Analytical Focus:
Read the title, and analyze it. Think about what author meant when he titled the work.
When you are reading, you want to inference what could be concluded from the passage or poem.
Try to infer the information to see if you can connect it to the past, present and the future, which leads to foreshadowing.
Always analyze the passage or the stanza’s so it’s easier for you to answer the questions.
Look for the diction in the passage or poem.
Try to figure how the elements are characterized and how it affects the story as whole.
While reading, try to figure out the authors tone. This will help you figure out how the author feels throughout the work.
Be the element in the story so you can feel how they feel and imagine everything that is going on.
Look out for the shift, how it changes from one spot to another and brings the conflict.
Figure out what the symbols mean and its role in the story or poem.
Pay special attention to the simile and metaphor because it gives different meaning than what you thought.
Personification gives life to inhuman and gives them special power which is beyond their expectation.
Be careful of allusion as it tricks you into thinking something that’s not true.
Thematic Focus:
Always use your knowledge and experience carefully when dealing with multiple choices.
Stay focused and read actively.
Read the questions before reading the passage, this way you have an idea for what you are looking for while you read, but do not look at the choices, as it may influence your answer.
Find out the main idea of a passage or poem.
Determine what the author’s tone or attitude is.
Do not to leave any answer blank as the wrong answer won’t take points out.
Use process of elimination, if you see answers that don’t make sense cross them out and narrow it down to one.
If process of elimination isn’t working then check again and take an educated guess.
Study your vocabulary as it may be necessary when answering the multiple choice questions, some of them may ask what a certain word in the passage means.
Answer the questions which follow the passage without spending too much time on any difficult questions, manage your time, and work quickly but diligently.
