Master the SAT 2014 - Peterson 39 s

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Peterson’s

Master the

SAT

2014

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About Pe te rson’s

Peterson’s provides the accurate, dependable, high-quality education content and guidance you need to succeed. No matter where you are on your

academic or professional path, you can rely on Peterson’s print and digital publications for the most up-to-date education exploration data, expert test-prep tools, and top-notch career success resources —everything you need to achieve your goals. For more information, contact Peterson’s, 3 Columbia Circle, Suite 205, Albany, NY 12203-5158; 800-338-3282 Ext. 54229; or find us online at

www.petersonsbooks.com.

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Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Bernadette Webster, Managing Editor; Ray Golaszewski, Publishing Operations Manager; Linda M. Williams, Composition Manager

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the publisher.

For permission to use material from this text or product, complete the Permission Request Form at

http://www.petersons.com/permissions. e-ISBN-13: 978-0-7689-3816-6 Fourteenth Edition

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Petersonspublishing.com/publishingupdates

Check out our website at

www.petersonspublishing.com/publishingupdates

to see if there is any new information regarding the test and any revisions or corrections to the content of this book. We’ve made sure the

information in this book is accurate and up-to-date; however, the test format or content may have changed since the time of publication.

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Whether you have three long months or just four short weeks to prepare for the exam, Peterson’s Master the SAT will help you develop a study plan that caters to your individual needs and personal timetable. These step-by-step plans are easy to follow and remarkably effective. No matter which plan you select, begin by taking a diagnostic practice test.

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THE

DIAGNOSTIC

PRACTICE TEST

AND PROCESS

The diagnostic practice test does more than give you testing experience. Easy-to-use diagnostic tables help you track your performance, identify your

strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement. At the end of the diagnostic testing process, you will know which question formats are giving

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you the most difficulty: multiple-choice math or grid-ins, sentence completions, identifying sentence errors, or

improving paragraphs. You will also know which topics to review in depth and which ones you can spend less time on, whether they are algebra or

geometry, essay writing, or subject-verb agreement. By understanding your testing profile, you can immediately address your weak areas by working through the relevant review chapters, learning the important test-taking tips, and completing the additional practice exercises.

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Alternate Uses of the

Practice Tests

When you have completed your formal review, take the practice tests to

sharpen your skills further. Even if you understand the SAT perfectly, you still need to practice applying the methods you have learned in Peterson’s Master

the SAT. Take the practice tests under

simulated test conditions. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted, set a timer for the required time for each section, and work through each test as though it were test day. This will help you to get used to the time limits

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and to learn to pace yourself. If you don’t have time to take full-length practice tests, Peterson’s Master the

SAT explains how to use timing drills to

take shorter sections of the exams to combat your weaknesses, work on your pacing, and increase your level of confidence.

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COMPREHENSIVE

ANSWER

EXPLANATIONS

At the end of each practice session, read all the answers and explanations, even for the questions that you

answered correctly. There are

comprehensive explanations for every one of the book’s 1,000+ questions! By reading the answer explanations, you can learn from your mistakes.

You’ll also find that Peterson’s Master

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issues” other books ignore. For

example, it addresses questions such as:

• How is the SAT really used for

college admission?

• When should you take the test? • How many times should you plan to

take the SAT?

• Do all SAT scores “count” in the

college admissions game? By addressing these questions,

Peterson’s Master the SAT debunks

prevailing myths and helps you put the SAT into its proper perspective. It also serves as your “college guidance

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counselor,” giving you the expert advice you need to apply to college. And when you think about it, that’s our number-one goal here. Our objective is to help you dramatically raise your scores so that you can maximize the likelihood of getting into the college of your choice.

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SPECIAL STUDY

FEATURES

Peterson’s Master the SAT was

designed to be as user-friendly as it is complete. It includes several features to make your preparation easier. By taking full advantage of all the features

presented in Peterson’s Master the

SAT, you will become much more

comfortable with the SAT and considerably more confident about getting a good score.

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Each chapter begins with a bulleted overview listing the topics that will be covered in the chapter. You know immediately where to look for a topic that you need to work on.

Summing It Up

Each strategy chapter ends with a point-by-point summary that captures the most important points. The summaries are a convenient way to review the content of these strategy chapters.

Bonus Information

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margins of your book for the following test-prep tools:

Note

Notes highlight critical information

about the SAT format—for example, that the answers in the multiple-choice math section always go from smaller to larger.

Tip

Tips draw your attention to valuable

concepts, advice, and shortcuts for tackling the SAT. By reading the tips, you will learn how to approach

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different question types, use process-of-elimination techniques, pace yourself, and guess most effectively.

Alert!

Wherever you need to be careful of a common pitfall or test-taker trap, you’ll find an Alert! This information reveals and eliminates the misperceptions and wrong turns many people take on the exam.

