Transcript KAPLAN SAT PREP

KAPLAN
SAT PREP
Strategies, facts, and information courtesy of Kaplan Test
Prep
Critical Reading Section
 Two 25 minute
sections
 One 20 minute
section
 Short Passages
 Long Passages
 Sentence
Completions
Writing
 One 25 minute
section
 One 25 minute
section
 One 10 minute
section
 Essay
 Grammar/Usage
Multiple Choice
Scoring the SAT
 Students receive 1 point for every correct
answer.
 For every incorrect answer to a Multiple
Choice question, students lose ¼ point.
 The essay is rated on a 6 point scale.
 Each section is scored 200-800.
 The maximum score is 2400.
 The average score is 1500.
Strategies
 Eliminate answers to help your chances.
 If you have to guess, be sure you have
eliminated one or two options, this will
better your possibility of a correct
answer.
Sentence Completions
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Known for their devotion to their masters, dogs were often used
as symbols of _________ in medieval and Renaissance
painting.
a. treachery
Step 1: Read and look for clues
b. prosperity
Step 2: Predict an answer
c. loyalty
Step 3: Select an answer choice
d. antiquity
Step 4: Read the choice back in
e. courage
Two-Blank Sentence
Completions
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Usually the press secretary’s replies are
terse, if not downright ______, but this
afternoon his responses to our questions
were remarkably comprehensive, almost
________.
a. rude/concise
Step 1: Work on one blank at a time
b. curt/verbose
Step 2: Look at relationships (+ or -)
c. long-winded/effusive Step 3: Look for transition words
d. enigmatic/taciturn
e. lucid/helpful
Two-Blank Sentence
Completions
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French army captain Alfred Dreyfus
was unjustly _____ for the crime of
espionage, but he was later _____.
a. fabricated/vindicated
b. condemned/obviated
c. incarcerated/exculpated
d. convoked/disbursed
e. promoted/absolved
The Kaplan Method for
Critical Reading
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Step 1 – Read the passage
Step 2 – Decode the question
Step 3 – Research the answer
Step 4 – Predict the answer
Step 5 – Select an answer choice
Critical Reading
Suggestions
 There will always be a “big question” on the
passage. (#4 on the sheet is a good example)
 Read for the Point of View
 Look for contrasts
 Almost always the same types of questions,
which means you don’t need to read questions
ahead of time. Know the types of questions,
instead of the actual questions.
Writing Section: Sentence
Errors
 Teachers have discovered that class
disruptiveness is reduced substantially (A)
whenever (B) they permitted (C) milk and
cookie snacks early in the afternoon (D). No
Error (E)
 Step 1 – Read/Listen for errors
 Step 2 – Check for common errors
(subject/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent
agreement, idioms/diction/word order
 Step 3 – Check the other choices to make sure
Writing Section: Improving
Sentences
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Knowing that you should practice a healthier lifestyle and to do
it are two different things.
a. to do it are two different things
b. doing it are two different things
c. to do them are two different things
d. doing it is two different things
e. by doing it is two different things.
Step 1 – Read/Listen
Step 2 – Eliminate wrong sound/error
Step 3 – Put other options in sentence
Step 4 – Pick best option
Essay Section
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Essay section is always first.
Essay is worth 1/3 of overall grade for the writing section.
Transitions words are KEY!!!!!
Pick a side – do not sit on the fence.
1 minute to read the essay question
3 minutes to outline
18 minutes to write
2-3 minutes to proof
Be sure you include:
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Topic/Thesis
Support (three or more examples)
Organization
Language (Regular formal language – do not try to throw in HUGE words to impress. This
usually does not work out).
Opening (Introduction)
Middle (Body Paragraphs)
Conclusion (If you have time include one)