How to Prepare for the SAT English Sections

When taking the SAT Reasoning Test, you will see that the test is composed of three different sections. These sections are critical reading, writing, and mathematics. With the exception of mathematics, most of the test focuses on English. Students who don’t list English as their favorite subject in school are often worried about this. The good news is that studying for the SAT English sections is not as hard as it sounds.

So, how can you prepare for the SAT English sections?

By expanding your vocabulary. Whether it be the multiple choice reading questions or the written essay, a good understanding of vocabulary is important. You receive extra points for using good vocabulary in the SAT essay and your vocabulary is tested in the critical reading section. For that reason, make sure your vocabulary is up-to-date.

There are two easy ways to improve your use and understating of SAT level vocabulary. One involves reviewing your school vocabulary notes. Many of the words on the SAT test are words you learned in your sophomore, junior, and senior years. Review your vocabulary tests and study books. If you did not save these books, ask to borrow one from your current or former English teachers. There are also printed SAT study guides; many of which come with large vocabulary lists. These words are often pulled from prior tests. For studying on the go, take these vocabulary words and create homemade flashcards. Put the word on the front of an index card and the meaning on the back.

The critical reading section of the SAT Reasoning Test not only tests your ability to use and understand vocabulary, but it also tests you on your ability to understand what you read. When you read an essay or paragraph, does it seem like the information goes in one ear and out the other? If so, you may have problems on this part of the test. Practice reading slowly. A great approach is to take a textbook. Any textbook, like a history or science book, will do. At the end of each chapter, most textbooks have questions. Answer these questions. Can you remember what you just read? If not, keep on practicing. Take it slow and steady.

By understanding the key components of an essay. As previously stated, the writing section of the SAT is home to an essay. For this essay, you will receive an assignment. This is a topic to write about. You will want to write around 300 words. When doing so, start with an introductory paragraph. This is where you state your stance on the question asked by SAT administrators. Your essay should have three body paragraphs. When answering the SAT assignment question, you must provide reasoning for your choice. Develop three separate reasons. Use each body paragraph to describe, in detail, your stance. Support it with real-life experiences, relevant readings, studies, and observations. Close your essay with two to three sentences.

In all honesty, knowing the basic components of an essay is enough to pass this portion of the test. With that said, there are additional ways you can prepare. The best approach is to practice writing essays. First, focus on your handwriting. It needs to be readable. We have grown accustomed to typing instead of writing by hand, practice. When writing an essay, ask someone you know to review the essay for you. An English teacher or parent is a wise choice. Have them point out sentence structure or grammar errors. Most important, ask if you got your point across. Did they understand your essay? Was it easy to read? Did you ramble too much?