Next-Generation Accuplacer Writing Exam:
Comprehensive Concept Mastery Guide
Focus: The test assesses your ability to edit and revise multi-paragraph texts for:
• Conventions of Standard English Sentence Structure (≈ 40-50%)
• Usage (≈ 40-50%)
• Punctuation (≈ 10-20%)
Section 1: Sentence Structure (Questions 1-40)
Focus: Fragments, Run-ons, Comma Splices, Coordination/Subordination, Modifiers, Parallelism.
1. Which revision corrects the sentence fragment?
"After finishing the long and difficult assignment. James decided to take a nap."
A) After finishing the long and difficult assignment, James decided to take a nap.
B) After finishing the long and difficult assignment; James decided to take a nap.
C) James decided to take a nap, after finishing the long and difficult assignment.
Answer: A correctly attaches the dependent clause to the independent clause with a comma. B
uses a semicolon incorrectly (not joining independent clauses). C creates a misplacement with
an awkward comma.
2. Identify the run-on sentence.
A) The concert was incredible, the band played for over three hours.
B) The concert was incredible; the band played for over three hours.
C) Because the concert was incredible, the band played for over three hours.
Answer: A is a comma splice, a type of run-on. Two independent clauses are incorrectly joined
by only a comma.
3. Choose the best correction for the comma splice.
"The experiment failed, the data was contaminated."
A) The experiment failed the data was contaminated.
B) The experiment failed; the data was contaminated.
C) The experiment failed, because the data was contaminated.
Answer: B uses a semicolon to correctly join two closely related independent clauses. A creates
a fused sentence. C uses subordination incorrectly, changing the meaning.
,4. Select the sentence with correct subordination.
A) Even though he was tired, he finished the race.
B) He was tired, he finished the race.
C) He finished the race, even though he was tired.
Answer: Both A and C are grammatically correct, but A presents the more conventional and
emphatic structure. For Accuplacer, A is the strongest choice.
5. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
A) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to ride bicycles.
B) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding bicycles.
C) She enjoys to hike, to swim, and riding bicycles.
Answer: B maintains parallel structure with all gerunds (-ing nouns). A and B mix gerunds and
infinitives.
6. Correct the misplaced modifier.
"Driving down the highway, the mountains were breathtaking."
A) The mountains were breathtaking driving down the highway.
B) Driving down the highway, we saw the breathtaking mountains.
C) The mountains, driving down the highway, were breathtaking.
Answer: B correctly places the subject "we" immediately after the introductory modifying
phrase, clarifying who was driving.
7. Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier.
A) After reading the book, the movie was disappointing.
B) After I read the book, the movie was disappointing.
C) The movie was disappointing after I read the book.
Answer: A has a dangling modifier. The phrase "After reading the book" incorrectly modifies
"the movie." The movie didn't read the book.
8. Which option best combines these sentences using coordination?
"The forecast called for rain. We decided to cancel the picnic."
A) The forecast called for rain, so we decided to cancel the picnic.
B) The forecast called for rain we decided to cancel the picnic.
C) Because the forecast called for rain, we decided to cancel the picnic.
Answer: A uses the coordinating conjunction "so" with a comma to show cause and effect. C
uses subordination, which is also correct but not coordination. B is a run-on.
9. Choose the complete sentence.
A) Under the old wooden bridge covered in moss.
B) The river flowing swiftly under the old bridge.
, C) The river flowed swiftly under the old bridge.
Answer: C has a clear subject ("river") and verb ("flowed"). A and B are fragments.
10. Which revision fixes the faulty parallelism?
"The manager’s duties include interviewing applicants, training new hires, and the scheduling of
meetings."
A) ...interviewing applicants, training new hires, and to schedule meetings.
B) ...interviewing applicants, training new hires, and scheduling meetings.
C) ...to interview applicants, training new hires, and scheduling meetings.
Answer: B uses three gerund phrases in parallel. A and B mix forms.
*(Questions 11-40 would continue in this pattern, covering all nuances of sentence structure.)*
Section 2: Usage (Questions 41-80)
Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement, Pronoun Case, Verb Tense,
Adjective vs. Adverb, Idiomatic Prepositions, Word Choice (ex: affect/effect).
41. Choose the correct subject-verb agreement.
"Neither the director nor the actors _____ satisfied with the rehearsal."
A) is
B) are
C) was
Answer: B. With "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject ("actors").
42. Identify the error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
"Every student must submit their application by Friday."
A) student
B) their
C) application
Answer: B. "Every student" is singular. The correct revision would be "his or her application" or,
more commonly in modern usage, "applications must be submitted by Friday."
43. Select the correct pronoun case.
"Just between you and ____, I think the plan will fail."
A) I
B) me
C) myself
Answer: B. "Me" is the object of the preposition "between." Use the object pronoun.
