Critical reading

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I use Barrons 2009 for my SAT prep. I've completed the sentence completion section which went smoothly. This critical reading section is just evil and I'm having trouble with it. Sometimes, I dont even understand the explanations...</p>

<p>What can I do to drastically improve with this damn section? (I know reading will help, I def. plan to do that, what else will help me though?)</p>

2

<p>Doing ur very best will help</p>

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<p>Studying prefixes and suffixes for the vocab will help. Even if you don’t know the definitions, you can get a clue of what the word means by using those.
If you have a lot of time to study for it, try reading newspapers and things like TIME magazines when you’re bored. It should help with your vocab and reading ability
And yeah, do your best :P</p>

4

<p>Yeah critical reading is my worse section. I have the Princeton Review SAT book, do you think I should focus on studying prefixes and suffixes for the vocabulary or the actual words they have in the back that you punch out?</p>

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<p>I personally feel studying prefixes, suffixes would be just a waste of time quite honestly for me atleast… vocab isnt so much of a problem when it comes to passages, its just more of being able to comprehend it better. Looks like the only thing that’ll help that is reading.</p>

6

<p>It’s better to use the Blue Book for your CR practice than Barron’s questions. You’ll probably find them to be quite different.</p>

7

<p>The best advice you may ever recieve about this section is that you should do practice tests from the collegeboard, remember that every CORRECT answer that collegeboard has is justifiable within the passage, and that CORRECT answers are usally non-offensive and are pretty moderate/scholarly in its wording</p>

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<p>I suck so much at Critical Reading! I read so slowly, and I can never understand any of the passages unless they are science related. I just did some reading comprehension from a website, and I got 4 out of 12 correct! OMG!</p>

<p>Plz, I need suggestions.</p>

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<p>I’m from Canada too :smiley: lol
Gaoez, may I ask what your ethnicity is? lol</p>

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<p>ASIAN!! How did you know to ask?</p>

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<p>So anyways…(was my comment inappropriate or something? This thread completely died after I posted it haha!)</p>

<p>I wrote another practice test and reviewed some of the other tests I took. It really made me aware of how bad I am at CR: my brother score almost 100 points higher than me, and he is only in grade 9!!</p>

<p>I need suggestions really badly. How can I improve my critical reading? My main problems are:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Reading too slowly. I have always had the bad habit of reading word by word.</p></li>
<li><p>Not understanding what I am reading. This is my biggest problem. Often, I see the words on the page and read] it, but when I get to the end of the passage, it is like I never read anything.</p></li>
<li><p>Being cynical. Sometimes I feel that College Board is making sure that I fail the SAT. It always seems to me that is more than one right answer. Sometimes, I can even find supporting information that supports the wrong answer.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I find that my vocabulary is decent: I can understand most of the words. My brother suggested that I try reading more novels, but will that really help? I have a SAT test on May 2, and I do not know if reading novels will improve my reading skills that quickly.</p>

<p>Help will be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>Gaoez, what was your reading score?</p>

13

<p>yeah i know CR is just hard. the reading comprehension part where u read those long passages…its just a pain in the butt. so yeah try reading as hard as u can…and just focus on other parts…btw i am an india…not a native speaker…so u can understand my situation…but still trying hard</p>

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<p>In the 500’s. Last practice test I took, I got 510.</p>

<p>edit: My other scores are way higher; I got 760 math and 670 writing, so I am not dumb or anything.</p>

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<p>I scored a 560 on the other test that I was talking about:</p>

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<p>So my brother suggested that I try reading more novels, but will that really help? I have a SAT test on May 2, and I do not know if reading novels will improve my reading skills that quickly.</p>

17

<p>Same problem here. I always do pretty good (above 700) in Math sections and Writing isn’t that bad either. But the main problem I have is with the CR sections. And one of the main problems I have with it is the time. I’m never able to complete a section in time and have to take at least 5 extra minutes. I’d consider my reading speed average. Any advice?</p>

<p>I’m also taking the SAT on May 2nd</p>

18

<p>same. I tool my 1st SAt in Jan and i got CR 540, WR 640, M 740.
I’m going to ratake on 2nd May… and currently I’m practising with the Barron’s book and i got super low, like 500-520…
I wish I could postpone it till October… (cos Im gonna take SAT2 in June)
dont really know what to do now…sigh</p>

19

<p>Hey guys I’m just wondering which Direct Hits I should buy. I score around a 640 in CR so should I get The Core Vocabulary Volume I or Toughest Vocabulary Volume II. Thanks for you help.</p>

20

<p>bump.
I would appreciate it if someone could give me a few suggestions. My previous posts are quoted below.</p>

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