In addition to the revised curriculum requested last semester, the stu

Doer01

Your argument makes more sense.. I probably perceived In addition to ... as an adverbial modifier whereas it makes more sense as an adjectival modifier.

In A) it seems students in addition to curriculum (in addition to what you noted above about who requested curriculum)

in C) it is much clearer plus in addition to is next to the grading be instituted..

This is one more example in which reading attentively is the way to the right answer choice.

First split: meaning and incorrect use of modifiers. In D & E "Added to..." modifies students, which is wrong: it should modify the revised curriculum.

B is out as use of past perfect is totally unnecessary here.

Between A & C, C has a little subtle error that a superficial read would not spot.

In C --> " The students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted in addition to the revised curriculum (that) they requested last semester. " we are missing a pronoun that correctly modifies the revised curriculum.

In A -->" In addition to the revised curriculum requested last semester, the students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted. the verb requested is a passive voice and it is used as an Adjective that correctly modifies the revised curriculum

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-


Choice A: This answer choice maintains proper tense and pronoun use throughout the sentence and conveys the intended meaning of the sentence. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Choice B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense; the past perfect tense is used to refer to earlier of multiple events that happened in the past, and in this sentence, only one event is described as having occurred in the past. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice C: This answer choice suffers from a very slight change in meaning; the phrase "instituted in addition to the revised curriculum" implies that the students are demanding that the new grading system be added to the revised curriculum, rather than the intended meaning that the students are making another separate demand for a new grading system. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Choice D: This answer choice features a modifier error; the phrase "Added to the revised curriculum that was requested last semester by the students" modifies "they", referring to students. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice E: This answer choice features a modifier error; the phrase "Added to the new curriculum requested last semester" modifies "students", implying that students were added to the curriculum. As this implication is clearly illogical, this answer choice is incorrect.

Hence, A is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense - Use of Had" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

In addition to the revised curriculum requested last semester, the students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted.

Meaning: after requesting a revised curriculum, the students now want a new grading system.

(A) In addition to the revised curriculum requested last semester, the students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted.

(B) In addition to the revised curriculum that had been requested last semester, the students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted.

Use of past perfect is redundant because the sequence of events is quite clear with the use of now.

(C) The students are now demanding that a new grading system be instituted in addition to the revised curriculum they requested last semester.

(D) Added to the revised curriculum that was requested last semester by the students, they are now demanding the institution of a new grading system.

Use of a complex gerund (the institution) changes the meaning.

(E) Added to the new curriculum requested last semester, the students have now demanded the institution of a new grading system.


C,D,E all change the meaning by saying that the grading system will be added to the curriculum.

Posted from my mobile device