13 Ways to Improve Reading Scores on the SAT®, ACT®, & PSAT Tests

By Kimberly Gibson-Tran

As I coach students for the college admissions exams, they will often ask how to improve reading comprehension performance on the SAT®, PSAT, and ACT® tests.

These questions come as no surprise. The “Reading” section is one of the more daunting segments of the test for many students. These sections contain passages that consist of about 500-750 words, and they tend to slow students down and stress them out.

If you struggle with this aspect of the test, you are not alone! For nearly 30 years, KD College Prep has helped students master these sections of the tests so that they can earn the score needed to attend their dream colleges. Here are our top 13 ways to boost your reading score on the SAT, PSAT, and ACT tests.

1. Improve your timing

While preparing, timing yourself can be helpful. You want to build up your reading speed, and this will take lots of practice if you are naturally a slow reader. The key is to read in a targeted way that helps you find the correct answers quickly.

If you’re a deep reader, you may struggle to manage time efficiently on college admission exams. Deep readers tend to read much more slowly than those who typically “skim” through the text.

While taking in all the details can be helpful, you don’t want to spend so much time reading a passage that you don’t have time to answer all the questions.

On an SAT test, students have 13 minutes to read a single passage and answer 10-11 questions about that passage. Each passage consists of about 500-750 words. Students have to do this five times in a row since there are five passages to cover in this 65 minute section.

On the PSAT test, students have 12 minutes to read a single passage and answer 9-10 corresponding questions. The PSAT reading section will be very similar to the one on the SAT test in terms of format with slightly shorter passages and fewer questions.

On an ACT test, students have a whirlwind of just under nine minutes per 10 questions attached to a passage. They have to complete questions for four passages in 35 minutes.

2. Find a balance when reading

While it is important to be efficient, skimming the content too quickly can hurt your chances of finding the correct answer. You don’t want to have to waste precious time by going back through a passage to pick up on what you missed during the first read-through.

It will take practice, but you need to find the balance between skimming and deep reading. I often tell my students to “glean quickly.” The key here is that sometimes you will need to focus on the details, and other times you’ll need to understand the main idea. Read too fast, and you might miss out on both.

3. Read college-level texts

The answer to this may seem obvious, but the best way to read better is to read more and to read widely in college-level genres. Not only are the questions on the reading section specifically designed to trick students, but passages may be taken from many different time periods and cover a variety of genres at a college reading level.

Keep in mind that while you are prepping for these exams, the big picture is that you are preparing for college classes. Whether or not you choose to major in literature, philosophy, history, or political science, familiarity with important works in the humanities will help you understand the complexities of human societies and give you a well-rounded perspective in STEM fields.

Additionally, many high level college courses are interdisciplinary or have heavy reading loads on their syllabi—think along the lines of 50-70 pages per night—so getting used to gleaning important information quickly is a good strategy for college course loads.

History

For example, a very common genre of passage chosen for the SAT reading section is original American documents from the late 1700s. These documents are usually about the founding of the United States and arguments surrounding the development or ratification of the Constitution. These are documents that exist in the real world and have historical contexts attached to them.

While you won’t be required to know the history to answer questions on the test, familiarizing yourself with these types of arguments and the high-level, legal vocabulary used in them will give you an edge on these passages.

Make the most of the times in school when you are assigned reading in original documents and seek out some of these famous documents (e.g., The Federalist Papers) on your own to get ahead of your peers.

Literature

Similarly, a frequently chosen genre on the exams is prose fiction or literature. On a literature passage, you’ll need to identify characters and characteristics of those characters to answer questions.

You’ll also need to follow dialogue at times. My advice is to choose a popular classic like Little Women or Pride and Prejudice and challenge yourself to read and understand these pieces. Even if you simply watch the movie adaptations of these famous works of literature, you might have a better grasp on the social contexts and dialogue styles covered in these older stories.

Science

Another common genre you’ll encounter on the tests is science. In fact, on the ACT test there is an entire section dedicated to reading and answering questions related to science passages.

Keep in mind that the ACT science section is not a test of your content knowledge. While having a strong scientific foundation may certainly give you more confidence for this section of the test, you do not have to rely solely upon prior scientific knowledge.

Instead, the ACT science section draws heavily on your reading comprehension, data analysis, and critical thinking skills. What’s more, all of the information you need to answer the questions is somewhere on the page; you just have to be able to find it quickly.

