Maximize ACT English scores with the CLAW method

How to earn a 36 on the ACT English section

If you’re aiming for a 36 on ACT English, we have some good news: this section is one of the most predictable parts of the ACT and, for many students, it’s also the fastest way to raise their overall score.

ACT English isn’t about having “perfect grammar instincts.” It’s about learning a small set of repeatable rules, recognizing common question patterns, and practicing with a strategy that helps you move quickly and accurately.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why ACT English is a high-yield section for score gains
• The CLAW mnemonic for comma mastery
• How to handle the two main ACT English question types
• A simple practice plan that helps you improve faster
• How these skills carry over into school and real-world writing

Key insights

• ACT English offers exceptional opportunities to raise your overall ACT score thanks to its consistency, straightforward format, and strategic approach.
• The CLAW mnemonic simplifies comma usage by breaking it down into manageable steps.
• Top scorers excel by learning to shift quickly between grammar questions and those focused on writing effectiveness.
• Real progress comes from targeted practice, reviewing patterns in your mistakes, and adjusting your approach.
• Strong grammar skills matter outside of testing: they help you communicate with clarity and confidence in academics, at work, and in daily life.

TL;DR: The fastest path to a 36 on ACT English

If you’re short on time, focus on these steps:

1. Learn the most common ACT English grammar rules (punctuation, agreement, modifiers, sentence structure).
2. Master commas using CLAW.
3. Identify question type fast: grammar vs. rhetorical.
4. Practice with official-style questions and track your mistakes.
5. Fix patterns, not just individual questions.

Why ACT English rewards focused preparation

For students aiming to stand out in college admissions, the ACT English section can feel both daunting and full of possibilities. Many students hit a plateau just shy of their target score and wonder what distinguishes the highest achievers.

Earning a top score in ACT English is about more than knowing grammar rules. It requires:

• Managing time under pressure
• Staying consistent across multiple passages
• Applying strategies specific to ACT question patterns

Unlike classroom writing, ACT English tests how quickly you can recognize what the test wants, often in just a few seconds.

Why ACT English offers high-yield improvement

If you’re looking for fast and effective score gains, ACT English is one of the best sections to focus on. It rewards preparation because the content is repeatable and the rules don’t change much from test to test.

ACT English centers on predictable topics like:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Punctuation (commas, colons, semicolons)
• Pronoun clarity
• Modifiers
• Sentence structure
• Redundancy and concision
• Transitions and organization

And because the section includes 75 questions in 45 minutes, even small improvements can add up quickly. If you master one high-frequency skill, like comma rules, you can boost your accuracy across many questions.

Bottom line: If you want to improve your ACT score efficiently, ACT English is a smart place to invest your time.

The CLAW mnemonic: Making comma rules manageable

Comma questions are everywhere on the ACT. The rules are consistent, but many students struggle because they try to “feel” what sounds right instead of using a clear system.

That’s where CLAW helps. It’s a simple checklist for when commas are most likely needed:

Conjunctions

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when it joins two complete sentences.

Correct: “She studied hard, and she aced the test.”
Incorrect: “She studied hard, and aced the test.” (second part is not a complete sentence)

Quick test: If you can split it into two full sentences, you usually need a comma + conjunction.

Lists

Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more.

Example: “I brought pencils, folders, and highlighters.”

Adjectives

Use a comma between adjectives if:

• Both adjectives describe the noun equally, and
• You can place “and” between them naturally.

Example: “a long, winding road”
(You could say “a long and winding road,” so the comma works.)

Wall-of-text

Watch for long, crowded sentences that run together, with multiple ideas. ACT test writers often test whether you can improve clarity.

Example (hard to read):
“After school I went to the library I studied for two hours I met my friend.”

Better:
“After school, I went to the library. I studied for two hours, and then I met my friend.”

Sometimes the fix is a comma, but sometimes the correct answer is a period, semicolon, or restructuring.

Mini drill: Comma mastery (ACT-style)

Choose the best option:

1) She wanted to join the debate team ____ she also had soccer practice every day.
A. NO CHANGE
B. team, she
C. team; she
D. team, but she

Best answer: D
Why: Two complete sentences + coordinating conjunction (but) → comma + conjunction.

The essential ACT English grammar rules to learn

CLAW is a great starting point, but a 36 requires a strong foundation across the most common tested rules.

