SAT Critical Reading Help?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I was looking for specific ways to improve my critical reading score, other than practicing. I say this because I have taken 9 diagnostics so far, and my critical reading score hasn't budged in the slightest. If anything, it has become worse. The last Diagnostic I took, the scores looked like this:</p>

<p>Math: 800
Writing: 800
Critical Reading: 600</p>

<p>So you can probably see why I am very desperate to improve my CR score. I have never scored higher than a 650, and my goal is between a 700 and 750. I normally do quite bad on the passage based questions.</p>

<p>I am willing to put in lots of effort to improve. I already know many "tips" though they really haven't helped much. </p>

<p>Any help would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I was at the same situation a year before and believe me, the best way is to read more, especially classical works. Also you should learn vocab, Direct Hits, Princeton review, and peterson’s 1000 words in order of importance.</p>

3

<p>use the line out technique! chunk reading is the way to beat CR</p>

4

<p>I think the most important part is getting to think in the same way the SAT test writers were thinking when they created the test. What I can say worked for me (800 crit, 2300+ overall in one sitting) is working specifically on CR. If your vocab is there, cram CR sections. Do 20 sections if you have to (its really not that bad). </p>

<p>-DO:
-> Drills and vocab exercises.
-> Devil’s advocate (if down to 2 answers, ask yourself why one won’t work).
-> Take the stance of an unbiased reader.
-> Read regularly, or at least attempt to expand your scope of reading.
-> MOST IMPORTANTLY, identify the general idea and tone of the passage. CIRCLE strong adjectives to help you identify the author’s stance. If none, you’re probably reading some science passage (which are really easy compared to historical fiction, etc.)
-> ONLY make ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON FACT. This cannot be stressed enough.</p>

<p>-DO NOT:
-> Pull info from prior experience. This is CR, not writing.
-> Skip around (it didn’t work well for me. Just sit yourself down, relax, and read).
-> Random “techniques” you heard that worked for John Smith (unless you’ve tried them and they really worked for you as well).</p>

<p>-IFs:
-> Read questions before passage (this has two outcomes: you read in a pointed manner or you freak out because you can’t find the answers).</p>

<p>If all hell should break lose, consult silverturtle’s guide. This I didn’t use much but a lot of people here swear by it.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/955109-silverturtles-guide-sat-admissions-success.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/955109-silverturtles-guide-sat-admissions-success.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;