On the SAT test, science passages appear in both the reading and writing sections. There is a wide range of scientific topics that may be covered, some that you may be familiar with from high school science and some that you may not be.

While the ACT science section counts for a full quarter of your ACT score, your performance on the science passages on the SAT will be integrated into your reading and writing scores.

While you won’t have to memorize complex scientific formulas for these sections, it will help to have an understanding of the scientific method and the fundamentals of experiment design. It’s important to pay attention during your science courses in high school, as the content you read in these classes could help you become more familiar with science problems on admissions tests.

At KD College Prep, we offer bonus lessons for the ACT science section to help students build understanding of these types of questions.

4. Practice advanced vocabulary

One common way that students prepare for the reading sections on their own is to create flashcards using definitions of commonly tested vocabulary words. Our opinion of this strategy: it is not enough.

An improved reading score will take more than just flipping through a deck of flash cards. Back in the day, the verbal section of the SAT test used to put a heavy emphasis on simply understanding word definitions, but this is no longer the case.

You’ll need to be able to recognize small distinctions between words and how to use context clues to choose the correct synonyms for them. These types of questions can be complex, and you’ll find it more challenging to study for them on your own.

Our experienced curriculum writers have designed a self-paced vocabulary workbook for our students that goes beyond the flash cards. In these units, you’ll find exercises that offer tricky answer choices to build stronger understanding of how to assess word tone and context.

The Vocabulary Workbook is included as extra practice in our test prep programs, and students are provided with teacher explanations for each vocabulary unit.

5. Stay engaged when reading a passage

The passages found in your test booklet are educational, and sometimes you’ll come across a subject that you find uninteresting. After all, the test was written to assess your level of knowledge rather than entertain you.

Believe it or not, your mindset does have an impact on your performance. If you get bored and lose interest while reading, you probably won’t retain any of it. You’ll have to trick your mind into wanting to read the passage. To push yourself in the right direction, try to think about the positives instead of getting frustrated or wishing you were spending your Saturday elsewhere.

Before walking into the test, remember how hard you’ve worked to get here or give yourself an internal pep talk. If you start the test with a positive mindset and remind yourself why you’re there, it will help motivate you to stay focused on the test as a whole, especially when reading a passage.

6. Take notes as you read!

One way to stay engaged while reading is to underline or circle the most important points or take notes while reading through the passage.

Remember, you want to use your time as efficiently as possible! Note-taking becomes helpful when you have to go back and look through the passage to find the correct answer.

7. Start with the questions

While the test is structured to have the reading passage come first, that doesn’t mean you have to start with the reading. Sometimes it’s helpful to read through the questions in advance so that you know what to look for when reading the passage.

Knowing the questions ahead of time makes it easier to take the right notes and can help you move through this section more quickly.

8. Don’t fall for traps

As we already mentioned, the questions on the SAT, PSAT, and ACT tests are carefully written to mislead you. Be conscious of this when reading through each question.

If you familiarize yourself with test material beforehand, you’ll be able to identify these cleverly worded questions. Remember, every right answer adds to your score, so always try to minimize your mistakes whenever possible.

9. Attend test prep classes

Through our instructor-led test prep programs at KD College Prep, we teach logical, effective strategies to help students efficiently analyze and answer questions on these exams. In our verbal lessons, we teach 50 strategies that students can then apply to the test. These strategies show students how to improve reading speed, annotate helpful details, and eliminate weak answer choices.

While there are recurring patterns and question types that students can master with our prep courses, it can take time for a student to grow his or her own proficiency in these areas. This is one of the reasons we recommend starting test prep in 9th or 10th grade (as 11th grade is the big testing year for most students).

Through our Complete™ Program, we work with each individual student on his or her testing timeline to build students’ confidence and control over their test performance.

10. Focus on your weaknesses

If you’re reading this article and have already taken the test for the first time, then this part is for you. After taking the initial test, you should have received a score report that includes an analysis of the questions you missed.

On the SAT score report, you can find this under the “Subscores” section. For example, reading questions are categorized as Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions.

On the PSAT score report, there will be a breakdown of your answers by each section and question. You’ll need to log into the PSAT website to access your subscores.

