5 Ways to Improve Your SAT Verbal Scores
1) Use a dictionary. No matter what you’re reading, take the time to look up words you don’t know. Not only will this improve your vocabulary (it’s the best way to do so), but it will improve your reading experience. You’ll understand the text better without relying purely on context (or skipping over the phrase with the unfamiliar word). 2) Use a thesaurus. How many ways can you say “aggressive”? “Belligerent,” “pugnacious,” “combative,” “bellicose” … you get the idea. Memorizing synonyms as a group will help you remember what each word means. For every standard vocabulary word, there are several synonyms that stand a chance of showing up on the test. 3) Read something challenging on a regular basis. Consider getting a subscription to a respected magazine, something that will catch your interest and stimulate your vocabulary at the same time. 4) Buy SAT flash cards. Standardized tests tend to recycle vocabulary. Having mastered 100 or more of the most common words on the exam will give you confidence when one or two of those words shows up on your test. 5) Complete Practice SAT Exams under timed conditions. Get accustomed to the amount of time you’ll have to complete the test. You’ll get faster, which will give you more time to focus on the tough questions. Study all the words you missed on the practice SAT exams, (see number four). For more information on SAT Tutors or private tutoring, go to TopTestPrep.com, or call (800) 501-PREP.