I absolutely fail at SAT Critical Reading

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>So yeah, I feel pretty good about math and I feel like grammar and vocabulary and stuff like that is manageable for me to study.</p>

<p>But I feel like critical reading is just… mehhh. I have no idea how to study for critical reading. I don’t read a lot (that’s probably my problem) and I just get so distracted reading those long and tedious passages during the SAT. It sounds pretty dumb for me to say, but yeah. How do I improve CR within a few months?</p>

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

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<p>I have the SAME exact problem. I just got like in the mid-500’s on one of my practice tests, with a moderate amount of wrong answers, but I’m trying. What I like to do is to:</p>

<p>1) Go to the questions first, to get a general idea of what’s ahead of me.
2) Look at the line reference questions.
3) Go to the passage, and mark the lines from the line reference questions, so I know that I have to pay most attention to those, and surrounding text, as I read.
4) Do the main idea questions/questions without line references last. By the time you finish the line reference questions, you should have a good idea of what the passage is about as a whole.
*Line reference questions are EXTREMELY important. Almost every reading passage has them. </p>

<p>These are great tips, but I just have comprehension issues, and vocabulary in the choices issues.</p>

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<p>Also, [How</a> I improved my Critical Reading Score by 150 Points | SAT Ninja: SAT Test Prep Expert](<a href=“http://satninja.com/sat-critical-reading/how-i-improved-my-critical-reading-score-by-150-points]How”>http://satninja.com/sat-critical-reading/how-i-improved-my-critical-reading-score-by-150-points)…</p>

<p>Not mine, but very useful.</p>

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<p>runnerxc,</p>

<p>I’ve been posting my own CR guide, it helped me go from 400s to 700s. I hope it helps you too. Btw, I’ve never been an avid reader.</p>

<p>Passage-Based Questions:
Let me start by telling you I have the same problem. I can’t stand my friends who tell me “it just comes to them naturally.” I’ve done a lot of improvement on CR myself. I’m in the process of going for the 800 on CR right now. The best advice I can give you is you need to do them untimed at first. You can’t expect to just rush in head strong with 25 minutes and to analyze everything - its impossible. Slowly take it at your own pace. Do about 2 to 3 sections of isolated CR per day. You must go slow. Whether its the lengthy dual comparative you’re facing or just analyzing a small article, you must go slow. Really read, and then answer the question. Plain and simple. I’ve found that underlining the groups of lines can help (lets say a question says referring to lines 5-9, go underline those and pay attention to them whilst reading). Now, lets attack the biggest problem: You’re looking at the selected amount of lines, you’re looking at the entire passage, you just can’t narrow any, or at best 2 answer choices out. Now what? Remember: the answer is staring back at you. Here is why you don’t want time pressure at first: you can calmly assess the answer choices and clear your head at this point. Cliche, but I just take a deep breath and count to 10 nice and slowly. I’ll look back at the question and attack it THEN. Don’t stress yourself with time because you just won’t improve as fast as you want, or, need. I know this sounds cheesy and you might be thinking “I’m no idiot, Aceventura74 has no idea what he’s thinking! He’s helping people who get 400s get a 500…” This method helped me go from 450 to 730. So I’m speaking to you if you’re going for 1800 or 2400 my friend. Seriously, get rid of time, do isolated sections, and don’t just brush over the answer explanation. Read EVERY WRONG EXPLANATION. Don’t be like “Oh I knew it was b or d, its no problem” and hurry up. This will take a lot of time. But soon you’ll be getting that constant 700 you want.</p>

<p>Sentence Completions:</p>

<p>Ah, another thing I hate. I’m a math man. I can learn any formula and navigate, factor, and graph in my head. Give me a _______ in a sentence and I’m a deer caught in headlights; or at least I used to be. Direct Hits is the way to go. If you have a long time (1 year or 6 months+) get a hold of Barron’s Gigantic flash card set. Not sure if its still printed, but I recall hearing about a large set; about 3500. If you memorize those words, you won’t ever be guessing, I assure you that my friend. But, if you’re like most people, you’re pressed for time, because you’re a genius who started studying last minute =P (guilty of that myself…for multiple exams xD). Get Direct Hits. I know people “rave” about these “awesome 100 (or small #) of flash cards that are GREAT!” BS. Direct Hits has a 70% “hit rate;” meaning 70% of the words show up and most students excel. So, get the Direct Hits books and start studying. Hope I helped, best of luck my friend !</p>

<p>~Aceventura74</p>

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<p>I agree with the second post;

  1. look at the questions first and mark all the line references, underline them, circle them, box them, etc.
    2.Then, read the passage and really focus on the places where you marked.
    BUT, here’s where I differ.
  2. Go back to the question pertaining to where you marked and answer the question. (This way it you won’t get distracted with the new stuff you just read with what the question is asking and use the wrong info backing up the answer.)
  3. Then go back and continue reading.
  4. And always answer the main idea questions last, as the second post said.</p>

<p>At first, I didn’t see much improvement, but with practice, I went up about 60 points. Hopefully it can go up more… :stuck_out_tongue:
And just try to read as much as you can. I don’t read much either but since I’m taking AP English Lit, I had to read lol. And it does help when you read a little extra.</p>

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<p>I sucked at critical reading. I took the June SAT and i got a 480, yes a 480 on CR. I missed so many questions because i did the regular routine:

  1. Read the entire passage
  2. Do the questions
  3. If there was a specific line reference, i would go back, but by the time i went back i forgot half what the passage was about.</p>

<p>I took a practice section on CR in the BB yesterday, and i missed only 4!; they were careless mistakes, such as i didn’t thoroughly read the questions good.
This is what i do now:

  1. The second that i start, i go to the questions, mark the specific line(s) references on the passage, and start reading.
  2. I read fast, but i try to comprehend everything at the same time.
  3. When i get close the a line reference, i really try to understand it, and do the questions as i am reading the passage.</p>

<p>Tips:

  1. In order to get a good score, you have to make yourself love the passage. I read this really really tedious passage, but i acted if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
  2. Always try to make a goal for yourself. Yesterday, i made the goal that i was only going to miss 4, and that is the most i lost. You have to have determination.
  3. ALWAYS GO BACK AND SEE WHY YOU GOT AN ANSWER WRONG. I cannot stress this enough.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>You need to start by eliminating expressions like “I absolutely fail at CR” from your vocabulary. Negative thinking translates into negative results. Start reciting “I feel pretty good about CR,” even if you don’t believe it at first.</p>

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@Aceventura74 What did you get on your SAT after all that practice? Your strategy is awesome, I’ma try it and see what goes on.