Every time I start tutoring a new junior under my Ace the Test: Game Plan™ package, we work together to pick the test (SAT or ACT) that will optimize her chances of getting in to her dream schools. Then, we figure out exactly which concepts the student needs to review (or, often, learn for the first time) in order to achieve her target score.
When it comes to the SAT Writing section and the ACT English section (which both test your grammar skills), there is one topic that, I’ve found, the majority of students need serious brushing up on.
That topic is: P.U.N.C.T.U.A.T.I.O.N.
I’ve asked my students’ parents about this recurring weak point, and it turns out there’s a pretty clear reason for it. Apparently, most high schools these days don’t actually TEACH the principles of grammar as such. Instead, students are typically given essay-writing assignments, and these writing assignments get corrected, and students are expected to develop an internal sense of “grammar right” and “grammar wrong” for themselves by reviewing these corrections. But it appears the actual RULES aren’t being taught—not in any systematic way, at least.
Regardless of how you feel about this as a pedagogical choice, the implications for your SAT/ACT study plan are clear. Because:
the rules of grammar, and especially of punctuation, ARE DEFINITELY tested on the SAT and ACT!
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 mastering them virtually guarantees you a higher score.
So here we go: the Ivy Lounge Test Prep® Punctuation Cheat Sheet.
Here is the no-nonsense guide to 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, try challenging yourself to create examples, or apply these rules to sample sentences. And if you need an explanation of how to use them in context, don’t hesitate to contact me!
For the purpose of our little cheat sheet here, I’m going to abbreviate some things:
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, count!
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.
(I’m sure you could concoct some other offenders, but these are the worst!)
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 it is—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.
NOPE!
Anything else.
***
Time to get practicing! And remember, if you need a professional motivator to help you start practicing, I’m your gal. Or, if you’re more of a lone wolf when it comes to studying, I’ve still got your back: check out my one-stop-shop ebooks that will guide you through each and every grammar topic you need to master for the ACT and SAT! After using my ACT and SAT Grammar Cram Plans, many of my students have gone on to achieve perfect ACT English and SAT Writing section scores. Let’s get you into that happy club, too!
