The ability to read for understanding, information, comprehension, and context are the important aspects of the Reading Test in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT Assessment. The SAT Assessment’s Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section is divided into two tests. The Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test.
When students take the Reading Test, they will read passages and interpret informational graphics. Prior knowledge will NEVER be tested. Students will use what they have read to answer the multiple-choice questions. Some questions ask students to locate a piece of information or an idea stated directly. Students also need to understand what the author’s words imply. All questions can be answered directly from reading the passages and interpreting what students have read. In other words, sometimes students may have to read between the lines.
Practicing reading the different types of passages included on the SAT Assessment Reading Test and utilizing the reading tips and tricks discussed below will optimize the student’s opportunity to score their best on the SAT Assessment Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section.
The SAT Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing Section Breakdown and Scoring
The Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section is scored between 200 – 800 points. If students fill in their name and do not answer a single question on either of the two tests, they will score a 200 on this section.
The SAT Scaled Score for this section is a composite score from the two different tests in this section. The total number of multiple-choice questions answered correctly on the Reading Test will translate into an SAT Scaled Score for the Reading Test. Then the total number of multiple-choice questions answered correctly on the Writing and Language Test will translate into an SAT Scaled Score for the Writing and Language Test.
Those two SAT Scaled Scores will be added together and multiplied by 10 to get the overall SAT Scaled Score for the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section. A complete explanation of how the SAT Assessment is scored can be found at: Practice Test Scores Worksheet
Our Plan to Help with the SAT Assessment
INcompassing Education knows how important it is for Administrators, Teachers, Students and Parents to have quick easy reference guides to help them understand the SAT Assessment Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section. This guide will provide the best way for students to prepare and practice for the SAT Assessment Reading Test.
The guides provide the skills, tips, and tricks for students to do their very best. The Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section Reading Test quick reference sheet has all the important information everyone needs. It identifies what will be included in the 5 different passages, the reading skills that will be assessed, and different tips and tricks students can use to ensure their best possible scores on the Reading Test. It includes the specifics about how many questions, pacing while taking the tests, and tricks and tips students should know to help them do their best.
Teachers should give students a variety of different types of passages, so students can practice reading different types of passages and different strategies for reading the passages. They should help students practice summarizing what they have read in 5 words or less. Teachers should familiarize themselves and students with the information and facts on the Reading Test quick reference sheets. This will help schools and students improve their SAT Assessment Scale scores.
The overall goal for these quick reference sheets is for all students to achieve their best possible score and allow them to achieve their dreams and aspirations as they move past high school!
Reading & Writing Section Tips and Tricks
1. The Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section on the SAT Assessment is broken down into the following two tests with the information given on each section:
Test Section | Total Minutes for this Section | Total Number of Question | Total Number of Passages | Multiple-Choice Questions per Passage | Pacing: Minutes per Passage |
Evidenced-Based Reading | 65 | 52 | 5 | 10 – 11 per passage | 13 min./passage 1-1¼ min./question |
Writing and Language | 35 | 44 | 4 | 11 per passage | 9 min./passage 45 sec./question |
Total | 100 | 96 | 9 |
2. Khan Academy is the Official College Board preparation partner for the SAT Assessment. They have many practice problems and multiple complete practice SAT Assessments. Teachers and Students can sign up for free to access the preparation materials. Try this before purchasing supplemental materials.
3. The 5 passages on the SAT Assessment Reading Test will be on the following topics:
One passage from a classic or contemporary work of U.S. or world literature.
One passage or a pair of passages from either a U.S. founding document or a text in the Great Global Conversation they inspired.
One passage about economics, psychology, sociology, or some other social science.
Two science passages (or one passage and one passage pair) that examine foundational concepts and developments in Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics.
4. Reading Test measures the following reading skills:
Command of Evidence
Find evidence in a passage (or pair of passages) that best supports the answer to a previous question or serves as the basis for a reasonable conclusion.
Identify how authors use evidence to support their claims.
Find a relationship between an informational graphic and the passage it’s paired with. Use the data shown in the charts to answer the questions.
Words in Context
In the passages, questions focus on important, widely used words and phrases that students will find in texts in many different subjects.
Use context clues in a passage to figure out which meaning of a word or phrase is being used.
Decide how an author’s word choice shapes meaning, style, and tone
Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
Examine hypotheses.
Interpret data.
Consider implications.
5. DO NOT READ THE QUESTIONS FIRST! This is one of the biggest wastes of time!
6. Passages DO NOT go in order of difficulty. Students can read the passages in any order on the Reading Test. Students should start with a passage they like.
