Challenges in the SAT: A Closer Look at the Reading Section

Ann Ahn, Head Counselor, MEK Review

Photo Credits: iStock

The Reading section of the SAT is infamously known as the most challenging part of the exam. Achieving a score close to perfect can create a sense of joy and a step closer to dream school applications. Yet, attaining such scores in Reading is not a common feat. For those ready to embark on this challenging journey, here is some advice filled with determination. Yes, you can do it!

The Habit of Reading in One’s Own Way

It is a common experience to have a personal reading style, which often leads to various errors. Students call these errors “careless mistakes!” unlike math, these mistakes in reading do not immediately validate right or wrong answers. Correcting such habits requires tremendous effort. These habitual errors become a significant factor that hinders points, leaving teachers with the essential task of guiding students to recognize and correct them swiftly.

Why is Reading Difficult? Why is it Hard to Score Well?

The difficulty in the Reading test arises because it assesses more than simple skills of finding answers in text. It requires examining semantics and deducing the test maker’s desired response. Current SAT Reading tests evaluate multiple skills for context comprehension, inquire about word meanings, paragraph summaries, themes, and inferential questions that vary in complexity. Mastering these skills entails deciphering the intentions of test makers or authors, showcasing the significance of insight and communication skills. Students achieving near-perfect scores exemplify a level of skill that cannot be obtained through mere practice exercises. For today’s students, who often say “I don’t know” when an answer doesn’t immediately surface, the Reading test presents a formidable challenge, emphasizing the assessment of thought and communication skills.

Practice in Reading: An Exercise in Understanding

The key term for SAT Reading preparation is Practice. How and what should be practiced? If practiced incorrectly, it becomes a process of reinforcing bad habits. This problem is most visible in students with a weak foundation in reading. These students have never developed practices aligning with authorial intent due to less challenging educational backgrounds. Hence, they often do not recognize their habitual patterns and struggle to discern requirements, leading to frustration and stagnation in scoring. Continuous practice without understanding the method adds no benefit.

Correctable Skills in Reading When Known in Advance

Reading closely and making inferences are the most challenging skills impacting scores. Yet, students outside upper-level English courses may have little exposure to these skills. It’s crucial to realize these issues early; various standardized tests from elementary school evaluate these skills and can highlight why a student may not have advanced to advanced levels. If embarking on SAT preparation with these existing challenges, readiness to alter long-standing habits and invest effort is crucial.

Vocabulary Learning and Reading Challenges

There is a clear difference between students who have read extensively from a young age and those who haven’t. A well-established reading habit facilitates easier attainment of high scores. However, even students lacking such habits can overcome reading challenges. The key to mastering reading lies in vocabulary. Comprehending sentence and paragraph meaning relies on understanding the precise words chosen by the author. This capability determines one’s ability to grasp context accurately; hence, word-in-context proficiency is pivotal. Vocabulary learning is essential for students who haven't read extensively yet wish to excel in reading scores.

Focus and Perseverance in Tackling Difficult Questions

The SAT’s three-hour duration begins with a 65-minute Reading exam. Given the standard school class duration of 45 minutes, maintaining focus and perseverance during this test is paramount. Surprisingly, students frequently fall asleep during the exam, overwhelmed by challenging questions and temptation to abandon effort. Sufficient practice with full-length tests, avoiding shortened versions, is critical to address these challenges because shorter tests often misrepresent real test endurance requirements.

Entering an advanced track in middle school signals progress in reading skills. Advanced track content involves refining comprehension skills, an essential lifelong process not achieved overnight. Though it’s better to have cultivated these habits early, even late bloomers can achieve impressive reading scores through consistent vocabulary study and proper training. Each dedicated effort can redirect a student’s future toward a different path. To students diligently correcting their habits: applause and encouragement for tackling this pivotal challenge.

Ann Ahn

Head Counselor, MEK Review

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