<p>For every practice test I take, I do really well on the first 2 sections of the CR... probably 6-7 wrong only (this is good for me)...</p>
<p>But the 3rd section of the CR (the 20 minutes, 19 question), consist of the double column passage, usually a story. I read it like I do the other 2 sections, and I just dont get the passage at all. I dont understand anything. I skim through the questions and I dont get any of them because I just dont understand the passage. If you gave me 1 hour, i'd doubt I'd get more than 60% of the questions correct. </p>
<p>Does anyone understand what I'm talking about?? I'm just getting so frustrated with these last passages because I cant comprehend them. Btw this has happened to me on 4 practice tests now.. Any one have any tips for better understanding these passages. </p>
<p>Keep in mind these passages are usually a story narrated by someone. </p>
<p>My scores go like</p>
<p>20/24
21/24
9/19</p>
<p>I dont know, but at least you guys know that I'm talking about the big single long passage.</p>
<p>practice reading and your comprehension level of the sat passages will also increase. Read NY times and if you want random CR passages from non-CB books (so you don’t waste CB material).</p>
<p>^^ I think the problem’s due to either:
- a burnt-out brain inhibiting your performance at the last CR section
or
- lack of comprehension.</p>
<p>In any case, I agree with salzahrah that you should read more.</p>
<p>I think for the last one it’s because it’s a dual passage. Don’t try to attack both at the same time. Do questions for passage 1 before reading passage 2. Then do questions for only passage 2. Lastly, do questions that are for both passages/general</p>
<p>^^ I do best on the dual passages. I fine those easy -.-</p>
<p>Still struggling with the long single passage. However, I woke up the other day with a fresh eye looked at it and I understood it much more than the afternoon before. Intriguing.</p>
<p>I think you just get tired or bored when you read it because the passages are so long. Just try to be interested in it so you’ll focus more.
Good luck</p>
<p>Try this.</p>
<p>Pretend to LOVE the passage. Pretend its really interesting.</p>
<p>“I think for the last one it’s because it’s a dual passage.” <- Only sometimes.</p>
<p>If OP doesn’t understand the wording of the passage, making him motivated isn’t going to help all that much. It has some to do with comprehension (how much experience you have reading complex text, esp. books), but mostly it’s IQ. He mentioned “fresh mind”, that’s what IQ is all about - things that are opaque to others always seem lucid to you.</p>
<p>"Pretend to LOVE the passage. Pretend its really interesting. "</p>
<p>How???
I suck at loving passages :(</p>
<p>Haha. I think pretending to love the passage just means looking on the bright side, i.e. come up with reasons to find it interesting…</p>
<p>^yeah, like while reading just keep saying --“oh s*** i never knew that. O-M-G.”</p>
<p>:( I have the opposite problem of OP. I never seem to do well on the first CR section (6-8 wrong) … so burn-out might not be the problem. </p>
<p>I never understand half the passages either 
But I get to my answers by looking at why the choices might not be the right one, instead of trying to understand the passage and then find “the best answer”.</p>
<p>The CR section of the SAT is still somewhat of an IQ test, though not as much as it was when it contained the analogies section which was purely a test of IQ. If you have an IQ of less than 110 the CR written passages are unlikely to be very comprehensible to you and there is not much that can be done about it. If you have an IQ over 120 they should be understandable and if they are not it indicates some sort of learning disability such as ADHD or dyslexia. ADHD responds well to medication in most cases. If you have had your IQ tested and it is over 120 and English is your native language and if the written passages on the CR section seem to just be way beyond your comprehension you should see your doctor and get worked up for a possible learning disorder that may be treatable.</p>