The SAT, part 3: Critical Reading

by Ilana W-B

The SAT is a three-part (math, critical reading, and writing) test required by many colleges in their admissions processes. I plan to write a post with suggestions for each section of the SAT. This is the third post in the series, and I will be focusing on the critical reading portion of the test.

Preparation

The reading section of the SAT is perhaps the most difficult to prepare for in the short term. However, if you have months or years, you can do much to improve your chances of scoring well.

Read as much as possible. “SAT vocabulary novels” from several companies highlight and define the SAT vocabulary words in classic works of literature. However, you needn’t invest in these. Just reading will help. Even if you never look up a single word, context and constant exposure will add to your vocabulary. Try to stick to classics or heavy adult novels: light reading and young adult books are less likely to contain helpful words. 

Practice your vocabulary. Maybe you learn vocabulary in English class at school. If so, that’s an excellent start. But you can do more. If you’re inclined to be humanitarian, spend fifteen or twenty minutes every day on freerice.com. Their vocabulary game can help you become SAT-ready while simultaneously providing food for people in developing countries. Or your family can learn vocabulary together. Pick a new SAT vocab word at dinner every day and add it to a growing list. Each time someone in the family uses a vocab word correctly at the dinner table, add a quarter to a jar. Use the contents of the jar for a family treat.

Work on your reading comprehension. When reading, try stopping every few paragraphs to summarize the author’s point (in non-fiction) or the plot (in fiction) in your own words. Mentally draw comparisons to other pieces and ask yourself why the author phrases things the way s/he does. You can also use SAT practice tests (available online or in test prep books) to practice.

Taking the Test

Do read the italicized introductory text. This gives you context about the passages or explains how two passages you’ll have to compare relate. It can be very useful in answering the comprehension questions.

Don’t worry about remembering things as you read. You can always refer back to the passage when answering the questions. In fact, many questions tell you which lines to focus on. Your goal when reading should be to get a sense of the author’s main point and rhetorical tactics, not to memorize details of the passage.

Try sidelining. On one practice test, try skimming the questions, marking any lines in the passage referred to by the questions, and then reading the passage. This helps some test-takers concentrate on relevant material. Don’t do this for the first time on the actual test, though: for some, it is a distracting waste of time.

Read the whole question. Especially on fill-in-the-blank vocabulary questions with two blanks, several answer choices may seem correct based on the first word. Make sure both words fit both blanks. That said, you may not know both words. If that’s the case, eliminate answers where one of the words doesn’t fit and guess between the remaining choices.

Look at prefixes, suffixes, and roots. If you’re not sure of what a word means, try thinking of similar words. Many English words share Latin, Greek, or Germanic roots. But don’t forget to take negating prefixes into account: if it seems like another word but has an un-, an-, in-, non-, or similar beginning, it probably means the opposite.

Resources

http://www.satpracticetest.us/verbal/critical_reading/ -- useful advice and an explanation of the various question types you will encounter

http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/ -- tips and practice questions (for all three sections) from the makers of the SAT

http://www.proprofs.com/mwiki/index.php?title=SAT_Critical_Reading_Exam_Preparation_Guide -- good explanations and tips, plus a helpful (though short and basic) list of useful vocabulary words

http://www.randomhouse.com/princetonreview/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375429644 -- Princeton Review’s set of 500 SAT vocabulary flashcards is a great place to begin building your vocabulary