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PHOTO

IDENTIFICATION

Which current and valid photo ID will you bring?

Some acceptable examples include:

• State-issued driver’s license • State-issued nondriver ID • School identification card

• Passport (Required in India, Ghana,

Nepal, Nigeria, and Pakistan)

• Government-issued ID

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school

• Talent Identification Program

ID/Authorization to Test Form (grades seven and eight only); photo not

required

*Your school can prepare an ID form for you. This form must include a recognizable photo, and the school seal must overlap the photo. Sign the ID form in the presence of your counselor or principal. You will be asked to sign the ID form again at the test center. This form must be dated and is good only for one year.

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ACCESS THREE

SAT TESTS

ONLINE

Peterson’s is providing you with access to three additional SAT practice tests. The testing content on these three practice tests was created by the test-prep experts at Peterson’s. The

Peterson’s online testing experience resembles the testing experience you will find on the actual SAT exam. You can access these three practice tests at

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We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about this publication. Your feedback will help us make educational dreams possible for you—and others like you.

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ULTIMATE

WORD SUCCESS

Sharpen your skills with hundreds of exercises and practice test questions using our Ultimate Word Success eBook. Go to

www.petersonspublishing.com and click on the link to access your complimentary copy.

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YOU’RE WELL

ON YOUR WAY

TO SUCCESS

Remember that knowledge is power. By using Peterson’s Master the SAT, you will be studying the most

comprehensive SAT-preparation guide available, and you will become

extremely knowledgeable about the SAT. We look forward to helping you raise your SAT scores and improve your college prospects. Good luck!

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GIVE US YOUR

FEEDBACK

Peterson’s publishes a full line of books — test prep, career preparation,

education exploration, and financial aid. Peterson’s publications can be found at high school guidance offices, college libraries and career centers, and your local bookstore and library. Peterson’s books are now also

available as eBooks and online at

www.petersonsbooks.com. We welcome any comments or

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suggestions you may have about this publication. Your feedback will help us make educational dreams possible for you—and others like you.

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TOP 10

STRATEGIES

TO RAISE

YOUR SCORE

When it comes to taking the SAT, some test-taking skills will do you more good than others. There are concepts you can learn and techniques you can follow that will help you do your best. Here’s our pick for the top 10 strategies to raise

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your score:

1. Create a study plan and follow it. The right SAT

study plan will help you get the most out of this book in whatever time you have.

2. Don’t get stuck on any one question. Since you have a

specific amount of time to answer questions, you can’t afford to spend too much time on any one problem.

3. Learn the directions in advance. If you already

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won’t have to waste your time reading them. You’ll be able to jump right in and start answering questions as soon as the testing clock begins.

4. For the essay, it’s

important to develop your ideas and express them clearly, using examples to back them up. Your essay

doesn’t have to be

grammatically perfect, but it does have to be focused and organized.

5. For the writing multiple-choice questions, think

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about the simplest, clearest way to express an idea. If an

answer choice sounds awkward or overly

complicated, chances are good that it’s wrong.

6. For sentence completions, as you read, try to predict what word should go in each blank. Sometimes you can

guess the meaning of one blank, but not the other. In that case, scan the answer choices, look for a word that’s similar to the one you’ve predicted, and then

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eliminate the answer choices that don’t match up.

7. For reading comprehension questions, skim the passage to see what it’s about. Don’t

worry about the details; you can always look them up later if you need to. Look for the main ideas, and then tackle the questions that direct you straight to the answer by referring you to a specific line in the passage. If you have time afterward, you can try solving the harder

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8. For the math multiple-choice questions, you’re allowed to use a calculator, but it won’t help you unless you know how to approach the problems. If you’re

stuck, try substituting

numbers for variables. You can also try plugging in numbers from the answer choices. Start with the middle number. That way, if it

doesn’t work, you can strategically choose one that’s higher or lower.

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come up with the answer and fill it into a grid. Unlike

the multiple-choice questions, you won’t be

penalized for wrong answers, so make your best guess even if you’re not sure.

10. Finally, relax the night before the test. Don’t cram.

Studying at the last minute will only stress you out. Go to a movie or hang out with a friend—anything to get your mind off the test!

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THE

PSYCHOLOGY

OF

STANDARDIZED

TEST-TAKING

If you’re sweating about your upcoming SAT test, you can turn your anxiety toward French psychologist Alfred Binet. At the turn of the twentieth century, Binet sought to help his troubled students do better in school. He wanted a test that would allow

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educators to identify students who had learning disabilities. His quest was to separate “normal” children from the “abnormal” ones. In 1905, Binet created the first standardized test to determine intelligence now known as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, or the IQ test. Thanks to Binet, we’ve been homogenizing intelligence ever since.

