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 Reading attentively takes practice. Use the following tips while you practice:

1.    Scan the reading passage to determine the type of prose, and perhaps the overall tone.

2.   Ask yourself, “What is the SUBJECT of the passage?”

3.   Read the stems of each question. (Don’t read the answer choices, yet!)

4.   Underline or circle the key word, usually the main verb which directs the skill being tested and the noun which provides a subject for the question’s analysis.

5.   Allot 30 minutes to read and 30 minutes to answer the questions.

6.   Don’t spend too much time on one question- they all count the same. Make educated guesses to improve your odds of getting the questions right.

7.   If you are in doubt about which answer is correct, eliminate as many wrong choices as you can and concentrate on the two or three probable choices.

8.   Your first guess is usually the right choice, so don’t “second guess” yourself.

Study these choices carefully before you take a multiple choice practice test. Soon, you will begin to see the patterns in the questions and be able to predict answer before you see the answer choices.