The Reading Test

2. The Reading Test • 35 minutes + 40 questions • 4 passages with 10 questions each • Questions are neither chronological, nor do they go from easy to hard. • The test is DESIGNED to make you run out of time. • Don’t let time run out with easy questions left unanswered. • Answer all easy/medium questions, then move on to the next passage. • Save the hard ones for the end. • Fill in SOMETHING in the end: there is no penalty for guessing.

3. WRITE ON THE TEST • First, read the questions (quickly) • Circle any line or paragraph references • Underline any “key words” – specific words you know will show up in the passage; these are words you should be on the lookout for • As you read the passage… • Circle the line numbers/paragraphs that match the ones you circled in the questions • Underline the key words you circled before in the questions when they appear in the reading

4. After you have read and marked up the passage… • Answer the easy questions first – all the ones you know the answer to right away. • Then do all the ones with a line/paragraph reference (you’ll be able to quickly find the answers). • Last, try to use “process of elimination” on the harder questions. • Cross out all the wrong answers until you have only one left • If you can’t narrow it down to one, leave it unanswered for now, but put a HUGE star by it so you return to it in the last few minutes of the test

5. Overall, what am I doing? • One passage at a time, read the questions first and mark them up, then answer the questions from easiest to hardest, and move on to the next passage when you have answered as many as possible for the one you are on. • When you have gotten through all four passages, then go back to the questions you skipped. • Hopefully, you already crossed out some wrong answers. • DO NOT spend too much time on these questions. • Think it over quickly one last time, then fill in your gut-choice