Here are high-impact rules to master:

• Commas and conjunctions
• Sentence fragments and run-ons
• Subject-verb agreement
• Pronoun agreement and clarity
• Verb tense consistency
• Modifier placement
• Parallel structure
• Colons and semicolons
• Apostrophes and possessives
• Concision and redundancy

Example: A colon must come after a complete sentence.
Correct: “She had one hobby: painting.”
Incorrect: “She had: one hobby, painting.”

When these rules become automatic, you’ll answer faster and avoid second-guessing.

Two major types of ACT English questions and how to tackle them

A major reason high scorers earn a 35-36 is that they quickly recognize what kind of question they’re answering. ACT English questions fall into two main categories:

Grammar and usage questions

These test specific rules like punctuation, verb tense, pronouns, modifiers, and sentence structure.

Best approach:

1. Look at the underlined portion
2. Identify what rule is being tested
3. Eliminate answers that break that rule

Example:
“The group of students are excited.”
Correct: “The group of students is excited.”
Why: “Group” is singular.

Rhetorical and organization questions

These questions test writing effectiveness, including:

• Transitions
• Sentence placement
• Relevance (“Should this sentence be deleted?”)
• Introductions and conclusions
• Logical flow and tone

Best approach:

1. Zoom out and read the surrounding sentences
2. Ask what the paragraph is doing
3. Choose the answer that best supports clarity and purpose

These questions aren’t about grammar: they’re about meaning.

Strategy tip: Train your brain to switch modes

One of the biggest mistakes students make is treating every question the same way.

• For grammar questions: zoom in and apply rules
• For rhetorical questions: zoom out and focus on logic

This mental flexibility is one of the clearest differences between a 30-level scorer and a 36-level scorer.

Pacing strategy for a perfect ACT English score

To earn a 36, you need accuracy and speed. A great pacing goal is:

• 9 minutes per passage (5 passages total = 45 minutes)
• Don’t spend more than 30-40 seconds on one question
• If you’re stuck, guess, mark it mentally, and move on

ACT English rewards momentum. Most questions are designed to be answered quickly if you know what to look for.

Practice, pattern recognition, and continuous improvement

If you want to improve your ACT English score fast, don’t just “do more questions.” Do smarter practice.

Here’s a high-impact system:

Step 1: Track your mistakes

After every practice set, write down:

• The question type
• The rule tested
• Why you missed it
• What you’ll do differently next time

Even a simple mistake log, paired with thoughtful analysis, can accelerate improvement.

Step 2: Fix patterns, not one-off errors

Most students repeat the same mistakes:

• Comma splices
• Unclear pronouns
• Misplaced modifiers
• Wordiness
• Transition confusion

When you fix the pattern, your score improves across multiple passages.

Step 3: Practice with increasing difficulty

As you improve, challenge yourself with:

• Mixed question sets
• Timed passages
• Full-length practice sections

This builds both skill and stamina.

Overcoming ingrained language habits for real-world impact

Many students develop “grammar blind spots” from informal writing and texting. These habits often don’t matter in everyday conversation, but they show up clearly on standardized tests.

ACT English highlights the difference between casual language and formal writing standards. The same skills that raise your score also improve:

• School essays
• Scholarship applications
• Emails and professional communication
• Clarity in everyday writing

Strong grammar helps you sound confident, credible, and polished, on the ACT and beyond.

Bringing it all together: Strategies for top performance in ACT English

Achieving a 36 on ACT English comes down to mastering the rules, practicing strategically, and staying adaptable under time pressure.

To recap, the most effective path is:

• Learn a compact set of high-frequency grammar rules
• Use CLAW to simplify comma decisions
• Recognize the difference between grammar vs. rhetorical questions
• Track mistakes to find patterns
• Practice timed sets to build speed and consistency

With the right system, ACT English becomes one of the most predictable and most rewarding sections to improve.

FAQ: ACT English score improvement

How many questions can you miss and still get a 36 on ACT English?

It depends on the test’s scoring curve, but typically you need to miss very few questions (often around 0-2 to stay in the 36 range).

What grammar rules are most common on ACT English?

The most common include commas, sentence boundaries (run-ons/fragments), subject-verb agreement, pronouns, modifiers, and concision.

What’s the fastest way to raise your ACT English score?

Focus on high-frequency rules (especially punctuation and sentence structure), practice timed passages, and track mistake patterns.

How should I pace ACT English?

Aim for about 9 minutes per passage, and don’t spend more than 30-40 seconds on a single question.