If you’ve got a teen gearing up for college, chances are you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of admissions tests—what they mean, whether they matter and how to help your child prepare.
The good news? Depending on where your student is applying, tests like the SAT or ACT might not even be required. In fact, since the pandemic, a huge number of schools have gone test-optional. Still, a strong score can give your child an extra edge, helping them stand out in a competitive pool.
At its core, the SAT is designed to measure the skills your teen has been building throughout high school—and the ones they’ll need in college. It’s not just about memorizing facts; it’s about how they read, think and make sense of ideas. Which is exactly why feeling prepared (and confident) on test day can make all the difference.
The SAT Reading Section
The SAT has two sections: Reading/Writing and Math. Many parents emphasize studying for the math portion because of an increased emphasis on STEM education. However, you don’t want to overlook the importance of the literary portion of the test.
The SAT Reading test is designed to measure how well students read and interpret the kinds of texts they will encounter in college and during their career. Given in two modules, students have 64 minutes to read the passages and answer 54 questions.
The questions fall into four main categories:
- Information and ideas. These questions focus on what texts or graphics say directly or indirectly.
- Craft and structure. Students are asked to think about how the author conveys their meaning and make connections between topically related texts.
- Expression of ideas. These questions challenge students to revise texts to make them easier to understand and to meet specific rhetorical goals.
- Standard English conventions. This section tests how well your student can edit texts through sentence structure, word usage, and accurate punctuation.
The SAT Reading section can feel intimidating—dense passages, tricky questions and a constant race against the clock. But with the right approach, it becomes far more manageable. Success isn’t just about being a strong reader; it’s about being a strategic one.
Six Strategic Tips to Prepare for the SAT Reading Section
Here are six tips to help your student prepare for the Reading/Writing section and walk into test day feeling confident.
1. Practice Active Reading
Passive reading (just letting your eyes move across the page) won’t cut it in the SATs. Students need to be engaged with the topic, which means staying focused while reading. To prepare, students should practice active reading. This includes reading texts and:
- Understanding the author’s purpose
- Summarizing each paragraph in a few words
- Underlining key ideas (i.e. main argument, tone shifts and contrasting viewpoints)
- Identifying text structure (problem → solution, claim → evidence, etc.)
2. Build Reading Stamina
If your student is not used to reading dense material, the test will feel exhausting. Have them build reading stamina by spending 15-20 minutes a day reading dense materials, including articles on subjects like science and history, classic literature excerpts, and nonfiction essays.
3. Master the Art of Evidence-Based Answers
Many SAT questions come in two parts—a question about meaning or interpretation and a follow-up asking for the best evidence. Practice doing this with texts. Summarize the meaning, then use evidence from the text to confirm that you have the meaning correct. If your evidence doesn’t match a specific line in the passage, it is probably wrong.
4. Learn to be Strategic with Time
You’ll have limited time to read passages and answer questions, so students should learn how to pace themselves. Have them practice spending 3–5 minutes reading a passage and 8–10 minutes answering questions. If they get stuck, teach them to skip a question and come back to it. Advise them to not let one question drain all of their time. Not all passages are equal, so if they hit a hard one, skip it and do the easier ones first.
5. Prepare Them to Spot Trap Answers
The SAT is full of answer choices designed to look correct, but really are traps to see if the student is reading thoroughly. Common trap answers are ones that are partially true but not fully supported, use extreme language (“always,” “never”) or ones that include ideas not mentioned in the passage. Students should always ask themselves if they can point to the exact evidence when determining which answer is correct.
6. Take Full-Length Practice Tests
There are many full-length practice tests available online for free. Your student should take at least one to simulate real test conditions so they are prepared on test day. This includes turning off their phones, taking minimal breaks and timing each section. Practice tests will help them overcome test-day anxiety, build their endurance, and practice managing time.
Advise Your Student to Stay Calm and Focused on Test Day
Even with preparation, nerves can creep in. Remind them that they don’t need a perfect score! The SAT Reading section rewards clarity, patience and strategy more than raw talent. With consistent practice and a focused approach, they can improve their score.
Not sure when the next SAT will be given? Check out The College Board’s schedule to get your student registered in time.
