What can I do to do better in the sat reading section?

Question

I already have some sat books but I was wondering if there were some things out there that I should get that might help my score.

Answer 1

If Critical reading is your weakest subject, then read a little more than you write and do math. But make sure you're prepared for all three subjects.

If you want practice, try visiting the first link in my sources.

If you'd like test taking advice, look through the second website.

Also, there's a practice PSAT/SAT test you can take.

Answer 2

Read more.  Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, but more academic types, i.e., Nature, Scientific American, The Economist will also help prepare you for the level of the reading selections.

The goal is to try to read fast, and summarize quickly to see how much info you can get out of it in the shortest period of time.  Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I teach ACT prep, but some of the same principals will apply to the SAT as well.

1. As you read, underline key words and phrases.  For example (excuse my randomness), if the passage is about squirrels, underline the main points - what they eat, where and how they live, why they do certain things.  There are two purposes in this: One, it helps you stay focused on the text so your mind doesn't wander and you read faster.  Two, when it comes time to answer the questions you probably have underlined the answers to most of the questions.  Now, instead of having to look back over the whole passage, you can just read the stuff you underlined.  This concept takes practice.  Look at what you are underlining - it should not be too much and it should help you answer the questions.  If it's not, look at the questions and then the passage.  Underline what you needed to know to find the answers.  Then go back and read the passage, underlining as you go.  Did it match up better? Keep trying until you get the idea.

2. Don't look at the questions first! This is the worst idea because it only teaches you to read for certain things.  Then when you come across a question that asks about the main idea, the theme, or the author's point of view in paragraph 3, you're in trouble.

3. Read the question, not the answer choices.  Once you have read the question, try coming up with the answer in your head first.  Once you've got an answer, look at the choices and find the one that matches your answer best.  Standardized tests are tricky.  I always say to my students that their job is to try to mess you up and your job is to not let them.  The test makers think it's really fun to put two answers that sound really good right next to each other.  They may switch up one word and that can cost you a wrong answer.  By coming up with your own answer first, you are less likely to pick to the first answer that sounds right.  This is really hard to put into practice, but if you can do it, then your score will improve.  

I hope this helps.  If you want more help, email me and I will send you some more information.

Answer 4

Read