Testing You Against Others

When you’re studying for the SAT, know that the exam does not test you as an individual. Instead, the SAT seeks to determine how you rate educationally

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against your peers. Like all

standardized tests, the SAT uses a

universal standard that has been created to equalize education results. Knowing this fact is ESSENTIAL to doing well on the SAT. Remember, the test isn’t about what you know; it’s about what the test-creators THINK you should know. And in that fact sits your secret weapon. This book, Peterson’s Master

the SAT, breaks down in fascinating

detail what knowledge the test-creators are seeking from you. Study it. Practice it, and you will do well.

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understand the psychology of

standardized test-taking. It includes details about the subtext of standardized tests, how they are created, what they’re designed to do, and how knowing

certain tools can help you save time and do better. This knowledge of the

psychology to test-taking combined with the other test-taking strategies that are further dissected in this book will give you an advantage come SAT test day.

Testing Your Test IQ

One of the major factors in doing well on standardized tests is the ability to

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take tests. Yeah, this sounds like some made-up conundrum, but it’s really not. Believe it or not: test-creators have a tough job. They have to create a fair, equitable, and standard test that will adequately determine the educational ability of a teenager who lives on a farm in Missouri and a fashionista

living in Brooklyn. Because of this, they usually have to homogenize the test. This means they develop a test-creation formula.

For example, instead of randomly

creating algebraic questions on the math section, they create easy questions first

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and end with the more difficult ones. This is a pattern you’ll find in most, if not all standardized tests. The SAT is no different.

Another test-creation strategy for

multiple-choice questions is to have an answer that is ALMOST identical to the right answer. Some people call this a “trap,” or a “trick,” but really it’s designed to test your concentration and focus, not to make you cry. Here are some other test-creation patterns:

• Easy wrong answers—With a

multiple choice exam like the SAT, test-creators will always throw in

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answers that cannot possibly be right. If they didn’t, test-takers would waste too much time and the test could be called biased. This is good news for you because it allows you to eliminate answers quickly. And when we say eliminate, we mean literally cross them out and move on. When stumped, most test-takers waste time trying EVERY answer to see if it’s the right one. DON’T DO THIS. You will waste too much time. Instead, look for the WRONG answers first, the ones that couldn’t possibly be right. Eliminate them, and you’ve raised

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your odds of being right from 20 percent (one out of five) to possibly even 50 percent (one out of two). The more answers you eliminate, the better your odds are of getting the question right. See how that works?

• Questionable/Directional Hijinks —Test-creators strive to put barriers

between test-takers and a perfect score. They can’t do this just by making the test too difficult. No one would pass. Instead, they inject what we’ll call “queasy questioning” to trip students up. Maybe the question is wordier than it should be. Or it can

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seem to ask for one answer but is really asking for another. Don’t fall for this. Often, this “queasy

questioning” is made during the reading comprehension or math

sections. The test-creator will write a question in a complicated way or ask for “less” or “more,” and the test-taker will gloss right over important words. Countless questions are answered wrong because a student didn’t comprehend the question being asked. When in doubt always READ

THE QUESTION. Reading the

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you choose the right answer every time. (This advice isn’t to be confused with the rule “Don’t read the

directions.” You’ll learn more about that later in the book.)

• Too Big to Fail—Remember

standardized tests are designed to test a standard of knowledge. If everyone failed this standard, the test would be criticized. So the SAT is essentially “too big to fail” you. Test-creators did not design the test to fail you. They designed the test to prevent you from scoring too high. That means you will get many answers right on this

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test just by that fact alone. But if you study this book and glean what

knowledge you’re being tested on and practice timed testing, you will do better. What you need to do is to master the test subject matter and remember the test-taking strategies outlined in this chapter and throughout this book. The only way to master these strategies is to PRACTICE TAKING THE TEST. Make sure you use the Diagnostic Test to determine your weak areas. Focus your energy on those areas where you need the most practice, and help boost your

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score. Then, PRACTICE,

PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Whew, that’s a lot of information! But hopefully it will help you understand a bit better the behind-the-scenes

elements of standardized testing. Now that you know these test-creation

secrets, you’re armed to do battle with the SAT. Good luck!

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LOW SAT

SCORES DON’T

KILL COLLEGE

DREAMS

The SAT instills fear in every teenager who dreams of going to college. For many of the 3 million students who will take the test this year at more than 7,000 test centers in 170 countries, the SAT will be the first high-stakes intelligence bet they make.

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prizes and entrances to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the land. Score low and students can win tuition prizes and entrances to some really good schools. Huh? Wait a

minute. Isn’t a low SAT score the end of the world? Not anymore! Boy, how times have changed.

Some Schools

De-emphasizing SAT

Though a high SAT score still remains an important factor in a student’s

college entrance application,

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are de-emphasizing the merit of such a score. The result is that students with low SAT scores, but high achievement in other activities, are getting a second look by colleges and universities. Research suggests that a desire to diversify the student body, boost

enrollment numbers, and, yes, get more people paying to go to college has pushed many schools away from

depending so much on a student’s SAT score.

