Tips for acing SAT verbal?

Hey y'all. I'm pretty confident with my Math skills, but the verbal part of the SAT has me stressed out. I keep struggling with it during practice tests. Any awesome tips or resources for improving this section? Also, how important is this component for colleges?

Improving your performance in the verbal section of the SAT requires a multi-pronged approach. This section tests your English Language capabilities, including vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing skills.

Firstly, focus on expanding your vocabulary since a broader vocabulary will allow you to tackle the vocab and reading comprehension questions. You can use flashcards for this, and make sure to learn not just definitions, but also the context in which words are used.

In terms of reading comprehension, it's essential to practice active reading. This means trying to understand the general idea or 'gist' of the passage, key points & arguments, the author’s perspective/tone, as well as the connection between the ideas. A good strategy here is to summarize each paragraph in one line to understand the flow of arguments better.

The questions are usually presented in the order they appear in the passage. So, as you work through the questions, you'll go through the whole passage sequentially.

For the Grammar questions in the writing and language portion, it's necessary to understand basic English grammar rules, including subject-verb agreement, parallel construction, and correct use of pronouns. Brush up on these rules and then try to find practice questions centering around those areas of grammar where you're weakest.

Consistent practice is key to improving. You could use the Khan Academy SAT Practice which provides comprehensive coverage of all SAT sections and allows you to practice as much as you need for free. College Board's Official SAT Study Guide is also a good resource.

In terms of the importance of this component for colleges, the verbal score often represents your reading and writing skills, which are essential for almost every college major. While there might be slight differences in how much weight each component carries depending on the program you are applying to (STEM programs may weigh the Math section a little more, humanities and social sciences programs may weigh the Verbal section a little more), both Math and Verbal are important for showcasing your overall academic abilities. But remember, the trend right now is that there are a number of factors that colleges look at when considering an application, and SAT scores are just one of them.