Grammar
These include examples like She, His, They, It, That* , and Which*
Pronouns
(Bonus: Relative Pronouns)
Any of these paired punctuation marks contain nonessential phrases.
Commas
Parentheses
Dashes
These questions are meant to be as confusing as possible
Graph questions
Generally, the SAT wants answers that are...
Short and Sweet
Concise
Effective
100
D
This performs the action of a verb and is necessary for a complete sentence.
Subject
This cannot appear between two complete sentences and is NEVER allowed on the SAT
Comma Splice
Examples of this strategy include writing summaries, boxing transitions, and noting tone
Active Reading/Pencil
Words to describe this include formal, informative, inspired, frustrated...
Tone
200
B
Commonly used words for this part of speech spell the acronym FANBOYS
Conjunctions
Indicates possession or a contraction
Apostrophe
Topic vs. Main Idea
Topic is one or two umbrella description. Main Idea is one sentence: author's attitude towards the topic.
These questions require you to consider the broader context of a given sentence
Paragraph-Level questions
300
B
This is necessary for items in lists, comparisons, and combinations
Parallel Structure
Can appear between two adjectives
Golden Rule on the Reading Section
Every correct answer must have supporting evidence from the passage
Passages are in this structure
5 Paragraph Essay
400
A
This part of speech describes what a squirrel can do to a tree
Prepositions
What is the difference between a colon and a semicolon?
A semicolon has complete sentences on either side. A colon has a complete sentence on the left side and an incomplete sentence on the right.
Strategies for these include reading around unfamiliar words, breaking up longer sentences, and reading the introduction
Great Global Conversation passages
Complementary, Contrasting, Casual, Sequence
Transition Words
500
D