The wave of de-emphasizing the SAT score isn’t just for second-tier, come-one-come-all schools either. Some

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prestigious universities, such as Barbara Walters’ alma mater Sarah Lawrence College, do not require students take the SAT. And in what is called the “Test Flexible” option, nearly 40 percent of the 875 accredited four-year colleges give students the opportunity to submit other proof of educational ability, such as Advanced Placement or International

Baccalaureate test scores. Over the years, a growing number of top-tier schools have jumped on the test-flexible bandwagon.

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mastering the SAT is a boon to your college hopes, scoring low on the SAT won’t kill them. So how does your college dream live on in the wake of a low SAT score? Check out these tips:

Do Well on Your AP

®

Exams

Many schools offer students the

opportunity to submit their Advanced Placement (AP®_{) scores or college}

credit earned in high school as proof of their ability to do well at a college or university. So if you are in Advanced Placement classes or are taking college

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courses in high school, concentrate on doing well so that you can balance out your low SAT score. Remember, the SAT isn’t about how intelligent you are; it is about how well you understand and take the test itself. That’s why using this book, Peterson’s Master the SAT, is essential to helping you do well. But just in case something happens on test day, don’t get discouraged. There’s always another way.

Get More Selective About

Your School

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colleges and universities do not require an SAT or ACT score for admissions? This list includes such educational powerhouses as Wake Forest, DePaul University, and the University of

Colorado Boulder, among many others. You can find a current list of schools with flexible testing requirements at

www.fairtest.org. So if your low SAT score is giving you the blues, it may be time to change your college choice.

Get Creative and Get

Money

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on the SAT can help you get a free ride to college. But often the score has to be so high that many test-takers have no chance to pay for college this way. Yet you can still get scholarship money even if your test scores are low and your GPA isn’t stellar. In the book The

“C” Student’s Guide to Scholarships,

author Felicia Hatcher writes how she earned $100,000 in scholarships, even though her GPA fluttered between 2.1 and 2.7. The book’s best takeaway is: You are more than your grades. You are a volunteer. You are a tutor. You are a worker. You are a budding engineer,

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photographer, programmer, dancer, artist, singer, writer. Be creative as you relay your achievements to others, and you can find money from private and public scholarship options to pay for your education.

Be Well and Prosper

Make no mistake; scoring well on the SAT will make your quest for a college degree a lot easier. That’s why you need to read this book and take it seriously. But, if for some reason you bet big on the SAT and lose, do not panic. Now you know there are plenty

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of other paths to follow to college greatness. So be well and prosper. Even with a low SAT score, your college dreams are still alive.

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SAT BASICS

CHAPTER 1: All

About the SAT

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Chapter 1 All About the SAT

OVERVIEW

• How the SAT is used for college admissions

• When you should take the SAT (and SAT Subject Tests)

• How your scores are reported

• How many times should you take the SAT?

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• How to register for the SAT

• Get to know the SAT format

• Get to know the SAT question types

• SAT critical reading section

• SAT writing section

• SAT math section

• The SAT answer sheet

• How the SAT is scored

• Strategies for SAT success

• Educated guessing will boost your score!

• Make an SAT study plan

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• Getting ready: the night before and the day of the test

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HOW THE SAT IS

USED FOR

COLLEGE

ADMISSIONS

The explicitly stated purpose of the SAT is to predict how students will perform academically as first-year college

students. But the more practical purpose of the SAT is to help college admissions officers make acceptance decisions. When you think about it, admissions officers have a difficult job, particularly

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when they are asked to compare the academic records of students from different high schools in different parts of the country taking different classes. It’s not easy to figure out how one student’s grade point average (GPA) in New Mexico correlates with that of another student in Florida. Even though admissions officers can do a good deal of detective work to fairly evaluate candidates, they benefit a great deal from the SAT. The SAT provides a single, standardized means of

comparison. After all, virtually every student takes the SAT, and the SAT is

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the same for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you hail from Maine, Maryland, or Montana.

So the SAT is an important test. But it is not the be-all, end-all. Keep it in

perspective! It is only one of several important pieces of the college

admissions puzzle. Other factors that weigh heavily into the admission process include GPA, difficulty of course load, level of extracurricular involvement, and the strength of the college application itself.

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TIP

Are you starting to prepare a little later than you had planned? Don’t get upset; it happens. Using the accelerated course, you should be able to cover most of the material within a month. You probably won’t have much time to practice, but you’ll get the most important facts about the test and be able to take a few sample exams.