Comprehensive Concept Mastery Guide
Focus: The test assesses your ability to edit and revise multi-paragraph texts for:
• Conventions of Standard English Sentence Structure (≈ 40-50%)
• Usage (≈ 40-50%)
• Punctuation (≈ 10-20%)
Section 1: Sentence Structure (Questions 1-40)
Focus: Fragments, Run-ons, Comma Splices, Coordination/Subordination, Modifiers, Parallelism.
1. Which revision corrects the sentence fragment?
"After finishing the long and difficult assignment. James decided to take a nap."
A) After finishing the long and difficult assignment, James decided to take a nap.
B) After finishing the long and difficult assignment; James decided to take a nap.
C) James decided to take a nap, after finishing the long and difficult assignment.
Answer: A correctly attaches the dependent clause to the independent clause with a comma. B
uses a semicolon incorrectly (not joining independent clauses). C creates a misplacement with
an awkward comma.
2. Identify the run-on sentence.
A) The concert was incredible, the band played for over three hours.
B) The concert was incredible; the band played for over three hours.
C) Because the concert was incredible, the band played for over three hours.
Answer: A is a comma splice, a type of run-on. Two independent clauses are incorrectly joined
by only a comma.
3. Choose the best correction for the comma splice.
"The experiment failed, the data was contaminated."
A) The experiment failed the data was contaminated.
B) The experiment failed; the data was contaminated.
C) The experiment failed, because the data was contaminated.
Answer: B uses a semicolon to correctly join two closely related independent clauses. A creates
a fused sentence. C uses subordination incorrectly, changing the meaning.
,4. Select the sentence with correct subordination.
A) Even though he was tired, he finished the race.
B) He was tired, he finished the race.
C) He finished the race, even though he was tired.
Answer: Both A and C are grammatically correct, but A presents the more conventional and
emphatic structure. For Accuplacer, A is the strongest choice.
5. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
A) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to ride bicycles.
B) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding bicycles.
C) She enjoys to hike, to swim, and riding bicycles.
Answer: B maintains parallel structure with all gerunds (-ing nouns). A and B mix gerunds and
infinitives.
6. Correct the misplaced modifier.
"Driving down the highway, the mountains were breathtaking."
A) The mountains were breathtaking driving down the highway.
B) Driving down the highway, we saw the breathtaking mountains.
C) The mountains, driving down the highway, were breathtaking.
Answer: B correctly places the subject "we" immediately after the introductory modifying
phrase, clarifying who was driving.
7. Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier.
A) After reading the book, the movie was disappointing.
B) After I read the book, the movie was disappointing.
C) The movie was disappointing after I read the book.
Answer: A has a dangling modifier. The phrase "After reading the book" incorrectly modifies
"the movie." The movie didn't read the book.
8. Which option best combines these sentences using coordination?
"The forecast called for rain. We decided to cancel the picnic."
A) The forecast called for rain, so we decided to cancel the picnic.
B) The forecast called for rain we decided to cancel the picnic.
C) Because the forecast called for rain, we decided to cancel the picnic.
Answer: A uses the coordinating conjunction "so" with a comma to show cause and effect. C
uses subordination, which is also correct but not coordination. B is a run-on.
9. Choose the complete sentence.
A) Under the old wooden bridge covered in moss.
B) The river flowing swiftly under the old bridge.
, C) The river flowed swiftly under the old bridge.
Answer: C has a clear subject ("river") and verb ("flowed"). A and B are fragments.
10. Which revision fixes the faulty parallelism?
"The manager’s duties include interviewing applicants, training new hires, and the scheduling of
meetings."
A) ...interviewing applicants, training new hires, and to schedule meetings.
B) ...interviewing applicants, training new hires, and scheduling meetings.
C) ...to interview applicants, training new hires, and scheduling meetings.
Answer: B uses three gerund phrases in parallel. A and B mix forms.
*(Questions 11-40 would continue in this pattern, covering all nuances of sentence structure.)*
Section 2: Usage (Questions 41-80)
Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement, Pronoun Case, Verb Tense,
Adjective vs. Adverb, Idiomatic Prepositions, Word Choice (ex: affect/effect).
41. Choose the correct subject-verb agreement.
"Neither the director nor the actors _____ satisfied with the rehearsal."
A) is
B) are
C) was
Answer: B. With "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject ("actors").
42. Identify the error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
"Every student must submit their application by Friday."
A) student
B) their
C) application
Answer: B. "Every student" is singular. The correct revision would be "his or her application" or,
more commonly in modern usage, "applications must be submitted by Friday."
43. Select the correct pronoun case.
"Just between you and ____, I think the plan will fail."
A) I
B) me
C) myself
Answer: B. "Me" is the object of the preposition "between." Use the object pronoun.
