Hey there CC. I was looking to improve my SAT score (and PSAT score) by next year. On the PSAT this year, I got a 1300/1520 (590 R/710 M) without studying and I’m trying to get that up to National Merit range. Are there any good books out there for the new SAT or should I mainly use practice tests, learn my vocab, etc. I’m mainly concerned about my reading score so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
For someone who is good in math but not so good in reading, I suggest you consider the ACT. The ACT reading is easier. If you can handle the science section, you should like the ACT better. The rSAT is good for humanities people.
That said, I think the closest thing to rSAT reading is modified old SAT CR.
Take 4 long old CR passages + 1 double long CR passage, one in each area (one fiction, science, history, etc. ) if you can’t find one in each area, just make sure there isn’t more than 1 fiction. Do these in one sitting. Wherever passible, underline the words in the passage that justify your answer choice.
The first question for non-fiction always should be: What is the main point of the passage?
Pick the hardest passages you can find.
In addition, read some Common Core/ APUSH primary texts, especially about slavery, segregation, civli rights, women’s rights, and generic stuff about the value of liberty and how great US democracy is. Don’t bother with anything about war. Texts on war have been banned by CB as “girl-unfriendly”.
For these passages, answer questions like:
What is the primary purpose of the passage?
What does this hard word mean?
What does this funny idiom mean?
What does this not very hard word but word that is used in a funny way mean?
What does this metaphor mean?
What does anything weird in the text that you do not understand mean? (You can be sure there will be a question about that.)
Why did the author refer to this other author?
What is the function of this paragraph, line, repetition, quotation, italics, underlining, question marks, dashes, other unusual punctuation?
What is the tone of this sentence, word, the whole paragraph?
How would author 1 respond to this thing said by author 2?
How do author 1 and author 2 agree and disagree?
Another good exercise is to write out a paraphrase of a hard paragraph in your own words. The test is basically a test of your ability to paraphrase the meaning and avoid trap answers.