7. Read the Title of each Passage. It will help students summarize each paragraph in the passage in 3 – 5 words or less.
8. Read the First and Last Paragraph of each passage COMPLETELY. There are always questions from these two paragraphs in every passage.
9. Students should use one of the two following strategies to read the passages:
Read the Entire Passages (Best for average to above-average readers)
Students should stop at the end of each paragraph and summarize the paragraph they just read in 3 – 5 words or less on scratch paper.
Answer as many questions as possible without referring back to the printed passages, only looking at the summary words written on the scrap paper.
Read all answer choices and use process of elimination to rule out answer choices.
Students will need to look back at the passage for Citing Textual Evidence and Vocabulary questions
Skim the Passage (Best for students who know reading skills are not their strength)
Completely read the FIRST Paragraph as stated above, then only read the first and last sentences of all the other paragraphs in the passage. (If a student’s pacing time allows, read the entire last paragraph.)
Students should stop at the end of each paragraph and summarize the paragraph they just read in 3 – 5 words or less on scratch paper.
Answer as many questions as possible without referring back to the printed passages, only looking at the summary words written on the scrap paper.
Read all answer choices and use process of elimination to rule out answer choices.
Students will need to look back at the passage for Citing Textual Evidence and Vocabulary questions
10. The are NO penalties for guessing on the SAT Assessment. There are ways to improve students’ overall SAT Scores by knowing and using some strategic methods to make educated guesses on each of the sections on the SAT Assessment.
Wear a Basic Wristwatch to keep track of pacing shown above!
After reading the passage spend less than 1 minute on a question. If students are still not sure what the question is asking, have students take their best guess and move on to the next question in the passage.
Students DO NOT have to answer the questions for each passage in order. If they do not know the answer skip that question, another question might give them a clue to the answer. Students should be sure to answer ALL questions for that passage BEFORE they move on to the next passage.
USE THE SCRATCH PAPER! ALWAYS summarize each paragraph in 3 – 5 words or less and physically write it on scratch paper. This will solidify the main topic of the paragraph for students to answer the questions.
Eliminate Answer choices using reasons like “Too Specific”, “Too Broad”, “Reverse Relationship”, and “Unrelated Concept”.
11. Remind students to remain Clam and Breath while they are taking the Reading Test. Students might even try doing a little wiggle or adjusting their position in their seats during the test.
12. The National Average SAT Scale Score for the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section was:
2019 Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section – 531 SAT Scale score
2018 Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section – 536 SAT Scale score
13. Currently for Indiana the SAT Scale score a student needs to achieve to be considered proficient is a 480 SAT Scale score in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section.
To get a 480 SAT Scale score in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section is a little more ambiguous. Students would need to get about 23 – 24 questions correct out of the 52 possible (about 45.1% correct) on the Reading Test and about 22 questions correct out of the 44 possible (about 50% correct) on the writing and Language Test. Students could get less on one test and more on the other or vice versa and still achieve the 480 SAT Scale Score Benchmark. Anyone can see the complete explanation of the sample scores on the College Board website at: Practice Test Scores Worksheet
14. The SAT Assessment will be administered in school ONLINE for the first time on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. It will NOT be a paper-pencil test when it is administered. Students will take the entire SAT Assessment on a computer. They will be allowed and encouraged to use scrap paper and have a calculator they are familiar with using regularly. 2021 – 2022 Indiana Assessment Schedule
15. Beginning with the Graduation Class of 2023 the SAT Assessment will be one of the ways for all Indiana high school students to fulfill a Graduation Pathway Option for the Postsecondary-Ready Competencies of the Indiana Graduation Requirements.
Starting with the class of 2023 Indiana Students will now have three requirements to graduate from high school.
Earn a High School Diploma
Learn and Demonstrate Employment Skills
Post-Secondary Ready Competencies
There are multiple pathways to fulfill the last two of the three requirements.
More information can be found on the Indiana Department of Education’s website at: https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/graduation-pathways/graduation-requirements.pdf
A simple checklist to see if students have fulfilled all three requirements to graduate from high school can be found at: https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/student-assistance/graduation-pathway-checklist.pdf
Conclusion
Practicing reading the different types of passages included on the SAT Assessment Reading Test and utilizing the reading tips and tricks we laid out will optimize the student’s opportunity to score their best on the SAT Assessment Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section. If you are looking for professional development for your school on the SAT, please contact us.
