<p>For you talented test takers,</p>
<p>What methods did you use in your preparation for this portion of the test?</p>
<p>Where did you find the vocab lists that you used to study from?</p>
<p>I am aware that vocab is not 100% of the test itself however it is such a great advantage to have going into it. I am in search of the ideal vocab list and what better individuals to ask than those that aced this portion.</p>
<p>Well I didn't get one [not even close actually], but profiling all the kids in my class that got 800 or close to it. They all have been reading since early childhood and are known for being the most educated in literature because they just enjoy reading, and none of them are known for actually preparing for the SAT's [well no one really prepares for the SAT's in our school regardless unless you consider the SAT prep class which is an absolutely worthless elective in our school], but anyway, just an interest in words and reading seems to be the best technique to achieving success on the SAT's.</p>
<p>I second that, I got an 800 and think it was because of all the reading I did from 8-15 (I sort of stopped reading as much after 10th grade). The vocab was still tough though, I don't think there's any way to know all the words they tend to ask. For preparation I took about 4 practice tests in the weeks before each test (I took it twice). The only thing that I think that helped me with the vocab besides the practice was that my 9th grade english teacher spent a few hours each week teaching latin roots, suffixes and prefixes so a lot of times even if I didn't know the word I knew its general meaning.</p>
<p>I think even for people who read, it's hard to get your attention span to do wonders with things you aren't that interested it.</p>
<p>Personally, I read the Sparknotes online guide for Critical Reading and used their strategy of underlining important points when reading.</p>
<p>hmm PEFECT is PERFECT minus one letter
just like my 790 is 800 minus one question</p>
<p>but whatever, i couldnt get a PEFECT score, so you probably wouldnt benefit from my advice anyway....</p>
<p>I agree with Tonyt. I did well on cr not because I crammed in PR, but because I read everything from chick lit to The Economist. I found that, after reading for so long, I didn't need to study vocab lists. It was just meshed into my brain. And, I was lucky and guessed right. ^_^</p>
<p>That probably isn't a helpful answer, so, in terms of finding a vocab list, I think that last-minute cramming of synonym lists is useful. Also, do vocab at random times. Like, if you're bored during orchestra or class, and sit in the back ;)</p>
<p>yeah, i scored perfect on cr, too, and i didn't really study for it. if you're well read, it should be a breeze.</p>
<p>i got an 800 on the critical reading. i have never been a big reader, and have read only 2 books outside of school during the past 5 years. basically, you need really good reading comprehension skills to get the 800. you also need to have learned and absorbed vocab throughout your life. there is no vocab list that can help you get an 800. an 800 in critical reading is quite rare, and vocab lists certainly aren't going to help you with that. </p>
<p>however, if you are a smart, you can figure some answers out from the way they ask the questions and such.</p>
<p>Students who score 800 on CR were mostly adament readers while they were in elementary school all the way through high school.</p>
<p>Well, like another poster here, I'm a few points under perfect so you wouldn't benefit from my advice <em>cough cough hint hint</em></p>
<p>i read a lot as a kid and i have pretty good reading comprehension. i'm just good at reading and analyzing, always have been. there really isn't any preparation. i pretty much absorbed all the vocab over time. reading skills are hard to get just by studying. you have to read widely to get the skills, and that takes time.
as for the poster above who says he/she doesn't read much outside of school: that poster obviously does read in/for school and has been taught well in the classroom (and has a natural talent in the subject)</p>
<p>also, i don't see why 790s can't give advice. i missed a couple questions on the PSAT reading, but I got a luckier draw on the SAT1. no one will get every single question right all the time in critical reading...and anyway the questions are written rather poorly.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i read a lot as a kid and i have pretty good reading comprehension. i'm just good at reading and analyzing, always have been. there really isn't any preparation. i pretty much absorbed all the vocab over time. reading skills are hard to get just by studying. you have to read widely to get the skills, and that takes time.
[/quote]
Me too. I only really studied for the math section, and CR (800) was still my highest score.</p>
<p>My son got an 800. He didn't study - he just reads a lot. Nothing fancy mostly sci-fi and fantasy but 1 or 2 a week on average.</p>
<p>i read a lot but i cant seem to get about 720 on practice tests (got 700 first time, 6 wrong). I can understand the passages fine but what do you do when you get one of those problems where two answers both make sense!?!/</p>
<p>i always had the same problem as andrassy. the key is not to overanalyze...pick the simpler answer. if one answer requires you to read too much into the passage, move on, even though it is tempting. same goes for AP english...the college board loves to catch over-analyzers.</p>
<p>^ I disagree. I over-analyze to search for flaws in the answer choices, and there usually are.</p>
<p>^I disagree yet again. Overanalyizing usually leads you to finding flaws that don't exist. If there isn't a flaw, overanalyzing tends to 'create' one, to force you to subconsciously look for what you want till you've created it.</p>
<p>i got a 790, i dont know if im allowed to comment, but i will...I did like 5 practice tests and did all the vocab completions in the Blue Book two nights before...i was really confident at CR on the day..I think confidence on the CR helps a great deal, in the blue book tests i averaged 670...lol</p>
<p>juzmister really proved my point about overanalyzing. if you're confident, you won't think over everything a thousand times. go with the answer that strikes you as right, then move on.</p>
<p>people who get 800 are generally (and I don't want to say this in a demeaning way... just generalizing) 1) ferocious readers 2) deep analytical thinkers 3) gifted at language 4) is ok at reading and go lucky on the test 5) tutored privatedly or INTENSELY prepared for the SAT.</p>