1. What to Expect 1 hour 45-60 objective questions 4 to 5 prose passages
May come from fiction or nonfiction
Includes a variety of time periods, styles, and purposes
At least 1 will include citation, attribution, footnote, etc.
TIP: Do not let the subject matter throw you. Strong analytical skills will work on any passage.
What to Expect

2. Strategies for Close Reading
Underline, circle, and annotate the text
Read closely, paying attention to punctuation, syntax, diction, pacing, and organization
Read as though you were reading the passage aloud to an audience, emphasizing meaning and intent
Use your finger to underscore the line as you are reading aloud in your head
Use all of the information given to you about the passage
Be aware of organizational and rhetorical devices and techniques
Quickly skim the questions, ignoring the choices to get an idea of what is expected of you as a reader
Strategies for Close Reading

3. General Guidelines Work in order Write on the exam booklet
Do not spend too much time on any one question
Consider all of the choices in a given question
Maintain an open mind as you answer subsequent questions
Remember that all parts of an answer must be correct
When in doubt, go back to the text
General Guidelines

4. Specific Techniques Process of Elimination
Eliminate choices which are obviously wrong, too narrow or too broad, illogical, synonymous, or contradictory
Substitution/Fill in the Blank
Rephrase the question, leaving a blank where the answer should go; use each choice to fill in the blank until you find the best fit
Using Context
Locate the given word, phrase, or sentence and the sentence before and after
Anticipation
While reading, mark details and ideas you would ask a question about
Intuition/The Educated Guess
Have confidence on your wealth of skills and knowledge!
Specific Techniques

5. Scan the remaining questions and look for the shortest questions or questions that point you to a line
Look for specific detail/definition questions
Look for self-contained questions
“The jail sentence was a bitter winter for his plan” is an example of C. an analogy
TIP: Answer all of the questions – there is no penalty for wrong answers
Time is Running Out!