SAT Slow Readers: Top 3 Tips to Improve Your Score
If you consider yourself a slow reader, the SAT Reading and Writing section might trigger a wave of test anxiety. Trying to process dense summaries of scientific studies, detailed informational passages, and complex literature under a strict time limit sounds like a recipe for running out of time. But here is the good news: The Digital SAT is actually a massive win for slow readers! The legacy paper-and-pencil SAT forced you to read massive, 700-word passages and answer 10 to 11 questions on each. The current Digital SAT completely changed the game. Now, you face short passages (25 to 150 words) with exactly one question per passage.
You do not need to become a speed reader overnight to achieve a good SAT score. You just need to change your approach for reading on the SAT. By shifting to a strategic scanning mindset, you can maximize your accuracy and beat the clock. Keep reading for more information about the SAT Reading and Writing section, then review our expert SAT tips for slow readers.
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About the SAT Reading and Writing Section
The Reading and Writing section consists of two 32-minute modules, for a total of 64 minutes. Each module has 27 questions, for a total of 54 Reading and Writing questions. This gives you about 1 minute per question.
| SAT Reading and Writing Module | Allotted Time (Minutes) | Question Count |
| Module 1 | 32 | 27 |
| Module 2 | 32 | 27 |
| Total | 64 | 54 |
Each question on the SAT Reading and Writing section is accompanied by a short passage, usually a paragraph in length. Some questions may have two short passages on the same topic, and a few will have a bullet-point list of notes on the same topic. Passages will draw on literature, history/social studies, the humanities (e.g., the arts), and science. Some questions will also be accompanied by a graphical representation of data, such as a graph or table.
The SAT Reading and Writing section includes questions in four major content areas: Information and Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions.
SAT Tips for Slow Readers
Keep reading for expert SAT tips for slow readers designed to help you boost your score on the Digital SAT.
SAT Slow Reader Tip #1: Read the question before the passage.
Most students are conditioned to read a passage from top to bottom, left to right. On the Digital SAT, this is a major time-waster. Because every short passage is tied to a single, specific question on the right side of your testing screen, you should always read the question stem first. Reading the question gives your brain a specific mission. If the question asks for the main idea, you know you need to look at the big picture. If it asks you to complete a blank with the best word in context, you can focus on looking for clues that provide the meaning of the missing word.
The payoff: You avoid passively reading 150 words, forgetting what you read, looking at the question, and then having to re-read the entire passage all over again.
SAT Slow Reader Tip #2: Identify transition keywords.
Slow readers often get bogged down trying to comprehend every single noun and adjective in a sentence. To move faster, train your eyes to hunt for transition keywords. These are the words that signal transitions, shifts in logic, or the author’s primary argument.
Here are some examples of transition keywords you will encounter on the Digital SAT:
| SAT Keywords: | What They Signal: |
| however, but, yet, despite, on the other hand | The author is about to change direction. (Pay close attention here!) |
| therefore, thus, as a result, because, consequently | The author is introducing a conclusion or evidence. |
| furthermore, moreover, in addition, also | More of the same argument is coming; you can skim slightly faster. |
| especially, crucial, strictly, above all, indeed | The core point or crucial data is about to be revealed. |
SAT Slow Reader Tip #3: Use strategic guessing.
Each multiple-choice question on the SAT has four answer choices and no incorrect-answer penalty. That means if you have no idea how to approach a question, you have a 25 percent chance of randomly choosing the correct answer. Even though there’s a 75 percent chance of selecting the incorrect answer, you won’t lose any points for doing so. And often, you’ll be able to eliminate one or more choices as incorrect, improving your chances of getting the correct answer even more. The worst that can happen on the SAT is that you’ll earn zero points on a question, which means you should always at least take a guess, even when you have no idea what to do.
Before you take the SAT, pick a single “letter of the day” (for example, always choosing A or always choosing C). If you find yourself running short on time during a test section, rapidly fill in all remaining blank questions with your “letter of the day.” Statistically, picking the exact same letter gives you a higher probability of picking up free points than scattering your guesses randomly.
Free SAT Practice Resources
Looking for more SAT Reading and Writing practice before test day? Check out Kaplan’s free SAT resources.
- SAT Question of the Day: Sign up to receive a free SAT practice question—and detailed answer explanation—in your inbox every day.
- Free Digital SAT Practice Test: See how you’d score on test day by taking our free practice test, and get a detailed report of your strengths and weaknesses.
- Free SAT Trial Class: Take a free sample class with one of our top-rated SAT instructors.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College at Kaplan North America.
