Difficult SAT reading passages: strategies?

I've noticed that some of the SAT reading passages are significantly harder than others. What are some strategies I can use to improve my performance on these tough passages? Thanks!

It's normal to find some passages more challenging than others on the SAT reading section. Here are a few strategies to help you tackle difficult passages and improve your performance:

1. Skim the passage: Before diving into the questions, skim the passage to get a general understanding of its structure and main ideas. Take note of headings, key terms, and topic sentences. This will help you quickly locate relevant information when answering questions.

2. Slow down: For challenging passages, give yourself permission to read more slowly, taking the time to understand complex sentences and ideas. This may initially seem counterintuitive since the SAT is a timed test; however, reading carefully can help you avoid wasting time re-reading passages or dealing with confusion later.

3. Break down complex sentences: If you come across a particularly complex sentence or phrase, try to break it down into smaller parts. Focus on understanding each part separately, and then piece them together to make sense of the whole idea. This can also help you retain the information better.

4. Paraphrase: After reading a difficult section, try paraphrasing it in your own words. This will force you to actively process the information and ensure that you've understood the meaning correctly.

5. Annotate: As you read, underline, circle, or make brief notes of key points, arguments, or evidence. Not only will this help to reinforce your understanding of the passage, but it'll also make it easier to find specific details when answering questions.

6. Answer questions in a strategic order: Start with the questions you find easiest, as they'll often point you to relevant parts of the passage that may help answer more difficult questions. Save questions about the author's purpose, tone, or overall themes for last since they usually require a broader understanding of the passage as a whole.

7. Eliminate wrong answers: If you're unsure about the correct answer, try eliminating the options that you can determine are incorrect. This will increase your odds of selecting the correct response, even if you aren't completely confident.

8. Don't rely on prior knowledge: Make sure your answer is based on evidence from the passage itself, not on prior knowledge or assumptions about the general topic. The SAT reading section is designed to test your reading comprehension skills and your ability to analyze information given within the text.

9. Practice, practice, practice: Familiarity with SAT reading passages and question types can significantly improve your performance. Regularly practice with released tests or other resources to build your reading comprehension skills and develop a better understanding of the test format.

Remember, improvement comes with practice and patience. As you continue to work on your reading comprehension skills and employ these strategies, tackling difficult passages should become progressively easier over time. Good luck!