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05-08-2008, 08:48 PM
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#1 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 1
Posts: 7
| Critical Reading!!!
Um does anyone else absolutely HATE the critical reading portion of the SAT? I've taken loads of practice tests and get in the like 680's-90's. but in the writing section i always get high 780's. what is going on?? any tips from critical reading beasts? | 
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05-08-2008, 08:52 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Gender: Male
Threads: 7
Posts: 131
| Well, the hardest part is interpreting the questions + answers the way they expect you to. So you have to train yourself to think like...a college student? or something. xD
I'm not sure what they expect you to think like, but you have to really critically think (hence critical reading) but not overthink, like a lot of us (CCers) do. | 
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05-08-2008, 08:58 PM
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#3 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Threads: 56
Posts: 407
| If you don't have a stellar vocabulary, I think it would help your score if you memorize some vocab lists.. | |
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05-08-2008, 09:02 PM
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#4 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 1
Posts: 7
| Well that's what I've been doing- memorizing words. And I'm also taking an Etymology class where we learn tons of typical SAT words each week. And typically I write very vocab-rich essays and it's not the vocab i have problems with. it's the passaged-based questions; whenever i think i have the right answer, turns out it's a trick all dressed up in nice wording. | |
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05-08-2008, 10:25 PM
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#5 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Threads: 8
Posts: 44
| I don't know if there is anyone like me but sometimes when I'm reading, my head seems to throw out every single word my eyes absorb 8-} ==>> nothing in my head; it's like though I'm reading but I cannot absorb anything.
1 question: when you spend too long on 1 question, do you pick a random choice or come back to it later?? | |
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05-08-2008, 10:25 PM
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#6 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Gender: Male
Threads: 7
Posts: 131
| go back to it later... honestly, if you REALLY can't figure it out, it's better to omit (and I hate omitting, but that's true) | |
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05-09-2008, 03:48 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Gender: Male
Threads: 21
Posts: 253
| @legend.dracula
Have you tried active reading as in marking key words and transitional phrases (authors tone, pivotal words, etc.).
It helps me to use my pencil and mark the passage.
Also, try to ask yourself what is the author talking about and what is he trying to convey. Basically, keep yourself active with the passage.
For questions that are to hard, like computergeek173 said, skip those and go back to them after you have answered all the questions possible. | |
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05-09-2008, 08:48 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Threads: 8
Posts: 44
| So if I cannot get the answer for the question, should I omit it or pick one random choice after eliminate 1-2 choices. | |
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05-09-2008, 09:01 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Threads: 11
Posts: 72
| If you are taking AP Language/Lit, the comprehension passages are much harder so if you verse yourself with those, the SAT critical reading passages will seem like a breeze. Pick apart past CR reading passages. First, do it on your own( duh), then check the answers. With every single answer, even the ones you got right, see what made it right and wrong. Rhetoric can be confusing- but all it takes is one word to make an answer choice incorrect. If you analyze and pick it apart and take your time, not only will you get a more innate sense of how to pick choices on the spot but you will just get better! Also, this is common sense, but seriously? READ. If you are serious, because you certainly sound so, read science passages, biographies, the newspaper in your free time. It's a more natural way to instilling something- instead of that stark pressure to memorize and get it. | |
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05-09-2008, 10:14 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Gender: Male
Threads: 21
Posts: 253
| Just take a guess if you have like 2 questions eliminated because most of the time your intuition is probably right. Also, it doesn't really hurt.
@Sacred,
Lol, I totally get owned by AP Language passages...they're so freaken hard. Too bad I have to take the exam on Wednesday...-_- | |
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05-09-2008, 10:24 PM
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#11 | | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2007 Gender: Female
Threads: 1
Posts: 6
| Actually, I was in the same situation as you, on my PSAT and practice tests I kept scoring from 680-710 but usually in the high 600s. But then on my actually SAT I scored a 740 in CR.
I pretty much agree with quickandslowly, active reading helps a lot. I find that when I'm paying attention and actually concentrating on the passage I actually understand what the passage means and I usually get the questions right whereas when I'm not concentrating and I'm not focused when reading the passage I usually have no idea what questions are talking about.
Yeah AP Language passages are pretty good practice for CR because they're harder and prepare, I think they helped me a little bit.
I know everyone says to read like magazines and newspapers, but sometimes that helps too. I read Time but I don't know if that helped my CR because I got bored and just read the interesting articles... | |
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05-09-2008, 10:40 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007 Gender: Male
Threads: 140
Posts: 1,184
| to be honest, I wouldn't really care about a 680 CR as long as I have a 2100 culminative | |
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05-09-2008, 10:43 PM
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#13 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Gender: Male
Threads: 21
Posts: 253
| @princessmarion, lol do you happen by chance to be Marion Regean from my school? | |
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05-09-2008, 11:11 PM
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#14 | | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2007 Gender: Female
Threads: 1
Posts: 6
| haha, no sorry, i don't live in texas but my last name does start with an r | |
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Yesterday, 01:05 PM
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#15 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Gender: Male
Threads: 21
Posts: 253
| Lol, I guess I'm part clairvoyant. :P | |
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