Top tip to improve your SAT prep: Read Slower
Critical Reading Passages are typically one of the most hardest subjects in SAT prep. Students often find themselves reading passage after passage without seeing an improvement in their overall score.
This is often one of those cases where students' score won't change if they keep doing what their doing, but change is hard. We often find that students are reading the passages much too quickly. It's a sensible response to the time pressure of the SAT, but often a counter productive instinct. We find that students who slow down dramatically on the passages often find that they complete the section in the same amount of time, because they are able to process the questions much more quickly.
This is especially true of students who are able to narrow down the answers to two choices, but consistently pick the wrong one. The wrong choice is designed to attract readers going too fast. It usually answers the questions reasonably well, with the exception of one minor, but important detail within the passage.
We would recommend that students try slowing way down on their first reading of the passage. It's going to feel awkward at first. Really awkward. But we're confident that they'll move though the questions more quickly.
Don't be surprised if the students gets fewer right the first few times they try it, but with some practice it can be the difference many students need.
For people who have the opposite problem:
How to Read Faster and Smarter on the SAT
Photo Courtesy: Skippy Jon
