The new Reading and Writing section of the SAT can be intimidating and stressful for many students. The questions are designed to be difficult, and at times confusing, but don’t despair. With practice and some strategies, you can improve your performance. The Reading and Writing section on the SAT has some quirks, and understanding patterns and strategies can help you deconstruct the answers faster and more accurately. 

A SAT redesign starting Spring 2024 has meant some significant changes to the Reading and the Writing and Language portions of the test. For example, the entire test is shorter and the Reading and the Writing and Language portions of the test have been combined into a one section called Reading and Writing. 

The changes to the reading comprehension questions are quite significant, and it is imperative that students study the new style of questions. The questions are shorter but require more analysis now, for example. The reading comprehension questions follow several distinct patterns - each requiring their own strategies. We will cover all of these styles throughout the class. 

Students will need to answer questions that evaluate how the author uses evidence, understand words in context, and analyze history, science, and social studies. Our practice questions will allow students to become comfortable with these concepts. 

In this ongoing class, we will focus on strategies for improving performance on the SAT reading section. 

This class focuses primarily on the reading comprehension aspect of the Reading and Writing portion of the SAT. I offer another class that focuses on the words in context and grammar questions. 

Class topics: (Each week we will practice several types of question from the list below, so students will feel confident going into the test that they have done every style of question). 

Central Ideas: How to identify and summarize the main ideas and themes of the passages

Paired Passages: How to compare and contrast two related passages on the same topic

Evidence Based Questions: How to find and use evidence from the passages to support your answers

Quantitative: How to interpret and analyze data, graphs, and charts in the passages
Inferences: How to make logical and reasonable inferences from the passages

Structure Questions: How to recognize and understand the organization and purpose of the passages

Rhetorical: How to evaluate the author’s use of rhetorical devices and persuasive techniques in the passages

Transition Words: How to choose the best transition words and phrases to connect ideas and sentences

Grammar: Understanding the foundations of grammar in order to correctly identify errors

Words in Context: Mastery of vocabulary within the context of the passage. Students will 
be asked to define or choose the correct word to fit the passage.

CLASS STRUCTURE OF TYPICAL CLASS (some classes may follow a slightly different format)

1. Warm Up Question: A question will be displayed for students to work on independently while everyone checks in. We will then review the question together and discuss the answer. Please turn on your camera 

2. Summary Work: Students will practice summarizing passages similar to the new digital SAT style. This exercise will help them identify key words and condense the summary to as few words as possible. Quick summarization is a challenging skill that improves with practice and aids students in answering Reading and Writing questions efficiently. We will tackle one or two passages per week, covering topics from literature, science, social science, and history.

4. Practice Questions: The remainder of the class will be dedicated to working through practice questions. Will will start by doing several types of questions found on the test and then focus the remaining portion of the test on a specific style, focusing on a different type of question each week. 


Weekly Topics (All classes each week will follow the same topics)

Sep 26: Paired Passages: How to compare and contrast two related passages on the same topic

Sep 2 Paired Passages Part 2

Sep 9 Structure Questions: How to recognize and understand the organization and purpose of the passages


Sep 16 Structure Part 2

Sep 23 Purpose Questions: Why did the author write the text?

Sep 30 Purpose Part 2

Oct 7 Detail Questions: This style of question involves careful reading of the text. Answers are restated or demonstrated. 


Oct 14: Detail Question Part Two:

Oct 21: Central Ideas: How to identify and summarize the main ideas and themes of the passages

Oct 14 Rhetorical Synthesis

Oct 21 Transition Words: How to choose the best transition words and phrases to connect ideas and sentences (No class for the Sunday class on June 16)

Oct 28: Grammar: Understanding the foundations of grammar in order to correctly identify errors

Nov 4 Words in Context: Mastery of vocabulary within the context of the passage. Students will  be asked to define or choose the correct word to fit the passage.

Nov 11 Text Based Evidence

Nov 18 Inferences: How to make logical and reasonable inferences from the passages 

Nov 11 Inferences Part 2

Nov 18 Quantitative: How to interpret and analyze data, graphs, and charts in the passages



*Transition word, grammar, and words in context questions are included in this class because all questions on the Reading and Writing portion of the test are reading comprehension questions at the heart of them. Thinking about them as reading comprehension questions helps students answer them more efficiently and accurately. 



TOPICS WILL REPEAT AFTER Nov 18, BUT THE MATERIAL WILL BE NEW. THE CLASS MATERIAL HAS OVER A YEAR OF UNIQUE MATERIAL WITHOUT ANY PRACTICE QUESTIONS, HOMEWORK, OR PASSAGES REPEATING. 

I offer a SAT Vocabulary and Grammar class as well which is a great supplement to this class. I also offer private tutoring. Message me for details.