The Reading and Writing module allows 32 minutes for approximately 27 questions. Recommended timing splits include 3-4 minutes for skimming and structure mapping, 9-10 minutes each for questions 1-9 and 10-18, 7-8 minutes for questions 19-27, and 1-3 minutes as a buffer for reviewing difficult items. This front-loads accuracy by preventing early overreads and maintains consistent pacing across both adaptive modules.

Use a standardized annotation system with simple symbols: ⟳ for claims or conclusions, ⇄ for contrasts or comparisons, ? for confusing lines to revisit if asked, Ex for examples or evidence, Δ for tone shifts or pivots, and G for global ideas or thesis. These lightweight marks create a retrieval trail and reset your focus as you make each annotation. The goal is not extensive notes but signals that let you navigate the passage quickly when answering questions.

For function questions, translate the stem into a goal verb (to introduce, refute, qualify, illustrate, or concede) and match it to the paragraph's role in the larger argument. For evidence pairs, work backward by identifying the claim first, then finding the specific line that supports it. When questions cite specific line numbers, read two lines above and below to catch pivot words and pronoun references that determine meaning.

For science passages, use role-reading and placeholder decoding by treating unknown terms as placeholders (like TERM_A) whose function you note, rather than stopping to decode every word. Focus on comparisons like control vs. experimental and mark audience and occasion for history passages. In dense texts with methods and results, anchor your attention to contrast structures, which produce the cleanest evidence lines for answer elimination.

Vocabulary-in-context questions test whether you can identify which meaning fits the sentence in the passage, not dictionary definitions. Blank the target word and restate the sentence using a simple stand-in, then check signal words like "although," "so," or "because" to determine whether the blank should align with or oppose nearby ideas. Reinsert each answer choice and verify it preserves the sentence's logical direction, and adopt a two-pass rule: if you cannot decide after two swaps, mark your best guess and return during the buffer window.

Build stamina through split-interval drills by completing two passages at normal pace, one at 20% faster pace, and one at normal pace again to strengthen re-centering ability. Practice retrieval by covering passages and writing ten-word summaries per chunk, then answering invented purpose and evidence questions. Add distraction inoculation by practicing once weekly in a noisy environment while enforcing your note-cue system, which prepares you for test-day conditions.