If you’re applying for colleges in the US, chances are you have to take the SAT or another standardised test like the ACT. Each test attracts over 1.5 million candidates a year to try their luck batting for the Ivy League.

Here are some of our best SAT Reading comprehension tips for acing the SAT Reading section.

Try to decide on a good strategy for reading passages before the SAT Reading test day. This will save you from wasting time and from the burden of choice.

The strategy you select depends on your strengths. Here are a few SAT Reading strategies for you to consider:

Stronger students will score top marks in the SAT Reading test by speed reading. Speed reading is a form of reading which emphasizes both speed and comprehension.

You get a sense of the main ideas of the SAT Reading passage without wasting too much time reading it closely. To skim, read the introduction, conclusion, and the first and last sentences of each body paragraph. This is the recommended technique our expert SAT tutors recommend for most students.

This method essentially involves skipping the passage altogether. Since the SAT Reading test provides line numbers, reading the passage in full may not be necessary. 

While revising for the SAT Reading test, you must take time to understand each mistake you make on practice questions, why you made it, and how you will avoid it in the future.

Mistakes in the SAT usually fall into one of four categories:

• Content weakness

• Time pressure

• An issue with question comprehension

• Careless errors

Once you finish taking a practice SAT Reading test, catalog all your mistakes by category and see if you can find any patterns. Thoroughly reflect on every mistake and come up with alternative questions and answers along the same lines. This is a surefire way to see a dramatic improvement in your SAT Reading score. 

Look for words that show a positive or negative connotation in the part of the passage that the question references. This can help you eliminate answers in the tougher questions of the SAT Reading section.

Likewise, don’t forget the context. Don’t just look at the exact line referenced in the question; the surrounding lines are just as important. 

Need more SAT Reading support?

We hope you found these SAT Reading tips helpful. If you wish to succeed in SAT Reading, no tip is as valuable as enrolling in private SAT Reading tuition.

At BartyED, we offer both in-person and online customised SAT support programs designed to help learners score highly and gain admission to top US universities. 

What does a BartyED SAT Reading tutoring program look like?

Our SAT Reading tutoring program is customized to the individual learner based on the strengths and weaknesses flagged in the initial assessment session.

Our SAT tutors are highly experienced in drilling exam technique, reading comprehension, grammar rules, and basic writing competency. After enrolling in our SAT Reading classes, students have noted impressive, lasting gains in their overall results. 

BartyED tutors plan revision exercises for students to complete independently every day. This is done alongside a comprehensive instruction of the conventions of proper English, such as verb conjugation, semicolons, and parallel structures.

Contact a BartyED expert SAT tutor today, at 2882 1017 or email us at enquiries@bartyed.com. 

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