SAT Reading Foundations Course

SAT Reading passages test whether you can identify what a text actually says rather than what you assume it says. Start by finding the main idea of each passage: read the title, introductory paragraph, and the first and last sentence of each paragraph before looking at the questions.

The author purpose is not always stated directly. Ask whether the passage informs, argues, explains, or evaluates, and note how the author supports the main idea with examples, comparisons, or counterarguments.

Read with a pencil: underline transition words such as however, therefore, and for example, and write a short phrase beside each paragraph describing its job. Before choosing an answer, locate the exact lines that support it and rephrase them in your own words; if the evidence does not appear in the passage, the choice is probably a trap.

Main idea first: read the title, introduction, and the first and last sentences of each paragraph before looking at questions. Ask whether the passage informs, argues, explains, or evaluates, and keep that purpose in mind while scanning for details.

SAT vocabulary questions ask you to determine what a word or phrase means as it is used in the passage. Do not choose the most common dictionary meaning automatically; look at the surrounding sentence for clues such as definitions, examples, contrasts, and cause-effect relationships.

Identify the part of speech required by the sentence and test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence. The correct meaning will preserve both grammar and the author’s intended idea.

Context substitution: replace the word with each answer choice in the sentence and keep the author's tone and logic. Check part of speech first, then choose the option that works grammatically and matches the surrounding clue.

Evidence-based SAT questions ask you to select the answer that is best supported by the text and then choose the quotation that provides the strongest evidence. Read the question first, form a tentative answer, and then locate the exact lines that support or contradict each choice.

Eliminate options that are true in general but not supported by the passage, and avoid choices that quote evidence for a different claim. The best evidence line usually contains the specific detail that directly connects to the answer.

Evidence pairing: answer the question in your own words first, then look for the quotation that directly supports that idea. Eliminate options that support a different claim or that are too general to prove the answer.

SAT Reading questions often ask about the function of a paragraph, sentence, or phrase. Look for transition words such as however, therefore, for example, and in contrast to understand how ideas connect.

For paired passages, determine how each author frames the shared topic. One may offer a historical overview while the other challenges it, or one may define a problem while the other evaluates a solution. Answer questions about the relationship by comparing the authors’ central claims.

Function words: however signals contrast, therefore signals conclusion, for example signals illustration, in contrast signals comparison. When asked about a sentence's function, identify its relationship to the paragraph's main claim.

SAT Reading is long, so use your time strategically. Decide your passage order based on your strengths, read actively by marking main ideas and transitions, and answer questions you are confident about before returning to harder ones.

For paired passages and vocabulary questions, use process of elimination: remove answers that are extreme, out of scope, or contradicted by the text. Leave time at the end to review flagged questions rather than rereading entire passages.

Passage order: start with the passage you find easiest, mark the main idea and transitions as you read, and answer confident questions first. Use elimination on extremes and leave time to review marked questions instead of rereading everything.