Reading for the overall main idea - and NOT for every single detail - is the trick to getting a higher score on the longer SAT reading passages. Being able to skim and come away with the general idea will make it easier to get the correct answer in the allotted time available. Reading every detail is not needed in many cases and can slow down a test taker considerably. For example, a particularly confusing sentence may contain details that are not needed to solve the question correctly. However, by slowing down and concentrating on comprehending that idea, test takers can lose time needed to get the correct answer and score points, which is the main point for those who want a higher SAT score.
Recording Ideas in Reading Based Passages
By recording the main idea into a terse and short statement, a test taker can make it easier to zero in on the correct answer choice more quickly. By being able to quickly summarize an entire passage into a few words, the answer is right around the corner in most cases. Some say the questions should be read first while others think the passage itself should be read first. Most of the time, it is better to start with the passage and then move to the questions, trying to get the general idea of the question - which contains the key for the answer.
