<p>I am improving on critical reading, however, I don't meet the time limit. I just finished a section of my practice in 30 minutes rather than 25. I only missed a few on the passages. I missed 3 vocab, skipped one, and missed 4 passage based. (3 reads).
Any tips on how I can handle time and ways to approach tough passage based questions?
Thanks.</p>
<p>You definitely have to work faster in critical reading. I usually finish 15-20 minutes in, but use the time to check over. The vocabulary, if you study, should go relatively quickly. If not, study more vocab, and use the context better. For the passages, I usually read the question and go back to the passage, since the questions tend to be in order. You really have to read quickly in order to finish or else you won’t finish. Work quickly, and check over your work at the end.</p>
<p>Yeah, I read the questions referring to lines and underlined those lines/parts of a line, and then I answered those specific questions as I came to them in the passage… I plan on studying some vocab words soon, but as for now I’m mainly concerned about the time… I can finish on time if there’s a small passage or two passages that have like 4 questions after, and when there’s one big passage for the rest of the questions in the section. In the section I was talking about above, I think having to read a third passage got me…</p>
<p>But thank you. :)</p>
<p>I think you honestly just need to do tons and tons of practice. I know, I know, you’ve heard it a million times but that’s really the only way to improve in this situation. The SAT is a test that can be mastered through rigorous training. Don’t get discouraged! You’ll get faster in no time.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’ve come a long way as I’ve been practicing. I’m better at not over analyzing the text, and just going by what’s stated in the passages. Thanks a lot! =]</p>
<p>Try Silverturtle’s advice to first look at the questions and mark the mentioned lines in the text. After marking all the lines start reading. This makes you more focused on the important parts of the text and saves time because you comprehend more this way.</p>