Teaching Conventions of Standard English on the ACT®
How can you help students master Conventions of Standard English on the ACT®? Explore strategies for teaching key grammar skills using targeted practice questions.
Understanding the ACT® English Section
The ACT® English section is designed to test a student’s ability to revise and edit written text. It consists of 75 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes, divided across five passages. The questions assess three key areas:
- Production of Writing (29–32%): Focuses on rhetorical skills, such as organization and clarity.
- Knowledge of Language (15–17%): Tests concise and precise word choices and style consistency.
- Conventions of Standard English (52–55%): Evaluates grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Since over half of the ACT® English questions focus on Conventions of Standard English, this subsection is crucial for improving a student’s overall English score.
What Is The Conventions of Standard English Section?
Conventions of Standard English questions test a student’s ability to apply grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure rules. These questions ask students to identify errors and choose the best revisions to improve clarity and correctness in a passage.
Three Key Question Types:
- Sentence Structure and Formation: Tests understanding of sentence boundaries, parallelism, and clause relationships.
- Punctuation: Focuses on commas, apostrophes, semicolons, colons, and dashes.
- Usage: Covers subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, and verb tense consistency.
How to Approach This Section
Timing Strategy:
- The 75 questions must be completed in 45 minutes, giving about 36 seconds per question.
- Since Conventions of Standard English makes up the majority of the section, students should aim to answer these questions quickly to save time for more complex rhetorical or organization-based questions.
Test-Taking Tips:
- Read beyond the underlined portion to understand the full sentence.
- Be cautious of “No Change” answers: sometimes the best option is to leave the text as is, but always double-check.
- Look for subtle errors: one answer choice may fix one issue but introduce another.
- Don’t overcomplicate: clarity and conciseness are key.
Key Grammar Rules to Teach
To succeed in this section, students should master:
- Sentence Structure & Formation
- Run-on sentences & fragments: Ensure all sentences have a subject and verb and avoid comma splices.
- Parallelism: Items in a list or compound structures should match in form (e.g., “She enjoys running, swimming, and biking”).
- Modifiers: Ensure descriptive phrases are placed correctly to avoid confusion.
- Punctuation
- Commas: Used for lists, introductory elements, and setting off non-essential clauses.
- Semicolons: Connects two independent clauses without a conjunction.
- Apostrophes: Used for possessives and contractions (e.g., "the student's book" vs. "the students' books")
- Usage
- Subject-verb agreement: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement: Pronouns must match the nouns they replace in number and gender.
- Verb tense consistency: Ensure verbs follow a logical sequence within a passage.
How to Teach Conventions of Standard English in the Classroom
- Focus on Patterns Over Memorization
Instead of drilling individual rules, help students recognize patterns in sentence structure and grammar. Use real ACT®-style passages so they see grammar in context.
- Use Sentence Correction Exercises
Provide short passages with intentional errors and have students identify and correct mistakes. This mimics the ACT® format and reinforces correct grammar usage.
- Teach Editing Skills
Have students edit each other’s writing or revise sample ACT® passages. This encourages them to think like test editors and apply rules actively.
- Implement Timed Practice
Simulating ACT® timing conditions during practice sessions helps students build speed and confidence. Assign 10-question sets with a 6-minute limit to help students adjust to the time pressure.
- Use Multiple-Choice Grammar Drills
Since the ACT® tests grammar in a multiple-choice format, provide grammar quizzes with answer explanations to reinforce concepts.
Mastering Conventions of Standard English is one of the most effective ways to improve ACT® English scores. By focusing on sentence structure, punctuation, and usage, students can tackle over half of the questions with confidence. Teachers can reinforce these skills through practice passages, editing exercises, and timed drills, ensuring students are well-prepared for test day. Want more ACT® prep strategies? Explore Horizon Education’s ACT® curriculum and benchmark assessments to help your students succeed!
