Effective Reading Strategies by Using Tools from i-Mock
November 12, 2024
Welcome to our guide on how to elevate your SAT reading skills using i-Mock, the ultimate practice tool. i-Mock isn’t just a practice platform; it mirrors the real Digital SAT testing environment with features like mark for review, highlight, annotation, and choice elimination. These tools are designed to help you navigate the exam with confidence and precision. In this blog, we’ll explore how to leverage these functionalities to enhance your reading skills, streamline your test-taking approach, and boost your overall performance. Let’s dive in and unlock the full potential of your SAT preparation!
Grasping the key claim of a passage is like finding the secret ingredient in a recipe—it’s essential for understanding the whole dish. The key claim is the heart of the passage, laying out its central argument or main point.
Make the most of i-Mock’s highlighting feature to zero in on the key claim as you read. This tool helps you spotlight crucial sentences, making them easy to revisit and reference when you need to tackle tricky questions.
In command of evidence questions, for example, highlighting the claim or conclusion you need to support or weaken will help you quickly identify the relevant data needed for the answer.
Efficient note-taking is like a secret weapon during your SAT reading—quickly jotting down key details helps you stay sharp and organized. This technique allows you to capture essential insights and track the flow of the passage without losing momentum.As you read, mark supporting points with a plus (+) and opposing ones with a minus (-) to keep track of where the author stands. If something in the text surprises you or the author, add an exclamation mark (!) to highlight those standout details. These symbols will make your notes a quick reference guide to key arguments and surprising details.
In the given texts, the highlighted claim in Text 1 supports the blank slate theory, which suggests that humans are entirely shaped by experiences. In contrast, the author of Text 2 discovered that identical twins share similarities despite being raised in different environments. This creates a clear opposition, so you can use the annotation tool to mark a negative (-) sign on the claim in Text 2.
Noticing contrasts in a passage helps you better understand the shifts in perspective, argument, or tone. Contrasts highlight differences between ideas or viewpoints, helping you grasp the nuances of the author’s message.Use i-Mock’s highlighting feature to emphasize contrasting words and phrases that signal key shifts. Look for terms like “however,” “but,” “on the other hand,” or “although.” Highlight these terms to track where the author introduces opposing ideas or changes in tone, making it easier to follow the argument.
As you can see from this example, highlighting “however” can help you recognize the contrast between conventional wisdom and MacLatchy’s discovery.
Tracking how an author builds upon their argument with additional information is crucial for understanding a passage. These additions often come with continuation words that signal the author is about to emphasize or restate an important part of the argument.With i-Mock’s highlighting tool, you can easily mark continuation words such as “and,” “furthermore,” “moreover,” or “also.” These terms often indicate that the author is about to underscore or re-emphasize a critical part of their argument. By marking them, you can quickly identify where important details or supportive information are being added, allowing you to trace the progression of the author’s reasoning.
In most passages, the first and last sentences are often goldmines of crucial information. These sentences typically house the main claims and key points, while the rest of the passage serves to support them.Make sure to highlight the first and last sentences of every paragraph. These lines often contain the main argument or provide a summary of the author’s key points. By focusing on these sentences, you’ll be able to grasp the central message quickly and avoid getting caught up in the supporting details.
Turning the passage into your own words can unlock a deeper understanding of the material. This technique helps you digest the core message and ensures you truly understand what you’re reading.Take advantage of i-Mock’s annotation tool to create concise summaries of each key section in your own words. Rather than simply highlighting, jot down brief notes that capture your interpretation of the main ideas. This approach not only strengthens your grasp of the text but also makes it easier to access and use critical information when answering questions.
Here, the claim is summarized in much simpler terms, making it easier to understand and find the choice that best aligns with it.
The Digital SAT Reading & Writing test involves answering multiple-choice questions, and knowing how to narrow down your choices can be very effective. Use i-Mock’s choice elimination tool to assist in this process. If any choices present incorrect information, are irrelevant, or deviate too far from the passage, don’t hesitate to cross them out to avoid confusion.Once you’re down to two remaining answers, the 50/50 technique is your next move. Begin by re-reading the question to clarify what it’s asking and pinpoint any key terms or details it highlights. Then, analyze the differences between the two choices, paying attention to the specific words and phrases that set them apart. This method aids you in selecting the answer that truly aligns with the passage’s content.
Take this grammar question as an example. If you need to solve a subject-verb agreement question, start by identifying the subject and then analyze the choices. Since the subject is singular, immediately cross out any choices with plural verbs and select the singular one.
In the SAT reading section, it’s important to manage your time efficiently and avoid getting stuck on challenging questions. If you find yourself hesitating on a particular question, don’t waste valuable minutes trying to solve it on the spot. Instead, use the mark for review feature on i-Mock to flag it for later. This way, you can move on to the questions you feel more confident about, which helps you maximize your score by addressing easier questions first. After completing the rest of the section, return to the marked questions with a fresh perspective and more time to dedicate to them. This strategy helps you stay focused, manage your time effectively, and increase your chances of a higher score.
These i-Mock’s powerful tools are designed to help you navigate the exam with precision and ease. Remember, practice makes perfect, so the more you use these features, the better equipped you’ll be to tackle any reading challenge the SAT throws your way. Good luck, and happy studying!
For more insights into the Digital SAT, including what it entails and how it differs from the traditional SAT, check out our blog post on What is the Digital SAT.
Ready to excel in the Digital SAT? Learn more about what i-Mock Adaptive Digital SAT Practice Tests offer and how they can help you achieve the perfect score.
