SAT Reading Comprehension: Short Single Reading Passages

With this lesson, we turn our focus towards the types of passages on the SAT. (I know, it sounds exciting. But bear with me.) Type includes whether the passage is by itself or with another passage, and the length of the passage.

Recognizing the passage type allows you to anticipate questions before reading a passage and to maintain good pacing during the test so that you don't run out of time. It also allows you to break the reading sections down into shorter parts for yourself so that the reading section seems to go on for only a few thousand millenia instead of forever and ever and ever.

SHORT SINGLE READING PASSAGES

Total Number of Passages per SAT Test: 2

Lines per Passage: 10 - 12

Questions per SAT Test: 4

% of Total Reading Questions: 8%

Most Common Subjects: Biography, Science

Common Question Types: Main Idea, Attitude, Purpose, Definition-in-Context

Most Common Attitude: Neutral

Most Common Purpose: To Explain

TIP FOR SHORT SINGLE READING PASSAGES

Do not get stuck on these passages. When they appear, these passages are the first ones in the reading section. If you are having difficulty with one of them, move on to the longer passages, which are worth more points. You can later return to the short passage with fresh eyes.

SAT Reading: Line Questions

Lesson Includes:

—Overview of Short Reading Passages

—Reading Short Single Reading Passages

—Tips for Short Single Reading Passages

SAT Math

SAT Writing

SAT Reading

SAT Vocabulary