<p>hey you guys, i've been doing practice tests and it's like for every test i improve on, the next time my score will lower, then the next test it'll improve, then lower again...i don't understand why it keeps doing this. my scores are consistent in math and writing, but critical reading is so unpredictable. what am i doing wrong and how can i get increasing scores with every practice? I go over my practice problems that i miss and those that i guess on before every test. thanks</p>
<p>what company's book are you using?</p>
<p>cb blue book, it's so weird. in math and writing i always miss the same exact number of questions, but reading is always weird.</p>
<p>One reason might be the environment that you're testing in each time.. is it different? Also, since critical reading is your only section with huge fluctuations, I would advise doing the actual CR sections in the test prep books instead of just taking the entire test over and over. Focus on CR for a while and then take the whole test again. The more comfortable you are with the section, the more stable your scores will be.</p>
<p>crazy: i test at my kitchen table each time, but sometimes the tv will be on in the next room, do u think that affects it? i will try your advice, it would also cut down on my practice time now since i am focusing only on critical reading. thanks!</p>
<p>it is probably the content of the reading. Say for example, you are a social studies person. One of the passages may be really boring because it is science or very procedural in nature. Then next test you improve because the passage is on Anthropology. This often happens to me.</p>
<p>arbor... trust me when I say CR is all practice. The more passages you go through, the more CR style questions you see, the more things will fall into place. You'll start to develop a natural CR scent and you'll be able to sniff your way down to at least 2 options on each question, and ultimately, choose the correct one between the two. don't lose hope, mate... I promise you things will become easier after a while.</p>
<p>ryan: wow, that is true. wow i feel so unconfident now because of this fact lol. any tips for how to improve and become interested in all passages?</p>
<p>son of liberty: okay i will take your advice and keep practiicng, i guess there is no true secret to getting quicker and improving over night. i hope after a few more practices from the practice tests (i'm limited on time), i will be able to get the hang of things. thanks for your encouragement :)</p>
<p>I think the content of the passage accounts for the fluctuating scores. I just took a CR practice section in the blue book and it was one of the those sections that contained 2 long passages. What happened was that I completely got all the questions right on one passage but left almost all of the questions in the second passage blank.</p>
<p>argh that makes it difficult to predict if i will do well or badly on the cr on real sat's lol. wish the odds weren't like that..hehe</p>
<p>i agree with Retribution, the content definately affects ur score..if the content is about art or culture it totally bores me out and i'm on the verge of falling asleep. On the other hand if the passage is about science, sports, or anything more current-ish i tend to do better. many tests prep books suggest that u make urself get interested..which i find is rather challenging..</p>
<p>does anyone have any ideas on how to get interested in a passage. and should i read the questions first or passage first?</p>
<p>Taj, I'm exactly the same.</p>
<p>hey retribution,
do u have any tips on how to overcome this problem other than forcing urself to stay awake and read the passage anyway..</p>
<p>Well, I think if you keep on practicing passages with boring topics, you will get better at them. It's like you're doing the passages and you see one with let's say fine art topic. First reaction (before doing practice) would be "not one of these again!" Then after a while when you've practiced and all you see it like this your response would be "Ha, I've done a passage about the same exact subject, piece of cake." This is my take on it.</p>
<p>thanks for da input man, i'll try it out..</p>