4 Steps to Take the SAT with Confidence

Taking the SAT helps your future college gauge where you are in your problem solving and analysis skills. To make sure you get accepted to the college of your dreams, it is important that you do well on the test. Here are some great steps to ace the SAT.

1. Register

Before you start doing any prep, you need to set a SAT date, and register for it. You can’t just show up on test day. I recommend that you register about 3-4 months ahead of time. That gives you a lot of time to study and prepare so that you won’t feel worried as you approach test day.

2. Know The Basics

It is very helpful to know the basics about the SAT before taking it. Understanding how it is scored, along with the subjects and questions included, can give you a good understanding of how it all works.

The SAT is a test created by the Collegeboard. Unlike regular tests (scored from an F:0 to an A:100) or AP tests (scored from a 1 to a 5), the SAT is scored from 400-1600. The SAT tests your skills in reading, writing, language, and math.

Test Composition

• Reading: 52 questions – 65 min. (avg. 1:15 per question)
• Writing: 44 questions – 35 min. (avg. 0:48 per question)
• Math (No Calculator): 20 questions – 25 min. (avg. 1:15 per question)
• Math (Calculator): 38 questions – 55 min. (avg. 1:27 seconds per question)
• Total: 154 questions – 3 hours

Score Composition

• Reading and Writing [200-800]
  • Reading
    • 5 passages
    • 10-11 questions per passage
  • Writing
    • 4 passages
    • 11 questions per passage
    • Like an editor, you must decide if elements of the article need to be changed
• Math [200-800]
  • No Calculator
    • 20 questions
  • Calculator
    • 38 questions
    • Some are multi-part

3. Practice

Practicing is the absolute best way to prepare for the SAT. Knowing what types of problems to expect, along with their formats and how to answer them, is very crucial to understanding the SAT. By practicing, you can learn the types of questions, brush up on your skills, and increase your score.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is a great way to assess your skills and your time management. Completing timed sections of the test helps you to know how you would do on test day. When I took the SAT for the first time, I had completed over eight practice tests. You do not have to take that many, but you should take at least two or three.

You will likely take the SAT on a Saturday mornings. Apply this to taking your practice tests. So wake up early this Saturday, and take that practice test.

Khan Academy

There are other test prep resources, but Khan Academy is by far the best for SAT prep. With 8 full length practice tests (taken from previous exams) and thousands of practice problems, Khan Academy SAT prep is awesome.

Khan Academy can also set up a practice schedule for you based on your test date. Using your  scores, it can give you personalized tips to prepare you for the test. If you are looking for free, flexible SAT prep, then Khan Academy is the place to go!

Vocabulary

When taking the reading and writing sections of the SAT, knowing the right vocabulary can be very helpful. When prepping your vocab skills, here are some  great resources:

• “Essential SAT Vocabulary” by The Princeton Review (Note: these are flashcards)
• “Vocabulary Cartoons I and II, SAT Word Power” by Sam Burchers
• Vocabulary.com

Tips & Practice Resources

Khan Academy has some of the best tips on prepping for the SAT. However, I here are some of my tips:

1. Bring a watch. Time warnings aren’t good enough. When I took the SAT for the first time, I didn’t bring a watch, and I didn’t see a clock. When I had to put my pencil down, I hadn’t answered the last 3 questions of the reading section.
2. Take snacks. After finishing a section, eating a little can give you a much needed energy boost.
3. Fill in the blanks. If you are not done as the time draws near for a section, randomly bubble in the remaining questions. It is better to have a chance of getting a right answer, than to have no chance.
4. Wear a jacket. When I tested, the room seemed to get colder over time. Having a jacket would have helped me stay warmer and more focused on the test.

There are also some SAT resources that are helpful. One great book is “The Official SAT Guide“. This book explains the reading, writing, and math portions of the test, and has a few tips and practice tests to help you do well on test day.

The “SAT in a Box” by Kaplan offers flash cards to quiz you on key concepts about the SAT. It has 600 flashcards, with 200 flashcards on vocabulary, reading and writing, and math each.

4. Take The Test

Relax! You’ve made it this far, and you’re definitely ready. Rest up the day before the test. You don’t want to fight sleep while trying to answer those tricky test questions. Find some way to unwind, whether that be watching TV, walking on a beach, or doing goat yoga.

Wake up early on test day. Do a quick check to make sure you have everything you need, then eat a good healthy breakfast. Leave for the test site early, so that you don’t get stuck in traffic. I hope you ace the test!

If you liked this article, and found that it helped you out, then think about checking other articles at planandorganize.com. With these articles you can make your life easier by planning and organizing for the future.