How to Improve Your Critical Reading Score
The critical reading section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) evaluates how well you read and understand complex written English. As the name implies, you must read carefully and critically to do well on this part of the SAT. The critical reading test comprises two sections: sentence completion and reading comprehension. Preparing for these sections requires you to practice careful and active reading, and to expand your vocabulary.
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Instructions
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Take as many practice tests as you can. Look for free critical reading tests online, or purchase a test preparation book. Complete the critical reading section and score yourself on it. Pay close attention to the type of questions you got wrong.
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Review the correct answer for each question you got wrong. This will help you determine which section gives you more difficulty: reading comprehension or sentence completion.
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Read as many different kinds of material as you can. Seek out articles from prestigious magazines, as they tend to be complex and well written. Read passages from literary classics, as well as selections from textbooks.
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Read actively. Ask yourself questions as you read. Consider whether you could explain what you just read to someone else. If you can, your reading comprehension is improving. Look for the underlying meaning in everything you read. Where possible, make practical connections between information in the text and your own life. All of these things will improve your critical reading skills.
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Improve your vocabulary. Keep a notebook at hand while you read, and write down words you don't know. Look up the meaning of each word, and try to use it in a sentence. This will help you to gain facility with the language, and improve your sentence completion and reading comprehension scores.
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