740 likes | 1.04k Views
SAT Test Strategies. Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Essay. SAT Sentence Completion Strategies. Cover the answer choices. Uncover the choices and use the process of elimination to find the word most like your word.
E N D
SAT Test Strategies Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Essay
Uncover the choices and use the process of elimination to find the word most like your word
For sentences with two blanks, pick the blank that seems easier, write in a word, and use the process of elimination to find the word in the answer choices
If you can’t solve the problem with only one word, go back and repeat for the second word
Look for trigger words that keep the idea going in the same direction or reverse the direction:
Same Direction: And ; : Furthermore In addition/additionally So, thus Consequently
Reverse Direction: But However Although/though While/whereas On the other hand Despite/inspite
Look for time trigger words that begin in one time period and end in another—these trigger words help you understand complex sentences:
Once, initially, eventually, later, then, now, first, originally, among others
If it’s too hard to come up with a word to write in a blank, determine whether the word connotation is negative (-), positive (+) or neutral (0)
Then eliminate answer choices that don’t have the connotation you are looking for
Two-blank sentences are even easier with this method; sometimes you will see immediately that you need + + or - - or + -. It is very easy to eliminate choices that don’t work using this method
The dramatist was _____ over his inability to sell any of his plays, and his letters to his wife reflected his unhappiness
The italicized portion of the sentence can be re-used to fill in the black
Read the “blurb” carefully; it explains what the passage is about
Read the blurb, the first two sentences of the first paragraph, the first sentence of all other paragraphs, and the final sentence. Then begin answering questions
Paraphrase the question to make sure you understand what it is asking
One type of question is “search and destroy.” You MUST go into the passage to find the answer
In order to make sure you understand the context, read roughly five lines before and five lines after the specific lines the question directs you to
Although not every search and destroy question directs you to specific lines, the answers are in chronological order, so it is easy to figure out where in the passage to look
The other type of question is “general.” It asks you to make a judgment about the passage overall
Answer these questions last when you can use what you’ve learned answering the search and destroy questions
If you can’t answer a question quickly, skip it. You can come back to it later if you have time
For vocabulary in context questions, treat like sentence completions: come up with a word before looking at the answer choices
If it’s a vocabulary question, don’t fall into the trap of choosing the most obvious answer. Chances are, if it’s an easy word, it’s being used in a less obvious way
For dual passages, answer all questions for the first passage, then all questions for the second passage, and save the questions that deal with both passages for last
Eliminate answers that are extremes—they can be proven wrong with only one exception. For example, don’t choose such answers as the following:
Everyone loved Picasso. Avoid words like must, each, every, always, totally, all. Look for qualified answers instead, with words like may, can, sometimes, some
Be aware that questions with capitalized EXCEPT/LEAST/NOT questions are asking you to find the one answer choice that is not true
Review Characteristics of Effective Writing. If you understand these characteristics, you will be able to identify all of the errors in this section
Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection
Subject, verb, direct object (with action verb), subject complement (with linking verb), modifiers
In these cases, you need to have the confidence to answer “no error” if you can’t find an error that is related to one of the Characteristics of Effective Writing
Do not rely on whether something “just doesn’t sound right.” Develop the ability to identify which Characteristic of Effective Writing is involved with the error.
Review the scoring rubric. Scores of three and below represent unsuccessful essays
The first important step is to deconstruct the prompt: Make sure you understand what idea is being presented. Identify every task the prompt is asking you to complete
Develop a position regarding the issue or idea; in other words, write a thesis statement