1. CRITICAL READING SECTION (VERBAL)
The New SAT
CRITICAL READING SECTION (VERBAL)

2. Sun Tzu & The Art of War SAT
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

3. The Basics cont… Max score possible: 800 Correct answer = 1 pt.
Blank answer = 0 pt.
Incorrect answer = -1/4 pt.

4. The Basics cont… Raw Score: # correct - # wrong/4
Ex: 22 correct – 14 wrong/4 = 18
Raw score 18 = Scaled score 420

5. The Basics cont… How do I get at least a 500?
Get 34 questions correct! That’s only half.

6. The key to victory? Predict what will happen!
The SAT is HIGHLY predictable. We know what will be asked, and how.

7. The 3 Types of Questions Sentence Completions Long Reading Passages
in this section, the questions always go from easiest to hardest
Long Reading Passages
Short Reading Passages

8. Sentence Completions 4 Types One-blank, one-way One-blank, two-way
Two-blank, one-way
Two-blank, two-way

9. Sentence Completions cont…
Solving SCs
Spot the Switch
Go with the Flow
Fill in the Blank
Compare Your Answer to the Answer Choices
Plug It In

10. Sentence Completions cont…
One- or Two-Blank?
Just count
One- or Two-way?
Look for switch word and flow.

11. #1 – Spot the Switch One-way Sentence completions
Look for switch words (conjunctions) that make the clauses support each other.
And
Because
Since So
Therefore
Thus

12. #1 – Spot the Switch Two-way sentence completions
Look for a two-way switch word that indicates dissimilarity:
Although
despite
However
Instead
Rather
Yet

13. #2 – Go With the Flow One-way example:
Since the scientist’s research finally confirmed his theories, everyone him.
a. delivered
b. commended
c. ignored
d. disturbed
e. trampled

14. #2 – Go With the Flow Two-way example
Although the reporter’s research finally confirmed his theories, everyone him.
Delivered
Commended
Ignored
Disturbed
Trampled

15. #2 – Go With the Flow
No Switch word? It only flows two ways if it describes a change over time.
Once a(n) movie director, Mickey Carson ended his life a pauper unable to finance the making of his own films.
Renowned
Faulty
Ghastly
Aspiring
Unknown

16. #3 – Fill in the Blank
If you come up with your own word first, you will be less likely to fall into an SAT trap.
Despite the violently harsh weather conditions, the campers in making it back to their base camp.

17. #4 – Compare Your Answer to the Answer Choices
Find the answer that most closely resembles yours.
If you said “survived”, which word below might work?
Surrendered
Sheltered
Succeeded
Collapsed
Evacuated

18. #5 – Plug It In
After you’ve chosen an answer, ALWAYS plug it back in to the sentence. This will drastically reduce your chances of making a careless answer.
Despite the violently harsh weather conditions, the campers succeeded in making it back to their base camp.

19. Denotation The direct meaning of a word
The denotation of the word “home” is the place where one lives.

20. Connotation
The feeling or emotions associated with a word along with its dictionary definition.
The connotation of the word “home” is a place of warmth, comfort, support, safety.