Why does new SAT essays have werid and stupid topics?

[Farcus]

I have read quite a few of the promps for the new sat essay. I am taking it again in like 2 weeks. What irritates the hell out of me is that why are these topics so random and hard to write about?

[cooliegirly]

You should ask ETS this very good question.

[Jamie (K)]

[NS]

[Jamie (K)]

NS, I agree that the original post was very badly written, but a few of the "mistakes" you corrected are not wrong.

For example, in two weeks is not wrong. It's definitely possible to say in two weeks time (although correctly punctuated it would be in two weeks' time). However, "in two weeks' time" sounds redundant and archaic.

Why are these topics so random and hard to write about? (without "the hell") is a well-formed sentence. Hard does not need to be replaced with tough here. They're just synonyms in this context, and one is not more correct than the other. Removing the word about, as you did, is wrong, I would argue. The students are not writing a topic, but writing about a topic, so the word about needs to be in that sentence.

You have also broken up that sentence, which has resulted in redundant use of the word topics.

Your version is a definite improvement over the original, but as I say, some of your corrections did not involve mistakes.

[NS]

My English is average. I am no expert but since he wanted to come here to learn; i just put my 2 cents worth.
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