<p>Hey guys ,
I am really in desperate need for CR tips and strategies ......I am not native American btw and I am not a zealous reader as well ..in fact I don't read (it's not that I am an idle person or anything; it's just a long story which is besides my point ) I would appreciate anybody's help...I am willing to get a really great score but CR is just one of the stumbling rocks that I cannot afford to overcome....</p>
<p>Brush up on vocab with Direct Hits and/or Quizlet/flashcards. These vocab questions are easily preventable mistakes as long as you master the vocab. For passage-based questions, try to first go through a couple tests without timing yourself. Take all the time you need, but try to get all the questions right. As you improve your accuracy, go back to timed tests and gradually work on timing.</p>
<p>Also, since the passages can be long and boring, there is a pretty good chance that you’re zoning out while reading (trust me, this used to happen to me often). The way to get past this is to force yourself to be interested in the topic. I know that another user on this forum (can’t remember who) mentioned that reading the passages in an accent (or in an interesting way) kept her interested, so perhaps try that. Just know: ~90% of the time, the answers are in the passages. Take advantage of untimed practice to figure out where the answers are hidden. As you get used to finding the answers, your speed will gradually improve, as well.</p>
<p>CR Resources:
-Vocab: Direct Hits (book), SAT Vocab Cartoons (book), Quizlet (online), Mindsnacks (found on the Apple App store), Test Your English Vocabulary (Android app - just drills you on vocab with 10 question quizzes; great for on-the-go practice rather than studying)
-Passage Practice: Untimed Blue Book tests, Erica Meltzer’s CR Guide (book)</p>
<p>And, while you may not be a zealous reader right now, try to read more! Pick up a book and just read for fun! It could be Harry Potter, the Divergent series, the Hunger Games series, or something more classic like Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein or To Kill a Mockingbird. Anything you read (newspapers, journals, magazines, articles related to your hobbies) will help you improve your reading speed and comprehension! This works even better if you still have time before the SAT.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! Good Luck! :)</p>
<p>I appreciate your feedback …Thank you 
</p>
<p>What books do you recommend me to read ?
And if you don’t mind my question, was CR an obstacle for you as well ? (I mean I sometimes feel that I am utterly stupid and it’s just me who’s suffering ) </p>
<p>Books: Just anything you can pick up at that’s grade-appropriate (i.e. no Dr. Seuss).</p>
<p>And yes, CR was a horrible obstacle for me. I started out at ~500 at the beginning of high school (and I have lived in the US my entire life), but with some vocab practice (using primarily number2.com and pre-published Quizlet sets), passage practice (using untimed Blue Book tests) and taking AP Lang during junior year, I was able to bring it up to a 720.</p>
<p>You’re not utterly stupid and you’re certainly not alone. Being an international is even tougher. Just keep studying! :)</p>
<p>All that matters in CR is vocab. Study vocab on top of vocab on top of vocab and you will end up with the sought after 700+</p>
1 Like
<p>how to improve my cr </p>
<p>@EngineBus2015‌ : Thanks for all of your encouraging advices …I appreciate that :)</p>
<p>@McCombsHopeful‌: Thanks …but vocab isn’t the key for solving the passage-based questions…However , I do agree with you since I still have to build a strong vocabulary base…</p>
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<p>This is so obviously wrong its not worth rebutting. Why do you post this type of info on a public site? Its dangerous because someone might believe you.</p>
<p>yes its absolutely true !</p>
<p>@CHD2013 & @GettingDepressed - Okay, I’m going to explain why vocabulary is the ONLY thing that matters on the critical reading portion of the test, even the passage based. Why do you miss problems on passage based questions? For two reasons 1) you didn’t understand the question, or 2) you couldn’t answer the question because you couldn’t understand the text it was referring to. Okay, why would you not understand the text? The only reason you are not able to read the passages once and understand everything perfectly is because there is complex vocabulary within the passage that you don’t understand. If you don’t understand a word in a sentence, you don’t truly understand what the sentence is saying and you can’t interpret things like tone, etc. If you understand all of the complex vocabulary within the passage, and you understand the complex vocab in the questions, you would answer all of the questions correctly. Think about it, if it’s just down to reading the passage and you don’t have to worry about not understanding complex words, you might as well be reading and answering questions on “Green eggs and ham”. </p>
<p>Why do all of you people suggest that reading the NY Times and complex literature helps? How does that at all prepare you for the SAT Critical reading? The only way that will benefit you is it may teach you to read faster and smoother. As long as you are not a terrible reader, if you understand every word that comes upon you in the Critical Reading section, you WILL score a 700+. I don’t understand why this is contested? It raised my buddies CR from 600 to 780 and mine from 550 to 700. I could have easily scored higher if I would have learned 500-1000 more words, but I was sufficient with my score range. Trust me. Study 2000 vocab words and you will do well on the critical reading.</p>
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<p>No need to explain what you obviously do not understand. Critical reading is not testing your vocabulary, but your comprehension and concentration capability. There are techniques one learns by practicing in earnest. Reviewing older tests yields all the vocabulary that has been compiled in those dumb lists. </p>
<p>is it possible to study 2000 words in one month?</p>
<p>@dejene‌ Well, ask yourself if you can study 65 words per day? Consistently in one month without letting any falling away?
I personally would say no, lol</p>
<p>@xiggi - As I already said, the only reason you can’t comprehend what your reading is because you don’t understand the vocabulary. You are right that there is a concentration element to the section that can lower your score. But, for the most part, if you understand every word you encounter, you will comprehend what your reading. lol.</p>
<p>Is the Barron’s a reliable source from which I can memorize ? Because I cannot find Direct Hits where I am living…</p>
<p>@GettingDepressed - If you can, try and order Direct Hits on Amazon. If not, Barron’s is fine too. Just learn words.</p>
<p>Barron’s for SAT1 is a recipe to disaster!</p>
<p>@Phongtheha‌ Huh? What do you mean a recipe to disaster ! ? Why ?</p>
<p>I thought everybody knows that Barron’s books for SAT1 suck?
Their strategies never worked (well, at least for me)
Their tests are excessively difficulty (in a bad way)
Their alphabetical vocab book is … lol
Can’t find Direct Hits in your place? order them on Amazon. Safe, fast and clean!</p>
<p>In my opinion, studying all words that you don’t know from Direct Hits and past released tests should be enough.</p>
<p>Have fun studying!</p>