<p>Hello, I have taken 9 Practice SAT Tests so far, but I have yet to improve. I always get a 460 or 470 never lower or higher. I try to practice as much as possible doing sections of the SAT if I have time before bed and doing a full test every Saturday. I've completed Direct Hits Core Vocabulary Volume 1 and I'm currently progressing through Volume 2, but I'm not sure if it will increase my score at all. I use "How to Attack the SAT Critical Reading Section Effectively" for my critical reading section and I give myself 5 minutes less in each section. It seems like I have to keep looking back at the passage for each question even after marking the passage with line references from the questions. I always finish the critical reading section within 20 seconds left, but I never have time to check my answers or go back to the ones I skipped. I was going to take the SAT in December but, at this rate I doubt I can get a high score so I will probably take it in February or sometime next year.</p>
<p>Is there anyway to get my score to at least 650 (would rather have 700, but it seems unrealistic for me at this point) by February?</p>
<p>Sorry for the messed up title. I got kicked out when I tried to make the thread at first so I had to retype it real fast and I wasn’t paying attention.</p>
<p>Isn’t it far too late to increase my score by reading books? I’ve never really been interested in novels so I usually read books related to computer programming like C++, Java, etc. I regret not reading difficult novels as I was growing up.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m doing tests out of Kaplan’s 12 Practice SATs book and I heard the tests in the Kaplan book are easier than the Blue Book, so my score will probably be much lower than it already is.</p>
<p>Do you review carefully and understand your mistakes?
You need to practice to understand how the author is presenting his point. You need to see the structure. Why is the author saying this and that? What is he trying to say by that? What is his point? At first the understanding won’t come naturally but with much practice you will start getting the point more and more.</p>
<p>Also I agree with someone who said to read harder books (but choose a topic that is interesting to you).</p>
<p>May I ask your strategy AimingAt750? Do you use “How to Attack the SAT Critical Reading Section Effectively”? Or do you read through it then go and answer the questions? And do your read the passages quickly?</p>
<p>SAT reading passages come from several different sources using several different styles of writing. Each different style of writing requires different thinking skills. Fiction leaves much unsaid. The trick is to infer ideas from hints given in descriptions of settings and characters, and to deduce what a character’s actions tell you about their character. In short, it is very abstract. Computer books are the opposite. They are explicit, concrete and organized step by step according to a procedural format that doesn’t change. Argumentative writing mixes the two. </p>
<p>If all you do is read the same kind of book again and again, you will only practice one kind of reading comprehension skill. Read fiction, current events and natural science books and articles. Also, practice ACT reading tests. The ACT deliberately tests the various reading styles and you will get questions that are designed to focus your attention on the skills needed for each. Keep an eye on your scores to identify problem areas and switch back to SAT passages every now and again to keep tuned to the SAT style of testing.</p>
<p>Also remember that developing reading skill is more like bodybuilding than like a sprint. A short, fast and intense study period is not likely to produce much improvement. Depending upon how hard you work it, your progress won’t really show until you have put in some time and repetition. You also have to start easy and work up.</p>
<p>Currently, I don’t have any ACT practice tests but, I will pick one up tomorrow. I will probably focus strictly on critical reading for a while until I get better. Do you suggest that I give myself the full time limit until I improve, then reduce the time I get for each section as my score increases?</p>
<p>I tend to read the passages together with the questions. I read the first question, read a part of text to answer it and check the answer. I look the next question, I read the relevant part and answer the question. Next question… and so on. I leave general questions for the ending. At the moment my CR score is 680-720.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about time limits at all at the start. The key is to get the ‘hang’ of answering the questions correctly first. Then work on speed.</p>
<p>How should I approach the questions? Should I continue with “How to Attack the SAT Critical Reading Section Effectively”, try AimingAt750’s technique, or should I read the passage entirely before looking at the questions?</p>
<p>When you start, read the passage entirely first to get a sense of how it is structured and what it contains. Then go back and read each question and answer it as you go through the passage. Remember that you can take as much time as you need during your early practice sessions. Do your best to get the answer right and then check your work. Remember what you were thinking when you chose one answer and rejected another. If you were right, keep doing what you did. If you were wrong, identify what kind of error you made and be on guard for it in the future. Also read the explanations for all the answer choices. There are repetitions and clues among the wrong answer choices and if you study them as well as the correct answers, you will start to get a feel for how the test writers think and what kinds of errors they are expecting you to make.</p>
<p>There was a very good post not long ago describing the basic kinds of wrong answer choices that frequently appear, but I can’t recall who posted it. Unfortunately, I downloaded a ‘worm’ type virus and my main computer is out of commission. Maybe someone else remembers and can provide a link.</p>
<p>Wood5440, are there any books you recommend that are difficult? I want to begin reading more novels in general because I regret reading so little. I doubt I have time for any improvements on the SAT by reading books in such short time, but, I want to become a better reader overall. That thread you found seems extremely useful and I will definitely try that technique next time I take a practice test. I will practice as much as I can before I take the real SAT and hopefully I can at least break a 600.</p>