<p>Are you good in math? Often mathematicians have these issue. Lots of “critical reading” questions are internally illogical. Math-oriented kids feel it, and thus they can’t come with a good answer.</p>
<p>What helps my daughter? Forget math. Switch off the logical part of your brain. Yes, the answer is not logical. Imagine the most typical teenager. What would be answer. Keep thinking about your friend and guess, or movie character, what a answer would work for HIM, not for you.</p>
<p>MY D. has excellent vocabulary. Reads a lot. Masters the section related to vocabulary - 100%. Yet it doesn’t help critical reading. </p>
<p>Try to be a bit more “typical” American. What would a typical American answer? This strategy helps, honestly. Don’t think too long … go with the first impression.</p>
<p>yeah… how’d you know californiaa? you must be physic. I score around 750s in math but mid 500s in english. My math, in my opinion, i fairly strong for my age (going to 10th grade in sept.).</p>
<p>“typical” american… I wouldn’t know how it would feel like to be a typical american since i’ve never lived on the country side or suburbs, i live in NYC, a really urban place. anyways, thats just to point out how i can’t imagine how to think of an american…</p>
<p>I finally found someone who has the same problem that I have, except my reading score is even lower :’( My highest was a 530, lowest was a 470, and I’m lucky if I get 510 or above… I memorized vocab, went to a prep class, and score didnt improve that much. But I really think it’s because I don’t read outside of school. Even if I do read, I read those teenager books instead of classic books. Even with a dictionary, I sometimes still have no idea how to answer the question. D:</p>
<p>I really do think that reading the New York Times is helpful. The only problem is that the New York Times is super hard, and I just can’t comprehend what it’s saying. Can my reading score still improve even if I mindlessly read (without understanding what the article is about) the New York Times?</p>
<p>I would have to disagree with you there. I think that the critical reading questions are all perfectly logical <em>in the context of the passage</em>. Thus, you must forget all outside knowledge you may have and find the answer to each question this is MOST supported by evidence in the passage. I consider myself a “math oriented kid” but I also have read thousands of books and it seems to me that the answers are just as logical as on the math portion.</p>
<p>Now, in regards to your question: I think that critical reading is hard because most people don’t read enough to become proficient at the skills they test you on. Personally, I spent every day in junior high tuning out of my classes and reading a book under the table. So, when I took the SAT for the CTY, my CR score was 150 points higher than my other scores.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think your best plan for attack is to simply read a lot considering the amount of time you have before the test. You have two years, so you could easily read 50-100 books in that time. I guarantee you if you commit to reading a book a week (no matter the subject — it doesn’t have to be a classic) your score will drastically increase. Also, to add credibility to my statements, I scored a 760CR and 760M in June this year.</p>
<p>Honestly no. You don’t need to be a lifelong reader to do well on CR. It takes practice lots. you have 20+ official practice tests at your grasp, use them wisely. I used to suck at critical reading, Im still improving it but its in the low 700 range from the high 500 range. Reading is a nice way to improve, but I don’t recommend it unless ur running short on practice test and need something to practice on. If you are going to read. Read it like an SAT passage. Have a pen in your hand and UNDERLINE and WRITE important info or assumptions. you have to ACTIVELY read. If you do this for maybe an hour a day, the time you take the test, that active reading will be extensions of what you will do on the test. I strongly suggest you keep doing Tests and GO OVER YOUR MISTAKE AND UNDERSTAND IT. If you don’t understand it, understand it. Lol. Read the passage again, look at vocab, if you don’t understand it today, read it again tomorrow. What I’m saying it, if you want a good critical reading score work for it. People who have been reading from day 1 find it easy, but this is a STANDARDIZED TEST.</p>
<p>Meaning… that answer choices are going to “smell” the same. once you take enough practice tests you get good at it. But first, find a method that works for you. then take tests.</p>
<p>My main point is: everybody here is saying that CR is something that has been developed. I agree and disagree. I disagree because the SATs are standardized tests (they can’t change **** or else the 2400 last year wont be the same this year), more practice better score.</p>
<p>My advice: PRACTICE, and GO OVER. Read actively to get comfortable with constant underlining and questioning. Sometimes when I read something, I like to ask myself a question the SAT writers might ask like what does this serve to do, or the quotes " " are provided to blank. this section is conquerable, you don’t need to be a bookworm. I consider myself more of a math guy and I hate reading, but im now in 700 range and still going up, due to practice.</p>
<p>Oh. and if you are going to practice, ONLY USE COLLEGEBOARD. its the real deal, if you use Princeton review, you wont develop the keen eye for the right answer when it comes to the real sat.</p>