SAT Reading is the hardest section for many students. With the right strategies and consistent practice, you can improve your score by 100+ points. Here's how.
Understanding SAT Reading
Format
- 5 passages: 1 literature, 2 history/social studies, 2 science
- 52 questions, 65 minutes
- 13 minutes per passage (including questions)
Passage Types
1.
Literary Fiction: Excerpt from novel or short story
2.
U.S. Founding Document or Great Global Conversation: Historical text
3.
Social Science: Psychology, sociology, economics
4.
Science: Biology, chemistry, physics, Earth science
5.
Paired Passages: Two related texts on same topic
Question Types
1.
Vocabulary in Context (10-15%): Word meaning in passage
2.
Command of Evidence (20%): Find support for answer
3.
Main Idea/Purpose (15-20%): Author's central claim
4.
Detail Questions (25-30%): Specific information
5.
Inference (20-25%): Logical conclusions
6.
Function (10-15%): Why author included something
Why Students Struggle
Common Problems
1.
Time pressure: Not enough time to read carefully and answer
2.
Vocabulary: Difficult words in passages
3.
Dense content: Unfamiliar topics (18th-century political philosophy, cell biology)
4.
Answer choice tricks: All choices seem plausible
5.
Retention: Forgetting what you read
Root Causes
- Passive reading (not engaging with text)
- Lack of strategy (random guessing)
- Not using evidence (going with "feels right")
- Poor time management
Active Reading Strategy
Before Reading
1.
Skim the passage (30 seconds)
- Read intro and conclusion
- Note topic and structure
- Identify author's purpose
2. Preview questions (30 seconds)
- Don't read answer choices
- Note line references
- Identify question types
While Reading
Annotate actively:
- Underline main claims
- Circle transitions (however, therefore, but)
- Note shifts in tone or perspective
- Mark unfamiliar words
Create mental roadmap:
- What's the topic?
- What's the author's claim?
- How is the argument structured?
- What evidence is provided?
Time Per Passage
- Read: 4-5 minutes
- Answer questions: 8-9 minutes
- Total: 12-14 minutes
Answering Strategies
1. Find Direct Evidence
For every answer:
- Can you point to a specific line?
- Does the passage explicitly support it?
- Avoid assumptions
Command of Evidence questions are gifts:
- They tell you the answer must be proven
- Eliminate choices without clear support
2. Eliminate Wrong Answer Types
Common wrong answers:
- Too extreme: Always, never, must, only
- Out of scope: Not mentioned in passage
- Opposite: Contradicts passage
- Right words, wrong meaning: Uses passage vocabulary incorrectly
3. Vocabulary in Context
Strategy:
- Cover the word, predict a synonym
- Check each answer choice by substituting
- Reread sentence with your choice
Don't use:
- Dictionary definition (context matters!)
- First meaning you think of
4. Paired Passages
Efficient approach:
- Read Passage 1, answer its questions
- Read Passage 2, answer its questions
- Answer comparison questions
Comparison question types:
- How would Author 2 respond to Author 1?
- What do both passages agree on?
- How do perspectives differ?
Passage-Specific Strategies
Literary Fiction
Challenges: Metaphorical language, character psychology
Focus: Character emotions, relationships, changes
Ask: What motivates characters? How do they change?
Historical Documents
Challenges: Old language, complex arguments
Focus: Author's main argument and evidence
Ask: What problem is addressed? What solution is proposed?
Social Science
Challenges: Abstract concepts, studies and data
Focus: Researcher's hypothesis, methods, findings
Ask: What did they study? What did they find?
Natural Science
Challenges: Technical vocabulary, processes
Focus: Phenomenon, explanation, evidence
Ask: What is being explained? How does it work?
Practice Plan
Week 1-2: Passage Analysis
- Read 1 passage daily (untimed)
- Annotate thoroughly
- Answer questions (untimed)
- Review every answer
Goal: Develop active reading habits
Week 3-4: Timing Practice
- Time per passage: 13 minutes
- Practice all passage types
- Review mistakes immediately
Goal: Build speed while maintaining accuracy
Week 5-8: Weak Area Focus
- Identify your hardest passage type
- Practice that type 3x per week
- Learn domain-specific vocabulary
Goal: Eliminate weak spots
Week 9-12: Full Sections
- Complete Reading sections (65 min)
- Simulate test conditions
- Review thoroughly
Goal: Build stamina and consistency
Common Mistakes
1. Not Reading Actively
Solution: Annotate every passage, make predictions
2. Rushing
Solution: It's okay to skip 1-2 hard questions if needed
3. Outside Knowledge
Solution: Answer only from passage, ignore what you "know"
4. Not Checking Evidence
Solution: For every answer, find the line that proves it
5. Giving Up on Hard Passages
Solution: Use process of elimination even when unsure
Vocabulary Building
Focus: Academic words common in SAT passages
- Read challenging texts (New Yorker, Scientific American, The Atlantic)
- Keep vocabulary journal
- Learn roots, prefixes, suffixes
- Use words in context
High-frequency SAT words:
- Aesthetic, ambiguous, analytical, arbitrary
- Benign, candid, comprehensive, conspicuous
- Deliberate, eloquent, empirical, enhance
- Fundamental, hypothesis, implicit, inevitable
Score Improvement Timeline
| Starting Score | Improvement Goal | Time Needed |
|----------------|------------------|-------------|
| 250-300 | +100 points | 2-3 months |
| 300-350 | +100 points | 3-4 months |
| 350-400 | +50 points | 4-6 months |
Reality: Reading improvement is slower than Math, but more impactful long-term.
Final Tips
Test Day:
- Start with your strongest passage type if possible
- Don't fixate on one hard question
- Manage energy (reading is mentally exhausting)
Long-Term:
- Read for pleasure (builds vocabulary and stamina)
- Read diverse topics (science, history, literature)
- Read challenging material regularly
Improving SAT Reading requires patience and consistent practice, but the skills you develop—critical reading, evidence-based reasoning—benefit you far beyond the test.
