@Bjklw2a , I started out by practicing the critical reading sections in the Official SAT Study Guide (blue book) and carefully reviewing the sentence completion questions. I would start by focusing on sentence completion questions and reviewing the answers and questions after taking a practice test to help you learn and understand the vocabulary. If you are able to finish this in a timely manner, then I would propose moving onto Princeton Review and Kaplan and other books and practicing those sentence completion questions to learn vocabulary and the “feel” of the questions as well. You could also use SAT vocabulary flashcards and learn a few every day until you take the SAT to help bolster your vocabulary skills, but I recommend practicing the sentence completion questions first since those will be most relevant to the exam. I believe that you have the potential of scoring a 700-800 on the critical reading as long as you continue to persevere! Good luck, and let me know how I may be of further help.
I want to get at least a 2200 on my SAT but the thing is I have no experience whatsoever in SATs. Im going to become junior next year so I’ll be the first to take the new SAT format but I was planning on studying over the summer to take the old format SAT in Fall 2015 since I have a list of over 30 SATs. Where do you think I should begin in terms of what to buy/review, etc Im more of a math person and I’ve seen the SAT math questions and they’re similar to what I do in math competitions so I think Id be fine there. The other sections however, I’m not so confident.
@krauser126 , I would start by taking a timed practice SAT test (under as real conditions as possible) to gauge your scores on each section. If you are more of a math person and unsure of the critical reading and writing sections, after taking that first practice test I would focus on practicing the critical reading and writing sections using some of the tips in this guide (especially tip # 9 - devil’s advocate strategy) to improve your score. Start with the Official SAT Study Guide for preparation, and let me know how it goes so I can better tailor my advice to your situation after you have a baseline score. Good luck!
As of right now, I am stuck with a 680 on the Critical Reading section. It is annoying as heck. As a bit of a background, I have been taking a ton of tests in the Blue Book and Online Course and nothing seems to help. Perhaps my approach is flawed. Anyway, my question is how could I adjust my preparation for the critical reading section so that I could score close to an 800? I am taking it on October 3rd of this year. Thanks!
Hi,
I usually get 800 Math, 780-800 Writing, and 500-600 CR.
Can you explain your train of thought when you use your devil’s advocate strategy for these problems?
I feel like ruling out different answer choices would take much more time.
What I’m doing now is I’m looking for all the ways each answer can be correct and picking the one that has the most ways it can be correct.
Hi @Arpeggio206 , have you been reviewing your practice tests thoroughly? I know this may seem like it may not help that much or a waste of time, but spending at least as much time reviewing your questions (both the correctly and incorrectly answered ones) as taking the practice sections is key to improving your understanding and score. I would try practicing tests from other books for now and then return to the Blue Book and Online Course as you get closer to the real SAT test. Also, really focus on using tip number 9 (devil’s advocate) by analyzing each answer choice of a question and asking yourself why it is WRONG by looking for a lack of evidence in the passage. If you can find a lack of direct support, then that answer is incorrect. Only when the answer has support and not just connotation or implication then it is correct. I hope this helps clarify things, and please ask me again if you have further questions. Happy practicing!
Hi @thetex , sure thing! I know it may seem like ruling out each answer choice takes more time, but once you become more efficient at this method, it is very accurate and quicker than you think. Looking for all the ways an answer can be correct can throw you off, because you may start to “invent” reasons why it’s correct based on the passage and your assumptions. For example, a passage may concern the environment and an oil project, but unless the passage directly states that it is unpopular to support this project by an environmental group, you cannot assume so as part of an answer (unless it is a question about a likely assumption).
My strategy is to look at an answer choice and challenge it as if it is already wrong. By assuming it is wrong and looking back at the passage, I know what kind of evidence I am looking for to directly support the answer. If I can’t find direct support, I cross it out and move on to the next answer choice. Only when I do find some support (and not just my own assumption or preconceived notions) do I give the answer choice another chance and see if it is correct. I still quickly go through the other answer choices to rule them out before finalizing my pick. Try this technique out - it may take a while to get adjusted to, but this is what tremendously helped me increase my score from the high 600’s/low 700’s to an 800. Good focus with this!
Hey Apoc314,
Your advice definitely helped. For CR sections I am getting 3-4 wrong now, instead of 7. It’s tons easier ruling out the answers. It might take some time for me to get faster and more accustomed to this new style, but it is nonetheless extremely helpful!
I see you’ve been answering posts here for 5 years already, and want to thank you profusely for helping everyone out and replying so promptly to the questions.
Hi @thetex!
I’m glad to hear my advice is helping you - definitely keep on practicing since practice will help you engrain CR understanding over time.
You’re very welcome - I believe that we should be helping one another out to succeed. I was given advice before on the SAT, and I believe that it is good to give back to the community. Let me know if you have further questions as you continue to practice, and have a good one!
Thanks! Will do!
I believe you have totally guided me in the right direction. My score in CR has improved from 560 to 740 after just 1 month of training. Thanks a ton!
@thetex that’s great! What books are you using to help you achieve that goal? @Apoc314 What books did you use to help you practice after exhausting resources?
Hi @thetex , I’m happy to hear how much you’ve improved! I’m glad I was able to help - good luck with the SAT!
@Evangelise , I used the Official SAT Study Guide (blue book) mainly, along with Kaplan. I first used Kaplan books as part of a test prep course which helped me gain more familiarity with the SAT and boost my CR score to higher 600’s, but I didn’t begin to reach the high 700’s until I used the “Blue Book” and practiced with the devil’s advocate technique and other skills. I also used some tests from the Princeton Review. I didn’t practice with many more tests before I took the SAT and scored 800 on the CR section my junior year. Hope this helps!
I can get between a 680-700 on cr when I take it untimed, but it takes me like 36min on a 25min section and like 30mins for a 20min section. I’ve tired to skim it and bracket the line references but I always feel rushed and even when I do this I only barley finish and get between a 540-550. I read about 225-250 wpm which is about average. Any tips to increase my speed?
Hi @netgains , I think one thing that may help you is to practice the section first with as much time as you need (so about 36 minutes for a 25 minute section and so on). Do that to begin, then decrease the time you give yourself incrementally with each new practice section. So if you start with 36 minutes for a 25 minute section, next practice section you will give yourself only about 32 minutes, then 28 minutes, then 25 minutes. I haven’t tried this in all these increments, but the idea is to help adjust your time to the actual SAT time without jumping from 36 minutes to 25 minutes or 30 minutes to 20 minutes. I think this should help you learn to increase your speed gradually. Let me know if this helps, and if you need any other advice!
I’m in the 700 range right now. I was wondering whether I should use “the critical reader” by Erica melter or just practice on college board exams and analyze my mistakes. (Goal is to get 800)
If you have enough time, use Erica’s book. There’s a lot in the book and you may only learn a little, but you will learn something and it will probably be all you need. All except more practice on real CB exams with subsequent analysis.
I’m a sophomore and my CR PSAT score in October last year was really low - around 300. I’m moved to US in freshman year. I really want to score high on SAT. I scored 620 on the math section. I need some advice, because the vocabulary is killing me, I’ve been in US for over one year. Any suggestions @Apoc314 ??
@RiceEater108 , when are you taking the SAT? If you have enough time as CHD2013 said, you could try using Erica’s book - I’ve never used it so I can’t personally vouch for it, but it may help you reach that 800. Definitely continue to practice CB exams and analyze your questions whether they’re correct answers or incorrect ones.