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WHEN YOU

SHOULD TAKE

THE SAT (AND

SAT SUBJECT

TESTS)

When you decide which schools you’re going to apply to, find out if they require the SAT. Most do! Your next step is to determine when they need your SAT scores. Write that date down. That’s the one you really don’t want to miss. You do have some leeway in choosing

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your test date. The SAT is typically offered on one Saturday morning in October, November, December, January, March (or April, alternating), May, and June. Check the exact dates to see which ones meet your deadlines. To do this, count back six weeks from each deadline, because that’s how long it takes Educational Testing Service (ETS) to score your test and send out the

results.

What if you don’t know which schools you want to apply to? Don’t panic! Even if you take the exam in December or January of your senior year, you’ll

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probably have plenty of time to send your scores to most schools.

When you plan to take the SAT, there is something even more important than the application deadlines of particular schools. You need to select a test date that works best with your schedule. Ideally, you should allow yourself at least two to three months to use this book to prepare. Many students like to take the test in March of their junior year. That way, they take the SAT several months before final exams, the prom, and end-of-the-year distractions. Taking the test in March also gives

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students early feedback as to how they are scoring. If they are dissatisfied with their scores, there is ample opportunity to take the test again in the spring or following fall. But your schedule might not easily accommodate a March testing. Maybe you’re involved in a winter sport or school play that will take too much time away from SAT studying. Maybe you have a family reunion planned over spring break in March. Or maybe you simply prefer to prepare during a

different time of year. If that’s the case, just pick another date.

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require SAT Subject Tests, here’s one good piece of advice: try to take SAT Subject Tests immediately after you finish the subject(s) in school. For most of you, this means taking the SAT

Subject Tests in June. By taking the exam then, you’ll save an awful lot of review work. Remember this, too: you have to register for the SAT Subject Tests separately, and you can’t take the Subject Tests on the same day as the SAT. So check the dates, think ahead, and plan it out. It’s worth it in the end.

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HOW YOUR

SCORES ARE

REPORTED

After you have taken the SAT, ETS scores your test and creates a score report. We will discuss in detail how the SAT is scored later in this chapter. You and your high school receive score

reports from each SAT and SAT Subject Test that you decide to take.

At the time of registration, you can pick four colleges or universities to also receive your score report. ETS will

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send your scores to these four schools for free. Within nine days of taking the test, you can change your school

selection. If you want to send more than four reports or change your mind more than nine days after your test date, you will have to pay for it.

If you decide to take the SAT, or any SAT Subject Test, more than once, ETS offers you the option to decide which scores to send to the schools you’ve picked—scores from one, several, or all test dates. You may only designate the test date or dates for your score reports; you cannot designate individual test

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sections. In other words, if you take the SAT in October, December, and March, you cannot pick the Verbal score from October, Math score from December, and Essay score from March and tell ETS to send those results to the schools of your choice. You can only choose whether ETS should send your complete results from one, two, or all three test dates.

If you choose not to take advantage of this option, ETS will send all of your scores to the schools you’ve selected. However, no score reports will ever be sent without your specific consent. ETS

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will send e-mail reminders to you and your counselor, asking which scores you want to send, so you have time to make a decision at the time you take the SAT. You can find more information about this and how colleges and universities use your score reports on the website

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HOW MANY

TIMES SHOULD

YOU TAKE THE

SAT?

Different colleges evaluate the SAT in different ways. Some take your highest math, critical reading, and writing scores, even if they were earned on different test days. So if you nailed the math portion in March, the verbal portion in October, and the writing in December, the colleges will combine

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those three numbers to maximize your overall score. However, many other colleges won’t do that. Some pay most attention to your highest combined score from a single day. Many others will average all of your scores or lend equal weight to all of them.

So what does this mean? It means that you should only take the SAT when you are truly prepared. There is nothing wrong with taking the SAT two or three times, as long as you are confident that your scores will improve substantially each time. Let’s say that you scored a 1720 on your first SAT. If you would

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have been thrilled to have hit 1740, it’s probably not worth taking the test again. Most colleges look at SAT scores in ranges and will not hold 20 points

against you. They understand that scoring 1720 means that you were only one or two questions away from 1740. But if you scored 1720 and expected to score closer to 1900 or 2000 based on

practice testing, then you should probably retake the exam. In other words, it is of little value to take the SAT multiple times if you expect to earn roughly the same score. But it is

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significantly higher on a second or third try. For more advice about this, see your high school guidance counselor.

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HOW TO

REGISTER FOR

THE SAT

You should register for the SAT at least six weeks before your testing date. That way you will avoid late registration fees and increase your chances of taking the exam at your first-choice testing center. You can register through the mail by completing the SAT registration form found inside the annual SAT bulletin. Your high school guidance office should have plenty of extra copies of the SAT

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bulletin. If you’d like, you can also register online or by phone. Be sure to have a credit card handy to charge the fee. Check out the College Board’s website, www.collegeboard.com, for more information.

TIP

The questions in a set usually go from the easiest to the hardest. Try to go through the easy ones quickly but carefully. The exception

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to the easiest-to-hardest rule is the critical

reading questions. These follow the development of the passage.

