We understand that the SAT Reading Section is definitely not one of the most amazing topics. Those passages? A one-way ticket to your dream college.
You don’t really need to have an interest in the SAT Reading Section, but it is important that you achieve a good SAT score, which can be pretty hard given a lack of interest.
But how can you make sure that you score well? There are a lot of study materials, test-taking tips, and strategies than we can count. In this vast sea of test preparation information, it can be really easy to drown in information and lose sight of what’s important, but have no fear! We’re here to help you out.
Follow these strategies and your SAT reading score is going to improve!
Manage Time Effectively
You only have 65 minutes to answer all the questions from 5 passages, you have an average of about 13 minutes to read a passage and answer the questions. So, it is important that you learn to manage your time effectively and plan your strategies.
And how will you do so?
Solve passages you’re comfortable with first
You know that the content of the passages is arranged from a wide range of genres. It would be a good idea to start your Reading section with the ones that are on the top of your comfort list; you don’t need to solve passages in the order in which they appear. For example:-If you’re comfortable with science-based passages, you would like to start with them. This will not only help you get some momentum but will also help you gain the much-required confidence to solve all the other passages.
Solve dual passages at the very end
To save time, you might want to solve the dual/paired passage at the end. Obviously, reading two passages instead of one will take twice the time. But, the returns that you get are the same because the total number of questions asked in a dual passage isn’t more than that of a regular passage.
While solving paired passages, take one at a time – read the 1st passage and answer all questions related to it. Then, read the 2nd passage and answer all the relevant questions. Those questions can be answered last which tests you on information from both the passages.
Solve easier questions first
While answering questions, don’t hesitate to skip or make an educated guess about a particularly easy or difficult question. If time allows, you can always work on it later. However, don’t miss out on easier questions that might follow if you spend much time working on the difficult/tricky ones.
Summarize Passages As You Read Them
As said earlier, the passages in the SAT Reading Section are not the most fantastic thing in this world.
Accordingly, it’s very easy to nap off when you’re in the middle of reading a passage and forget about it. Instead of going back to reread the passage, here is a useful little trick to help you understand what’s going on in each passage.
While reading a passage, stop after each paragraph and think about it what you just read for a few seconds. Ask yourself “What happened in the paragraph?” and “What lessons/points to take away from this paragraph?” Once you’ve thought about the paragraph for not more than 10 seconds, note or mark down a few words in the margin of the passage that explains the paragraph.
Try this and you will no longer have to waste your precious time rereading the whole paragraphs. This strategy will not only save time but will also help you to recall the plot/content of each passage better, which will help you in answering the multiple-choice questions that follow each passage more accurately.
Eliminate Answer Options
In the reading section, one of the best ways to solve questions is to eliminate answer options rather than pick the correct one. Remember that if you’re searching for the correct answer, make sure that every word in the right answer option is correct. On the other hand, if you apply the elimination strategy, only one incorrect word in an answer option can help you eliminate it. Doesn’t this look easier?
We have often noticed that students are able to eliminate three answer options. And then, they are only left with the last two answer options. Unfortunately, at this point, they become defensive and start to believe that both options can be right.
Although, you must remember that there is only one correct answer. Instead of going into the defensive mode, this is the time when you should go into the attacking mode. Rather than believing that both the answers could be correct, you must ask yourself – how to eliminate one of these two answers? What is wrong with one of these two choices?
As soon as you are able to solve these questions, you will definitely be able to select the right answer.
Having said that, how can one eliminate options? Generally, options can be eliminated based on these few pointers:
- They contradict the information provided in the passage
- They are irrelevant to the information given in the passage
- They are too broad or narrow to be the right answers
Practice And Evaluate Errors
Practice makes a man perfect and It’s only more practice that can help you ace the SAT Reading Section. We would highly recommend that you solve all the passages and SAT previous year questions to feel more confident and comfortable in solving passages from various fields.
However, only practice won’t be sufficient. You must review and analyze factors that are affecting your performance. Only when you understand what’s going wrong you will be able to work on it. Isn’t it?
So, solving question papers without analyzing your performance is a waste. We would highly recommend maintaining an error log for yourself, in which you evaluate your weaknesses. Be particular in understanding where you are faltering. Ask why are you making those errors: Are you not reading the options carefully? Are you not eliminating options effectively? Are you not managing your time better?
Once you understand where you are lacking, chalk out a course of action to improve. And then work on weakening your weaknesses and strengthening your strengths! Only then will you start moving in the right direction.
If you need any personal assistance, reach out to our experts here. We’re more than happy to help in whatever way we can.
Need more individualized advice?
With the help of this blog, we have certainly smoothed it over for you. If you want to find more amazing blogs, then make sure you keep visiting our website, follow our Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn channels, like, follow our Facebook channel, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content like this in the future! From helping students prepare and score better in the areas of standardized testing: SAT, ACT, and AP tests to providing high school academic support requirements: IGCSE, IB Subjects, and AS/A Level classes; ReWiser is with you every step of the way!
