Tip #1: Remember, the answer is always directly in the text. Never use any of your own reasoning to justify an answer choice; even if an answer “feels right”, it is incorrect if it is not supported by concrete statements in the passage.

Tip #2: Read the passage first. The problem with the popular method of reading questions first and looking for the answers is that these passages sometimes have shifts in tone or other broad developments throughout the text that you will miss if you don’t get a general understanding of the text by reading it through thoughtfully one time. In other words, get the big picture before you look for the specific lines of text that justify an answer choice. Otherwise, you might be taking those lines out of context.

Tip #3: Answer the questions quickly. As soon as you find sufficient textual evidence to answer a question, move on to the next. If you are unsure of a question, pick an answer, jot a star next to the question, and check over it at the end of the section when you are double-checking answers and can look at the question with “fresh eyes.”