(1) Answer choices that contain the word(s) "being", "to be", or "having been" are often (but not always!) wrong.
1. It being agreed by world leaders that there should be a major organized effort to address poverty, illiteracy, and disease; they then set goals by which progress could be measured.
(A) It being agreed by world leaders
(B) World leaders agreed
(C) World leaders who should agree
(D) World leaders being in agreement
(E) World leaders in agreement
By the logic of (1), answer choices (A) and (D) don't even merit attention.
(2) Look for active voice answers that conform to a simple "Subject + Verb" form.
By this logic, answer choices (C) and (E) in the aforementioned problem are wrong, and (B) must therefore be the correct answer.
(3) To the best of my knowledge, answer choices that contain the phrase "being that" are always wrong.
(4) The first and second longest answer choices are often (but not always!) wrong.
(5) "Fancy-looking" words, such as "therein", "wherein", "whereby", "insofar", "heretofore", "inasmuch as", and "notwithstanding" are usually (but not always) wrong.
(6) Comparison problems, the correct answer choice almost always contains the word "that" or "that of" (if the noun is singular) or "those" or "those of" (if the noun is plural). An apostrophe might be used, but never in conjunction with a "that of" or "those of" phrase. Do not be distracted by the incorrect answer choices.
(7) If you have confidently eliminated three answer choices and do not know which of the remaining two is correct, pick the one that (i) contains a verb, (ii) is written in the active voice, or (iii) is shorter.
(8) Watch out for dangling modifier questions. Do not waste your time looking for other grammar mistakes when the main problem (what's the main subject?) is right in your face. I think these are the easiest questions in the entire writing section. Just keep an eye out for them so you won't get them wrong and feel like a moron.
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