Improving Sentence Structure — SAT Reading & Writing Explained
Improving sentence structure questions ask you to revise awkward, ambiguous, or ineffective sentences into ones that are clear, direct, and appropriately structured for the context.
The Core Idea
The best sentence structures foreground the most important information, use active voice when appropriate, avoid excessive nominalizations, and position modifiers correctly. Structural improvement is about making the reader's job as easy as possible.
Principles Of Good Structure
Active voice ('The researcher found evidence') is usually clearer than passive ('Evidence was found by the researcher')
Put the most important information early in the sentence
Turn noun forms back into verbs: 'She conducted an analysis of' → 'She analyzed'
Don't pile multiple relative clauses; restructure for clarity
Strategy For Structure Questions
1. Ask: Who is doing what? The subject and verb should be clear and close together
2. Ask: Is the most important idea in the main clause?
3. Ask: Are all modifiers clearly connected to what they modify?
4. Ask: Is active voice more appropriate than passive here?
Common Errors to Avoid
Choosing passive voice when active is clearer
Stacking subordinate clauses and relative clauses unnecessarily
Moving to a complex structure when a simple one serves better
How This Connects to Other Topics
Capstone skill for Expression of Ideas; synthesizes all editing and writing craft skills
Practice: Improving Sentence Structure
5 SAT-style questions. Select your answer and get an instant explanation.
The study, which was conducted over three years and involved many participants, showed results.
Which revision improves structure without losing essential meaning?
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