On the ACT score report, you’ll be able to see the section scores under “Detailed Superscore Results.” From there, you can see which questions you missed under the following categories: Key Ideas & Details, Craft & Structure, Integration of Knowledge & Ideas, and Understanding Complex Texts.

By breaking down your score report, you’ll be able to identify the areas where you need to improve the most. Don’t waste your time studying aspects of the test in which you already scored far above average. Focus on the sections where your score was the lowest.

When registering for a test on select dates, you also have the option to request the answers from the test (although it does cost extra). It never hurts to be able to see exactly which question you missed so that you can avoid these mistakes on future test dates.

Our test prep courses at KD College Prep go over all types of questions on the SAT, PSAT, and ACT tests. If there is a specific question type that you struggle with, we also offer one-on-one tutoring sessions in which an instructor can help you improve in that specific area.

11. Take practice tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for college admissions tests. Why not try to get a feel for the test ahead of time so that you know exactly what to expect on test day?

Students should start taking practice tests as early as 9th grade to give themselves plenty of time to master each type of question found on the tests. We recommend that students take full-length practice tests instead of testing for just one section at a time.

Taking a test is like running a marathon. The first attempt will be a challenge, but over time you’ll build up mental endurance. In other words, it will become easier the more you practice taking tests in their entirety.

KD College Prep offers practice tests in PSAT, SAT, and ACT formats. These allow students to practice in a timed, proctored environment.

12. Give yourself time to prepare

A lot of students don’t like to hear this, but there is no “quick fix” that will instantly boost your test score. These tests are complex, and while there are a variety of strategies you can put into place to improve your overall performance, it will take time to learn how to effectively improve your score.

If you take anything away from this article, let it be this: do not stay up late and “cram” the night before a test. Cramming will just make you more tired and add to your anxiety on test day. For the best results, make sure to plan ahead.

13. Ask for Help

Some students are able to prepare sufficiently for these tests on their own, but many students benefit from having support and guidance throughout the testing process.

If you struggle with reaching your target test score, it may be time to pass the baton to our team of test prep experts. Through a variety of flexible test prep programs, we’ll help you create a flexible prep schedule that works best with your busy routine.

Through our Complete™ Program, we also offer ongoing college planning and guidance seminars to help families stay on track throughout the entire college admissions process.

We’ve been helping students through this process for decades, so let us be a resource for you! To learn more about our test prep or college counseling programs, contact us to schedule your free consultation.

Kimberly Gibson-Tran is an advisor and test prep instructor at KD College Prep.

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Advika R. – Class of 2022

“I shifted toward taking practice tests and going to workshops because I felt those were the best ways to apply the concepts (I was) learning in class. I started applying the tips and tricks that the teachers were showing me in class. In conjunction, those two things helped me raise my score a lot because I was not a math kid before KD or high school. The repetition and being able to practice in a non-stressful environment and simulating that testing experience is something that was very beneficial for me... “The college counseling team was super patient and honest about the work I was submitting. I know for a lot of kids, it’s hard to articulate who you are through 250-300 words. It was definitely... Read more...
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Beth L. – Advanced Start™ Parent

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“I wanted to say thank you to all of the teachers and directors at KD for helping me get a great score on the SAT® test. I started with a 1250 on the first KD test I took, and I got a 1530 on the December 5th SAT test. KD played a huge role in this, and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone there for helping me achieve this.”
“I wanted to say thank you to all of the teachers and directors at KD for helping me get a great score on the SAT® test. I started with a 1250 on the first KD test I took, and I got... Read more...

Vyom S. – Class of 2022

"Our twin 16-year-old boys used KD College Prep to study/practice for the PSAT test, and we believe the classes and coaching were invaluable. Very professional and concise. Worth every penny!"
"Our twin 16-year-old boys used KD College Prep to study/practice for the PSAT test, and we believe the classes and coaching were invaluable. Very professional and concise. Worth every penny!"

Jerry – Sons, Class of 2022

mithra testimonial
“I'm writing to thank the KD team for all the help and guidance over the last couple of years! All the resources provided were very useful to me and helped me achieve the scores I was aiming for on the PSAT, SAT®, and ACT® tests (1520, 1580, and 34). I really appreciate everyone's willingness to be flexible and accommodate my requests!”
“I'm writing to thank the KD team for all the help and guidance over the last couple of years! All the resources provided were very useful to me and helped me achieve the scores I was aiming for on the PSAT,... Read more...

