Do easiest passages first, save harder ones for last (history for me)
You don't need to memorize the information... you only need to understand it
Write a "one sentence summary" in your own words for each passage immediately after reading it
Come up with your own answer to questions BEFORE looking at choices; look for answer that best aligns with your own answer.
Question any answer that seems to be in conflict with author's main point or position
Always read a few sentences before and after any "vocabulary in context" word; in addition to "definition" ensure consistency with author's main point and tone
Cross out the specific words that make an answer choice incorrect
Understand graphics before reading questions; underline exactly what the question is asking; note any differences in units/measures/direction between graphic and wording of question/answer
Circle any question where you're not 100% sure... come back to those when done with the rest. Re-read and re-do those questions rather than just confirming the answer you chose previously.
Use any extra time at end to re-check "vocabulary in context" and "inference/evidence" questions (this is where I tend to make silly mistakes)
WRITING
If there's a verb in the answer, circle the subject and confirm number and tense agreement with rest of sentence
If there's a pronoun in the answer, confirm antecedent and ensure proper number agreement.
For "introduction" and "summarize" questions read whole paragraph and come up with your own answer BEFORE looking at choices; look for answer that best aligns with your own answer.
For "reorder sentence" questions read whole paragraph - and one or two sentences before and after - without reading the sentence to be moved to ensure you understand the overall logical flow
For "transition" questions, understand the relationship between the two sentences/paragraphs (Contrast. Continue, or Cause/Effect) and come up with your own answer to question BEFORE looking at choices; look for answer that best aligns with your own answer.
Commas, dashes, colons, semicolons = tread carefully. (This topic could be an entire cheat-sheet on its own.)
Always ensure parallel construction. ALWAYS.
Understand graphics before reading questions; underline exactly what the question is asking; note any differences in units/measures between graphic and wording of question/answer; come up with your own answer before reading choices
Circle any question where you're not 100% sure... come back to those when done with the rest. Re-read and re-do those questions rather than just confirming the answer you chose previously.
MATH
Underline/circle exactly what the question is asking for, noting any head-fakes such as a change in units, signs, direction, expression using the variable or other curveball
Write out all your work so you can check all your work
Determine likely answer before looking at available options
Think through the approach before using your calculator
Double check before going to next question
Circle any question where you're not 100% sure... come back to those when done with the rest. Re-read and re-do those questions rather than just confirming the answer you chose previously.
