directions. Therefore, it is essential that you know what to expect before you go in. Practicing the
materials in this book will help you in this regard. If you are familiar with the layout of the tests you plan
to take before you take them, a quick glance at the directions will be sufficient.

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Lesson
2
5
ARCO
■  SAT II Subject Tests
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WRITING TEST
The Writing Test includes three different types of multiple-choice questions (Identifying Sentence Errors,
Improving Sentences, and Improving Paragraphs) and an essay component. Each of the four question
types is discussed below.
The Writing Test is designed to measure your ability to write and recognize standard written
English. It does not presuppose a technical knowledge of English grammar nor require the ability to write
prize-winning prose, but it does require the ability to distinguish correct from incorrect usage and the
ability to write clearly and correctly. A multiple-choice item, for example, would not ask you to identify
the tense of the verb had sung as the past perfect form of the verb to sing, but you would be expected to
recognize that had sung is used properly in the sentence “Though she had sung the duet many times
before, Natalie was afraid that she might forget the words.” And the essay component does not require a
lengthy and literate treatment of some esoteric topic, but it does require two to four paragraphs of clear
writing on a topic that you will have no trouble discussing.
The Writing Test has the following structure: