How to Improve a 720-740 SAT Reading and Writing Score
Why a 750+ SAT Reading and Writing Score Matters
In the SF Bay Area, many high-achieving students wonder how to improve a 720-740 SAT Reading and Writing score. These are students who are already strong in math, typically scoring 780 – 800 on the Math section. When taking practice tests, they’ve seen their math score move naturally from 720 to 780 or higher, so they wonder why their SAT Reading and Writing score isn’t increasing.
They know they need a higher SAT Reading and Writing score because for top colleges, a total score of 1500 is no longer enough. Top schools want to see scores of 1550 or higher, which require SAT Reading and Writing scores of 750 or higher.
These colleges want high SAT Reading and Writing scores because the Reading and Writing score is the real differentiator when it comes to admissions. According to SAT percentile rankings, 4% of test-takers score 750+ on Math, but only 2% of test takers score 750+ on Reading and Writing. So a high SAT Reading and Writing score puts students in a much more selective group.
Why Generic SAT Prep Stops Working
If you want to score 750+ on SAT Reading and Writing, score guarantee programs are likely insufficient. The top score that they promise is 1500, which could in theory mean scoring as low as 700 on the Reading and Writing section.
What causes the SAT score plateau at 720 Reading and Writing? How do you break through to score 740, 750, or higher?
At this level, improving your SAT reading and writing score requires real mastery of the English language. You’ve maxed out the advantage of learning test-taking tips and tricks; you can no longer hope to guess your way to the right answer.
The Four Skills Behind 750+ SAT Reading and Writing Scores
Academic Vocabulary
The “hard words” that appear on the SAT vocabulary questions (as well as occasionally in other questions)
Question Vocabulary
The words that typically distinguish questions. Examples:
- illustrate
- explain
- defend
- concede
(Students stuck at 720 often understand these words poorly.)
Reading Comprehension
A clear understanding of how each sentence in a passage links to
- surrounding sentences
- the main idea
(obvious, but rarely understood)
English Grammar
Key grammatical terms:
- subject
- verb
- clause
- dangling modifier
(important for answering all the hard questions in the writing section)
Students who score close to 800 on the SAT Reading and Writing section have typically mastered all four of these areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About SAT Reading and Writing Scores
How long does it usually take to improve from 720 to 750+ on SAT Reading and Writing?
Longer than it takes to improve from 650 to 720 on Reading and Writing. To move up from 720, students need to learn additional vocabulary words, practice sustained reading, learn English grammar, and improve their focus. These are areas that are rarely covered in school English classes, making them more challenging to learn.
Speed of progress generally depends on the amount of time spent studying, multiplied by the quality of the focus that the student brings to the work. Students who study several hours a week with a high degree of focus will improve their scores faster.
Why do some students move above 750 Reading and Writing more easily than others?
When students naturally move above 750 Reading and Writing (for example, simply by taking practice tests), they typically have a strong background in reading—10 to 20 hours of reading a week outside of class, with more reading in the summer. They have less need to master SAT vocabulary, practice subject-specific reading, and learn English grammar because they have already picked up this information via independent reading.
Why do some students improve quickly in Math but barely improve in SAT Reading and Writing?
These students typically have a strong background in math but less background in reading and writing. For example, they have attended summer math camps, skipped a year of math, or given more attention to math homework than to English homework. However, with focused work, they can improve in reading, too.
Should students memorize SAT vocabulary lists?
Yes, definitely. There is no substitute for memorizing the definitions of vocabulary words that are likely to appear on the SAT. Bear in mind, though, that standard “SAT Word Lists” are frequency lists that are designed to raise scores from 500 to 720. The SAT vocab words that separate students scoring 720 from students scoring 800 appear rarely on the SAT, so they are less likely to appear on canonical SAT vocab lists.
Students who want to score above 750 on the SAT Reading and Writing typically need to study significantly more vocabulary words than those who are satisfied with a 720.
Do students need to read books outside of SAT prep materials?
Any reading that students do outside of school and SAT prep, provided that they read materials of suitable challenge with focus and attention, will help them to improve their scores.
The good news is that this reading does not necessarily need to be independent reading that adds to the workload outside of class. By junior year, textbooks for history and science, especially for AP classes, will give students good additional practice with the types of reading they encounter in SAT Reading and Writing passages.
Useful tip: Each time you read a paragraph of textbook material, look away from the paragraph and write a one-sentence summary of it. This habit will test your ability to focus and comprehend.
Are official College Board tests enough for high scorers?
Yes. To make the best use of them, wait to take these tests until about two months before you plan to take your SAT. Unofficial SATs made by test prep companies are unlikely to move your score higher, as they struggle to correctly match the difficulty level of the hardest SAT questions—the ones that distinguish 720 scorers from 800 scorers. These tests also contain errors that are frustrating for high-scoring students.
Can students raise SAT Reading and Writing scores through practice tests alone?
It depends on the student. A student with a strong background in reading and writing can achieve a higher Reading and Writing score by taking practice tests only. But a student with less preparation in reading and writing will need to commit to additional focused work in order to raise scores.
Stuck on the 720 Reading and Writing plateau?
Wondering how to break through to 750+?
With Nat Crawford, National Merit Scholar and Stanford graduate