The Only Guaranteed Way to Improve Your SAT Reading and Writing

I cried many times after taking an English test called TOEFL in middle school because, despite working really hard, my score didn't improve.

The same thing happened when I took the SAT.

I got a perfect score in Math, but my Reading and Writing (R&W) scores held me back and didn’t improve.

I spent countless hours working on Reading and Writing. I even took very expensive private lessons!

Despite taking the SAT multiple times, I never achieved the score I wanted. I consistently fell below 1450 out of 1600 on today’s scale. I was devastated.

Looking back on what I did to improve my score and reflecting on how I dramatically raised my reading and writing skills over the past decade, I’ve realized that my approach to improving SAT Reading and Writing was completely wrong.

What I did to improve my SAT R&W score:

1. Familiarized myself with different types of exam questions.

2. Solved as many practice sets and problems as possible.

3. Memorized most of the words in WordSmart.

4. Tried to accomplish all #1, #2, and #3 within one summer.

What I should’ve done to improve my SAT R&W score:

1. Read something easy and enjoyable every day for at least 20-30 minutes (for me, it's about sports and finance).

2. Start #1 as early as possible so that I can read every day for at least 2-3 years.

3. Once I become comfortable with #1 and #2, try reading more complex articles in my favorite domain (for me, it was in-depth financial articles).

4. Complete SAT practice tests to get used to the different types of problems.

Why is this the right way to prepare for the SAT Reading and Writing?

I believe the SAT is not an exam where you can excel by using corny techniques like "finding the right keyword," "finding evidence," or "identifying transition words."

It’s a pretty straightforward test—if you have good critical thinking and reading skills, you’ll do well. If you don’t, you probably won’t do well.

I’ve spent too much time trying to game the exam and find shortcuts to improve my score that ended up not working.

Now, I read to survive.

To get more newsletter subscribers, I read success stories of other newsletters to learn from them. To expand our business, I read books about what other great founders did to grow their businesses. My reading and writing skills improved without me even noticing it.

Make reading a habit, and you’ll do well on the SAT Reading and Writing. It’s as simple as that.

Regular reading enhances comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills, all of which are essential for success on the SAT.

What if you don’t like reading?

That’s why I wrote above, “Read something easy and enjoyable” every day.

If you like visual art, read short articles about it. If you like animals, read short articles about them. If you’re interested in world history, read articles about that.

I began by reading articles about the success stories of NBA players—how they became great, what their upbringing was like, and how they overcame obstacles. I love these stories and never felt like I was working because they were so enjoyable to read!

I strongly believe that there is no shortcut. You can’t achieve the score you want without reading consistently and extensively.

Conquering the SAT is a Long-Term Game

It took me 2-3 years of regular reading to consciously recognize that my reading and writing skills had improved.

I suggest you start regular reading when you’re in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade so that you put in enough practice and do well on the SAT by the time you’re in 11th or 12th grade.

I want to emphasize again that in order to achieve this long-term goal, you need to read something you truly enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like work.

Regular reading is not only beneficial for conquering the SAT but also essential for success in college and beyond. As your reading skills improve, you'll find yourself reading even more as the process becomes easier and more enjoyable.

It's important to get on a track where you feel your reading skills have improved so that you read more and your abilities continue to grow.

Trust me. Spending 20-30 minutes every day reading something you enjoy will make a significant difference over months and years. Stick with it for the long run and witness your progress. It’s a great feeling!

What Should I Do If I'm in 12th Grade?

Since you don’t have much time, you should first master the styles of SAT problems to ensure you don’t miss any of them due to unfamiliarity with the exam.

In addition to this, you should spend at least an hour a day reading. It would be ideal if you could read SAT-level passages daily. However, if you find that too boring, read something in your favorite domain to keep your interest.

This process is essentially a condensed version of what I outlined earlier: by dedicating more time to reading every day, you can accelerate your progress and see significant improvements within a few months.

You may be tempted to learn little tricks to quickly increase your score, just as I was. However, anything beyond getting used to the format and problem styles will be a waste of time. Instead, you'll be better off focusing on improving your reading and writing skills, even if it seems like it takes a lot of time.

Conclusion

According to the College Board, the SAT is intended to measure the literacy, numeracy, and writing skills needed for academic success in college and careers.

For the SAT Reading and Writing, improving your literacy and writing skills takes time, which is why you should start early.

I understand that reading can seem boring in today’s world, with so many dopamine hits from shorts, reels, and TikTok. However, there’s no shortcut to success besides putting in the time and being consistent with your reading.

In fact, it could be a great opportunity to get ahead of other students if you stay disciplined and steadily enhance your reading skills by overcoming the dopamine hits and cultivating discipline on your own.

Even if you're in 12th grade, I recommend putting consistent effort into reading every day.

It's better to try your best to improve your reading skills and, in the worst-case scenario, fall short than to rely on gimmicks that may or may not work. You'll desperately need literacy and writing skills in college anyway, so why not start developing them now?