The SAT Timing Trick Top Scorers Use: RWR Method

Struggling with timing on the SAT Reading & Writing section? You’re not alone. Many students hit a wall midway through the section, burning time on tough Reading questions, then rushing through the easier Writing section and losing points they should have earned.

There’s a better way. It’s called the RWR Method, and it’s helped countless students improve their scores by reordering how they tackle the section.

The Problem with Going in Order

Most students do the test as it’s laid out: Reading first, then Writing. But here’s what happens:

• You start strong with Reading.
• Then hit a wall on the harder questions—text evidence, graphs, inferences.
• Time drains fast.
• Now you’re rushing Writing, which contains easier, more scorable questions.
• Result? Avoidable mistakes and missed points.

The Flawed Fix: Starting with Writing

Some students try to fix this by flipping the order and doing Writing first. That can work, but here’s the catch:

• Once you finish Writing, you’re staring down all the Reading at once.
• That leads to mental fatigue and burnout, especially with dense passages.
• You might end up zoning out halfway through or misreading key details.

The Solution: The RWR Method

RWR stands for Reading → Writing → Reading. It’s simple but powerful. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open with the quick wins in Reading. Tackle Word-in-Context, main idea, and other easier comprehension questions until you feel momentum slowing (usually around #5–10).
2. Shift to Writing for a mental reset. The shorter, less-dense passages let you collect easy points and recharge.
3. Return to the tougher Reading items. Now address the more involved graph, text evidence, and inference questions with a clearer head and less time pressure.

Why It Works

• Prevents burnout: The Writing section acts as a mental breather.
• Prioritizes easier points: You focus your energy where it matters most.
• Minimizes time traps: You’re less likely to get stuck on a difficult Reading question.
• Reduces cognitive load: Tough questions feel lighter once the easy ones are out of the way.

Bonus: It’s Flexible

The RWR method isn’t rigid. Some days you might breeze through Reading and keep going. Other times you’ll feel that wall and make the switch. The goal is to maximize score potential, not follow a script.

Summary

• Break the section into chunks: Reading / Writing / Reading
• Focus on easier, high-accuracy questions first
• Use Writing as a mental reset
• Return to Reading with fresh focus
• Strategically skip low-probability, time-draining questions

Give the RWR Method a try on your next practice test. Then drop a comment to let me know how it worked for you!