Top 10 Tips, tricks and strategies for the sat
1. Know your Strengths and Weaknesses:
Practice tests will determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. For example, if you excel at the Reading test, then your time would be better spent focusing on Math.
2. Answer EVERY Question:
Points are no longer deducted for incorrect answers, so answer all the test questions. Even if you are guessing on a multiple choice question, you have at least a 25% chance of answering the question correct.
3. Read the Question and Answer Choices First:
Since the reading passages are so much shorter, spend your first few seconds reading the question first. Find out what the question is asking you to do, and then go to the reading passage and look for the answer.
4. Look for Wrong Answers Instead of Right Answers:
There is only one correct answer for each question so narrow your answers down by using process of elimination. Use the eliminator tool to cross out answers that are outlandish and make little sense.
5. Skip Difficult Questions- but remember to go back to them:
Use the digital test's tool to flag questions that are difficult and use the module review screen to come back to them later. (You may want to guess, just in case you don't have time to return to the question!). Try to accumulate as many points as you can with easy questions, and then go back to the difficult questions and try to answer them. You don't want to leave easy points on the table because you are focusing too much time on difficult questions.
6. Practice working with Desmos, the Blue Book Graphing Calculator:
Practice with the College Board's sample tests so you can try out Desmos, the Blue Book Calculator.
7. Don't Change Your Answers:
Most often, your first answer is the correct answer. Don't change an answer unless you are sure you made an error.
8. Ask for Scrap Paper- and Use It!
Even though the test is digital, you can and should ask for scrap paper to take notes, draw pictures, write out equations, etc.
9. Use the Full Amount of Time:
Pace yourself during the test. There is no prize for finishing first. Make use of all the time given to you.
10. Practice, practice, practice!
The SAT exam is a timed test. The more you practice the test, the better you will score. The College Board offers four full-length digital practice tests for you to try out.
Practice tests will determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. For example, if you excel at the Reading test, then your time would be better spent focusing on Math.
2. Answer EVERY Question:
Points are no longer deducted for incorrect answers, so answer all the test questions. Even if you are guessing on a multiple choice question, you have at least a 25% chance of answering the question correct.
3. Read the Question and Answer Choices First:
Since the reading passages are so much shorter, spend your first few seconds reading the question first. Find out what the question is asking you to do, and then go to the reading passage and look for the answer.
4. Look for Wrong Answers Instead of Right Answers:
There is only one correct answer for each question so narrow your answers down by using process of elimination. Use the eliminator tool to cross out answers that are outlandish and make little sense.
5. Skip Difficult Questions- but remember to go back to them:
Use the digital test's tool to flag questions that are difficult and use the module review screen to come back to them later. (You may want to guess, just in case you don't have time to return to the question!). Try to accumulate as many points as you can with easy questions, and then go back to the difficult questions and try to answer them. You don't want to leave easy points on the table because you are focusing too much time on difficult questions.
6. Practice working with Desmos, the Blue Book Graphing Calculator:
Practice with the College Board's sample tests so you can try out Desmos, the Blue Book Calculator.
7. Don't Change Your Answers:
Most often, your first answer is the correct answer. Don't change an answer unless you are sure you made an error.
8. Ask for Scrap Paper- and Use It!
Even though the test is digital, you can and should ask for scrap paper to take notes, draw pictures, write out equations, etc.
9. Use the Full Amount of Time:
Pace yourself during the test. There is no prize for finishing first. Make use of all the time given to you.
10. Practice, practice, practice!
The SAT exam is a timed test. The more you practice the test, the better you will score. The College Board offers four full-length digital practice tests for you to try out.