SAT notes May 31,2014

• usually you can work out the answer to a vocabulary-in-context question just by reading the sentence in which it is included 
• but sometimes you may have to read the sentence before it 
• when a word has several meanings, a vocabulary-in-context question won't necessairily use the most common meaning 
• one word can have many meanings 
• questions asking for the meaning of a word or phrase refer to the meaning in the context in which the word or phrase is being used in the passage 
• be sure to read enough of the context to thoroughly understand the meaning of the word 
• for literal comprehension questions you need to understand information that is directly presented in the passage 
• findthe the place in the passage where the detail is discussed 
• don't use outside knowledge 
• recognize the different ways of stating the same fact or idea 
• cross out incorrect responses as you eliminate them 
• be sure you can support your answer by referring to words or phrases within the passage that support it 
• in pair passages one of the passages will oppose,support or in some way relate to the other 
• you must answer the question in terms of the statements. assumptions, or inferences that the writer is making, even if you don't agree with what the writer has said 
• the question is meant to see if you understand what the writer has written 
• best is an important word in test questions because it usually asks you to find the most suitable or most acceptable of the answer choices 
• look at all the answer choices before making a decision 
• when you see chiefly you will probably be looking for the most central element or most important explanation of something 
• a question with "excerpt" usually asks you to identify words or phrases that don't belong with the other choices 
• the author implies asks you to come to a conclusion about the excerpt 
• read passages carefully because all the answers come from the passage 
• every word counts be aware of words describing people, events and things. 
• pay attention to small details such as looks 
• read questions and answers carefully 
• think about what the question is asking
• look back at the passage for information that will help you with the question 
• think again about how you can use the information to answer the questions correctly 
• an answer choice can be true and wrong 
• the correct choice is the one that best answers the question, not any choice that makes a true statement 
• carefully read the passage,the questions and the answer choices 
• eliminate choices 
• compare each choice to the passage 
• double check the other choices 
• dont jump from passage to passage (focus on one passage 
• take the time to answer as many questions as you can about each passage before you move on to another 
• stay with a passage until you are sure you have answered as many questions as you can 
• go back to any questions you skipped. when you've gone through all the questions about a passage, review any you left out ore weren't sure of 
• sometimes information you picked up while thinking about one question will help you answer another 
• c
• c
• e
• b
• b
• d
• c
• c
• b
• c
• d
• d
• d
• d
• d
• a
• d
• d
• c
• c
• c
• b
• b
• d
• b
• d
• a
• c
• c
• a
• e
• b
• d
• c
• e
• a
• c
• e
• be familiar with the direction before test day 
• in the reading section questions do not increase in difficulty from easy to hard 
• all passages have numbered lines 
• go back and read the matching lines 
• the information is always in the passage 
• all questions ask you to base your answer on what you read in the passages 
• keep in mind that there should always be information in the passage(s) that supports your choice 
• details that explain,support or challenge a point in a passage can help you understand how the author wants you to feel or think 
• make notes on the sample test 
• if you are having a hard time read the questions before finishing the passage 
• when reading 2 passages review the relevant parts
• read questions and answers carefully 
• the answer can be true and wrong 
• don't be mislead by an answer that looks right but is not supported by the text 
• look for a key word in the question stem, which may be the clue you need to arrive at the answer 
•  pay attention to the structure of sentences 
• don't apply your personal opinion 
• think about how the author uses language in the passage 
• don't try and remember everything from the passage 
• refer back to the passage as you work through the possible answers 
• if you are not sure of the answer try eliminating choices and make an educated guess 
• when you have made your choice double check to make sure there is not a better one 
• c
• b
• c
• b
• a
• c
• c
• d
• d
• c
• a
• e
•