The SAT critical reading section may eat up a lot of your precious time. A SAT test preparation program that offers you techniques and strategies to work quickly and efficiently through the Critical Reading section is important, and indispensable. Different SAT test preparation books share different views on tackling the Critical Reading section. As a SAT test taker, you must apply the techniques that truly work. SAT practice test should be used as a platform to use all these strategies and see which of them really work. There is no Holy Grail for the SAT. Therefore, SAT test preparation programs should be undertaken only under the guidance of an experienced tutor who can identify your weaknesses, see what works for you, and customize the test prep program for you. Here, we will see some questions that SAT test-takers always ask.

Which to read first: Passage or Questions

If there is an interesting passage, you should read it first before moving on to the questions that follow. On the other hand, if a certain passage is difficult to read and understand, or is not that interesting, you should read the questions quickly and then attempt the passage. It is good to try both the methods in SAT practice tests, and see which of the two helps you save more time, and is more productive. If you are short of time, it is a good idea to skim the passage quickly, check the questions, and refer back to the passage.

Should I skip a question?

If a particular question is taking you more than two minutes, do not hesitate to leave that and move further. Your only aim should be to answer questions correctly, and not to answer each question on the SAT.

Which passage to attempt first?

It is not necessary that a short passage would be simpler than a lengthy passage. If there is a passage whose subject interests you, do it first. The opening and closing lines of a paragraph might contain clue to the tone or main point of the passage. Therefore, make it a point to read these lines before attempting the questions. Another major mistake that students make is answering questions on the basis of their previous knowledge, or their own judgment. Do not put in your own feelings or thoughts while answering a question- the answer to every single question is given in the passage. Your work is to find it from within the passage, and not to make your own assumptions.

Underlining important parts of the passage can help you locate the answer without having to re-read the whole passage. You are not asked to choose the right answer- you are supposed to mark the best answer. Understand this properly. The SAT provides more than one answer choice to confuse the student. There might be an answer that’s true, but not probably the best.

Do not spend a lot of time trying to understand a passage. Your job is to read the passage at a decent pace, attempt the questions, answer the ones that are relatively simple, and skip the ones that are designed to waste time. SAT test preparation ceases to be a complicated process if undertaken in a proper way. Learn to apply the strategies when you solve SAT practice tests. Online learning or online SAT assistance can help you prepare for the SAT. You can refer to my article “SAT Test Preparation - Learning Center Vs Online Assistance” to learn more about the benefits of online test preparation.