<p>Hello,
I read quite a bit, I guess I need to read more. Reading is my rough part. I see some people around here getting 32+ on the reading sections, and that is missing like what, 3 reading problems (out of 40, right?). Is the reading hard for you, did you have to look back into the passage to get answers? I have been working on practice tests, and I miss some, and I cant imagine how I can improve. Thanks</p>
<p>I don't know if this will work for you, but here was my strategy (I got a 36, somehow):</p>
<p>-Go to the questions first
Don't even look at the passage. The most important thing in the reading section is time and reading it beforehand is a waste (you will just end up going back to it again) Some people recommend skimming, but I think what you end up getting is too superficial to answer the questions.</p>
<p>-Don't do the questions in order
Answering them in order can really slow you down. Scan the questions and find the ones that ask about a specific line or paragraph. Do those first. By now, you should have a good idea of what the passage is about and be able to answer the questions that ask for a larger context (some additional reading may be required, but you are now most of the way through)</p>
<p>-Guessing is your friend
There are going to be some hard questions where you will have to decide between two or three seemingly correct answers. Ask yourself, what are they really trying to get at here? What makes sense? The ACT is pretty straightforward, after all. When in doubt, just go with your gut and move on, time is IMPORTANT (so many of my friends ran out of time on reading/science)</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Excellent. Wow, a 36, incredible! Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>what jellshester said is perfect. I do the same thing in the reading section and got a 36 on the reading all three times I took the ACT</p>
<p>Wow, I do the EXACT opposite of what jellshester does and I have also gotten 36s on most of the tests I have taken. I just read the passage, paying attention to content, tone, etc. Then I answer the questions in order without looking back at the text. After I have answered all of the questions that pertain to a particular passage, I look back at the passage for "proof" that my answers are right. It just goes to show that something that works for one person may not work for another.</p>
<p>Great, thanks for you replies. Getting a 36 on it would just be incredible for me.</p>
<p>I got a 34 on the reading section (it was my best section, and I'm a math/science person!). My suggestion is, you can have all the skills to do well, but if you psych yourself out, it all goes down the drain. Keep a clear head, and don't go in there thinking it's your worst section. You'll do fine!</p>
<p>I second the "Don't do the questions in order"
Typically the first two questions on a passage are main idea or tone questions referring to the passage as a whole. If you skip those, by the time you've answered all the other questions (Several of which have line #s or at least Paragraph #s + there is always one vocab question you can do quickly) you've found enough information out from those questions to figure out the main idea ones, even if you don't actually read the passage through. </p>
<p>I got a 32</p>
<p>1) Read the questions
2) Answer the ones that give you a line reference, then do the general ones
3) If you have to think for more than 30 seconds, star it
4) Move on to the next passage</p>
<p>In the last five minutes, go back and see if you can answer the starred ones. If not, do blind guessing.</p>
<p>I think there were 3-4 yesterday that I just randomly picked a letter on.</p>
<p>On yesterdays test there were only like 2 in each section that made you look at certain lines. Does that mean you "guess" on the other 8 from each section?</p>
<p>yea there were not that many line references</p>
<p>i think how fast you read is a huge factor in this. anyway, for the real test you really have to focus, don't let your mind waver at all XD. i tried calming down and relaxing on a math test, and i ended up not finishing it</p>
<p>i got a 36 and for me, i do skim the whole passage..and then i rush through the questions in order (usually guessing on a couple). i circle all my answers in the testbooklet while i'm taking the test. i finish about 10 min before the test ends, transfer all my answers, and then go back to the beginning and check/correct the ones that i didn't really know.
^ i don't know, probably the other people's strategies are better though</p>
<p>i wouldn't worry about missing a couple on practice tests-- it's a different experience--you tend to be less focused. i always miss a whole bundle on practice tests as well x)
have you taken a real one yet?</p>
<p>anyway, i think science is always a LOT more difficult to finish than reading</p>
<p>"anyway, i think science is always a LOT more difficult to finish than reading"</p>
<p>Amen to that!!!!!!!</p>
<p>I am a pretty quick reader so I just...</p>
<p>1) Read the passage (taking note of the title and heading).
2) Answer the Questions in order (while looking back for proof).
3) Trying not to get stuck on any question by thinking of it in one way (i.e. approach the question in different ways).</p>
<p>does Jellshester's strategy apply to SAT's CR part?</p>
<p>I've made a 33 or 34 on every practice and real reading section I've done except the one I decided to try out the not reading the passage strategy on. That totally threw off my pacing, so I went back to my way for the one yesterday and think I did very well. </p>
<p>I always read the first couple of questions (so I know what they're asking for) and then read most or all of the passage since I read very quickly. Also, I like to pace myself at ten minutes per passage and answer the questions in order. </p>
<p>I always have plenty of time to look over questions I'm not sure about when I do that.</p>
<p>Never wait till you're done to fill in your answer sheet, though. That's just an easy way to get caught with a half-blank answer sheet.</p>
<p>In reference to the question about SAT CR vs. ACT reading, I've never ever had a problem finishing SAT critical reading on time. They give you more than enough time (25 minutes for 2-3 shorter passages) to read completely, think about the questions and answer appropriately.</p>
<p>The ACT reading is much tougher IMHO. Way harder to finish on time.</p>
<p>But I do agree that science is harder to finish.</p>
<p>I agree with Renin. The SAT reading did give a lot more time, but somehow I did better on my ACT reading with a 33. But I was close to running out of time. And the science was really difficult</p>
<p>I got a 36 on the reading. I read a lot so I got 33's and 35's on the practice tests. Once I figured out the pattern for the 3-4 hard questions that differentiate the 33's from the 35/36's, I got a 36 on my reading section.</p>
<p>Math on the other hand, is a different story. I've never been able to break 30 on the math. I hate math, so i've done poorly in my math clases at school. My logical thinking skills aren't up to par with my classmates. Everyone says math is the easiest part, but for me its the hardest.</p>
<p>yeh math and english are definitely the easiest parts for me b/c they're are just straightforward rules. reading always gets me and science does sometimes</p>