<p>I scored well on my SAT the last time I took it. I scored 670 on Math and 650 on Writing. However I scored 570 on Reading which caused my SAT to go to 1890. I really wanted to get higher than that but the only way is to get higher on the Reading section. But the only problem I have with the Reading section is the vocabulary. With the vocabulary I got 6 right, 6 wrong, and skipped 7. I really want to get over 1900 or 2000 but I don’t know how to do the vocabulary. Please Help. Thanks!</p>
<p>Use the internet as a gold mine… google “Top SAT vocab words” and you’ll find hundreds on quizlet, blogs, and sparknotes.</p>
<p>Also start devouring those books… Ethan Frome, Scarlet letter, Huckleberry Finn, etc. Reading is the best way to learn vocab intuitively, but you have to be consistent.</p>
<p>Quizlet is your friend :)</p>
<p>OMG same here - this is really the only issue I have. I’ve been reading a ton of Victorian novels lately (Mayor of Casterbridge, Far from the Madding Crowd, etc) but I feel like I still have a long way to go.</p>
<p>Besides doing quizzes and just drilling these words into your head with flashcards, did you guys find any other methods that helped?</p>
<p>Quizlet’s LEARN mode is really useful. If you’re using flashcards, though, look into the Leitner Box method (a version of Spaced Repetition, a variation of which is part of Quizlet’s LEARN algorithm).</p>
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<p>Was it an official test? And it it was did you take when the QAS was available? </p>
<p>It is important to review the EXACT location of your problem — sentence completion or reading passages. There are successful approaches to mitigate a partially lacking vocabulary and techniques that make the vocabulary rather trivial in … finding the correct approaches. </p>
<p>It is important to understand why you left so many blanks … not understanding the questions, the format, or running out of time. If you have the exact test, you will get better advice if you posted the questions you missed. </p>
<p>While I am not a fan of slaving over non-contexted vocabulary (a position that is often misunderstood) you might find “playing” around this site beneficial, and surely more helpful than wasting time with lists and flashcards.</p>
<p><a href=“SAT Sentence Completion : Practice tests and explanations | Major Tests”>http://www.majortests.com/sat/sentence-completion.php</a></p>
<p>For the CR, I would highly suggest to buy the Black Book by M, Barrett. His approach for the reading part is very sound. It might help you overcome the lowish score. </p>
<p>Wow! Thank you for mentioning Quizlet… it is great</p>
<p>Get Direct Hits books. Also, for every vocab word you don’t know on an SAT test, make a Quizlet flashcard out of it. Helped me a lot!</p>
<p>@CheerLara99 - you’re welcome, and I agree. I’ve had kids use it since it was first around and it is a real lifesaver for almost all of them. Takes much of the drudgery out of memorizing vocab. Learn mode is very well designed, imo.</p>
<p>^Can you describe in more detail how you use Learn mode with Direct Hits? I tried and it wasn’t intuitive. Even if you know a word when you see it, it can be hard to remember from a definition. Is there anything I’m missing?</p>
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<p>@xiggi - I was surprised to see this suggestion, because it seems to me that the practice questions on that site were not written by the CB. Could you elaborate further about the suggestion? </p>
<p>Because, compared to moronic and senseless lists of words and stacks of flash cards, an organized exercise that maintains the context of the SAT represents a superior choice for people determined to rely on shortcuts. </p>
<p>The best alternative remains as simple as it ever was, namely to proactively working through the official tests and acquiring the understanding and vocabulary that makes the test unique. </p>
<p>If the test were one of vocabulary, your typical student who has been well-trained in the art of mindless rote memorization would find the reading component just as easy as the math or writing. The reality is quite different as this part of the test is all about being able to understand the ARGUMENT and analyzing the texts critically. Not to mention understanding the logic of the ETS test writers, who are a lot more clever than some give them credit for. </p>
<p>^Ok, its clear now. The best option hasn’t changed, but that site could be helpful to those looking for a shortcut. Thanks.</p>
<p>@CHD2013 - I recommend familiarizing yourself with the words with flashcards or space race or sth like that, then using LEARN to really commit them to memory. You can combine sets for cumulativity and the LEARN algorithm does a great job of giving you words you miss more frequently. I also recommend checking the box so it gives you the WORD and you have to type the def., then click “override–I was right” if it marks you wrong on a technicality.</p>
<p>Yeah, Direct Hits is great. I kind of just tried perfecting the passage based reading and let the Vocabulary just hit me. I got 4 vocab questions and 5 passage based questions wrong. I got a 680. I just used the Direct Hits volume 1.</p>