What if a single missing apostrophe could lower your SAT score?
Preparing for the SAT Writing and Language section can feel tricky, but most of it comes down to mastering standard English grammar rules. A small mistake with a comma, pronoun, or verb tense can cost you valuable points.
That’s why this SAT grammar rules cheat sheet focuses on the 10 rules you will see most often. Learn them well, and you will not only raise your SAT score but also improve your overall writing and communication skills.
What is SAT
The SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test. SAT is a standardized exam used by many U.S. colleges to evaluate students’ readiness for higher education. It measures core academic skills in the following:-
- Reading
- Writing & Language (Grammar and Usage)
- Math
The Writing & Language section focuses on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Test-takers must identify and fix errors, improve clarity, and ensure consistency in tone and style.
Mastering SAT grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun use, and punctuation, can significantly raise your score. Beyond admissions, these skills strengthen overall communication, making students stronger writers and thinkers, both in academics and future careers.
Why Proper Grammar Matters on the SAT
Importance of grammar in the SAT Writing and Language section
The SAT Writing and Language section checks how well you use standard written English. Every sentence you read and fix tests your eye for grammar accuracy.
Students often focus only on math and reading, but grammar makes up a big part of their score. Using the right SAT writing strategies can turn small grammar rules into easy points.
When you learn to spot errors in subject-verb agreement, pronouns, or punctuation, you get faster at solving SAT questions. This makes you more confident and fully exam-ready.
How grammar rules impact college admissions & scholarships
A strong SAT score does more than raise your test report. It improves your chances of entering competitive colleges.
Many schools also tie scholarships to high SAT scores. Missing grammar rules can cost points, which could cost you opportunities.
Showing mastery of grammar tells admissions that you can handle college-level essays and research writing. It’s proof that you take academic work seriously.
Connection between grammar, communication, and critical reading
Grammar is a skill for life. Clear grammar strengthens communication and ensures that your message is understood.
The SAT blends grammar with critical reading. When you study rules, you also learn how writers build arguments and structure ideas.
By practising exam readiness and SAT writing strategies, you improve both your test score and your writing voice. That’s why grammar is central to success beyond the SAT.
1. When to Use Possessive or Plural Nouns
Singular Possessive Nouns
A singular possessive noun shows ownership by one person or object. Adds to form it.
Example: The student’s notebook was on the desk.
One of the most common student mistakes is placing the apostrophe in the wrong place or forgetting it altogether. The SAT tests these details to check if you notice noun forms and apostrophe rules.
Practicing with SAT possessive nouns helps you train your eye for these quick corrections.
Plural Possessive Nouns (not ending in “s”)
Some nouns are irregular. Words like children, women, and men are used for the possessive.
Example: The children’s playground was renovated.
The SAT includes traps where you may be asked to choose between childrens’ or children’s. Only one is correct. These are tricky grammar patterns to watch for.
Knowing the rules for irregular plurals keeps you safe from SAT question traps involving irregular plurals.
Plural Possessive Nouns (ending in “s”)
Most plural nouns form possessives by adding only an apostrophe after the s.
Example: The teachers’ lounge is on the first floor.
“The teachers’ lounge is on the first floor.” → This is correct if the lounge belongs to multiple teachers (plural possessive).
“The teacher’s lounge is on the first floor.” → This is correct if the lounge belongs to one teacher (singular possessive).
This is a very common apostrophe SAT grammar rule. The SAT may give you both teachers’ and teacher’s in answer choices. Only one matches the sentence.
Misplacing the apostrophe is one of the top reasons students miss easy grammar points. Careful attention earns you those extra points.
2. Making Pronouns Match Their Antecedents
For Singular Antecedents
A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent. For singular nouns, use singular pronouns.
Example: Each student must bring his or her notebook.
The SAT often tests this with vague or incorrect pronouns. Words like they are sometimes used incorrectly with singular subjects.
Practicing pronoun antecedent agreement SAT rules helps avoid these traps. Always check the subject before selecting the pronoun.
For Plural Antecedents
For plural nouns, use plural pronouns.
Example: The players brought their uniforms.
But beware of SAT traps with collective nouns. Words like team and committee look plural but are often singular in meaning.
Maintaining pronoun clarity and grammar consistency is the key. Always check whether the noun refers to one group as a unit or many individuals.
3. Keeping Verb Tenses Consistent
Importance of tense consistency in SAT passages
The SAT loves to test tense consistency. Writers must keep verbs in the same past tense or present tense unless the timeline changes.
In passages, switching tenses without reason confuses the reader. That’s why tense control is key in SAT verb tense practice questions.
Examples of tense shifts in sentences
Wrong: Yesterday, she walks to school and finished her homework.
Correct: Yesterday, she walked to school and finished her homework.
Notice how a single verb in the wrong tense disrupts the sequence of events. These small errors are exactly what the test wants you to catch.
4. How to Avoid Sentence Fragments
What makes a sentence fragment
A sentence fragment is an incomplete thought. It might be missing a subject, a verb, or both.
Wrong: Because she was late. (Fragment — no complete thought)
Correct: She was late because she missed the bus. (Complete sentence)
On the SAT, fragments show up often as wrong answer choices. Knowing how to spot and fix them saves you from easy mistakes.