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GET TO KNOW

THE SAT

FORMAT

The SAT consists of sections on

mathematical reasoning, critical reading, and writing. There are eight sections that count toward your accumulated score and one—the wild card—that does not. The wild card, formally known as the experimental, section can be math, critical reading, or writing. This is the part of the test where ETS—the

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questions that might be used on future tests. Even though the wild card section doesn’t count toward your score, you won’t know which section it is. ETS does this on purpose. It knows that if you knew which section didn’t count, you probably wouldn’t try your hardest on it. So you’ll have to do your best on all the sections.

The sections are timed to range from 20 to 35 minutes. The whole test, including the experimental section, takes 3 hours and 45 minutes. Don’t worry. There are breaks. The following chart gives you an idea of what to expect. Note that the

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order of the sections will vary and are mixed so that you may have a math section followed by a critical reading section followed by a writing section. You won’t have all the math sections grouped together and then both writing sections.

TIP

On the SAT, all questions count the same. You won’t get more points for answering a really

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difficult math question than you will get for answering a very simple sentence completion question. Remember that when you’re

moving through the test. The more time you

spend wrestling with the answer to one

“stumper,” the less time you have to whip

through several easier questions.

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TEST

Critical Reading Time—Total: 70 minutes

• Two 25-minute sections • One 20-minute section

Content—Reading Comprehension questions based on:

• Single paragraphs • Longer passages • Paired paragraphs • Paired longer passages • Sentence-level reading Question Types

• Multiple-choice with 5 answer choices • Critical reading

• Sentence completions Score: 200–800

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Time—Total: 60 minutes • 25-minute essay

• One 25-minute multiple-choice section • One 10-minute multiple-choice section Content

• Grammar and usage • Word choice (diction) Question Types

• Multiple-choice with 5 answer choices • Identifying sentence errors

• Improving sentences • Improving paragraphs • Student-written essay

Score: 200–800; essay subscore 2–12 Math

Time—Total: 70 minutes • Two 25-minute sections • One 20-minute section Content

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• Algebra I • Algebra II • Geometry

• Data analysis, statistics, probability Question Types

• Multiple-choice with 5 answer choices • Student-produced responses (grid-ins)

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GET TO KNOW

THE SAT

QUESTION

TYPES

The question types in the SAT don’t cover a wide variety of topics. They are very limited—no science, no world languages, no social studies. You’ll find only questions testing reading

comprehension, writing skills, and math skills—skills that you’ve been working on since kindergarten.

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Most of the questions are multiple choice. That’s good, because it means the correct answer is right there on the page for you. You just have to find it— easier said than done sometimes, but true. Only the math grid-ins and the

essay are student-produced answers. For the grid-ins, you’ll need to do the

calculations and then fill in bubbles on the answer sheet to show your answers. (More about the bubbles later in this chapter.) The following pages provide you with a closer look at the question types and question formats that you will find in each section of the SAT.

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SAT CRITICAL

READING

SECTION

The critical reading section tests your reading comprehension, critical reading skills, and vocabulary. All the questions are multiple choice. The critical reading section may be a mix of sets of sentence-completion questions and sets of

questions relating to paragraphs and/or longer passages.

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Just as the name implies, sentence completions are fill-in-the-blank questions. They may have one or two blanks. Your job is to analyze the

answer choices and choose the word or words that best fit each blank. The questions test how well you can use context clues and word meanings to complete a sentence.

The directions for SAT sentence completion questions look like this:

Directions: Each of the following

sentences contains one or two blank spaces to be filled in by one of the five choices listed below each sentence.

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Select the word or words that best complete the meaning of the sentence. Here are three sample SAT sentence completion questions. Try each one on your own, before you read the

explanation that accompanies it.

Many hours of practice are

required of a successful musician, so it is often not so much

________ as ________ that distinguishes the professional from the amateur.

(A) genius .. understanding (B) money .. education

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(C) talent .. discipline (D) fortitude .. mediocrity (E) technique .. pomposity

The sentence gives you a clue about the correct answer. The “not so much . . . as . . .” lets you know that there is some kind of contrast here. Choices (B) and (C) both show a contrast, but choice (C) is the only one that makes sense in the sentence. The correct answer is (C).

The sudden death of the world-renowned leader ________ his

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followers, but it ________ his former opponents.

(A) saddened .. devastated (B) shocked .. encouraged (C) depressed .. tempered (D) satisfied .. aided

(E) prostrated .. depressed

The word but is your clue that the word in the second blank will contrast with the word in the first blank. Only the words shocked and encouraged offer the logical contrast that is expected between the feelings of followers and opponents on the death of a leader. The

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correct answer is (B).

Despite his valor on the football field, the star athlete ________ when forced to take a flu shot.

