1. SAT Strategies
Reading Test

2. 7 main types of Reading questions on the SAT—often in this order
1) Plot Summary or Main Idea
Asks about what happens in the passage or the main idea of the passage or a particular paragraph.

3. 2) Detail
Asks about what is stated in the passage.
The answer can be found on a particular line.

4. 3) Organization/Approach
Asks how the passage is organized—moving from what to what.
Asks what “developmental pattern” was taken by the narrator—essentially what his/her approach was.

5. 3) Organization/Approach (continued)
Asks how the passage is organized—moving from what to what.
Asks what “developmental pattern” was taken by the narrator—essentially what his/her approach was.

6. 4) Vocabulary-in-context
Asks about the meaning of words as used in this particular context.
Provides line number where expression occurs.
Look for clues in the sentences before and after the sentence containing the word, too.

7. 5) Function (part 1)
Why a word, sentence, or example is used.

8. 5) Function (continued)
Why a word, sentence, or example is used.
What effect a particular word, sentence, or example has upon the reader. May ask what tone or mood is created.

9. 6) Interpretation
Requires the reader to read between the lines to draw a conclusion that is not explicitly stated.

10. 7) Evidence
Asks where evidence for a detail or interpretation question can be found in the passage.
Always two evidence questions per passage.
Provides check for accuracy of previous detail or interpretive question.

11. 8 strategies to make the test more “user-friendly.”
Start with your strongest skill.
You may start with any passage you like from the Reading test, so start with the passage from the discipline you feel most comfortable with.
FIVE passages taken from
1 from Literature: classic & contemporary
1 from History & Social Studies: anthropology, economics, education, geography, law, linguistics, political science, psychology, & sociology
1 from Founding Documents or Great Global Conversation: historically-significant foundational texts & others dealing with issues central to civic & political life
2 from Science: basic concepts & recent developments in natural sciences, biology, chemistry, & physics

12. 8 strategies to make the test more “user-friendly.”
Mark Reading Test answers right in the booklet.
When you are done with each passage, transfer your answers onto the Scantron sheet.
If time starts running short, bubble answers straight onto the Scantron sheet.

13. Skim the questions for ones with line number references and bracket those lines, adding a note to help focus your reading. #9
Why?

14. Circle vocabulary-in-context words in the passage
Circle vocabulary-in-context words in the passage. As you read, write a substitute expression nearby. Consider underlining your contextual clues.
When you re-visit the question, mark the answer that means the same thing as the expression you wrote in the passage.
without a go-between

15. For evidence questions, avoid the doing the flip-find-reflect process 4 times. It’s confusing—as you discovered!
Instead, bracket the lines in the passage and mark the question number and answer letter next to it.
This will enable you to reflect on all 4 evidence answers in one sweep. 5A
10A
10B 5B

16. 10C 5C 5D
10D

17. After pre-marking the passage, read the entire passage before answering any questions.
As you saw in the pretest, the first question of the Reading section usually requires you to have understood the entire passage to answer it.

18. After you have read the passage, try answering questions in your own words (mentally) wherever possible before looking at your answer options.
Then look for an answer option that says the same thing. This way, you won’t have to waste time considering all 4 answers.
A guy asks a woman to marry her daughter, which totally catches the woman off guard.

19. Use process of elimination and never leave a bubble unbubbled!
There is no penalty for incorrect answers on the SAT or ACT, so try using process of elimination to narrow down your options on difficult questions.
If process of elimination still leaves you stumped, consider circling the question number and coming back to it after you have finished the other questions for that passage.
Still stumped after answering other questions for that passage? Bubble one of your possible answers and move on!