Difference between clauses and phrases
A main clause has both a subject and a verb, making it a complete idea.
Example: She ran to the store.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone.
Example: Because she was late.
The SAT checks if you can tell the difference between clauses and phrases. This is where sentence fragments in SAT examples become useful.
Common fragment traps in the SAT Writing section
One common trap is starting with words like because, although, or when, but not finishing the thought.
Example: Although she studied hard. (Fragment)
The fix is to connect it to a main clause: Although she studied hard, she missed one question.
Mastering subject-verb structure helps you eliminate these fragment traps quickly.
5. Ensuring Subjects and Verbs Agree
Subject-verb agreement rules (singular vs plural)
Every subject must match its verb in number. Singular nouns take singular verbs, and plural nouns take plural verbs.
Examples:
The dog runs fast. I The dogs run fast.
The SAT often tests subject-verb agreement in sneaky ways, especially with prepositional phrases or long subjects. These are classic agreement error traps to watch for.
Tricky SAT Example:
- The group of students is meeting after school. (Correct – subject is “group,” singular)
- The students are meeting after school. (Correct – subject is “students,” plural)
SAT distractors with prepositional phrases
Be careful with long subjects followed by phrases.
Example: The list of items is on the desk. (Not are)
Here, the true subject is a list, not items. These are common SAT tricks to test grammatical consistency.
Tips for mastering subject-verb agreement
Practicing SAT subject-verb agreement tips makes you quicker at spotting mismatches. Always strip the sentence down to the subject and verb first.
This rule is simple, but it accounts for many lost points on the SAT. Careful reading can turn those into easy wins.
6. Knowing When to Use “Who” and “Whom”
Quick test: he/she = who | him/her = whom
Many students mix up who vs whom SAT grammar rule. Remember the following easy trick:
- Use who if you can replace it with he/she (subject pronoun).
- Use whom if you can replace it with him/her (object pronoun).
On the SAT, confusing object pronouns and subject pronouns is a common trap. This quick test saves time and avoids mistakes.
SAT examples with tricky sentence structures
Example 1: The student who scored the highest won a prize.
(Here, who = he scored → subject pronoun).
Example 2: To whom should I address this letter?
(Here, whom = to him → object pronoun).
The SAT often hides the role of the word inside tricky sentence structures. Knowing the difference between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun is key to sentence role accuracy.
7. Using Commas Wisely: What to Avoid
Separating Items in a List
On the SAT, commas separate items in a list: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
The Oxford comma rule (before “and”) is accepted but not required. The SAT does not mark it wrong either way, so focus on consistency.
This rule is part of the SAT commas in a list rule and is one of the simplest but most tested concepts.
Using Commas After Introductory Phrases
When a sentence begins with a phrase, add a comma.
Example: After the test, the students relaxed.
This checks your awareness of sentence openers and grammar punctuation. Forgetting the comma here is an easy mistake on the SAT.
Offsetting Non-Essential Information
Use commas to separate extra details that don’t change the main meaning of the sentence.
Correct Example: My brother, a skilled guitarist, practices daily.
Here, a skilled guitarist is nonessential information. Even if you remove it, the sentence still makes sense: My brother practices daily.
Wrong Example: My brother a skilled guitarist, practices daily.
This is missing the first comma, making the sentence confusing.
Wrong Example: My brother, practices daily.
Here, the unnecessary comma interrupts the sentence flow.
This rule applies to appositives and parenthetical phrases. On the SAT Writing and Language section, you’ll often be tested on whether you know when commas are required, or when they should be left out for a nonessential clause.
8. Don’t Forget Necessary Commas
Avoiding run-on sentences and comma splices
A comma splice happens when two full sentences are joined with just a comma.
Wrong: I love music; it helps me focus.
Correct: I love music, and it helps me focus. OR I love music. It helps me focus.
This falls under the SAT comma splice rule.
Sentence clarity and punctuation consistency
Adding necessary commas makes writing clear and easy to follow. The SAT rewards students who can maintain punctuation consistency.
Think of commas as traffic signals for readers. They guide the flow and prevent confusion. Strong control of commas ensures sentence clarity and boosts your SAT writing strategies.
9. Steering Clear of Dangling Modifiers
Unclear Meaning
A dangling modifier happens when the description doesn’t clearly attach to the right subject.
Example: Walking to the store, the trees looked taller.
The sentence wrongly suggests the trees were walking. This kind of error shows up often in dangling modifiers in SAT grammar questions.
Disrupted Flow
Another issue with misplaced modifiers is when they break the sentence flow.
Example: Running down the street, my shoe fell off.
The sentence makes it sound like the shoe was running.
The SAT expects you to recognize these errors and fix them in sentence correction tasks. To fix, always make sure the subject is clearly doing the action.
10. Being Mindful of Word Choice
Clarity is Key
In SAT writing, clear and direct wording is better than fancy or vague phrases.
Avoid redundancy: repeat → just repeat.
This fits the SAT word choice clarity examples rule. Clear writing means stronger grammar accuracy.
