<p>In my practice for the SAT, I always seem to get the lowest in the Critical Reading Section. Is this section one that can be beaten or is it something that truly tests innate skill? Since I have not been seeing any improvements, I'm trying a new method. I will only do this section (not timed) by itself from the BB tests. After, I will review all my errors. Has this method ever been used and successful to any? I'm really running out of options for this area. By the way, it's the passage based questions that I'm having trouble with. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks all! Also, please feel free to ask me anything pertaining to this topic.</p>
<p>I was consistently getting in the 580-650ish range on my practice tests. Then I studied vocabulary, and it really helped. I got a 710. I just used flash cards and studied many, many words. Vocabulary helps you to understand the passages as well.</p>
<p>I would study vocab.
And maybe do a practice section (just a section of 20 or how ever many questions there are) about once a week, timed.</p>
<p>I also noticed trying a word of the day and trying to use it in everyday life helps. Plus, saying a word out loud helps you remember it.</p>
<p>What is your current score?</p>
<p>I started at 580 practice test score and now score consistently 680-710 on practice tests. I have studied about 50 vocab words. Amazing, huh?</p>
<p>EDIT: That sounds pretty snobbish. I did not mean for it to sounds that way lol</p>
<p>@schoolisfun. No it didn’t. Well officially from the June SAT, my score is 630. I know, horrible. I really need this in the 700s. Like REALLY REALLY!!! I have been doing one entire test every day and now I decided to change my method. Yes I am getting time to review. Although sometimes I feel like the explanation on College Board could be better. I just did a test and I got 650. That was not timed too. I feels so discouraging to dedicate the summer to this SAT to see little or no improvements. Can anyone help?</p>
<p>@schoolisfun. What are your sources for Vocabulary. I am currently using DH, Rocket Review and Sparknotes (have to start that one soon). If you have any better one, please share. I’ll greatly appreciate that!</p>
<p>I used noitaprep’s and silverturtle’s* methods for the passages (skim the questions, make marks where line numbers are referenced, read the passage, answer the questions when you come across them) and boosted my score from a 540 to a 630. The 540 to 630 boost was purely from passage based questions - no vocab improvement at all.</p>
<p>I’m currently studying vocabulary from DH and it looks promising. I memorized the first 100 words and now, looking back on some of my older practice tests, I can start to pick out a couple of now-known words here and there. It’s incredible.</p>
<p>*grammar question: would it be, “I used noitaprep and silverturtle’s…” or, “I used noitaprep’s and silverturtle’s…”? (it belongs to both of them/they both use/endorse it)</p>
<p>I believe it would be “I used noitaprep’s and silverturtle’s respective guides.” I would write it that way to distinguish that they both wrote their own guides. But correct me if I’m wrong please.</p>
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<p>The funny thing is, I haven’t used any vocabulary Guides other than Direct Hits, and I know/ can recognize maybe 100 words of that off the bat. Although it is worth mentioning I have an average vocabulary. I usually get 0-2 wrong for Sentence Completions. I have improved by just using PR tests ( I did completed about 5 out of 11 from Jan-end of July; which is when I started using BB prep materials for the upcoming PSAT), and BB tests ( I’ve done 3 so far). The Most important thing is to review very closely.</p>
<p>For Passage based, I tried using silverturtle’s and noitaraperp’s respective guides (lol referring to Brostradamus), but they didn’t prove to be too successful for me. I believe it is best to develop your own method. What I do is read the short blurb and try to understand what the passage will be about. Then I look for the first line reference question and keep the number in mind. (I dont like writing in my book, because I may want to reuse the tests eventually) I start reading at a decently fast speed (to the point where I understand what’s going on & try to get a sense of the mood/theme) and then stop when I hit the line reference. I read the question and then continue reading, except slowly, and more critically. This should be done quickly, so there isn’t too much of a break between reading and answering the question. Then I eliminate the obvious incorrect answers (there are usually 2). I then read the part of the passage the question concerns, sometimes taking in factors mentioned before the passage, or a few lines after. I usually am able to either eliminate the incorrect answers or identify with certainty the correct answer. I may be being a little overconfident here, but I NEVER miss line reference questions. After following this strategy throughout, I go to the comparison between texts, or broad idea questions. I usually get one to three of these wrong per section. </p>
<p>Thus, I get about 7-9 wrong per WHOLE SAT test, which warrants about a 680-710.</p>
<p>Anyways, I hope I helped.</p>
<p>@schoolisfun. Thanks for your tips. Anyone else wanna add some advice to this thread? It would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>I started at 570, and now, I consistently score 800’s. Practice is how I raised my score.</p>
<p>WOW Tenplenesis. Can you elaborate on how you attained that score? Like how did you review the errors. How much practice did you do? Is it okay to do some practice un-timed? Thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>I think you should practice un-timed until you can start consistently scoring high/getting 750+s. That way, you can work on your skills and not have to worry about there being a time limit; after you’ve perfected your skills you can start working on decreasing the time you spend on the test.</p>
<p>Thanks. That makes sense. I will definitely do that. Anymore tips would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>About 18 tests, so far. I review each question that I am not positive on. I started out giving myself 30 minutes a section, and now I only give myself 20 minutes for the 24 question sections, and 15 minutes for the 19 question sections.</p>
<p>Are these official tests or…? Okay well I started and I seen to be using 5 minutes more for each sections. Was this difficult for pu to cut down to 20 and 15? Lastly, what is your source for vocabulary? DH alone? Thanks!</p>
<p>Princeton Review published a list of 50 vocab words. Know every definition like the back of your hand. Just learn as many vocab words as you can. I read up on a study that reported that for every 100 words a student learned the definition of, their CR score went up 10 points. its rough, of course, but it helps. I learned almost 500 words and i started at a 660 and got to a 700. worked for me! also, read every day. newspaper articles specifically (the New York TImes is my personal favorite. and highlight words that you dont know the definition of. or the words that you know roughly what they mean but you can’t really put words to it to describe it. Write them down and study them. it really helps!</p>
<p>Will do mauraquinn. Anymore tips from anyone?</p>
<p>Big problem I had was not being able to finish the passages in time because I read so slowly…I generally understand most of the passages I come across but if I’m strapped for time, it can really affect how (or if) I answered the questions. I’m working on improving my speed now more than anything.</p>
<p>5 literature books (exact analysis)+ Direct Hits+BB=800?</p>
<p>^And “a lot of practice” should be added to to the left side of that equation!</p>