SAT Tips: Critical Reading Section

Critical Reading Section --- Sentence Completion:

* Before looking at the answers, try to complete the sentence with words that make sense to you.

* Don't rush your selection. Consider all the answers to make the best choice.

* Use the context of nearby words to figure out unknown words.

* Don't overlook the reversing effect of negative words (like not) or prefixes (like un-).

* If you're really stuck for the meaning of a word, try to think of other words that have similar prefixes, roots, or suffixes.

* Eliminate choices in double-blank questions if the first word alone doesn't make sense in the sentence.

* Let transition words (like although and likewise) help suggest the best answer.

Critical Reading Section --- Reading Comprehension (Short And Long):

* Read the passages before reading the questions.

* Read the italicized introductory text. First and last sentences of each paragraph are critical.

* You should base your answers to the questions solely on what is stated or implied in the passages.

* Don't waste time memorizing details.

* Spend more time on answering the questions than on reading the text.

* Find the right spot in a passage by using any line reference numbers that appear in the questions.

* Answer questions on familiar topics before unfamiliar topics.

* Some passages are presented in pairs. Read the brief introduction first to see how they relate.

For more tips, refer to the Critical Reading Workbook for the SAT. This workbook presents tips, questions, answers, and answer explanations for sentence completion questions and reading comprehension questions as well as extensive vocabulary review.