The reading section is now split up into separate paragraphs and passages as opposed to being four LONG passages. The trick is to find key words that match the answer choices, focus on the first and last sentence, and don’t get boggled down by details.
For example, memorizing the punctuation rules can be very helpful. It also helps to know that there are 4 basic types of passages: fiction, non-fiction, poetry (new), and quantitative.
To help you tackle some of these passages, we’ve created a few awesome resources, such as tips for tackling the nonfiction and fiction sections.
Skim the Passage
While it is best to read passages and questions simultaneously, doing so within time constraints may prove challenging for students. Skimming can help maximize reading time by quickly grasping key ideas before diving deeper into answering passage/question pairings.
Start by reading the first and last lines of any passage to find its main idea, then skim each paragraph quickly to identify its point. Pay particular attention to any quotes or citations as these often provide essential information that saves you time by eliminating repeat reading.
Some students may resist skimming passages and prefer underlining each question individually in order to gain better comprehension of it, however this technique can often result in accidentally missing key details and waste time rereading later on. Instead, experiment with different strategies during practice tests until you find one that best works for you.
Read the Questions First
Mistakenly, students frequently skip over passages and immediately jump to questions, bypassing their necessary context that allows for comprehension of both questions and answers. This strategy should be avoided as this removes key information necessary for understanding answers to them.
As an alternative, consider reading the questions first and then returning to the passage for reading and comprehension purposes. This approach allows you to focus on key points while making it easier to understand both passage and its questions that follow.
Applying these strategies can help you learn to read the SAT reading section quickly and effectively, improving comprehension to achieve higher scores on test day. Practice under timed conditions so you can hone your pacing abilities while building up confidence.
Don’t forget to carefully assess your errors after missing an answer; pinpointing why it happened could help improve future reading sessions. Our LINKtivity guides cover most SAT reading question types and offer insights on how best to approach them.
Read the Passage Aloud
Read your passage aloud (or whisper in your head), it makes it much easier to stay engaged with and understand its tone and meaning. Furthermore, reading out loud forces you to slow down and really consider each word you read aloud; a great strategy for any SAT reading student who struggles with dense natural science texts or Old English syntax used in history passages.
Use this strategy when responding to Big Picture questions that require you to analyze the overall tone and theme of a passage, as well as for Command of Evidence questions which require selecting key lines from passages that demonstrate something.
Read the Passage in Context
One of the key reading skills necessary to excel on the SAT is being able to decipher passages quickly and understand their key point. This ability will come in handy since many questions require an understanding of all aspects of a passage’s tone or purpose.
The SAT examines reading skills through vocabulary questions. These questions often ask you to explain the meaning of words in context by thinking about their immediate environment, and testing your ability to recognize punctuation such as commas, periods and semi-colons.
As well as devising a personal test strategy, practicing under timed conditions is also key for mastering this test. With only 13 minutes for each passage and question on test day, becoming familiar with how long it takes you will help manage your time more effectively when taking an actual exam.
