Hey guyz, I need some advice on Section 1 of the new SAT (Passage based questions)
I can’t seem to get past a score of 650 in English and IT IS REALLY ANNOYING ME.
Main Problem: TIME LIMITS. Each passage I complete, more questions I miss.
My strategy: I do 12 mins per passage, and since there are 5 passages, I finish in 60 mins. I have 5 mins left to check my answers, however that time is used up in bubbling answers, so I have zero time to check.
To all those high scorers out there, what did you do to break the 650 barrier and get those 700’s. I would really appreciate it if u could help me out.
Keep it as simple as possible.
This is an unpopular opinion but, read the passage first and make mental notes (NOT actual notes- this will sap your time) of important developments.
Once you’ve read the passage, read the questions and do the line reference (e.g. “what does this word mean?” questions first).
You will have to refer back to the passage for evidence, but if you do that, the two-part questions (“which lines provide the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?”) basically answer themselves.
The graph/chart interpretations are fairly easy, but may require a reference to the passage- pinpoint the relevant section, find the evidence, apply it to the chart, answer, done.
Don’t be afraid to skip a question if you’re stumped- often it will make more sense after a second look.
Source: Strong English student who got a 750 on the reading section of the PSAT and will check her SAT scores in a few minutes once she’s done panicking here.
not sure if it’s a strategy but i noticed that i was wasting too much time circling the answer on my test (when i was certain it was correct) . i could have used that time to keep moving on to the next question.
of course, if you’re uncertain, then yeah you should take note of it
though personally i did waste time circling my answer in the booklet in case i accidentally skipped a bubble and had to go back to shift my bubbles
so i read through the passage, then answered and bubbled in each answer as i went through it (i didnt wait til the end to bubble em all in) but then after bubbling i circled it and then went on to the next question
go with your first answer if you’re suspect unless u know u made a mistake
dont waste too much time second guessing yourself, just go go go. sometimes we mentally try to validate our response in our head which wastes time even though we’re confident it’s correct
if it’s a super easy thing, as easy as 1+1=2, then just bubble it in and move on, don’t waste time trying to reassure yourself. remember, the test is easier than you think. it’s not trying to trick you. simple and quick.
im pretty indecisive so it’s hard for me sometimes, ill get caught up in justifying something i already know is right and it might be a few seconds but it adds up
edit: im posting here to get tips on how to get a higher score too lol. got low 700s and that was with simply guessing on the last passage since i ran out of time (aka just bubbled in random answers)
First of all, fill in the bubbles as you go, not at the end.
There are other ways but this is how I got a 760:
First read over the questions before you read the passage. When the questions make references to the passage note where, when there is more broad idea questions write these words somewhere next to the passage like “main idea” or “Scientists X’s Main Argument” so that you can mentally start to get a better idea of what you need to focus on. After you have read the questions and know generally what you are looking for read the passage and stop and answer a question where you have made a note. If you see where this Scientists main argument is in the passage, go to that question and answer it after you have read it. When answering question keep in mind: THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT ANSWER! The SAT is not trying to trick you and none of the questions are up to interpretation because it is the SAT’s job to make sure that there really is only one right answer! Knowing this, keep in mind that all other answers but one is wrong for some reason. When you are looking at an answer, never think how this could fit, always be thinking how could this be wrong first.
There are 5 different types of answers that are usually a put:
Completely Wrong
The Correct Answer
Unrelated/Some small part wrong
Correct, but too broad
Correct, but too specific
There is also the questions that have the “what evidence from the passage gives the answer to the previous question” where you should be able to link the evidence from the passages to the answers to the previous question. Another thing that will get you is that the SAT does not always have to give the best answer, they just have to give an answer that works. So looking at the evidence from the passage and using that to help decide which one is correct is very valuable because you can look at the exact evidence it is giving in the passage and asking yourself, “does this fit?”
Other than that, just try to come into the test feeling confident, not too stressed but still focused, and try to read the passages as if your very interested in them. If you can, get interested in the passages. Make sure to do some reading practice beforehand and check your answers to see what you’ve missed, and then look at the explanation to figure out what you have done wrong. When practicing do not let a single miss question or question that you were unsure of go by without understanding why the right answer was the right answer!
Another way to try and improve your score is training yourself for speed. When you can finish passages in 10-11 minutes without hurrying, then you’ll have plenty of time for the ones that you get stuck on and looking at those from every angle.
Sincerely, someone who also started in the 650 or so range.