SAT Reading Tips to Follow for the 2024 Exam

Do you find the SAT Reading test challenging? Here is an in-depth guide on SAT Reading tips to help you prepare better and improve your scores for this section. The Reading Test is an essential part of the SAT, which is a globally recognized undergraduate-level admission test conducted by the College Board. Let’s first have a brief look at the exam pattern.

SAT Sections- Duration, Number of Questions & Assessment

The SAT is divided into three sections – Reading, Writing/Language, and Mathematics. Before learning about tried-and-true SAT Reading comprehension tips, let's dive into the details of each section. 

SAT Reading Section: What Is It?

The SAT Reading section tests students' vocabulary, summarization, and analytical skills. It consists of five passages of 500–750 words. Four of these are independent passages and one is a paired passage. The passages usually draw inspiration from:

• The World Literature
• Works of economics, psychology, sociology, or related to social science
• U.S. founding document or a speech/ text ignited from it in the Great Global Conversation.
• Scientific works in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics. 

Understanding the test format question types will help you become acquainted with what to expect. This makes it easier to answer and makes the exam process less intimidating. Read on to learn more about what to expect in the SAT Reading section.

Questions on the SAT Reading Section 

The SAT Reading section questions are divided broadly into the following categories –

1. Evidence-based - These questions can be of different types. You can be asked to find evidence in the passage that supports the previous question’s answer, or you can be asked to highlight a part of the passage that supports the author’s given point of view.
2. Inference - These questions generally test your understanding of the passages. For such questions, you may not find answers directly in the passage and will have to make logical interpretations based on the information provided in a passage or sentence. 
3. Theme-based - These questions are related to determining the passage’s main idea or central theme.
4. Function- You will be asked to interpret the meaning/ purpose of the given statement in the context of the passage.
5. Summarization- You will be required to choose the correct summary of the given passage or a part of it.
6. Vocabulary in Context - You have to explain the word’s meaning in the context of how it has been used in the passage. It is more about relevancy than the difficulty of the word.
7. Author’s Techniques - These questions test your understanding of the author’s tone, mood, and writing style.
8. Understanding Connections - You will be asked to draw relationships/ links between two ideas or information in the passage and how they are related.

Tips to Ace the SAT Reading Section 

Contrary to what many students believe, scoring well in an SAT Reading test is easy if prepared correctly. Below are some helpful SAT Reading section tips to aid aspirants in performing well. 

Read Rigorously

The foremost tip to perform well in the SAT Reading section is to read as much as possible on different topics. Try to read more books/newspapers/periodicals/texts on general literature, social science, and scientific passages, as it will help to develop an understanding of the passages you can expect in the examination.

Develop a Passage Reading Strategy Beforehand 

The first step in correctly answering the questions is to not skim over the passage; instead, read it cautiously. It is one of the most crucial SAT Reading tips to help you develop a habit of fast and vigilant passage reading. Simply skimming can make one miss out on important pointers. You must dedicate at least five to six minutes to reading each passage.

Understand the Tricks of the Game 

SAT questions are designed in a complex way to test your analytical and problem–solving skills. 

Questions like "the writer would most likely agree with which of the following statements" give the impression that there can be more than one correct answer, even if there is only one. In such a case, every option may look as good as the other; you must use your intelligence to find the right option while working with such questions. The more you tend to practice, the more you will become familiar with these tactics. 

Make Personal Selections 

There are no restrictions on which questions you must answer first. If a question is too challenging to answer, you can skip it. You can prioritize the easy ones and move on to the trickier ones. It is not mandatory to answer all questions – what is important is to answer correctly. 

Avoid Making Inferences

You should read and analyze the passage from the author’s point of view and not form your own interpretations.

Self-Belief is Important 

If you are self-motivated and confident in your preparation strategies, you can clear the exam with flying colors.

Conclusion 

Students with good SAT scores get a competitive edge for scholarships compared to those without SAT credentials. Proper preparation and familiarity with the exam pattern can help students score well. Students are encouraged to keep the SAT Reading comprehension tips in mind and work hard to scale their scores. Remember, the mantra is that practice is the key to unlocking success.