How would you define SAT Reading in your own words?

Answer 1

As of 2024 onward, the current version of the SAT has gone digital and the way it tests Reading has changed DRAMATICALLY from the way it was tested in past incarnations of the SAT.

For one, it has been combined with the SAT Writing section to create a section simply referred to as the Verbal section. For another, this new Verbal section comprises 2 computer adaptive modules, your performance on the first of which determines the overall difficulty of the second. Interestingly, this latest version of the SAT has finally restored the Sentence Completion questions that test BOTH (a) a student’s ability to analyze the structure of a sentence to anticipate what kind of word is needed and (b) a student’s vocabulary. This question format was a long-time staple of the SAT in decades past, but it was conspicuously absent from the previous version of the test.

Most relevantly, however, is the BIG change – unlike on past SATs, there are no LONG PASSAGES this time which the student must read and comprehend in order to answer 9 – 13 accompanying questions. This time, the Verbal section consists of short 1-paragraph prompts, each of which has its own individual Reading or Writing question.

Students will know whether they are looking at a Reading or Writing question because the Writing questions come later in the section with extremely recognizable question prompts; until then, everything will be a Reading question.

The good news is that every SAT Reading question is one of a small set of very recognizable question types. These question types appeared on past versions of the SAT, and the strategies that worked there will work here (with some modifications, of course).

As has always been true in the past, students are not required to have any prior knowledge of the subject matter presented in the text. They need only read and comprehend the information before them to determine such things as the main idea of the text, the primary purpose of the text, the likely purpose of a line or device, the likely meaning of a word in context, any necessary implication of a line (a.k.a. an “inference”), etc. Again, ALL of these questions types are very standard question types which can be tackled with EXTREMELY precise techniques which I teach. Reach out to learn more about how I can help you!

Answer 2

On the new Digital SAT, Reading isn’t about long passages anymore — it’s about short texts, each with one precise question. The test measures how well you can:

1. Identify the author’s purpose

2. Use context to define meaning

3. Find the exact evidence that supports an answer

In other words, SAT Reading is really a critical thinking test under time pressure — and success comes from precision, not memorization.

Answer 3

The digital SAT has changed dramatically in all sections since 2024. This change has made the SAT simplified, streamlined the format, making the exam student friendly.

For example, reading and writing are combined under the verbal section.

The second major change is determined by computer adaptations to generate two modules that measure the student's performance: The student's performance on the first module determines the difficulty of the test in module two.

The new digital SAT exam has brought back the Sentence Completion questions. What does this Sentence Completion test? 1. Students demonstrate their ability to analyze the structure of the vocabulary word. For example, the student decides what word fits and is appropriate.to make sense. 2. The student decides the essay structure, including the thesis, the support, and inferences. 3. Reading passages are short, easier to identify, and one paragraph long. The prompts are obvious and clearly delineated. The exam encourages close, precise, concise reading.