Mastering Apostrophes for the SAT
The Easiest Points You're Leaving on the Table
Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.
Guard the Sentence Core
Identify the subject and verb, then make sure punctuation does not split them or add extra ideas.
- Find the subject + verb first. That is the sentence core.
- Only add commas around extra information, never inside the core.
- Re-read the sentence without the modifier to test clarity.
Why Mastering Apostrophes Matters on the SAT
Apostrophe questions on the SAT Reading and Writing section follow the same handful of patterns every single time. Three rules are all it takes to answer these questions in under 30 seconds and move on to harder problems with more time in the bank. Most students lose points on apostrophes not because the rules are difficult, but because they have never sat down and learned them clearly. That changes today.
This post will walk you through exactly what the SAT tests when it comes to apostrophes, give you a quick decision framework you can use on test day, and let you practice with SAT-style questions. By the end, apostrophes should feel like free points, because they are.
The Three Apostrophe Rules That Cover the SAT
Nearly every apostrophe question on the SAT comes down to one of three situations. Learn these, and you've learned the topic.
Rule 1: Possession with Singular Nouns
To show that something belongs to one person or thing, add 's to the noun.
- "The student's essay" = the essay belongs to one student
- "The museum's collection" = the collection belongs to one museum
- "Dr. Patel's research" = the research belongs to Dr. Patel
Rule 2: Possession with Plural Nouns
If the noun is plural and already ends in -s, add just an apostrophe after the s. If the plural doesn't end in -s (like "children" or "women"), add 's just like you would for a singular noun.
- "The students' essays" = the essays belong to multiple students
- "The children's museum" = the museum for children (irregular plural)
- "The women's leadership program" = the program for women
Rule 3: Contractions
An apostrophe replaces missing letters when two words are combined. This is where the SAT sets its biggest traps.
- "It is" or "It has" → it's
- "They are" → they're
- "Who is" or "Who has" → who's
- "You are" → you're
The Big Trap: Possessive Pronouns vs. Contractions
This is the single most important thing to understand about apostrophes on the SAT. Possessive pronouns never take apostrophes. Read that again. The words its, their, your, and whose already show possession, they don't need an apostrophe to do it.
The versions with apostrophes, it's, they're, you're, who's, are always contractions. The SAT exploits this confusion constantly. Here's how to beat it every time:
The Expansion Test: Try expanding the word into two words. If "it is" or "it has" makes sense in the sentence, use it's. If the sentence is talking about something that belongs to "it," use its, no apostrophe. This works for every possessive pronoun pair.
One more thing: plain plurals never get apostrophes. "The dogs barked", no apostrophe. "She bought three laptops", no apostrophe. If you're just saying "more than one of something" without showing ownership, leave the apostrophe out entirely.
SAT Strategy: What to Do When You See an Apostrophe Question
When you spot an underlined word that involves an apostrophe (or suspiciously lacks one), run through this checklist:
- Is it a pronoun? If so, remember: possessive pronouns (its, their, whose, your) never use apostrophes. Use the expansion test to decide.
- Is it a noun showing possession? Decide if the owner is singular or plural, then apply Rule 1 or Rule 2.
- Is it just a plural? Then no apostrophe, ever.
The SAT answer choices will often give you four variants of the same word, for example, its / it's / its' / its's, betting that you'll second-guess yourself. Don't. Trust the expansion test, pick your answer, and move on.
Practice Mastering Apostrophes with SAT-Style Questions
Try these SAT-style questions. Each one targets a specific apostrophe pattern you'll see on test day. Work through them in order, they get progressively trickier.
Which choice correctly completes the sentence at the underlined portion?
Which choice correctly uses apostrophes in the underlined portions?
Which choice correctly completes the sentence at the underlined portions?
Which choice correctly uses apostrophes in the underlined portions?
Which choice correctly completes the sentence at the underlined portions?
Key Takeaways for Mastering Apostrophes
- Possessive pronouns never use apostrophes. Remember: its, their, whose, your, these already show ownership. This is the single most tested apostrophe rule on the SAT.
- Use the expansion test every time. If you can replace the word with two words (it is, they are, who is), use the apostrophe version. If not, don't. This takes three seconds and eliminates guessing.
- Know your plural possessives. Regular plurals ending in -s get just an apostrophe after the s (students'). Irregular plurals not ending in -s get 's (children's).
- Plain plurals never get apostrophes. If you're just saying "more than one of something" without showing ownership, no apostrophe is needed.
Conclusion: The Core Rule for Mastering Apostrophes
Apostrophe questions are pattern-recognition problems dressed up as grammar. Once you internalize the expansion test and remember that possessive pronouns never take apostrophes, these become some of the fastest, most reliable points on the SAT Reading and Writing section. Practice the five questions above until the reasoning feels automatic, that's when you know you're ready.
Remember: Expand it, check it, trust it. If "it is" fits, use the apostrophe. If something belongs to "it," drop the apostrophe. Three seconds, one rule, free points.
