<p>I really want to get into Dartmouth or Cornell, but my current SATs just aren't there. I got a 2120 (790 math, 620 reading, 710 writing) in March. I just took it again for the June test and I predict I got 800 math, 750 writing, and 650 reading. I think that for me to have a decent shot at those schools, my reading needs to exceed 700. When I look back at my wrong answers in the blue Collegeboard book, I can see why certain things are the answers, but I just can't get them the first time through. Do you know of any specific things to look for in the answer choices, or any trends in the answers for types of questions (tone, purpose...) that give away the correct answer? I really would like to beat this test down.</p>
<p>yeah can some1 help me with CR too</p>
<p>For the reading passages, I think that a good thing to do right after you finish skimming the passage is to spend a few seconds reflecting on what the author actually said, and what his strategy was (you can even do this while you’re skimming). The author either intends to tell a story, inform, or persuade. Figuring out where the author is coming from can really help you grasp the overall purpose of the passage, which will also help you to figure out the answers to the other questions. When you’re answering a question, usually you can eliminate 3 of the choices right away because they are completely incorrect. The two remaining (usually) will include the correct answer and the decoy. At that point, you need to find which answer actually applies to the passage, versus the other which just sounds right. I would try to use some practice tests to work on it, and make sure to go over all your answers after you finish and make mental notes. Good luck improving, but I have found the CR section the most difficult to get better in.</p>
<p>My passage strategies: </p>
<p>At the end of every passage I reflect, in my head I sum up what the author said in one sentence.</p>
<p>On the 2 passage sections ( 2 passages on similar subjects where questions are asked about both) I read the first passage, then answer all the questions that pertain to only the first passage/author. Then I read the second, and answer all the other questions. For me, it works waaaaaaaaay better than reading both in a row and answering questions.</p>
<p>Usually, I get down to two answers on a question that’s troubling me. If there’s more than that left than that means I don’t understand the question, which happens occasionally. One answer will always be supported in the passage in some way, while the other answer sounds right, and sounds like it’s supported, but you have to make an assumption about something that is never explicitly stated/shown in the passage.</p>
<p>If the vocab gives you trouble, just read books and memorize the 250 most difficult words off of the sparknotes test prep. Flash cards will do the trick. You’ll easily be able to learn them all and thus eliminate a lot of answer choices on the test with ease.</p>
<p>When I did the reading, instead of skimming the whole passage, I would do it one paragraph at a time, reflect, and then look for any line references within that paragraph. DO you think it’s more advantageous to skim the entire passage first, rather than paragraph by paragraph?</p>
<p>I think it’s better to skim the entire passage at once, because working on one paragraph at a time makes it easier to lose the overall purpose of the passage.</p>
<p>Sirensong, so in a way you are saying that every question ultimately relates back to the overall purpose (I understand it still must be said in the passages well though)?</p>
<p>In a way. I think when you understand the whole idea of the passage, it’s significantly easier to dissect it and figure out what each piece means. Knowing what the author is trying to say is probably the best way to avoid falling into a trap.</p>
<p>remember there’s only one correct answer for every question. there must be DIRECT evidence in the article to prove the answer. also, if the question asks for the author’s tone, it usually will be more passive than passionate. there aren’t any really emotional passages in the SAT</p>
<p>Someone mentioned to me that I should write a lot on the passage while going through it. What sort of things should I jot down to maintain focus and do the best on the questions?</p>
<p>Only write if it helps you concentrate & better understand the passage as you read (usually underlining is enough for this). Writing with the intention of actually going back and reading what you wrote is, in my opinion, useless.</p>
<p>i do write and I find that it helps…even if you don’t intend to go back to what you read, i think that its kind of analogous to why people say you should take notes in class, etc. - it drills it into you so that, maybe subconsciously, you absorb the information better.</p>
<p>Why don’t you guys actually read the passages? Time? I do, and I always end up with 4-5 minutes left over</p>
<p>rk33, you are probably much better than us at answering the questions. We require more time to look at the questions and think about which is correct. Whatever, I’ll try that on a practice test and hopefully it will work out in October.</p>
<p>Well, in May I got a 760 on CR, which was a rather large improvement from y 66/80 on the PSAT. This is how I did it. On the SAT, the CB actually does something helpful (wierd…I know =D): they actually put questions in the order they occur in the text (with a possible exception of the first question in the passage, which asks about the text as a whole). So, read a paragraph or 2 and then answer the corresponding questions. For sentence completions, read direct hits and PR Hit Parade. However, SCs always take a little bit of luck.</p>
<p>I’m a college student, who used basically every SAT source possible for Critical Reading improvement. There are several REALLY good strategies that work well for different kinds of people. I think that students who naturally do well on Critical Reading are those who have read a lot in their life, and just know how to “read” (note the usage of quotation here; I’m not offending anyone 
). For others, they have to find a strategy that works.</p>
<p>The best thing is to just practice, practice, practice. I did not do a stellar job in Critical Reading, but I improved about ~180 points from my PSAT to my SAT. So, it’s possible, but you just have to work for it. :)</p>
<p>Skimming will probably work for direct line reference questions but for questions about the passage as a whole (mood, tone etc) I’ve always felt it would be counter productive. I always read the passage entirely and then look at the questions and answer them in order, referring back to the passage as necessary. I don’t skim, I don’t skip around between questions, I don’t leave questions blank. I do use process of elimination (I throw out answers with “never” “always” etc almost immediately) and I do guess. All of these “secret” testing strategies where they tell you what kind of questions are “easy” (and should be answered) and which are “hard” (and shouldn’t be) are a bunch of bs. The only way to gaurantee good scores on the reading section is if you’ve been a long time reader, otherwise you’ll just have to hope luck will get you above a mediocre score. Take or leave my advice but my way worked for me, I got 800.</p>
<p>phade, as much as what you say is true, you can do well on CR by studying hard on it. I do agree that some students are just naturally good-readers and do well on verbal section. I also agree about easy and hard question because I think it’s relative to students. I know that when I practiced for SAT, there were some questions that I missed, but were considered “easy” (2,3 out of 5 in CB scale) and I got the ones right that were considered (4,5). I frankly don’t agree with the whole issue with difficulty level. Like phade said, you want to avoid extreme answer choices like “never,” “always,” and other very strong words. You also want to avoid choices that are too broad because remember, only the best answer works. :)</p>
<p>Other than the blue book, which books with practice tests tend to have the best effect on your scores for reading?</p>
<p>Really, CB tests are the only ones that are going to be very helpful.</p>