How the CritiCall Sentence Clarity test works
Each item gives two statements. Both carry the same information, but one leaves something open: who did what, to whom, or with what. You choose the statement that most clearly communicates the meaning. The score is your percentage correct.
With two options, guessing alone would average 50%, so a score near that line means the faults are not yet jumping out at you.
How to choose the clearer statement
Compare, then name the fault:
- Read both statements and find where they differ. The rest is identical and tells you nothing.
- Check every he, she, it and they. If one could point to two people or things, that statement is the weaker one.
- Check every describing phrase. It should sit next to the thing it describes.
- Before you choose, say what is wrong with the other statement. If you cannot, read again.
Worked examples
A: “The paramedic told the driver that his leg was broken.” B: “The paramedic told the driver that the driver’s leg was broken.” In A, “his” could mean the paramedic or the driver. B is clearer.
A: “The officer found the stolen wallet searching the suspect’s car.” B: “While searching the suspect’s car, the officer found the stolen wallet.” A reads as if the wallet was doing the searching. B is clearer.
Tips for the real Sentence Clarity test
- Choose the clearer statement, not a perfect one. The right answer can still be a little clumsy.
- Never leave an item blank. Biddle’s guide says skipped questions are penalised unless the instructions say otherwise.
- Practise rewriting your own notes so each sentence says exactly who did what. It trains the same eye.
Practise CritiCall Sentence Clarity on CogniPrep
Our version gives you 30 pairs of statements in 10 minutes, one at a time with no going back. You get your percentage correct, and the feedback names the faults you missed most, such as unclear pronouns or misplaced phrases. The count and time limit are ours, as Biddle publishes neither.