← Back to Blogs

Foundational SAT English Strategies

Published on August 30, 2025·6 min read

Think Like the Test-Maker

The SAT isn't trying to trick you with obscure knowledge; it's testing your ability to read carefully and apply rules consistently. These foundational strategies will help you see the test for what it is: a series of puzzles with clear solutions.

1. Start with the Question

Before you read a single word of the passage, read the question first. This is your map. It tells you exactly what to look for. Are you finding the main idea of the whole text, or are you just fixing a punctuation error in one line? Knowing your goal beforehand saves an incredible amount of time.

2. Predict Before You Peek

This is the single most important strategy. Before you even glance at the answer choices (A, B, C, D), formulate your own simple answer in your head. Then, find the option that matches your prediction. This prevents you from getting distracted by tempting, cleverly-worded wrong answers.

3. Use "Caveman Talk"

Some passages are dense, scientific, or use old-fashioned language. Don't get bogged down. Translate the complex sentences into your own simple words. Ask yourself, "What is this really saying?"

Example: "The author's anachronistic proclivities manifested in his sartorial choices." Caveman Talk: "Dude liked old-timey clothes."

4. Get Excited About Transitions

Words like however, but, therefore, for example, and in fact are giant, flashing signposts. They are the most important words in the text because they show the relationship between ideas. When you see one, pay close attention.

5. Know How Much to Read for Grammar

For most punctuation and grammar questions, you only need to read the single sentence that contains the underlined portion. However, you must read the entire sentence to the period. The test-makers love to trick students who only read a fragment of the sentence.

The Building Blocks: Clauses

Every grammar rule on the SAT is built on the difference between two types of clauses. Master this, and everything else falls into place.

  • Independent Clause: A complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own.
    • The dog barked.
  • Dependent Clause: Not a complete sentence. It often starts with a word like because, while, although, if, or when.
    • Because the dog barked.

The most common error on the SAT is the Comma Splice. You CANNOT connect two independent clauses with just a comma.

WRONG: The dog barked, the cat ran away.

Here are the only three correct ways to connect them:

  1. Period: The dog barked. The cat ran away.
  2. Semicolon: The dog barked; the cat ran away.
  3. Comma + FANBOYS: The dog barked, so the cat ran away. (FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)