Passing any standardized test requires both knowledge and skill and not only of the subject matter. You need to know how the SAT is designed and have the reading, vocabulary and grammar skills to pass this section of the SAT successfully. Standardized tests can and should be approached like a high stakes game or problem. You have to approach both strategically. The good thing about the SAT is that it is standardized. The bad thing about the SAT is that it is standardized. Getting a SAT tutor who knows how to help you achieve the scores you want is crucial in planning your SAT test taking strategy.
SAT Reading Comprehension/Grammar & Writing
Some students think that the reading section is more subjective than the math section and as a result it's harder to pin down the right answers. But, the verbal section of the SAT has a structure and a method all its own. These sections on the SAT require you to have a strong command of the English language and its vocabulary. Having a SAT tutor who can give you strategies and tips on the sentence completions and reading comprehension questions is vital. An effective SAT prep tutor will be able to help you increase your scores on practice tests so you can gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to pass the test. They should assess your progress often, while at the same time continue to add to your SAT toolbox of strategies. There are several ways to raise your SAT verbal scores, but try to use the ones that work best for you.
Read, Read, and Read Some More!
Okay, it's true that we're in the age of rapidly growing technology, but take a break from multimedia sources of information and get back to good old reading. Hey, you can read on your tablet, phone, computer, whatever! Just read and do it often. This alone can help you get better scores on the SAT. Much of the vocabulary on the SAT isn't used in conversational English, but it can be found in classic and some contemporary literature. So pick up a book already!
Improve Your Logic
Like puzzles and problem solving games? Good, many of the sentence completions on the SAT require you to think in logical ways. This is in addition to having a stellar vocabulary. You often have to know whether a word is positive or negative in relation to another word or phrase in the question. While this is a relatively simple process, simple often becomes complex under time constraints. Practicing these skills for fun and on your own time can cut down on the time it takes you to figure things out on the actual test.
Insert Your Own Word
This perhaps is the top of the line tip of SAT sentence completion tips. Before you look at any of the answer choices, plug in a word that you think would fit in the blank. If you can't think of a specific word, use a phrase and jot it down in the margin. Once you've done that, then scan the answer choices to see what word would fit. If all the words in the answer choice look like hieroglyphs, don't worry. Look at the word or phrase you wrote down and see whether it's positive or negative. Eliminate any words that you do know that don't fit with your written down word and then use prefix or suffix knowledge to narrow down your choices even more.
Memorize Common Prefixes and Suffixes
This could save you from SAT score disaster, especially if you didn't follow the instructions above. Just knowing common prefixes and suffixes can help you figure out the meaning of words on the SAT. Combined with context clues, prefix and suffix knowledge is very helpful on the SAT. Remember, these are words even your English teacher won't know without a dictionary, and it's okay. Once you've passed the test, you probably won't ever see them again except on Jeopardy.
SAT Writing
To get a good score on the essay portion of the SAT, it's important to spend the first two minutes planning your thesis statement. It doesn't have to be outlined because you don't have the time, but you do need at least a skeleton of an essay or you could run off course or end up with one big paragraph, or worse yet, fail to cover one of the points that you needed to make. The best thesis for these types of essays is a three part thesis. For example, if you think that Michael Jordan was the best basketball player of all time, a three part thesis for this would be as follows: Michael Jordan was the best basketball player in history because of his jump shot, his stats and his work ethic. Just make sure you answer the question with a strong opinion and state three reasons for your position and the rest of the essay will be a breeze. Whatever you do, don't just jump into writing your essay without taking a minute or two to do this. Planning a good three part essay doesn't take long, helps you save time and gives your essay structure.
These are just a few ways to increase your SAT reading and writing scores, but don't just stop here. Make sure you find a great SAT tutor that can help you get the scores you need to get into the school of your choice. For more information, or to find an online SAT tutor, contact Simply Tutoring today.
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