SAT critical reading = improvement issues?

Question

I am able to make an easy 800 in the math SAT, and writing isn't really a problem, as I can make a 600+ solid. Right now, I keep making 530s and 520s in Reading. I've begun looking up vocabulary words that I've seen in the newspapers the last 2 or 3 months, and have a list of 200 SAT words that I didn't know when I did the tests that I am more than halfway through memorizing with a sentence. I also got a book called No Fear Vocabulary, with a story, then tests and quizzes about the vocabulary, but I haven't started it yet. http://www.amazon.com/No-Fear-Vocabulary/dp/1411401360/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6267110-4671248?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183230566&sr=8-1

Is there anything else I should do? Should I keep doing what I'm doing any put 6 or so words into my mind every day? I'm extremely worried, because unlike math, which is such an easy subject, including in school, my reading comprehension skill is far away in score from my math score.

Answer 1

It's nice that you're improving your vocabulary. But anyways, aside from doing that, you should probably do lots of reading. Like before bed or something. By doing so, you'll again.. become familiar with more vocabulary and get accustomed to reading and grasping the ideas of what it states. When you're taking the test, don't spend lots of time reading the passages. You should just skim over the passages quickly and you'll probably get the general idea. Just take lots of practice tests as well.

Answer 2

i had the same problem as you taking the SAT this year. I was stuck barely getting a 600, and wanted to get it to the 700's. So i made up my mind that i would commit myself to doing better. So like you, i tried to improve my vocabulary, which helped a lot. I also got the book 11 SAT's from the Princeton review. I did most of the tests, completely ignoring the math sections, doing like 1 writing section from every test, and almost all of the reading. It helped a lot and i brought my score up over 100 points. Just try to stay relaxed and don't stress out about it, but at the same time a little prep every day goes a long way.

also, try taking the ACT as well. It has an additional science reasoning section, but the reading i found to be easier. There is no vocab and the comprehension is more straight forward (like what is the father's name rather than what attitude does the author have towards the subject)

good luck

Answer 3

Oh, gosh, I am appalled at all of the offensive answers on this website. In order to calculate your scores, you add up the three numbers, which is the score out of 2400. Some schools ask for only critical reading and math, so you add up those two scores and put them out of 1600. The SAT website should have your total score above your sub-divided scores. Don't worry about what the other people are answering, my original SAT score was a 1000 flat and I ended up getting a 1770 just a year later. =]

Answer 4

When I first took the SAT, my score was low in the mid 1700s but then I got the sat guide from guideparadise: http://www.guideparadise.com/index.php?option=com_guides&task=buy&id=10 and my score went up to 2190 (800 math, 760 writing, 630 reading). I highly recommend this guide for anyone wishing to get a higher SAT score.

Answer 5

your scores seem fine. im the same way in that i do very well in math and bad in crit reading. ive taken the sats twice. the first time, im not sure what my score was, but it was very low only in the 49th percentile. the second time i took them, after i did not do any studying or taking classes, i got a 600 and 80th percentile. don't worry about the test. if you are able to increase your scores ill be surprised. your scores are very good!

Answer 6

Read and read; i am a sophomore going into junior year, and when i took the psat as a sophomore i got a 47 on critical reading. Since then, i've been reading alot, like Dickens, and other hard books. Reading has helped tremendously as i have recently took the critical reading and received a 73 on it.

Answer 7

To improve your critical reading ability you need to read books on the same topic, for example "What caused the 1929 Stock Market Crash" by different authors with different viewpoints.