In the SAT Reading & Writing section and the ACT English section (which both test your grammar skills), there is one topic which the vast majority of students need to review in detail—or learn for the first time!
That topic is: P.U.N.C.T.U.A.T.I.O.N!
When I start working with a new 11th-grader under my Ace the Test: Game Plan™ package, our first step is to pick the test (SAT or ACT) that will optimize their chances of getting in to their dream schools. Then, we figure out exactly which concepts the student needs to brush up on (or learn for the first time) in order to achieve her target score. Almost without fail, one of those subjects is punctuation!
Curious about this recurring weak spot, I asked some of my students’ parents about it, and discovered that there’s a pretty clear reason for it. It would seem that most high schools these days don’t actually TEACH the principles of grammar as such. Instead, students are typically asked to write essays, which then get corrected—and students are expected to just develop an internal sense of what looks/reads right and wrong by reviewing these corrections. But in many places, the actual RULES aren’t being taught. Not in any thorough way, at least.
Regardless of how you feel about this as an educational strategy, the repercussions for your SAT/ACT study plan are clear. Because:
The SAT and ACT Absolutely tests the rules of grammar, and especially of punctuation!
For that reason, I want to dedicate today’s post to breaking down the biggest punctuation rules that come up on the SAT and ACT. Do yourself a favor and learn these guidelines explicitly—so you can grab yourself more precious points come test day!
These eight punctuation rules are so frequently tested on the SAT and ACT that conquering them has meant a higher score for nearly every student I’ve reviewed them with. The same happy outcome can be yours.
So let’s get into it: the Ivy Lounge Test Prep® Punctuation Cheat Sheet.
ARTICLE CONTENTS
1. What grammar do you need to know on the SAT/ACT?
A. Combining two complete clauses
B. Combining a complete clause with a dependent clause
D. How to add extra information to a sentence
E. Using dashes
2. Conclusion
What grammar do you need to know on the SAT/ACT?
Here is your streamlined breakdown of what counts as correct vs. incorrect, sorted according to the eight punctuation rules that are most commonly tested on the SAT and ACT. To get the most out of this guide, test yourself by writing out examples or applying these rules to sentences you find in the wild. And if you have questions about how to use them in context, you can always get in touch with me!
throughout this guide, I’ll be using the following abbreviations:
C = “Complete clause” (a clause that can be its own sentence)
D = “Dependent clause” (a clause that could NOT stand on its own as a separate sentence)
“FANBOYS” = subordinating conjunctions. Specifically: “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.” These seven words, and ONLY these seven words, are considered FANBOYs!
I. Combining two complete clauses
CORRECT!
C. C.
C; c.
C, FANBOYS c.
C: c*.
C—c*.
(*The second complete clause answers or clarifies the first complete clause.)
INCORRECT!
C c.
C, c.
C; FANBOYS c.
(There are other ways to be incorrect, here, but these are the most common ones!)
II. Combining a Complete Clause with a Dependent Clause
CORRECT!
D, c.
C, d.
INCORRECT!
D; c. or C; d.
D. C. or C. D.
D, FANBOYS c. or C, FANBOYS d.
D: c.
D—c.
III. How to Use a Colon
CORRECT!
C: c*.
C: d*.
C: l, i, s, t*.
C: one-word answer*.
(NOTE: EVERY SINGLE ONE of these correctly constructed sentences has two things in common: there’s a COMPLETE CLAUSE on the LEFT side of the colon; and the right side—whatever grammatical form it takes—explains or clarifies the complete clause on the left.)
INCORRECT!
D: anything.
C: something that doesn’t explain or clarify.
IV. How to add Extra Information to a Sentence
CORRECT!
Sent, extra information, ence.
Sent—extra information—ence.
Sent (extra information) ence.
OR…
Sentence, extra information.
Sentence—extra information.
Sentence (extra information).
INCORRECT!
Sent, extra information—ence. (Any mixing and matching is a NO.)
Sent,(extra information) ence. (Using double punctuation is a NO.)
Sent, extra information ence. (Only separating extra info on one side? NO.)
Sent extra information, ence. (Same deal—one side only is a NO.)
V. Using dashes
CORRECT!
1) Anywhere you would have used a colon, like these:
C—c*.
C—d*.
C—l, i, s, t*.
C—one-word answer*.
2) To separate out extra information
Sent—extra information—ence.
Sentence—extra information.
INCORRECT!
Anything else.
VI. How to use a semi-colon
CORRECT!
C; c.
List in which the items being separated already use commas.
Ex: She visited Dallas, Texas; London, England; and Brooklyn, New York.
INCORRECT!
Anything else.
VII. How to use a question mark
CORRECT!
Question? (As in, someone asks an actual question.)
Ex: She asked, “Did you go to the concert?”
INCORRECT!
A declaration that someone asked a question—usually uses the word “if” or “whether.”
Ex: She asked if you went to the concert.
VIII. How to use a Comma
YES!
C, FANBOYS c.
C, d.
D, c.
Sent, extra information, ence.
Sentence, extra information.
When listing more than two items.
Adjective1, adjective2 noun (when the adjectives could be swapped).
Introductory phrase, sentence.
Someone said, "Quotation."
NOPE!
Anything else.
Conclusion
And now for your next move: practice, practice, practice!
If you’re someone who struggles to do that on your own, you might benefit from a professional study coach. I can draw up (and help you implement) a prep plan that’s suited to your specific weaknesses, strengths, and goals. Learn more about working with me here.
Or, if you feel confident about studying on your own but still want targeted guidance on WHAT to study, check out my ebooks and courses. These one-stop-shops will help you learn each and every grammar topic you need to master for the ACT and SAT! After using my ACT Grammar Cram Plan and SAT Reading and Writing course, many of my clients have gone on to achieve perfect ACT English and SAT Writing section scores. Let’s get you there, too!
