What is SAT Verbal? How to Raise Your Reading Score?
At Testprepkart we dream, we design, we architect, and we build. We are on a journey of developing ideas, training minds, challenging thoughts, and stretching possibilities. Our pool of faculties consists of academicians with PhDs from renowned and abroad universities too and is armed with extensive education industry experience and detailed knowledge of SAT concepts and practices. Also, they are dedicated to helping and making learning the students for solving the New SAT Test questions in online classrooms. We are frequented by an impressive list of faculties and scholars from countries like the US, UK, etc. We also boast a course material that challenges students to crack the New SAT.
Let us first know about SAT Verbal in brief. The SAT Reading Section was known as the SAT Verbal. The SAT Verbal was considered the prime section of SAT Test as it was arranged in different ways:
Get Trial Session Download Course Brochure
|
Before 2005 |
SAT had only two sections: (i) Verbal, and (ii) Math. Each section had been scored in a range of 200-800, whereas the composite SAT score must be ranged from 400 to 1600. |
|
2005-2015 |
SAT had three sections from 2005 to 2015: (i) Critical Reading, (ii) Math, and (iii) Writing. In this time period, the analogy questions were done away with the SAT Test. |
|
New SAT 2016 |
SAT has back to its old ways and will include two sections: (i) Math and (ii) Evidence-based Reading and Writing, with composite scores ranging from 400 to 1600. Evidence-based Reading and Writing will merge the basics of the 2005-2015 Verbal/Critical Reading Section along with the basics of the Writing section. |
The SAT Verbal Ability part has Reading Comprehension passages with questions each. The passages are of moderate difficulty level. The Verbal Ability area is on the lengthier side owing to the Reading Comprehension passages.
SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing section:
The Evidence-Based SAT Reading and writing and math. A minimum SAT score will be 400, and a maximum will be 1600. It is the sum of two sections. Reading Writing & languages, and Math.
Reading Writing & languages has a minimum of 200 SAT scores and a maximum of 800 SAT scores. While the Math section also has a minimum 200 SAT score and a maximum of 800 SAT score.
The main goal of the reading test is to scale a student’s ability to understand words in context and find and analyze evidence. The ability to read the English language is essential for students.
The Evidence-Based SAT Reading and SAT Writing section has 96 questions and must be answered within 100 minutes.
SAT reading section is the first and longest test section in the SAT. Students must have to solve 52 questions in 65 minutes. There may have 5 passages and each passage would be followed by a series of multiple-choice questions.
There may have a few passages having a graph or a chart related to the content of the passage. The passages may be from earlier/past published works in the sector of world literature, history/social studies, and Science.
It covers passage-based reading questions instead of sentence-completion questions. The passage-based reading questions contain the 5 passages as follows:
- 1 passage is given for the US and World Literature subject
- 2 passages are given for History and Social Studies subject
- 2 passages are given for a Science subject
SAT Reading Practice
If you are wondering about how to get a perfect score on the SAT Reading section, then your first and most important tool is practice. Taking a practice test allows you to identify your weaknesses and your ability to how well you perform under pressure.
Taking practice test help you to identify what you know and what you don’t. Taking a Practice test before an exam will make your confidence strong in the actual exam. Practice tests engage you with the actual exam, it makes you familiar with the actual exam format as well as the questions that will be asked in an actual exam.
The more you work along with SAT practice tests, the more familiar you will be with how the exam is conducted as well as with the principles of SAT exams. If you have decided to commit to doing SAT practice tests in your extra time, that means you are doing yourself a huge favor.
Sample Questions:
Once you read the passages carefully, you need to answer the asked questions given for each passage. The types of questions can be grouped into 8 categories in which the first 6 categories are the same designed for the Old SAT Test, i.e., Critical Reading Section whereas Category 7 and Category 8 deal with skills needed for the New SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing section. The 8 categories can be summarized as shown below.
1. To identify the correct meaning of Vocabulary in a given perspective: The questions are given to identify a very suitable word given in the perspective of the passage. Sometimes, you will find that a given word can have multiple meanings, so you need to find the most nearly common meaning of the given word from the perspective of the passage.
