Types of Questions:

1. Sentence Completion

2. Short Passage Problems

3. Long Passage Problems

Passages for the last two problem types will be from genres such as social science, natural science, humanities, and narrative (both fiction and non-fiction).

In all CR problems, you are searching for the best possible answer, not the right answer. Additionally your answer should always be supported by the passage. You are directed in this section to only draw results directly from the information in the passage.

---

Passage Problem Strategies:

1. Look at the Questions Before the Passage: Look at all the questions for the passage before you read. Then skim the passage only for the information you need to answer the questions.
2. Summarize: It’s easy to get caught up in the details of a passage, because during our everyday reading, we take our time and soak in complete sentences in the order that they appear. To prepare for the SAT reading section, practice summarizing the passage quickly. While you are reading passages ask yourself the Who/What/Why of the passage. What is the audience? Why is the author writing this? What are the characters’ motivations?
3. Speed Reading: There are a few different methods for speed reading, this is one of the easier ones to master. Similar to the Keep Your Pencil Moving strategy for the math strategy, this strategy employs a pointer. Using either your pencil or pointer finger, underline the words as you read. Keep your finger a little bit off the page, not actually touching it, and moving at a consistent pace. This keeps your mind and eyes focused and allows you to take in more words at a time because you pick up words on either side of the pointer.

Strategies for Sentence Completion Problems:

1. Look for Game Changers: But, Therefore, And, While, However, Although, If, etc.
2. Answer in Your Own Words: The SAT answer choices can include some unfamiliar vocabulary. Before you get caught up in trying to decipher those words, fill in the blanks with your own words. Then try to find synonyms in the answer choices.

 

---

 

How to Study For the Critical Reading Section:

Read, Read, Read!

Ask questions while you are reading. Stop every few paragraphs or every paragraph and ask yourself:

• What is the author’s opinion?
• What is the main idea of this section?
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the author’s thesis statement?
• What is the style or tone of this passage?
• What information is implied or can be inferred from this passage?
• What are possible applications of the author’s ideas/opinions?
• What is the meaning of the least familiar word in this passage?

---

Practice Problems from Boot Camp:

1.

2.

3.