<p>Hi guys, I took the PSAT this year, and I did pretty bad :S
Got a 420 reading, 620 math, 480 writing.
I'm positive that I can raise my math and writing score, but I was talking to a teacher and they said that it's really hard to raise your reading score?
I'm willing to put the time and the effort..
I totally bombed the reading part and was really clueless on what to do..
So I'd like to know what things can I do to improve my reading score?
Thanks in advance for the help :)</p>
<p>Best thing to raise your CR score? Actually reading. Not reading something trashy or simple, something at least decently complex. Keep a dictionary by your side and look up unfamiliar words. The Economist [magazine] is pretty good for this, although a subscription isn't exactly cheap.</p>
<p>Alternatively, check some "classics" from authors like Dickens or Dostoyevsky out from your library and do the same thing.</p>
<p>Seriously, the only "prep" I ever did for the CR section was reading.</p>
<p>If you're willing to put the time in, then you should memorize SAT words. This can significantly bring up your reading score.</p>
<p>Reading is good. If you can't, go through vocab flash cards every night before bed for 10 mins. It'll add up over time.</p>
<p>Thanks guys
Yea, I guess I'm going to study SAT vocab a bit every night.
Also, what would be some good books to read by Dickens and Dostoyevsky?
Oh and if anyone else has some suggestions on what to read, I'm open for them.</p>
<p>dostoevsky's crime and punishment (and any other of his books) is completely overkill for SAT CR....COMPLETELY. </p>
<p>it's a good(but really long) read, but i'm sure there are those that have scored 800s out there that haven't read C&P or any of dostoevsky's other books.</p>
<p>it would be better to fit in smaller books of literary merit, such as heart of darkness or the metamorphosis.</p>
<p>Of Mice & Men
Grapes of Wrath
1984</p>
<p>some good not-uber-simple books.</p>
<p>I guess stephennn's right. Crime and Punishment is a rather long - and probably complex in a way that CR never is - book. But I stand by it as worth reading [for various other reasons at least] and helpful in terms of vocab.</p>
<p>Other books to read? Maybe some Jack London, too? Dickens I stand by, as his works really aren't very long. Try to get some non-fiction in as well, as a fair portion of CR critical-thinking is non-fiction/opinion/persuasive. The Economist has an online version [economist.com]!</p>
<p>List above mine is good as well.</p>
<p>reading all the way......</p>
<p>Atheist Manifesto was complex for me. IDK maybe it was easy for others but it was a good read not too long and had some good words and concepts and such by Michel Onfray.</p>
<p>Definitely read. </p>
<p>Jane Austen
T.S. Eliot
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Henry James
Edith Wharton</p>
<p>Reading helps a lot with the writing section too, if you prepare a lot of examples from the books.</p>
<p>In addition to the Economist, you can read Time or Newsweek, or Scientific American.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! Good luck!</p>