SAT Trial — Read Smart, Write Right

Zoom · 60 min · By the end: use 1 reading strategy + 4 SAT words + fix 4 grammar traps

SAT TRIAL · LESSON 1
👋 Welcome!
Today we do three things: check your level, learn how SAT Reading & Writing works, and win one round together. No grades — just a clear plan.
🎯 By the End of This Hour...
  • You can use the elimination strategy on short SAT-style questions
  • You know 4 high-frequency SAT words and can use them in a sentence
  • You can spot and fix 4 classic grammar traps
📋 SAT English in 30 Seconds
  • Reading: short passages + one question each — find evidence, eliminate 2 wrong answers first.
  • Writing: fix sentences — grammar, punctuation, clear wording.
  • Today: one mini-passage, 4 words, 4 fixes. Real SAT is harder — this is the bridge.
💬 Warm-up — Tell Me About You
Answer out loud, 2–3 sentences each. There are no wrong answers — I listen to your level.
⏱ 8 minutes
  1. 1"What grade are you in, and when do you plan to take the SAT?"
  2. 2"What do you usually read — books, news, comics, nothing? What was the last thing?"
  3. 3"What is the hardest part of English for you — reading, vocabulary, or grammar?"
  4. 4"Read this aloud: Scientists claim the results provide strong evidence, in contrast to earlier studies."
Success: I hear your fluency, vocab range, and pronunciation. You get comfortable speaking.
📖 Strategy: Eliminate First
1. Read the question first
Know what to hunt for.
↓
2. Gist the passage
One sentence: what is it about?
↓
💡 3. Eliminate 2 answers that clearly DON'T match the text
↓
4. Pick the one with text evidence
📖 Mini-Passage — Sleep and Grades
Read silently (2 min). Then answer 3 questions using the flow above.
⏱ 12 minutes
Many teenagers sleep less than seven hours a night. Scientists claim this is a problem: in one study, students who slept eight hours remembered significantly more than students who slept six. The results provide strong evidence that sleep helps memory. In contrast to the popular idea that extra study hours always help, the researchers found that an extra hour of sleep beat an extra hour of cramming before a test.
  1. 1"Gist in one sentence: what is this passage about?"
    Sample: Sleep improves memory and test results more than extra cramming.
  2. 2"According to the passage, students who slept eight hours… (A) forgot everything (B) remembered significantly more (C) studied less at school"
    B. Evidence: "remembered significantly more than students who slept six." A and C don't match the text — eliminate first.
  3. 3"The phrase 'in contrast' shows… (A) agreement (B) difference (C) a new topic"
    B — difference. Sleep beats cramming, against the popular idea.
💡 4 SAT Words From the Passage
These 4 words appear in almost every SAT text. Click each card: stress + pronunciation + Russian + when to use it.
⏱ 10 minutes
claim
CLAIM
/kleɪm/
утверждать
Use when: say what scientists/authors state ("Scientists claim…")
evidence
EVidence
/ˈevɪdəns/
доказательство (неисчислимое!)
Use when: support an answer ("The evidence shows…"). No "an evidence"!
in contrast
in CONtrast
/ɪn ˈkɒntræst/
в отличие, напротив
Use when: show a difference ("In contrast to…")
significant
sigNIFicant
/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
значительный
Use when: describe an important difference ("significantly more")

👆 Click each card to flip it

🎯 Now You Try

Say 2 sentences about yourself or school using any 2 of the words.

Example: "I claim mornings are hard. The evidence? I fall asleep in lesson one."

Excellent! You just used SAT vocabulary in real speech.
✏️ SAT Writing — 4 Classic Traps
Read each sentence. Say the fix out loud. Then reveal to check.
⏱ 10 minutes
1. "The list of results provide evidence." → subject is list (singular)!
"The list of results provides evidence." — list… provides.
2. "Its a significant result." → which one means "it is"?
"It's a significant result." — it's = it is; its = possessive.
3. "Sleep helps memory, it beats cramming." → two sentences glued with a comma!
"Sleep helps memory. It beats cramming." — or "…memory, and it beats…".
4. "Due to the fact that sleep is important, students should sleep." → too wordy for SAT!
"Because sleep is important, students should sleep." — short wins.
Success: 3/4 fixes = strong B1 conventions. SAT wants exactly this.
⏱️ Mini-Simulation — You vs the Clock
New mini-text, 2 questions. Use the flow: question first → gist → eliminate 2 → evidence.
⏱ 7 minutes
City libraries report a significant rise in teenage visitors. Librarians claim quiet study space is the reason: students say home is too noisy. The numbers provide evidence — visits doubled after exams moved online. In contrast, book borrowing stayed flat: teens come to study, not to borrow.
  1. 1"Why do teens visit libraries? (A) To borrow more books (B) For quiet study space (C) To meet librarians"
    B. "quiet study space is the reason". A is wrong — borrowing stayed flat.
  2. 2"Fix it: 'The number of visits provide evidence.'"
    "The number of visits provides evidence." — number… provides.
🎮 Password — Say the Word
I describe it. You say the SAT word. Click to check!
What scientists state
claim
Proof that supports an answer (uncountable!)
evidence
Shows a difference
in contrast
Important, big (adjective)
significant
Success: 4/4 + both sim questions = trial win. 🎉
📝 Recap — What Did You Win Today?
  • You eliminated wrong answers instead of guessing — that's the SAT skill.
  • You used claim / evidence / in contrast / significant in your own sentences.
  • You fixed subject-verb, its/it's, comma splice, wordiness.
The road to SAT: vocabulary in context → grammar conventions → timed passages with evidence. Step by step from B1.
🏠 Homework (20 min, only if you want)
Write 4 sentences about your school week. Use all 4 words: claim, evidence, in contrast, significant. Send before the next lesson.

Example: "I claim Mondays are the hardest. The evidence? Three tests in one day. In contrast, Fridays are light. That is a significant difference."

📝 Whiteboard Notes

Class notes for this lesson: open the whiteboard doc (link added after class).

📝 Teacher Notes

Log after trial (hidden from student unless opened):

  • Warm-up: fluency ___ / vocab range ___ / read-aloud ___
  • Reading: gist ___ / elimination used? ___ / Q2–Q3 ___/2, sim ___/2
  • Vocab: which of 4 used freely ___ / password ___/4
  • Grammar: fixes ___/4 (note weakest trap)
  • Level verdict: reading ___ / writing-conventions ___ (B1 / B1+ / B2)
  • Plan proposal: ___ lessons/week, first focus ___
  • Follow-up for mother (RU): ___