Formality Matters
The SAT prefers an academic tone.
Wrong: The experiment was kinda cool.
Correct: The experiment was effective.
Choosing a formal register and precise vocabulary shows exam readiness. The SAT rewards students who sound professional, not casual.
Precision Enhances Clarity
Always choose the exact term instead of a vague one.
Vague: Things got better.
Precise: The results improved.
This is part of the SAT precise vocabulary rule. Strong precision ensures grammar consistency and boosts readability.
Beware of Confusion
The SAT often tests commonly confused words, so pay attention to contextual meaning and homophones.
- Affect vs. Effect
Affect = verb (“to influence”). Example: The weather can affect your mood.
Effect = noun (“the result”). Example: The new rule had a positive effect on students.
SAT-style Question: The new school policy had a positive (affect / effect) on attendance. - Advice vs. Advise
Advice = noun (“guidance”). Example: She gave me useful advice before the exam.
Advise = verb (“to recommend”). Example: Teachers often advise students to practice daily.
SAT-style Question: The counselor will (advice / advise) you on which classes to choose. - Its vs. It’s
Its = possessive (“its cover”). Example: The book lost its cover.
It’s = contraction (“it is/it has”). Example: It’s going to be a long day.
SAT-style Question: The cat chased (its / it’s) tail around the living room.
Pro tip: Before answering, replace the word with “it is” or “it has.” If it works, use it’s. If not, use its.
Final Thoughts
Mastering SAT grammar rules is not just about passing a test. It’s about building the foundation of clear communication, strong writing, and confident reading comprehension. Rules like subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent clarity, and comma usage appear again and again in the SAT Writing and Language section. Knowing them gives you a competitive edge in college admissions and scholarships.
If you want to elevate your score, focus on high-frequency SAT grammar traps, review real SAT practice questions, and revisit this SAT grammar rules cheat sheet regularly. The more you practice, the more natural grammar accuracy and exam readiness will feel.
Whether you are studying in the United States, preparing for the SAT abroad, or aiming for a college scholarship, consistency is key. Start small, practice daily, and track your progress. With the right strategy, your SAT Writing & Language score can improve faster than you think. For more information related to grammar, visit grammarrush.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Grammar Rules Are Tested on the SAT?
The SAT Writing and Language section measures your ability to apply standard written English in real-world passages. The test checks these main areas:
- Sentence Structure: Subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, verb tense consistency, avoiding sentence fragments and run-ons.
- Punctuation: Proper use of commas, apostrophes, semicolons, colons, and dashes.
- Word Choice & Precision: Picking the most accurate word, maintaining clarity, and avoiding redundancy.
- Grammar Conventions: Capitalization, possessives, commonly confused words, and correct syntax patterns.
What Grammar Do You Need to Know for the SAT?
To score well, you need a solid grasp of SAT grammar rules applied in passage-based questions. Here are the essentials:
- Parts of Speech: Correct use of nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions.
- Sentence Mechanics: Parallel structure, subject-verb consistency, correct placement of modifiers, and complete clauses.
- Punctuation Mastery: Commas for non-essential clauses, apostrophes for possessives, and proper semicolon/colon usage.
- Usage & Word Choice: Handling tricky pairs like who vs. whom, affect vs. effect, and maintaining tone and clarity.
How Can I Improve My Grammar for the SAT?
Improving SAT grammar accuracy requires more than memorizing rules—it’s about applying them under test conditions. Here’s a plan:
- Master the Fundamentals: Review the 10 most-tested SAT grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun clarity, and punctuation.
- Practice with Real Questions: Use official SAT practice exams to train in real test formats.
- Track and Learn from Mistakes: Don’t skip errors. Analyze them to build long-term accuracy.
- Read High-Quality Texts: Exposure to strong writing improves sentence rhythm, grammar awareness, and word choice naturally.
- Use Targeted Prep Resources: Grammar cheat sheets, prep books, and online SAT courses help reinforce weak areas.
What Is the Best Way to Improve SAT Grammar Quickly?
If your SAT is approaching soon, you’ll need a focused strategy to boost grammar skills fast. Here’s what works:
- Prioritize High-Value Rules: Focus on the 10 SAT grammar rules most often tested, like subject-verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and punctuation.
- Use an SAT Grammar Cheat Sheet: Quick-reference guides help you recall rules under pressure.
- Practice Timed Sets: Work on official SAT grammar questions to simulate real test pacing.
- Target Your Weak Spots: Spend extra time on the rules you miss most often.
- Daily Mini-Practice: Even 15 to 20 minutes a day of drills and reading quality texts improves accuracy and exam readiness.
How Many Grammar Questions Are on the SAT?
The SAT Writing and Language section has 44 questions in total, spread across 4 passages. Roughly half of these questions test grammar rules directly, including:
- Sentence Structure & Consistency: Subject-verb agreement, modifiers, fragments, run-ons.
- Punctuation Accuracy: Commas, apostrophes, semicolons, colons, and dashes.
- mWord Choice & Usage: Precision, conciseness, and avoiding commonly confused words.
Standard Written English: Style, tone, and overall grammatical correctness.