(A) relaxed (B) trembled (C) hustled (D) sidled

(E) embellished

The word despite is your clue that the athlete will do something less than

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Trembled completes the sentence and

continues the strong tone of irony. The

correct answer is (B).

Reading

Comprehension

SAT reading comprehension questions present a passage that you’ll read before answering questions about it. The

passage may be a single paragraph, paired paragraphs, one long passage, or paired long passages. The questions follow the order in which the

information appears in the passage. The passage can be about almost anything,

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and the questions test how well you understand the passage and the

information in it. The answer to every question is either directly stated or implied in the reading selection.

NOTE

In SAT critical reading questions, the answers will always be directly stated or implied in the passage.

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The directions for reading

comprehension questions look like the following:

Directions: The passage below is

followed by a set of questions. Read the passage and answer the accompanying questions, basing your answer on what is stated or implied in the passage.

Here is a sample of what to expect in the way of passages. This is about the length of a single paragraph passage.

The following passage discusses the mythical island of Atlantis.

A legendary island in the Atlantic Ocean beyond the Pillars of Hercules

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was first mentioned by Plato in the Timaeus. Atlantis was a fabulously beautiful and prosperous land, the seat of an empire 9,000 years before

Solon. Its inhabitants overran part of Europe and Africa, Athens alone being able to defy them. Because of the impiety of its people, the island was destroyed by an earthquake and inundation.

5

The legend may have existed before Plato and may have sprung from the concept of Homer’s Elysium. The possibility that such an island once existed has caused much speculation, resulting in a theory that

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pre-Columbian civilizations in America were established by colonists from the lost island.

The main purpose of the passage is to discuss

(A) the legend of Atlantis. (B) Plato’s description of

Atlantis in the Timaeus.

(C) the conquests made by

citizens of Atlantis.

(D) the possibility that the

Americas were settled by colonists from Atlantis.

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The main purpose should be represented by an overall statement. While the

details in choices (B), (C), (D), and (E) are all mentioned in the text, choice (A) is the only overall statement. The

correct answer is (A).

According to the passage, we may safely conclude that the

inhabitants of Atlantis

(A) were known personally to

Homer.

(B) were a peace-loving people

who stayed close to home.

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superstitious people.

(D) used the name Columbus for

America.

(E) were never visited by Plato.

At the time Plato mentioned Atlantis, it was already legendary. Therefore, Plato could not have visited the island. The

correct answer is (E).

According to the legend, Atlantis was destroyed because the

inhabitants

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food supply.

(B) failed to conquer Greece. (C) failed to respect their gods. (D) believed in Homer’s

Elysium.

(E) had become too prosperous.

The only cause that’s mentioned in the passage is the impiety of the people of Atlantis. The correct answer is (C).

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SAT WRITING

SECTION

The SAT writing test consists of multiple-choice questions and one student-produced essay. The multiple-choice questions test how well you understand and use Standard Written English. The questions are divided into the following topics:

• Identifying sentence errors • Improving sentences

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Identifying Sentence

Errors

Identifying sentence error questions provide you with four possible errors in a single sentence to correct. You must decide which underlined portion, if any, is incorrect. The directions for

identifying sentence errors look something like the following:

Directions: The sentences below

contain errors in grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom. Parts of each

sentence are underlined and lettered. Decide which underlined part contains the error and circle its letter. If the

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sentence is correct as it stands, circle E under “No error.” No sentence contains more than one error. Here are some examples.

In cases of comparison of two things, the comparative form of the adjective must be used. The comparative form of the word good is better. Only where there are three or more things being compared should the superlative form be used. The

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correct answer is (D).

Laying is the present participle of lay

(“to put in place,” “to set, as a table”).

Lying is the present participle of lie (“to

recline,” “to remain in position,” “to remain motionless”), which should be used here. The correct answer is (B).

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The sentence is correct as written. Be careful on the real SAT. Answer choice (E) does not come up more than a couple of times. If you pick that answer choice more than that, go back and reconsider your choices. The correct answer is

(E).

Improving Sentences

Improving sentence questions test how well you know and use standard

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punctuation and grammar. Some

questions also assess your ability to spot and revise wordiness. The directions look something like the following:

Directions: The sentences below

contain problems in grammar, sentence construction, word choice, and

punctuation. Part or all of each sentence is underlined. Select the lettered answer that contains the best version of the underlined section. Answer (A) always repeats the original underlined section exactly. If the sentence is correct as it stands, select choice (A). Circle the letter that appears before your answer.

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The reason we stopped fishing was because the fish had already stopped biting.

(A) because the fish had already

stopped biting

(B) because the fish had all ready

stopped biting

(C) that the fish had already

stopped biting

(D) that the fish had all ready

stopped biting

(E) because the fish had stopped

biting already

The conjunction “because” makes no sense following “reason.” A subordinate

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conjunction like “that” or “why” makes better logic. Choice (D) is wrong because “all ready” is not an adverb.

