SAT Critical Reading: Mark Line Numbers & Circle Key Words
February 15, 2009 by Adam
Filed under All Posts, Critical Reading, Passage Reading, SAT Strategies
Before reading a passage, mark question line numbers and circle key words.
Quickly scan the passage reading questions for line numbers (shown in parentheses) and mark these numbers with a check or bracket in the margin next to the appropriate line(s) in passage. Line number questions also often ask about “key words” (shown in quotes in the question). If you see a “key word” in quotes in a line number question, circle that same word in the passage.
Some SAT prep folks tell you to read the the passage reading questions before reading the actual passage. In my experience, this is NOT a good strategy, because you simply don’t have time to read all of the questions, then the passage, then the questions again, and still expect to finish the Critical Reading section within the 20-25 minutes allowed.
What you can do, however, is quickly scan the questions for line numbers and then mark the corresponding line numbers in the margin next to the passage. For a long passage, this process only takes about 20-30 seconds, yet this strategy is extremely valuable because it shows you exactly where in the passage you need to focus your greatest attention.
Line number questions can total up to 3/4 of the questions for any given long passage, so when you mark line numbers, you are also targeting the specific information you need to answer the bulk of SAT Passage Reading questions.
Adapted from my SAT training guide: SAT Unlocked.
cansb help me? i need an online course for sat 1. i am taking the test on May nd…which is the best?
Thank you for the post!
Indeed, if a student is trying to read questions and answers before the passage, getting through the critical reading section on time becomes a real challenge.
One of the techniques we teach our students that helps them to get better scores is shifting the speed with which they are reading depending on where they are in the passage. Generally, first and last sentences of paragraph contain most of the value for the test-taker, so we suggest they slow down for those. Everything else can be read at a much faster pace.
Speed reading as a skill also helps tremendously and if time allows, every student should take a speed reading course, whether a live one or online.
One such course can be found here:
http://www.irisreading.com/sat-speed-reading/
To get $49 OFF of this course, please enter the code “swift” at checkout.
Hope this helps!