Mithra A. – Class of 2022

"The resources that KD offers have greatly prepared me for the college admissions process. Without KD, I would not have been this prepared and confident... I am a rising senior, and I ended up receiving a 1570 on my SAT® test (third time) and a 35 on my ACT® test (first time). I remember the first ever practice test I took for the SAT test was a 1230 (about 1.5 yrs ago) and the first ever practice test I took for the ACT test was a 31 or 32 (about 6 months ago)."
"The resources that KD offers have greatly prepared me for the college admissions process. Without KD, I would not have been this prepared and confident... I am a rising senior, and I ended up receiving a 1570 on my SAT® test... Read more...

Elise P. – Class of 2022

“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping both of my kids over the last years reach successful outcomes on their SAT® and ACT® scores, which helped them get into great colleges. I found the college prep class for parents very informative and helpful during the process as well.  My son (Jacob) graduated in 2018 and got a 32 on the ACT test. got accepted into Texas A&M but chose Baylor for Health Sciences.  My daughter (Morgan) graduated in 2020 and got a 1450 on the SAT test and a 32 on the ACT test. got into an Ivy League school (Cornell) for Engineering.  Both my kids say that they apply the test taking skills they learned at KD Prep to... Read more...
“I want to thank KD College Prep for helping both of my kids over the last years reach successful outcomes on their SAT® and ACT® scores, which helped them get into great colleges. I found the college prep class for parents... Read more...

Jon D. – Parent

“Coming into this whole process, I had absolutely no idea what anything was, and your help was invaluable—your encouraging words, strategic advice, and wholesome stories and jokes really got me through a stressful time! I'm still on the waitlist at Harvard and other schools, but I've really started to immerse into the Emory culture, especially their debate team. Not having to pay for college and still attend a private institution is really a dream come true, and it wouldn't be possible if it were not for you.”
“Coming into this whole process, I had absolutely no idea what anything was, and your help was invaluable—your encouraging words, strategic advice, and wholesome stories and jokes really got me through a stressful time! I'm still on the waitlist at Harvard... Read more...

Shreyas R. – Class of 2020

“The most beneficial guidance I received during my College Counseling experience was being taught that it's completely ok to not know what I want to do with the rest of my life at 17/18 years old. Steve told me that a good school will help me find my path. Also, Steve's knowledge about what colleges were wanting to see in potential admissions candidates was a huge help... “There was not one specific beneficial moment or turning point in my time working with Steve, there were many. He encouraged me during the entire application process and brought to my attention many colleges I wouldn't have considered or heard about without his help.”
“The most beneficial guidance I received during my College Counseling experience was being taught that it's completely ok to not know what I want to do with the rest of my life at 17/18 years old. Steve told me that a... Read more...

Jake W. – Class of 2020

"I'm very happy my daughter chose KD as her learning partner to achieve her goals. All the experiences with KD and the Directors there are fabulous. My daughter has improved significantly."
"I'm very happy my daughter chose KD as her learning partner to achieve her goals. All the experiences with KD and the Directors there are fabulous. My daughter has improved significantly."

Zarni, Daughter – Class of 2021

"I took KD classes the summer before my junior year, and I was finished with my SAT® test by December...The test prep classes also helped me earn the award of National Merit® Finalist."
"I took KD classes the summer before my junior year, and I was finished with my SAT® test by December...The test prep classes also helped me earn the award of National Merit® Finalist."

Claire I. – Class of 2020

"It's been super helpful, and I've noticed my scores go up both on my SAT®/ACT® scores as well as test scores in school... Overall, I believe this to be the best college prep that money can buy."
"It's been super helpful, and I've noticed my scores go up both on my SAT®/ACT® scores as well as test scores in school... Overall, I believe this to be the best college prep that money can buy."

Gopi C. – Class of 2021

"KD helped me come up with a game plan for the colleges I wanted to attend, as well as any backups, and how to manage my time during this stressful period. They helped to ease the stress and made sure that I would be successful in whichever college I picked, and I am eternally grateful for all their help and hard work!"
"KD helped me come up with a game plan for the colleges I wanted to attend, as well as any backups, and how to manage my time during this stressful period. They helped to ease the stress and made... Read more...