The correct answer is (C).

Ignorance of the law does not preclude you from being arrested for a misdemeanor.

(A) preclude you from being

arrested

(B) prevent you from being

innocent

(C) preclude you from being

innocent

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(E) preclude your being arrested

“Preclude” should not be confused with “prevent.” The idea of preventing

something from happening in advance differs from mere prevention “on the spot.” Choice (D) is correct usage since the genitive your precedes the participle

being, but it changes the meaning of the

original sentence. The correct answer

is (E).

The textbook was poorly written, outdated, and with errors.

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(A) with errors (B) with mistakes (C) factually incorrect (D) showing errors (E) being erroneous

Factually incorrect is needed to

parallel poorly written, outdated. The

correct answer is (C).

Improving Paragraphs

For this set of questions, you will be given passages about which you’ll read and answer questions. The passages are supposed to imitate a first draft, and

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your job is to revise and improve it. Questions may relate to individual sentences, paragraphs, or the essay as a whole. The directions are similar to the following:

Directions: Questions 1–3 are based on

a passage that might be an early draft of a student’s essay. Some sentences in this draft need to be revised or rewritten to make them both clear and correct. Read the passage carefully, then answer the questions that follow it. Some questions require decisions about diction, usage, tone, or sentence structure in particular sentences or parts of sentences. Other questions require decisions about

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organization, development, or

appropriateness of language in the essay as a whole. For each question, choose the answer that makes the intended meaning clearer and more precise and that follows the conventions of Standard Written English.

(1) Is television an enhancer of or a deterrent to education? (2) Some educators feel that, properly managed, television can open up educational vistas to children and expose them to ideas; others say that television stifles activity and turns children into passive creatures. (3) Certainly most people will agree that television is here to stay and that parents must accept the

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fact that their children are going to watch programs and they will have to deal with it. (4) By this, they must learn first of all what kind of

programs are available and also the time schedule. (5) Perhaps they will have to preview programs. (6) Then parents must decide which programs will be beneficial for children.

In relation to the entire passage, which of the following best

describes the writer’s intention in sentence (2).

(A) To evaluate an opinion set

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(B) To point out a difference of

opinion regarding the opening sentence

(C) To restate the opening

sentence

(D) To provide examples

(E) To summarize contradictory

evidence

The first sentence, phrased as a question, presents the two opposing views of television vis-à-vis education. The second sentence rephrases this by using the two camps of educators, the first viewing it as an enhancer and the second

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viewing it as a deterrent to education. Thus, sentence (2) restates the first sentence. The correct answer is (C).

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence (3) below?

Certainly most people will agree that television is here to stay and that parents must accept the fact that their children are going to watch programs and they will have to deal with it.

(A) will have to deal with their

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(B) will as a result be forced to

accept their children as they watch television.

(C) must accept and deal with

their children if they watch television.

(D) must accept this, children

will watch television and this must be handled.

(E) will have to deal with their

children since they will watch television.

The underlined portion is awkward and wordy, and it ends with a pronoun whose antecedent is not clear. Choice

Master the SAT 2014 - Peterson 39 s

Peterson’s

Master the

SAT

2014

Petersonspublishing.com/publishingupdates

Table of Contents

Before You Begin

How This Book is Organized

The Diagnostic Practice Test

and Process

Comprehensive Answer

Explanations

Special Study Features

Photo Identification

Access Three SAT Tests

Online

You’re Well on Your Way to

Success

Top 10 Strategies to Raise

Your Score

The Psychology of

Standardized Test-Taking

Low SAT Scores Don’t Kill

College Dreams

PART I: SAT Basics

All About the SAT

Overview

How the SAT is Used for

College Admissions

When You Should Take the

SAT (and SAT Subject Tests)

How Your Scores are

Reported

How Many Times Should You

Take the SAT?

How to Register for the SAT

Get to Know the SAT Format

Get to Know the SAT

Question Types

SAT Critical Reading Section

SAT Writing Section

How the SAT is Scored

Strategies for SAT Success

Educated Guessing Will Boost

Your Score!

Make an SAT Study Plan

Measuring Your Progress

Getting Ready: The Night

Before and the Day of the

Test

Summing It Up

PART II: Diagnosing Strengths

and Weaknesses

Preparing to Take the

Diagnostic Test

Practice Test 1: Diagnostic

Answer Explanations

Computing Your Scores

Pinpointing Relative Strengths

And Weaknesses

Conversion Scales

Self-Evaluation Charts

Measuring Your Progress

PART III: SAT Critical

Reading Strategies

Strategies

A Closer Look at Sentence

Completions

Basic Steps for Solving

Sentence Completions

Strategies for Tackling the

Most Difficult Sentence

Completions

Exercises: Sentence

Completions

Answer Explanations

Summing It Up

Reading Strategies

A Closer Look at Critical