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The Critical Reading Section could easily be the hardest part of the SAT, for two reasons:
1) The passages commonly use descriptive, vivid words, imagery, and abstract ideas, and some passages use large amounts of jargon from the humanities and sciences.
2) Time is a critical factor, as each section is no longer than 25 minutes, and students are not allowed to turn back to recheck their work once the section is completed.
Our methodology is to teach students to scan the passage for the general meaning first, then go into specifics when the questions call for them. The focus here is on adopting a time-saving approach, yet maximizing understanding. Students will learn where to look for the key words in every question, then pinpoint the answers quickly from the
passage.
Writing Section-Here, the test candidate will be challenged to improve sentences, identify sentence errors, and improve paragraphs. We teach our students to look for the errors and inconsistencies in sentences, such as the importance of prepositions and the
importance of simple, clear language. In improving sentence errors, students not only are taught how to identify the error based on spelling, grammatical, or reasoning mistakes, they also learn what the correct sentence should look like. Reasons for the other options being wrong are explained in detail so students can quickly use the elimination method to cross out the wrong answers.
The SAT Essay questions are philosophical and thought-provoking. We ensure our students understand each question and what is required. Next, we hold an informal brainstorming session, where all relevant ideas are discussed in detail. Students are encouraged to give points, elaborate on each point, and provide strong supporting
evidence. The students will then start their own discussion, under the teacher's guidance. They will learn respect for different viewpoints, and how to think critically from not only their own view but other points of view.
We want to give every student the best possible chance to do well for the SAT. Feedback and grades are recorded, and problem areas are quickly brought up for review. You can be assured that students will come away from this feeling better-equipped to handle the test with confidence
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