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SAT Reading and Writing skill page

SAT Parallel Structure Practice

Make items in a list or comparison match in grammatical form.

Practice parallel structure in Dolphin SAT Try examples
10-16 min practice time 3 examples on page Standard English Conventions
Practice time 10-16 min
On-page examples 3 examples
Best for Standard English Conventions

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Practice examples

Try a few SAT-style questions

Example 1 Easy

Which choice is parallel? The program teaches students to plan, draft, and ___.

  1. revising
  2. revise
  3. revision
  4. they revise
Show answer and explanation

Answer: revise

Plan, draft, and revise are all base-form verbs.

Example 2 Medium

Which sentence uses parallel structure?

  1. The job requires patience, focus, and being creative.
  2. The job requires patience, focus, and creativity.
  3. The job requires being patient, focus, and creativity.
  4. The job requires patience, to focus, and creativity.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: The job requires patience, focus, and creativity.

All three items are nouns, so the list is parallel.

Example 3 Hard

Which choice best completes the sentence? The device is not only affordable but also ___.

  1. it is reliable
  2. reliable
  3. having reliability
  4. to be reliable
Show answer and explanation

Answer: reliable

Not only affordable but also reliable keeps the adjective pattern parallel.

Quick drills

Practice this skill from more angles

Drill 1

Keep list items in the same grammatical form

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 2

Match phrases in comparisons

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 3

Use paired constructions consistently

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 4

Spot answer choices that break a pattern

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Solving before naming the task

The SAT often hides the real skill inside familiar wording. Identify the rule, relationship, or question type first.

Choosing an answer that only partly fits

Many wrong answers are close. Check every condition in the question before committing.

Skipping the final check

Reread what the question asks for so you do not answer a nearby but different question.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

  1. Read the question and name the tested skill before looking at the choices.
  2. Write the equation, rule, or passage relationship in plain language.
  3. Eliminate answers that violate the setup or overstate the evidence.
  4. Review misses by writing the exact trap that pulled you toward the wrong answer.
Practice parallel structure in Dolphin SAT

Related practice

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Skill cluster

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FAQ

Questions about SAT Parallel Structure Practice

What is the best way to practice SAT Parallel Structure Practice?

Start with a few focused examples, review the mistake pattern, then mix the skill into full SAT practice so you can recognize it in context.

Why does this skill matter on the SAT?

It shows up in short, high-leverage questions where one missed rule or setup can quickly cost a point.

Can Dolphin SAT help me drill this skill?

Yes. Dolphin SAT can surface targeted practice, track missed questions, and help you review the patterns that keep repeating.