Omar S. – Class of 2020

"My initial goals when I first started working with the KD Counseling crew was to compile a list of colleges that I would be somewhat interested in attending and fit my career goals. I think that this step I was by far the most concerned about. I didn’t know how exactly I should go about choosing which places to apply to and if I were to be accepted, if they would fit me. The team did a wonderful job considering my likes and dislikes and helped me compile a list of colleges that suited my tastes and would further my academic career. "After this integral first step, my focus turned towards time management and writing quality essays that would stand out to colleges. I got... Read more...
"My initial goals when I first started working with the KD Counseling crew was to compile a list of colleges that I would be somewhat interested in attending and fit my career goals. I think that this step I was by... Read more...

Nina H. – Class of 2020

"I was thankful for all the help I received from KD in preparing for my SAT® and ACT® exams. The workshops they offered, as well as the practice exams, gave me the tools I needed to do my very best."
"I was thankful for all the help I received from KD in preparing for my SAT® and ACT® exams. The workshops they offered, as well as the practice exams, gave me the tools I needed to do my very best."

Morgan D. – Class of 2020

"KDCP is a must for students wanting to stay a step ahead of the game for getting into college. My son has gained huge insight from the ACT®/SAT® practice workshops, practice tests, and essay class."
"KDCP is a must for students wanting to stay a step ahead of the game for getting into college. My son has gained huge insight from the ACT®/SAT® practice workshops, practice tests, and essay class."

Tiffany – Son, Class of 2021

"KD helped to increase the efficiencies of how I took the national exams. I was also able to implement these efficiencies in my daily school studies within the IB program at PESH. I would (and have) recommend KD to those students wanting an edge on their national test scores!"
"KD helped to increase the efficiencies of how I took the national exams. I was also able to implement these efficiencies in my daily school studies within the IB program at PESH. I would (and have) recommend KD to those students... Read more...

Daniel J. – Class of 2020

"Not only have I been able to significantly improve my test scores, I have learned a tremendous amount of information about the college application process due to complimentary events that KD offers."
"Not only have I been able to significantly improve my test scores, I have learned a tremendous amount of information about the college application process due to complimentary events that KD offers."

Sam H. – Class of 2020

"I came to KD the summer before my senior year with only my determination and big goals! KD provided me with the resources necessary to improve my test score to increase my chances at my dream school, Notre Dame, with the help from amazing teachers and staff. I am so grateful for KD!"
"I came to KD the summer before my senior year with only my determination and big goals! KD provided me with the resources necessary to improve my test score to increase my chances at my dream school, Notre Dame, with the... Read more...

Matt K. – Class of 2020

"I started classes at KD the summer before 9th grade. I...made a perfect score on the PSAT (earning the National Merit® scholarship) and, after taking the SAT® test only once (a relief!), scored a 1590/1600."
"I started classes at KD the summer before 9th grade. I...made a perfect score on the PSAT (earning the National Merit® scholarship) and, after taking the SAT® test only once (a relief!), scored a 1590/1600."

Thomas D. – Class of 2019

"In just one year, I was able to raise my score by 300 points and get into my dream school."
"In just one year, I was able to raise my score by 300 points and get into my dream school."

Piper F. – Class of 2020

"Having our recent GHS graduate attend KD was life changing. It provided our son with choices and opportunities that he might not have had otherwise."
"Having our recent GHS graduate attend KD was life changing. It provided our son with choices and opportunities that he might not have had otherwise."

Kathy – Son attends Mizzou

test prep testimonial grace
“I came to KD College Prep after already using another tutoring service which we were not seeing results with. Due to time constraints, the traditional classes were not going to be feasible for my daughter. They took the time to figure out a personal plan that would work for her and were always available for our questions and helping her reach her goals. Every employee from the managers to the students working at their locations are top notch.”
“I came to KD College Prep after already using another tutoring service which we were not seeing results with. Due to time constraints, the traditional classes were not going to be feasible for my daughter. They took the time to figure... Read more...

Tracy – Daughter, Class of 2020

"The KD College Prep course not only provided test practice but also motivated her to work hard for her college applications. It gave her the confidence to dream big!"

"The KD College Prep course not only provided test practice but also motivated her to work hard for her college applications. It gave her the confidence to dream big!"

Prema – Daughter attends Rice

Luck is not a test prep strategy!

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