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The 4 Symbols
The very first thing you do before starting any SAT Reading question is labeling it with what I like to call The 4 Symbols. I know it sounds like the title to a stupid sci-fi thriller movie, but just trust me on this. This is the most important thing in the SAT Reading section. If you have to learn one thing in life, it's the 4 symbols. When people ask you a couple years from now what your secret was for getting into Yale, you'll reply, "Oh yeah...the 4 symbols."
The 4 Symbols
The very first thing you do before starting any SAT Reading question is labeling it with what I like to call The 4 Symbols. I know it sounds like the title to a stupid sci-fi thriller movie, but just trust me on this. This is the most important thing in the SAT Reading section. If you have to learn one thing in life, it's the 4 symbols. When people ask you a couple years from now what your secret was for getting into Yale, you'll reply, "Oh yeah...the 4 symbols."
- X -After reading the question, do not immediately jump to the answer choices, but rather pretend they don't exist. Next, refer back to the passage, create your own answer and write it down. The X is the area in grey where you write down your answer. Nothing fancy and the more concise the better. Try to keep it 6 words or less. Don't skip this step and try to remember your answer, because you'll forget. Write it down.
- The Line under the X - Think of the line under the X as the security gate. Do not pass (aka do not look at the answer choices) until you punch in the security code. In this case, the security code is writing something down next to the X.
- E3 - Once you've written down your answer next to the X and start looking at the answer choices, the E3 is a reminder that your job is to eliminate 3 answer choices. Do not get caught up in trying to find the right answer.
- Box - The box around E3 is a reminder that while you're eliminating the 3 answer choices, put a box around any word or words that make the answer choice wrong. When we focus on trying to find the correct answer, we tend to miss these words and sweep them under the rug. Remember that if one word in the answer choice is wrong, then the entire answer choice is wrong.
