Digital SAT Reading & Writing: Winning Strategies You Need to Know
Hey there! Remember how we dished on the big switch from traditional SAT to digital? Well, we’re back for another round, zooming in on the Reading & Writing section to help you ace it!
For those new to the news of digital SAT, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! The digital SAT is the new standardized test format developed by the College Board which offers a variety of benefits for students, including a shorter test duration, more time per question, and access to a built-in calculator throughout the maths section.
Digital SAT Suite: Overall Test Specifications
Read More: Want to learn more about the general overview and advantages of the digital SAT? Check out our previous blog posts here!
DSAT Reading and Writing Overview
1.Mode of administering the test:
Reading and writing section is designed according to the multi- stage adaptive model and administered through two modules that are timed differently.
2.Time per module:
-
- Students are given a total of 64 minutes to complete their Reading and Writing section.
- Since this time is equally divided between the two modules, test takers can spend 32 minutes answering the questions in each module.
- After the time for the first module has been used up, test takers have to immediately proceed to the second module and answer questions with lower or higher difficulty levels as per their initial performance in the first module.
- After moving on to the second module, students will not be able to go back to the questions in the first module.
3.Average time per question:
Every test taker has about 1.19 minutes to answer each Reading and Writing test question.
4.Score reported:
You will be scored between 200-800 in this section. The score for this section represents half of the total score.
5.Question format used:
-
- All Reading and Writing test questions are in a multiple-choice format with four answer options that you can choose from.
- There will be a single best answer referred to as the keyed response or the key.
6.Påssage subject areas:
The passages that are used to answer questions in the Reading and Writing section are obtained from the following subject areas: Literature, science, history/social studies, humanities, and science. However, you are not expected to have prior knowledge of each subject.
7.Word count by passage:
The passage (or passage pair) for each Reading and Writing test question is between 25 and 150 words. A word in a passage is made up of six characters (these could be numbers, spaces, letters, symbols, and, of course, punctuation).
8.Informational graphics:
-
- You will find some informational graphics in certain passages in the Reading and Writing section. They are basically provided to assess your ability to identify and interpret data.
- Some examples of informational graphics include bar graphs, tables, and line graphs, being the most common methods of displaying information/data in the subjects the questions are prepared from.
- However, you are not required to perform any mathematical calculations on the provided data in the informational graphics. In fact, you will not be allowed to bring in calculators while appearing for this section.
SAT Reading and Writing Domains Tested
The questions in the Reading and Writing section depict one of four content domains, which are as follows:
1.Information and Ideas:
This requires you to utilize your knowledge, comprehension, and analytical skills to understand what is stated and implied in texts. You must use the associated informational graphics to identify, interpret, evaluate, and process the information and ideas.
2.Craft and Structure:
In this case, you are expected to use your synthesis, comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge to discover the meaning of high-utility academic words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make supportable connections between multiple topically related texts.
3.Expression of Ideas:
For this, it is important that you use your revision skills and knowledge to make the written expression effective based on the expected rhetorical goals.
4.Standard English Conventions:
You will be expected to utilize your editing skills and knowledge which should be in accordance with the core conventions of Standard English sentence usage, structure, and punctuation.
The table below summarizes the specifications of the types of questions and their distributions in the Reading and Writing section.
Success Guide: Tips for the SAT Reading and Writing Section
To achieve a high score in the DSAT Reading and Writing section, pay attention to these tips:
- What is your “passage” strategy?
If you are weak in answering passage-based questions, you need to come up with a passage strategy. First, lay your hands on some practice tests. Focus on answering those passages in them. While doing this, use a timer to gauge your speed. If a passage seems a bit difficult, move on to the next. After you’ve completed answering all the passages in the practice test, use the answer key to obtain your score. After you have completed the practice test, analyze those difficult passages and check their answers and explanations. After doing this several times, you will get a better understanding of how the passage-based questions should be answered.
- Eliminate 3 wrong answers:
Each question in the Reading and Writing section has 4 answer options. You need to train yourself to eliminate 3 wrong answers from the 4 answers provided. Watch out for answers that are: (i) not related to the question; (ii) not specifically addressing the point raised in the question (not supporting the point in the question); (iii) not grammatically correct; and (iv) expressing an opposing view to the point in the question. While it is tricky knowing which answer is correct, these suggestions can guide you to choose the correct answer out of the available four options.
- Improve your reading skills:
You can improve your level of reading comprehension by practicing with some passages included in this guide. To do this, you should pay attention to these elements of a passage: Its big picture, words and phrases in context, perspective, word choice, textual evidence, inference, and its details. If you analyze each passage, you will discover that they all have the elements mentioned above, and familiarizing yourself with them will help you analyze the passage appropriately.
- Get interested in the subject matter in the passage:
You should enjoy reading the subject matter in the passages, whether they are derived from science, literature, or history. Once you like the subject matter, you will most likely find answering the questions under it very easy.
- Finish with extra time and double-checking:
If you can finish with extra time on your hand, use that time to double-check. You may be able to discover some mistakes you have committed in the course of answering the test questions.
- Thousands of vocabulary:
Many students wrongly assume that by reading thousands of English vocabulary words they will be ready to give the SAT. It is a fact that knowing a lot of vocabulary may aid your understanding of the passages, but it is advisable that you don’t waste most of your time on that. The most important thing is knowing the textual and inferred meanings of those vocabulary words when they are eventually used in passages.
Ready to Practice? Introducing Bluebook, Your Official App
The College Board offers a free app called Bluebook where you can take full-length digital SAT practice tests and get familiar with the test interface, including features like annotation tools for note-taking and highlighters for key passages. [Bluebook (collegeboard.org)]
After completing a practice test, you’ll receive a score report along with a detailed review of each question, including the correct answer and explanations. This helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses and target specific areas for improvement in Reading & Writing.
So, with the right preparation and understanding of the format, you can conquer the digital SAT’s Reading & Writing section!
Master the Digital SAT with CLBS Institute!
Feeling confident about the Reading & Writing section? That’s a great start! But don’t forget about the Math section. At CLBS Institute, we understand the importance of comprehensive preparation for the digital SAT. We offer a variety of resources to help you excel, including:
- Expert-designed affordable courses:
Taught by experienced instructors who are familiar with the latest digital SAT format.
- Personalized study plans:
Catered to your individual strengths and weaknesses to maximize your score potential.
- Realistic mock tests:
Simulate the actual digital SAT testing experience to help you manage your time effectively and build test-taking endurance.
Book a free demo with CLBS Institute and know more about the details. Stay tuned for our next blog on conquering the Math section!
