How to Improve Reading&Writing Scores in SAT and ACT

Test Preparation
1

Sorry for the creation of a new thread if this is a bit redundant, but I found that many other threads were too lengthy or outdated to post in, and the variety of questions that I have might not fall under the scope of one particular thread.

I am a rising junior in high school, and before beginning my preparation I took a practice SAT test and after about a week of SAT preparation took an ACT just to see how I would do. (I am planning to take the SAT and ACT both with essays, but right now am focusing on getting the non-essay parts as high as I possibly can before moving on.)

SAT: 1390 total//730 Math//660 Reading&Writing
Reading&Writing Subscores:
Reading – 32/40
Writing&Language – 34/40

ACT: 31 Total//30 English//34 Math//28 Reading//31 Science

It has become clear to me from my score and my experience in actually taking both tests that my most lacking area is reading. Although my Grammar/Writing areas are not perfect as of now, I’m sure that can improve with practice, but my biggest concern is reading comprehension. I’m aiming for a perfect score on both the SAT and ACT, but primarily the SAT, so I really want to attack my issues at their source, and that’s what I need help with.

At this point I am using an online course called Kranse and am pretty close to complete, I’ve also ordered a few practice books such as Barron’s NEW SAT (29th Edition) for the SAT and Manhattan Prep’s 5 Lb. Book of ACT Practice Problems for the ACT.

Now that you’ve heard the breakdown of the position I’m at, do you have any advice on what to do to improve my scores? Right now, I just want to focus on bringing my SAT score up with preparation, and I’m sure that the ACT will follow with practice, but I’m not sure what program/study method would help. I’ve heard of PrepScholar’s SAT program which seems like a really nice way to break down my issues and help take me to the next level, but apparently, they reuse problems which doesn’t help improvement in the 1400+ range.

tldr; got a 660 on Reading&Writing in SAT, 28 subscore in Reading and 30 Subscore in English on ACT, how can I improve my reading & writing comprehension/analysis effectively? (mainly the reading comprehension portion; grammar is not that big of an issue for me) What tools/courses/strategies/ideas will help me get me to an 800? I’m willing to put in the work as long as the tools/courses/strategies/ideas are helpful.

Big thanks to anyone who took the time to read and answer in advance.

2

The best way to Improve reading, including comprehension, is reading as much as possible. If you have a textbook with questions at the end of a chapter, answer the questions and then verify your answer or if you can’t remember the text, find the answer by choosing the best area to check and skim for the answer.

Reading is an interactive process in which you connect information from one section to earlier ones. Unless you have a specific reason, reading rarely means hunting for factoids and memorizing them. Reading is like learning to ride a bicycle in which you learn to maintain balance, stop, alter speed, change directions, etc. There are many individual skills that must be integrated and practiced. Once you are proficient in riding a bike, you don’t relearn basic skills. Instead, you consider personal stamina and technology. Reading is much the same in that once you read proficiency, the reading process is intact, but vocabulary and style can be an initial issue. God readers are likely to be good writers because of familiarity with print text.

3

Thanks! So, aside from practice, are there are particular books or courses you might suggest to assist improvement?

4

DD has her reading improved by taking AP English and has a very good tutor on AP Eng, her reading is 36.