PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) Writing and Expression of Ideas Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Writing and Expression of Ideas deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is paragraph coherence?

   The quality of a paragraph in which all sentences connect logically and flow in a sensible order so the reader can follow one clear line of thought.

2. What two main tools create coherence within a paragraph?

   Logical ordering of ideas and connective devices (transitions, pronouns, and repeated key terms) that link sentences together.

3. What is a topic sentence and what is its role in coherence?

   A topic sentence states the paragraph's main idea; it gives the paragraph focus, and every other sentence should support or relate to it.

4. How do you judge whether a sentence is RELEVANT to a paragraph?

   Check whether it directly supports the paragraph's main idea/topic sentence; if it introduces an unrelated point, it is irrelevant and should be removed.

5. On a PSAT question that asks which sentence should be deleted, what type of sentence is usually the answer?

   The sentence that is off-topic or irrelevant—one that does not support the paragraph's main point even if it is interesting or true.

6. Why can a true, interesting sentence still be the correct one to DELETE from a paragraph?

   Because relevance, not truth or interest, determines whether it belongs; if it strays from the paragraph's focus it weakens coherence and should go.

7. What is conciseness in writing?

   Expressing an idea clearly using no more words than necessary—cutting redundancy and filler while keeping the full meaning.

8. On the PSAT, when several answer choices are grammatically correct and mean the same thing, which is usually right?

   The shortest, most concise choice—the one that conveys the meaning without redundancy or unnecessary words.

9. What is wordiness (redundancy)? Give an example.

   Using extra words that repeat meaning already present. Example: 'past history' (history is already past) or 'each and every.'

10. Rewrite concisely: 'due to the fact that.'

    'Because.'

11. Rewrite concisely: 'in order to.'

    'To.'

12. Rewrite concisely: 'at this point in time.'

    'Now' (or 'currently').

13. Rewrite concisely: 'a large number of.'

    'Many.'

14. Why is the phrase 'combine together' wordy, and how do you fix it?

    'Combine' already means to bring together, so 'together' is redundant; use just 'combine.'

15. What is precision of expression in writing?

    Choosing the exact word that conveys the intended meaning clearly, avoiding vague, overly general, or imprecise wording.

16. On PSAT precision questions, how do you choose the best word for a blank?

    Pick the word whose meaning most exactly fits the context and the writer's intended idea, not just a word that is loosely related or generally positive.

17. Why is a vague word like 'thing,' 'stuff,' or 'good' often the wrong choice on precision questions?

    Because it lacks specificity; a precise answer names exactly what is meant, giving the reader clear, accurate information.

18. What is the key difference between conciseness and precision?

    Conciseness is about using the fewest necessary words; precision is about using the most exact/accurate words. A sentence should be both concise and precise.

19. In a notes question, if the goal is 'to make a generalization' about several examples, what should the answer do?

    State a broad statement that summarizes a pattern shared by the examples, rather than focusing on one specific detail.

20. In a notes question with the goal 'to present the data/numbers,' what should the correct choice include?

    The specific quantitative figures from the notes (measurements, percentages, counts) relevant to the comparison being made.

21. How does sentence combining relate to goal-oriented construction on the PSAT?

    Combining short notes/sentences into one tests whether you can express the relationship between ideas efficiently while meeting the stated goal—often the most concise, clearly related combination is correct.

22. What should you check when a transition appears at the START of a paragraph?

    That it logically connects the new paragraph to the idea of the previous paragraph, signaling the correct relationship (continuation, contrast, result, etc.) between the two.

23. Why must you read both surrounding sentences before choosing a transition, rather than just the sentence containing the blank?

    Because a transition expresses the relationship BETWEEN two ideas; you can only identify the correct relationship by comparing the idea before with the idea after.

24. Summarize the core skill the 'Expression of Ideas' (Writing) questions test on the PSAT.

    Revising text to improve effectiveness: making writing meet a rhetorical goal, use logical transitions, stay coherent and relevant, and be concise and precise—rather than testing only grammar rules.

What this deck covers

Writing and Expression of Ideas flashcards FAQ