Unit Overview:
Critical Reading makes up two sections of the PSAT Exam. All critical reading questions can be broken down into three categories: sentence completion, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. To prepare yourself for this section of the PSAT, go through the activities listed for each of these categories of questions listed here. Each category has a title on this page, directions, and important links for study materials. When you have completed all three categories of question, you are now done with the Critical Reading component of this exam prep course.
Barron's PSAT test prep book breaks the PSAT exam down by section and question category. Chapters suggest several tips or strategies that will help you deal with a specific question type and include examples that help explain the tip and give you a chance to apply your knowledge. Each section ends with practice questions and answer key, and a quick summary of the tips gone over in the section.
1. Sentence Completion
Directions: Work through the Critical Reading Sentence Completion document, making sure you understand the tips offered here. Once you have finished going through this document, print up the Sentence Completion Practice Answer Sheet, and work through the Sentence Completion Practice Questions. (50 multiple choice questions in 5 sections). Grade your work using the answer key provided, and submit your graded worksheet to your instructor. You will find the links for all the documents you need below.
Critical Reading Sentence Completion
Sentence Completion Practice Answer Sheet
Sentence Completion Practice Questions
Sentence Completion Practice Answer Key
The tips listed in the Barron's study guide are practical, easy to understand, and will REALLY help you! Read through as many of them as you can before taking the practice questions. Also, before taking the test, make sure to print out the Sentence Completion Wrap Up. This document is your quick tips list, and each section of the study guide has one of these. Keep these in a folder or binder and make sure to review the day before you take the PSAT test.
One last thing: Don't worry about missing questions. Missing questions is a great way to learn, because it often burns the correct answers into your minds. Don't forget to take a look at the answer explanations, which can be found in the answer key document. Good luck on this section of your exam preparation!
2. Reading Comprehension
Directions: Work through the Critical Reading, Reading Comprehension Document, making sure you understand the tips offered here. Once you have finished going through this document, print up the Reading Comprehension Practice Answer Sheet, and work through the Reading Comprehension Practice Questions. (40 multiple choice questions in 3 sections). Grade your work using the answer key provided, and submit your graded worksheet to your instructor. You will find the links for all the documents you need below.
Critical Reading Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension Practice Answer Sheet
Reading Comprehension Practice Questions
Reading Comprehension Practice Answer Key
The tips listed in the Barron's study guide are practical, easy to understand, and will REALLY help you! Read through as many of them as you can before taking the practice questions. Also, before taking the test, make sure to print out the Reading Comprehension Wrap Up. This document is your quick tips list, and each section of the study guide has one of these. Keep these in a folder or binder and make sure to review the day before you take the PSAT test.
3. Vocabulary
Directions: The vocabulary section of Barron's PSAT Study Guide works a little differently than the other two sections: You are provided with a high-frequency PSAT word list ( a list of words that occur frequently on the PSAT exam), followed by long lists of basic word parts including prefixes, roots and stems (like "agri" in agriculture), and suffixes. Because essentially this section of the study guide is a a series of lists, use whatever strategy you feel is appropriate. You will find the links for all the documents you need below.