SAT Reading Strategies

1. Know what to expect.

You’ll have 65 minutes to read five passages (taken from literature, history, social studies, and the natural sciences) and answer a total of 52 questions. The questions will ask you to do everything from determining the meaning of words in context, deciding why an author included a certain detail, finding the main idea of a whole passage, comparing two passages, or even pinpointing information on a graph.

2. Choose your own order.

Reading questions are not presented in order of difficulty, but they are in chronological order. Don’t be afraid to skip a hard question, and don’t worry if you can’t answer every question. Learn more about SAT strategies for working questions out of order. 

3. Read what you need.

You don’t have to waste time reading every single word of the passage and trying to become an expert on whatever the topic is. You have the passage right there in front of you. So, move back and forth between the passage and the questions, focusing only on what you need instead of getting mired down in all the little details.

4. Leave your opinions at the door.

Often, in an English class, you are asked to give your own opinion, supported by the text. Not so on the SAT. Be careful when you see a question that contains the word infer , imply , or suggest . The answer may not be directly stated in the text, but there will still be plenty of evidence there to support the correct answer.

5. Take dual passages one at a time.

One of your science or history/social studies passages will be a set of dual passages—two shorter texts about one topic.  Do questions about the first passage first, questions about the second passage second, and questions about both passages last. This will save time and keep you from confusing the two passages when you’re evaluating the answer choices.

6. Save main idea questions for last.

For many of the Reading passages, the very first question will ask a general question about the main idea or purpose of the passage, the narrative point of view, or a shift that occurs through the passage. Those general questions are not good to do first because you haven’t read the entire passage yet. Once you’ve done most of the other questions, you'll have a really good idea of the overall themes of the text.

SAT WORDS

Affiliated (V)

An organization, club, etc... that is a member of a larger group or organization or is closely connected with it.
S- John is affiliated with the Wildcat Word Newspaper at Bethel High School.

Ascertain (V)

To find something out.
S- She needs to ascertain five sources for her research paper.

Attainment (N)

Success in achieving something or reaching a particular level.
S- I have achieved attainment in high honors.

Converge (V)

To come from different directions and meet at the same point to become one thing.
S- We converge as a class to go over last nights homework.

Disperse (V)

To spread across or move away over a large area.
S- Before a natural disaster, people disperse to new locations for safety.

Esteem (N)

Respect for or a good opinion of someone.
S- My self esteem was boosted after receiving a 100% on my test.

Expunge (V)

To strike or blot out; erase; obliterate.
S- When I edit my research papers I expunge any grammatical mistakes I made.

Stifle (V)

To quell, crush, or end by force.
S- I stifled the competition by pushing the other player off their feet to win the race.

Invulnerable (ADJ)

incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
S- Wearing armor essentially makes soldiers invulnerable from attacks.

Malevolent (ADJ)

Wishing evil or harm to another or other; showing ill will; ill-diposed; malicious.
S- Many wish malevolent thoughts on the former partners.

Nonchalant (ADJ)

Coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual.
S- My friends were nonchalant upon hearing that I was moving to Florida.

Omniscient (ADJ)

Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.
S- Google already has large chunks of our lives stored away in its giant omniscient filing cabinet.

Plethora (N)

Overabundance; excess
S- My mom brought home a plethora of groceries after I told her to only pick up milk.

Pacify (V)

To smooth or ease, to bring or restore to a state of peace or tranquility; quiet; calm. (Think of a baby's pacifier).
S- Yoga pacifies my brain and allows me to relax.

Scrupulous (ADJ)

Cautious in action for fear of doing wrong.
S- The child was scrupulous when deciding whether or not to spray paint the train. (or Cheating on test)

Skulk (V)

To move about stealthily.
S- The spy skulked around the corner, in an attempt not to be noticed.

Supercilious (ADJ)

Haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or facial expression.
S- Although they have everything they still give me a supercilious face when I walk by.

Uncanny (ADJ)

Having or seeming to have a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary or normal; extraordinary.
S- Some people experience uncanny feelings when something bad is going to occur.

Venial (ADJ)

Capable of being forgiven.
S- The victim gave a venial pleading to the jury, hoping not to go to jail.

Vivacious (ADJ)

Lively, spirited, full of life.