SAT I Verbal ReviewSAT I Verbal ReviewAlan Reinstein

Wednesdays--Newton South—3:15-5:15 p.m.1/29—Overall Intro + Critical Reading (mult. choice)2/5—Writing Skills (multiple choice)2/12—Essay section[2/19—no class—WINTER VACATION]2/26—All together—Essay writing and more practice questions

Alan ReinsteinWednesdays--Newton South—3:15-5:15 p.m.1/29—Overall Intro + Critical Reading (mult. choice)2/5—Writing Skills (multiple choice)2/12—Essay section[2/19—no class—WINTER VACATION]2/26—All together—Essay writing and more practice questionsText:Text:

The Official SAT Study GuideThe Official SAT Study Guide

CollegeBoard SATCollegeBoard SAT

Test InfoTest Info

MARCH 8 MAY 3

deadlines to register: Feb 7 April

4 Feb 24 << late reg. >> April 21 Go to: www.collegeboard.com

MARCH 8 MAY 3

deadlines to register: Feb 7 April

4 Feb 24 << late reg. >> April 21 Go to: www.collegeboard.com

Goals for the CourseGoals for the Course1. Students are are introduced to the format

and length of the test

2. Students view the types of multiple choice questions on the test

3. Students practice the essay and to receive feedback on a sample essay

1. Students practice the timing of the test—to practice working swiftly—with some strategies for quick and effective test-taking

1. Students are are introduced to the format and length of the test

2. Students view the types of multiple choice questions on the test

3. Students practice the essay and to receive feedback on a sample essay

1. Students practice the timing of the test—to practice working swiftly—with some strategies for quick and effective test-taking

SAT Format: 10 Sections SAT Format: 10 Sections 1 25-min Essay (always first section)1 25-min Essay (always first section)

2 25-min Critical Reading (24 Questions)2 25-min Critical Reading (24 Questions)

1 20-min Critical Reading (19 Questions)1 20-min Critical Reading (19 Questions)

1 25-min Writing Skills (35 Questions)1 25-min Writing Skills (35 Questions)

3 Mathematics Sections (2 25-min, 1 20-min)3 Mathematics Sections (2 25-min, 1 20-min)

1 25-min Experimental/Variable Section1 25-min Experimental/Variable Section

1 10-min Writing Skills (14 Questions) 1 10-min Writing Skills (14 Questions)

2 10-min Breaks (after Sections 3 & 6)2 10-min Breaks (after Sections 3 & 6)

(4 hours, 5 minutes)(4 hours, 5 minutes)

Always first: The Essay—25 minutes

Always first: The Essay—25 minutes

Decide your viewpoint on topic

Vary sentence structure

Use precise, clear vocabulary

Leave time to review

Decide your viewpoint on topic

Vary sentence structure

Use precise, clear vocabulary

Leave time to review

Scoring Overview Scoring Overview

Two readers will grade your essay in about two minutes, judging it as a whole.

Each reader gives it a score of 1 to 6.

Your essay subscore is sum of these two scores (2 to 12)

Your essay subscore counts as one third of your total writing score.

Two readers will grade your essay in about two minutes, judging it as a whole.

Each reader gives it a score of 1 to 6.

Your essay subscore is sum of these two scores (2 to 12)

Your essay subscore counts as one third of your total writing score.

Critical Reading SectionsCritical Reading Sections

Two types of questions: 1. Sentence completion: (19

questions) arranged in order of difficulty

2. Reading comprehension: (48 questions) not in order of difficulty; follow organization of passage

Two types of questions: 1. Sentence completion: (19

questions) arranged in order of difficulty

2. Reading comprehension: (48 questions) not in order of difficulty; follow organization of passage

Writing Skills SectionsWriting Skills Sections

Three types of questions: 1. Improving sentences--(25 questions) find

the error in the sentence

2. Identifying sentence errors--(18 questions) select the most effective version of a sentence

3. Improving paragraphs--(6 questions) correct the flaws in an essay

Three types of questions: 1. Improving sentences--(25 questions) find

the error in the sentence

2. Identifying sentence errors--(18 questions) select the most effective version of a sentence

3. Improving paragraphs--(6 questions) correct the flaws in an essay

Writing Skills SectionsWriting Skills Sections

Tactics for the SATTactics for the SAT

Setting Goals: Take a test from prep book under true

exam conditions & follow instructions to calculate your score

Setting Goals: Take a test from prep book under true

exam conditions & follow instructions to calculate your score

TacticsTactics

Pacing Yourself Know what you’re capable of (by

doing practice tests)

Study the directions of all question types so you won’t have to read directions on day of test

Pacing Yourself Know what you’re capable of (by

doing practice tests)

Study the directions of all question types so you won’t have to read directions on day of test

TacticsTactics Should I guess on the SAT?

