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Read Passages Efficiently in Reading & Science (ACT/SAT)

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Standardized Test Prep MS/HS/College Strategy

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Flexible Thinking Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Processing Speed

Read Passages Efficiently in Reading & Science (ACT/SAT)

You will need to use some trial-and-error to find the most efficient way for you to attack the Reading section. These strategies will help you determine what works best for you.

General Time Saving Reminders

  1. You do not need to read for deep meaning or understand everything you read. The goal is to understand enough to answer the questions.
  2. Focus on What You Need to Know. The questions might not pertain to the sentences or words you find confusing. Only spend time deciphering if you need to understand to answer the question. If a question pertains to the confusing part, re-read the preceding sentences to see if the context will help. If it is a vocabulary word, try substituting a word to see if it makes sense.

Prioritize The Order Of The Passages

  1. Have a pre-determined optimal order to read the passages to maximize your efficiency. If you have difficulty making decisions, particularly when you are stressed, going in with a clear plan of the order you will follow can be very beneficial.
  2. Some students prefer to read the shortest passage first, some the longest. Others prefer to work by type of passage. Think about how quickly it takes you to get started on certain passage types, and if you begin to slow down or your attention wavers over time.
  3. ACT Reading passages will always be in the following order: Prose Fiction, Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences. When deciding, keep in mind that the Fiction passage usually has the most words. The Humanities or Prose Fiction passage might be two shorter comparison passages.
  4. SAT Reading passages are not given in a pre-set order, but there will always be World Literature (1), Science (2), Social Studies (2). One of five will be two shorter comparison passages. The short blurb that precedes the passage provides basic context including the author, genre, overall topic and date to help you decide what it will be about and whether or not you want to read it. Read the blurb and make a quick decision to read or skip.

Skim Questions First

  1. Reading the questions ahead of the text helps some students cue in to the most important information while reading. This strategy can be particularly helpful for students with weaker reading or attention skills. It might not work for students with weaker working memory.
  2. Start with a quick preview of the questions. Remember your only goal is to answer the questions correctly, not to have a deep reading or understanding of the passage. Having an idea of what you will answer will help you focus while reading.
  3. Remind yourself that all of the answers MUST HAVE evidence in the passage. This is not what you think the author could be feeling, but what the author has provided you evidence that he is feeling. If you cannot prove an answer, it could be right, but likely it is not the best answer.
  4. If questions refer to a series of lines or a particular phrase, mark those specific lines in the text.
  5. Read the passage at a relatively fast pace. Over time you should have a plan for maximum reading time per passage. Generally you should look for the thesis in the last sentence of the introduction. Pay attention to opening sentences of paragraphs and the conclusion. If you are taking the SAT, read the preview sentence for the passage which can give you the main idea.

Prioritize The Order Of The Questions

  1. Do not feel obligated to answer the questions under the passage in the order they are given. The following prioritization works well for many students.
  2. Answer Specific Questions First. These questions often will include the line reference or a key word so it is easy to find the spot in the passage, a huge timesaver. These questions tend to be more straightforward.
  3. Answer Questions with Fewer Words First. Fewer words generally means the question is more straight-forward. Test makers usually try to trip you up with wordiness.
  4. Answer Main Idea and Theme Questions Last. These questions require more synthesis and understanding of the whole passage. If you answer all the detail questions first, you will have spent more time thinking about the passage and should have a better sense of the main idea.
  5. Many students have difficulty on comparison passages. Read the first passage and then answer the related questions. Read the second passage and answer those questions. Lastly, answer the questions that relate to both passages.

Sat-specific Information

  1. The short descriptive blurb that precedes the passage provides good background information to help you get started. It gives context about the passage's main idea, and what type of writing it is. Reading the blurb will help.
  2. The questions are usually in sequential order, except that the main idea question might be first. You should save the main idea question for last, after you have been more thoroughly considering the passage by answering other questions.
  3. The science passages tend to be relatively straight-forward but you will likely need to use the graph to answer. Circle the data point on the graph so you use the correct number to answer the question.
  4. The paired passage questions will always be related. Try to use the answers provided in the second question to help you narrow your answers for the first question. Draw lines between the related answers between two questions. You only will need to evaluate pairs of answers.