Overall Strategies

Overall Strategies

1. SAT Critical Reading

   • Types of Questions
     • Analogies
       • Go back to the passage and reread the exact line
         • Rephrase the scenario presented into your own words
           • Sum up the scenario in general terms and write it down
             • Check the answers one by one
     • Function
       • Why the author says something, not what they say
         • Answer is abstract and not directly stated in the passage
           • Right answer is often related to the main idea of the passage
           • Often the right answer does not even mention the topic of the passage
           • Can be helpful to play + or -
     • Vocabulary in Context
       • Context is key
       • Cross out the word they are asking about and put in your own words
         • If unsure, play + or -
           • Beware of secondary meanings!
     • Literal Comprehension
       • Same idea, different words
         • Beware of pronouns and compression nouns
         • Correct answer is a paraphrase of the words in the passage
     • Main Point
       • Topic + So What
         • Underline or write it down
           • In short passages, usually in first or last sentence
       • They Say/ I Say
     • Assumptions, Generalizations, and Claims
       • Supporting and Undermining Claims
         • Reread the lines in question
           • Sum up the claim in your own words
             • Determine what sort of information would be (in)consistent with the claim
               • Look at the answers
       • Answer rephrases from a slightly different perspective
         • Just read the lines in the question
           • Figure out the basic idea