How to Boost Your SAT Reading Score from 600 to 700+
Scoring 600+ on the SAT Reading section is a solid achievement—but if you’re aiming for a 700+, you’ll need to sharpen your strategy, accuracy, and efficiency.
Many students in the 600–690 range already have strong comprehension skills. The challenge? Avoiding trap answers, managing time efficiently, and mastering high-difficulty questions.
In this guide, we’ll break down 4 advanced strategies to help you bridge the gap between good and great.
1. Master the Hardest SAT Reading Question Types
At the 600–690 level, you’re likely getting most easy and medium questions correct but struggling with the most difficult ones. These typically include:
✅ Inference questions – Where the correct answer is implied rather than directly stated.
✅ Author’s purpose/tone questions – Which require understanding why the author included certain details.
✅ Command of evidence questions – Where you must find the correct supporting evidence.
How to Improve:
- Think beyond the surface: For inference questions, rephrase the main idea in your own words before looking at the answer choices.
- Don’t bring outside knowledge: Base your answer only on what’s in the passage.
- Tackling command of evidence: Similar to inference questions, think to yourself before looking at the answer choices. "What 'kind' of evidence does the passage need?"
🔗 Related: Improving Reading Speed Without Losing Accuracy
2. Eliminate 50/50 Mistakes
When you’re scoring in the 600s, you’re probably narrowing answers down to two choices and picking the wrong one. This is a sign that the SAT is successfully tricking you with trap answers.
Common Traps to Avoid
🚨 Extreme language – Words like always, never, completely, entirely are almost always wrong.
🚨 Partially correct answers – If an answer is half right, it’s fully wrong.
🚨 Too specific or too broad – The best answer will reflect the main idea, not just an isolated detail.
How to Improve
- Cross-check answers: Ask yourself: Does this fully match the passage? If part of an answer is incorrect, eliminate it.
- Reword the question: Before looking at choices, predict the answer in your own words.
- Be cautious with “sounds right” choices: If an answer seems obvious, double-check that it isn’t misleading.
🔗 Related: How to Guess If You Can't Find the Right Answer
3. Increase Your Speed Without Losing Accuracy
If you’re consistently running out of time, you need to work faster—but not at the cost of accuracy.
How to Improve:
🕒 Skim effectively – Read first and last sentences of each paragraph, then scan for details. 🕒 Time yourself per question – 1.5 minutes max per question. If you’re stuck, mark it and move on. 🕒 Read the question first – This helps you focus on the right part of the passage from the start.
Practicing under real timed conditions will train your brain to work efficiently without rushing.
🔗 Related: Time-Saving SAT Reading Techniques
4. Simulate Test Conditions & Review Mistakes Deeply
The difference between a 600 scorer and a 700+ scorer? High scorers don’t just practice—they analyze mistakes and develop strategies.
How to Improve:
📌 Take full-length digital SAT practice tests – Use official Bluebook tests to replicate the adaptive nature of the exam.
📌 Review every mistake in depth – Ask: Why did I miss this? What pattern do I see?
📌 Keep an error log – Track question types you struggle with and drill them.
Final Thoughts
If you’re stuck in the 600s, you don’t need to relearn everything—you just need to refine your test-taking strategy. Focus on:
- Avoiding trap answers 🚫
- Improving speed & efficiency ⏳
- Mastering the hardest question types 📚
- Simulating real test conditions 🏆
Apply these strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to a 700+ SAT Reading score!