Guessing can increase your score

You get 1 point for every correct answer

You get .25 deducted for every wrong answer

Make educated guesses

Never guess wildly or without reading the question

Should I guess on the SAT? Guessing can increase your score

You get 1 point for every correct answer

You get .25 deducted for every wrong answer

Make educated guesses

Never guess wildly or without reading the question

Whole Test-taking Tactics:Whole Test-taking Tactics:

Keep careful track of time

Don’t read the directions or look at sample questions

Answer the easy questions first

In Crit. Reading & writing, read each choice before choosing answer

Keep careful track of time

Don’t read the directions or look at sample questions

Answer the easy questions first

In Crit. Reading & writing, read each choice before choosing answer

Whole Test-taking Tactics:Whole Test-taking Tactics:

Fill in answers on your answer sheet in blocks (until the last 3 minutes of section)

You are allowed to write in test booklet

No stray marks on answer sheet

Fill in answers on your answer sheet in blocks (until the last 3 minutes of section)

You are allowed to write in test booklet

No stray marks on answer sheet

Whole Test-taking Tactics:Whole Test-taking Tactics:

Don’t change answer on last minute hunches or whimsical feelings

Don’t get bogged down on any one question; don’t rush!

You don’t have to answer every question to do well.

Don’t change answer on last minute hunches or whimsical feelings

Don’t get bogged down on any one question; don’t rush!

You don’t have to answer every question to do well.

The Sentence Completion Question p. 31

The Sentence Completion Question p. 31

All three Critical Reading sections start with sentence completions.

Easy to Hard

Get to know the Directions now so you don’t have to read them during the test

All three Critical Reading sections start with sentence completions.

Easy to Hard

Get to know the Directions now so you don’t have to read them during the test

Approaches to Sentence Completion Questions

Approaches to Sentence Completion Questions

Read the sentence carefully to get a feel for the meaning

Before you look at the choices, think of a word that makes sense

Be aware of contrast words

Read the sentence carefully to get a feel for the meaning

Before you look at the choices, think of a word that makes sense

Be aware of contrast words

Sent. Compl. TacticsSent. Compl. Tactics

With two-blank questions, try eliminating using one blank

Watch for contrast, support & cause/effect signals although, despite, furthermore, likewise, thus, consequently

Look for words that signal the unexpected abnormal, anomalous, curious, illogical, incongruous, ironic, paradoxical

With two-blank questions, try eliminating using one blank

Watch for contrast, support & cause/effect signals although, despite, furthermore, likewise, thus, consequently

Look for words that signal the unexpected abnormal, anomalous, curious, illogical, incongruous, ironic, paradoxical

Sample Questions (p37) Sample Questions (p37)

Do #1-6 (in 3 minutes) Do #1-6 (in 3 minutes)

Practice Questions (p44)Practice Questions (p44)

1-15 (8 minutes) 1-15 (8 minutes)

Reading Comprehension: The Passage-based Question--p. 49

Tactics

Reading Comprehension: The Passage-based Question--p. 49

Tactics

Read the Introduction to acquaint yourself with text.

Use the line references & make sure you go back to the correct spot in passage.

When possible, read passages with familiar subjects before unfamiliar ones.

Read the Introduction to acquaint yourself with text.

Use the line references & make sure you go back to the correct spot in passage.

When possible, read passages with familiar subjects before unfamiliar ones.

Passage-based question Tactics

Passage-based question Tactics

When faced with SHORT passages, read the questions first & see if you can answer the question by quickly skimming.

When faced with LONG passages, read passage first, then do questions.

When faced with SHORT passages, read the questions first & see if you can answer the question by quickly skimming.

When faced with LONG passages, read passage first, then do questions.

Passage-based question Tactics

Passage-based question Tactics

Don’t get bogged down on one question; skip it & then come back to it.

Learn to spot the major reading question types: Main idea Specific details Inferences Tone/attitude Vocab in context technique

Don’t get bogged down on one question; skip it & then come back to it.

Learn to spot the major reading question types: Main idea Specific details Inferences Tone/attitude Vocab in context technique

Passage-based question Tactics

Passage-based question Tactics

To find main idea, check the opening & summary sentences of each paragraph.

Familiarize yourself with important words in questions on technique or style:• Abstract, analogy, antithesis,

argumentative, assertion, cite, concrete, evidence, explanatory, expository, generalization, narrative, persuasive, rhetorical, thesis.

To find main idea, check the opening & summary sentences of each paragraph.

Familiarize yourself with important words in questions on technique or style:• Abstract, analogy, antithesis,

argumentative, assertion, cite, concrete, evidence, explanatory, expository, generalization, narrative, persuasive, rhetorical, thesis.

Passage-based question Tactics

Passage-based question Tactics

When asked to choose a title, watch out for choices that are too specific or too general.

When asked about a specific detail in passage, spot key words in question and scan passage to find them.

When asked to choose a title, watch out for choices that are too specific or too general.

When asked about a specific detail in passage, spot key words in question and scan passage to find them.

Practice Exercisespgs. 57-59

Practice Exercisespgs. 57-59

Do Questions 1-8 in 8 min

[Do Questions 9-19 in 10 min]

Do Questions 1-8 in 8 min

[Do Questions 9-19 in 10 min]

Sample Test #1Sample Test #1

Section 2 (p.390) Let’s read the directions together 25 minutes-->24 questions

Section 2 (p.390) Let’s read the directions together 25 minutes-->24 questions