<p>I took the SAT on May 2nd and definitely not do as well as I would have liked.
Most of the schools that I'm applying to want 1900-2100 SATs - I didn't study and got a mere 1730 (630 M, 610 W, 490 CR).</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't think there is much hope for me in CR. I can improve and keep practicing with M and W, but I just don't know what to do about CR - and essentially, it seems as if it's going to keep me out of colleges that I want to go to.</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my CR score (or any of my three scores in general)? :(</p>
<p>Honestly, the best thing I can tell you is read a ton of books. I am not really all that intelligent, but I am a HUGE reader, and I scored a 750 on the critical reading of the May SATs. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would just read books that are interesting to you. I read a ton of chick lit and teen books, and even this helped me. Reading a lot helps you learn to read faster and kind of understand what’s going on.</p>
<p>In addition, read newspaper articles. I go on cnn.com a lot. This helps with vocab.</p>
<p>I know it sounds cliched, but it really does help. Of all my friends, the people who never pick up books did by far the worst.</p>
<p>Vocabulary is a big part. I got an 800 CR, but only by reading tons of vocabulary words. I actually just read through the “Hit Parade” of Princeton Review’s Cracking the SAT. It’s an amazing book.</p>
<p>Umm, vocabulary is in the reading section. Pretty blatantly at the front of each reading section, too. Y’know, the ones that ask you to complete a sentence.</p>
<p>Reading a lot of books might help, but it takes a long time for it to help you. I practiced my reading skills mainly by skimming over textbooks right before tests and getting the gist of every paragraph with a glance.</p>
<p>I found that what helped me was completely focused practice. Just take an hour or so everyday and do one or two practice sections - Princeton Review / the Collegeboard Blue Book are two great ones for this. A little everyday helps - and make sure to correct your wrong answers. :)</p>
<p>I feel your pain! :[ I cant seem to raise my CR score any higher too. Everyone says to read more, but I think that really is one of the best ways to improve. Im going to read like hell over the summer and see.</p>
<p>For writing , I just kept on doing the writing practice tests part, I would do 3 or 4 writing sections in one sitting, and then look over my mistakes and remember them.</p>
<p>Studying vocab isn’t going to drastically improve your score. Don’t waste ur time on it.
Studying vocab is only usefull for breaking that final threshold from high 600’s - low 700’s to a perfect 800.</p>
<p>Best thing you can do is read. Read good lit that takes analysis to understand the full meaning of, not just popular fiction, though that’ll help as well.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a problem understanding the passages, and your problem comes with answering the questions…all you can do is take practice tests.</p>
<p>I don’t really think CR passage based questions are as capable of being prepared for in a short period of time like the other areas of the SAT.
If you’ve always been striving to go to a great college, you should have been reading challenging material that interests you throughout your life.</p>
<p>Do you skim the passage or read the entire thing? I made a 50-70 point increase by changing from skimming to reading. It was amazing, when I calced my score I had to tell my mom, lol.</p>
<p>The BB definitely helps!</p>
<p>I also had 530 math and last night I did an entire math section and scored around 640.</p>
<p>i would say the best way to improve is to get a practice book and then read the different methods of solving problems and then become familiar with the types of problems. Also dont stress about it. I stressed out about reading my first time and got 600 then the next time I didnt worry about it and it went up to 720 with no additional prep. Good Luck!</p>
<p>During the test, I underline sentences that seem important as I’m going along. I find it really helps me with my focus.
Also, do practice problems and read the explanations–it helps you get in the mindset of the test writers.</p>
<p>MOST IMPORTANTLY, don’t over think! Whatever the answer is, it’ll be in the passage–or it’ll be something you can logically infer from the passage. My PSAT sophomore year I got a 69 but after I employed all 3 of these strategies, junior PSAT CR was an 80 and I just got an 800 CR on my SAT from May.</p>
<p>The best “method” used during the test varies from person to person. Find the one that works best for you but don’t use somebody else’s just because it worked for them.</p>
<p>Studying vocab helps to boost the last few points to a perfect score, but for an 800 I would focus on the comprehension questions. I agree that reading is the best way long term, but depending on when you plan on taking it next, doing practice tests and meticulously reviewing your correct and incorrect answers is the best way to improve your score short term. Learn what you have trouble with and try to spot the mistakes next time. Remember that each correct answer is stated directly in the passage, you just have to find it.</p>
<p>What you need to do is practice critical reading sections, learn simple grammar, and learn A LOT OF VOCAB. I did this and my CR score went from 49 on the psat to a 65 in 6 months.</p>
<p>Let’s face it: just reading won’t help for someone who wants a significant improvement.</p>
<p>My recommendation, along with other senior members who have given me this advice when I took SAT, is to read newspapers like The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. This is much better than just reading regular books because these journals have similar style of writing as in many critical reading passages.</p>
<p>Vocabulary is also important. If you are scoring 490 on CR, you need to learn some vocabulary. This will help in reading section as well. I recommend any, or more than one of following list from easy to difficult.</p>
<p>Princeton Review’s Hit Parade
Rocket Review List
Sparknotes’s 1000 Most Frequent List
Barron’s List (huge list if you are bored)</p>