Sample Question: In line 65, “woo” most nearly means:
A. To encourage
B. To goad
C. To discourage
D. To sway
2. Recognize the key point of the given passage: The questions prompt you the overall purpose of the given passage. Is the passage intended to inform, evaluate, gainsay, show, spoof, and visualize?
Sample Question: The main purpose of this passage is to:
A. Inform modern teaching and lesson plan
B. Evaluate student's progress
C. Show modern teaching methods
D. Visualize the modern teaching aids
3. To identify the purpose of the details given in the passage: The questions refer to a particular line and prompt you to write detail about the given line.
Sample Question: Which of the following describes in lines 34-35 are best characterized as:
A. It summarizes the optimistic and dependable attitude of the author.
B. It supports the purposeful and effective approach of the author.
C. It depicts the defensive and hostile thoughts of the author.
D. It contrasts the extraordinary and tenuous opinion of the author.
4. To conclude the meaning of a given Line, Paragraph, or even complete passage: The questions prompt you to infer the meaning of a given line, a given paragraph, or even a complete passage. The subjective explanation is even not required.
Sample Question: The author of the given passage would like to agree with which one of the following statements about the word “maudlin” is given in line 34.
A. Pursuing inquiries of coming guests
B. Foolishly and tearfully affectionate for his friend
C. A voice of high range raised to his friend
D. Looks in support to his friend
5. To state the function of a given phrase or specific sentence in the passage: The questions prompt you to spot the effect of a phrase in the given sentence or passage.
Sample Question: In line 3, the author refers to the word “fallacious argument” mainly to:
A. Illustrate the situation
B. Discuss the human reasoning
C. Express the logic
D. Argue unnecessarily
6. To recognize the author’s attitude, style, approach, the point of view: The questions (also called as Author Technique) prompt you to identify the author’s attitude, style, approach, the point of view:
Sample Question: The author discusses the “selfie stick” from the perspective of:
A. A stick used to discover knowledge
B. A monopod used to take photographs by positioning a Smartphone
C. An equipment used to record voice
D. An interpreter used to change the voice in machine code
7. To interpret data or to use scientific Reasoning skills: The questions prompt you to construe pictorial graphs or charts and to identify the fact they best support or least support.
8. To provide evidence support New Skill for 2016 SAT: The questions are given in two sets:
(i) The first prompts you with a question about the passage
(ii) The second prompts you to identify the exact position of the evidence in support to answer the first question.
Your first step in SAT Verbal practice should be to learn the SAT Test format and strategies and therefore not be surprised the day of the SAT Test. Learn and practice more about each type of passage-based Reading question and vocabulary too.
Best strategies to achieve a perfect SAT Reading score
Check the Reading Section Syllabus: – Before starting any activity related to SAT Reading Practice/Preparation check the syllabus and areas the question comes from.
Following are some major areas that SAT reading on:
Words in Context
Citing Textual Evidence
Literature Passage
Social
Science
Information and Ideas
Rhetoric
Synthesis
Take a full practice test: – Take a mini-practice test with the previous year’s questions and SAT Reading Practice test pdf. Take practice tests like the actual exams, taking tests at home is totally different from the actual test. So try to do everything like the actual test’s rule. You can download SAT Reading Practice test from here.
Review your weaknesses: – Once you finished your mini-test, review your answer and understand where you have committed the most mistakes. Figure out those mistakes and note down them.
Target your weaknesses: – Once you noted down your mistakes and weak areas, it’s time to target the weak areas where you are struggling the most.
There is only one way to improve your reading ability that is practice. But if you are still making too many wrong attempts on our mini-tests, consult with your teacher.
Where to get SAT Reading Practice Tests?
When you are preparing for SAT Reading, it’s important to use high-quality practice materials that belong to the actual test content. Because, if you practice with low-grade practice materials you will end up with low marks, no matter how much time you spend on your studies.
Using unofficial SAT Reading Practice Test materials will always give you an unwanted result than your expected results.
We have made a practice test under the College Board official’s guidelines for the SAT Practice test with the previous year’s questions.
Try out our high-quality SAT Reading Practice test to clear your doubt and get a perfect score from SAT Reading section.
Leave a Reply