What Is SAT Verbal? How to Raise Your Reading Score?

Indian students (NRI), if you have found interest in this article, then it means you are already familiar with the term SAT Verbal.

Well! It is an outdated and older term used to describe the SAT Reading and Writing section. Being it has amended, but the content of the SAT Verbal section is still imperative today.

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What is SAT Verbal?

Before 2005, the international SAT test had only two sections- Verbal and Math. These were scored on a scale of 200-800. It means composite scores were ranged from 400-1600. But until 2015, the SAT had three sections- Maths, Writing, and Critical Reading. After this, in 2016, the college board again comes back to the previous system with scaled composite scores ranging from 400-1600. But in this, there are two sections named as Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.

What Verbal SAT skills are analyzed on the New SAT?

The fact is, only a part of the SAT verbal remains in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section, which includes, passage-based reading questions.  The new international SAT has five passages with questions related to the following topics:

• 2 with a History and Social Studies topic
• 1 with the US and World Literature topic
• 2 with a Science topic

Let’s know more about SAT verbal and can you increase the scores:

1. Recognize the meaning of Vocabulary in Context-

You need to find out the meaning of a particular word given in the context of the passage. Kindly note that there are words, which have multiple meanings and might be, the less common meaning is being tested. For instance: If you will need to answer the word ‘adhere’, then it has multiple meanings such as to believe in, to stick to a surface, to preach, and to run away.

2. Identify the objective of small details in the passage-

In this, you have to answer about a specific line or a detail from a specific time. Besides, you will be asked what a paragraph or phrase is achieved in the context of the whole passage.

3. Conclude the Meaning of a Line or Paragraph or whole Passage-

You need to conclude the meaning of the whole passage or paragraph. Might be, it sounds difficult, but you will not need to answer subjective interpretation. For this, you have to attempt only one accurate answer to these questions.

4. Identify the main point of the passage-

You will need to answer to the overall purpose of the passage. You have to write, is the passage is about to review, inform, parody, contradict, prove, hypothesize?

5. Explain the function of a sentence or phrase in the passage-

You will also need to identify what effect a sentence or phrase has in the passage. To attempt it, you need to be careful as you will need to thoroughly read the whole passage.

If you are getting confused to answer the verbal passages accurately, then you need to take online tutors help, who will make you practicable to the fullest. For this, you need to contact TestPrep as it is the best destination where you can avail an online tutor.

6. Identify the Author’s Voice, Attitude, Tone, Style,  or Perspective-

Again, you will have to answer about authors' Voice, Attitude, Tone, Style,  or Perspective.

7. Identify data or use Scientific Reasoning Skills-

The above skill is new in SAT 2016. In this, you have to identify graphs or charts. For this, you don’t need to be an expert in science or data, you just need to be proficient at reading and interpreting charts and graphs.

8. Ensure Evidence Support-

Again, it is a new addition in SAT 2016. It will come in two sets. The first will ask a question about the passage and other is asked to recognize what exactly you found in the passage of evidence to answer the first question.

In brief, these are not as tough as you're considering. To crack it well along with grabbing the highest marks, you only need to work hard.

Best of Luck!