Reading and Writing Section Tips for the PSAT/SAT

Paired questions trick

• If you see questions like:

  • 1. The author implies that climate change policies have failed because...

  • 2. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

• Do #14 first.

• Look at the answer choices since they quote lines from the text.

• Read those lines.

• Now go back to #13 with evidence in hand.

  • This flips the script. Instead of guessing, you’re using the test against itself.

Best evidence ≠ sounds right

• The right answer must be directly supported by the text.

• Watch out for:

• ✅ Correct fact, wrong context → ❌

• ✅ True statement, not in passage → ❌

• ✅ Answer that matches your opinion → ❌

• ✅ Boring, literal match to the text → ✅

• Pro Tip: If two answers seem close, pick the one where the wording in the passage most closely matches the answer choice.

Tone words are traps

• Questions will ask: “The author’s tone can best be described as…” with choices like:

  • skeptical

  • nostalgic

  • defiant

  • optimistic

• Don’t guess based on one sentence. Ask:

  • “What’s the overall attitude across the whole passage?”

• And remember:

  • SAT loves measured tones: thoughtful, cautious, analytical

  • Avoid extremes: angry, furious, ecstatic, outraged → usually wrong

Graphs and charts

• On science/history passages, you’ll get a graph.

• Your job:

• Read the axes, title, and units

• Find the trend: increasing? decreasing? no change?

• Match the correct answer to the data, not your memory of science class

  • Wrong answers will say the opposite of the graph

  • Or claim causation when it’s only correlation

Concise answers

• When in doubt, pick the shortest answer that keeps the original meaning.

• SAT hates:

• Redundancy (“each and every”)

• Wordiness (“due to the fact that” → “because”)

• Passive voice (“was given by” → “gave”)

• ✅ Clear, direct, simple = correct

Transitions are about logic, not fancy words

• You’ll see:

  • However, Therefore, Furthermore, In contrast...

• Ask: What’s the relationship between the sentences?

  • Same idea? → Furthermore, Also, Indeed

  • Opposite idea? → However, Nevertheless, On the other hand

  • Cause/effect? → Therefore, Thus, As a result

• Pick the transition that logically connects the ideas — not the fanciest word.

Placement questions

• They’ll give you a sentence and ask where it fits best.

• Strategy:

  • Read the sentence

  • Plug it into each option

  • Does it connect ideas between the sentences around it?

  • Does it flow naturally?

• The right spot will feel like it “clicks,” like it bridges two thoughts.

Pronouns and agreement

• They → needs plural noun (not “a student”)

• Each → singular → “he or she,” not “they”

• Neither… nor → verb agrees with closest subject

  • Neither the teacher nor the students are late.

Comma rules

• ⚠ No comma splice: ❌ I love music, it relaxes me.

• Fix: Use “because” or semicolon.

Biggest mistakes