7 Tips to ACE the SAT Exam

The SAT is a standardised test used by students pursuing higher education from across the country. It gives universities and colleges an idea of your work ethic and academic status. With the rising number of students taking the SAT exam each year and regarded as the most extensively used college admission test, the SAT is the most competitive examination in the world. Because college admissions are more competitive than ever, it’s critical that you use your SAT score to set yourself apart from other applicants.

Despite these statistics, the SAT exam is not insuperable. You can achieve your dream SAT score by combining dedication, determination and hard work with the use of the right SAT preparation.

Here are some tips to help you in your SAT preparation, whether you’re a senior scrambling to raise your SAT scores before the deadline or a junior just getting started.

1. Understand the SAT

To recap, the SAT is a timed test with three sections: SAT reading, SAT writing, and SAT math. The questions become more difficult as the test continues, so you may expect the easier questions to appear first and the more difficult questions to appear subsequently.

To get a sense of the SAT, you should take the SAT mock tests. By taking the SAT practice tests you will develop a sense of time and a sense of what the SAT exam will be like as a result of your experience. Because you already know what to expect from the SAT, you won’t need to read questions, giving you more time to learn the content that matters. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that students who take SAT practise tests have a better probability of achieving a good SAT score.

2. Set Your Goal

Before taking the SAT exam, you must ask yourself,” What do I want to score?”. The answer to this question will help you determine how much time you should invest in your SAT preparation.

If you are unsure of what score you want, look up the average SAT score of the University or the college you are interested in. Then set a goal for yourself based on that average SAT score. If your GPA is low, you should strive for a high SAT score.

Although your test score is only one aspect of your college application, it tells colleges a lot about who you are as a student, so aim for a score that is at least average for the student body at the university you want to enroll in. You’re good if you get a score in that range. Consider that an increasing number of colleges are rejecting applicants with high test scores, and other universities don’t even require SAT scores. Test-optional and test-flexible schools such as NYU and the University of Chicago exist. Although, this does not mean that you should skip your SAT exam. Even if your SAT isn’t required, you’ll have to make up the difference with SAT IIs, APs, or other standardised examinations.

3. Plan Accordingly

You want to avoid taking the SAT several times if you’re applying to universities in the middle of the application season. Studying takes time, and it may even detract from your ability to complete your applications! You will achieve the best score possible if you plan ahead of time and devote your time to taking the SAT once. Another advantage is that the SAT will be finished!

Dedicate two or three months for your SAT preparation. Register for the SAT at a time that is convenient for you and allows you to prepare for the SAT adequately. Choose a date in August or October if you can only study for the SAT over the summer, or November or December if you need the dates before the deadline for applications. The key to selecting convenient examination dates is to select a date that allows you to study adequately beforehand and does not interfere with any activities.

4. Study, Identify the Strategies and Retest

Since you’ve taken some SAT practice tests, you can now study and reach your goal of a “SAT good score.”

The main problem that students face is getting stuck in the difficult questions they don’t know the answers to, especially on the SAT math section where understanding how to solve that question is crucial. To get around this problem, you should train yourself on ideas that you don’t grasp, that appear unfamiliar, or that you just misunderstand, and come up with efficient solutions that will help you understand and handle the situation. In order to acquire a decent SAT score, you must first identify your deficiencies and then challenge yourself.

Identifying strategies that work for you might also assist you in achieving a good SAT score. There are two strategies for the reading that can help: one is skimming through the questions while reading the passage and answering as you go, and the other is reading the passage first and then glancing at the questions. Because not all strategies work for everyone, figuring out which ones do might help you get through the SAT with ease.

Once you begin to understand the problems, work independently and strengthen what you already know, you will be able to work through them more quickly and easily. Then take a SAT practise test and compare the results. If you’re studying three months ahead of time, take a SAT practise test each month and compare your results to the previous one. If you observe progress, you’re on the correct track. If your skills aren’t improving, you might try to look for patterns in what you’re doing wrong and figure out how to fix them. Rep the procedure until you don’t make the same mistake.

5. Read Every Question

When taking the SAT, one of the most common mistakes students make is misunderstanding a question and then marking the incorrect answer. To avoid this, make sure you read the question carefully and understand what it is asking. The SAT exam pattern is designed to deceive you, so it will ask you strange questions and push you to answer incorrectly.

Furthermore, reading the question before looking at the passage or the math problem encourages you to think about the question you’re answering more carefully. This is especially true on the SAT math section, where the majority of questions are two-step problems. They may ask you to plug in a number and then square it for your final answer, prompting most people to simply bubble in the first part’s answer. You can avoid this by reading the questions.

6. Don’t Sweat It!

It is important that you do not stress during the SAT, as stressful as it may be. In the days coming up to the big date, eat healthily and get plenty of rest. To ensure appropriate brain function, have a healthy breakfast the day before.

Take a deep breath, count to ten, or stretch if you’re feeling uneasy.

7. Don’t Look Back!

When taking the SAT, keep track of how much time you have. Answering each question should take no more than one minute. With that in mind, if you’re stuck on a question for more than 45 seconds, choose the best answer and go on to the next. When you have additional questions to answer, you don’t want to get trapped on a question trying to figure out the answer.

Even if you’re unsure about the question and are pressed for time, mark an answer! With the SAT, there are no penalties, and you have a 25% chance of answering the answer correct. You should only go back if you have an extra five or ten minutes to double-check your answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques.1 How long does it take to prepare for the SAT?

The preparation time depends on the score requirement and the student’s capacity. But a study plan that extends for two or three months that includes enough full-length practice tests should do the job.

Ques.2 How many times can I take the SAT?

SAT can be taken any number of times. But, if the university demands all your test scores, multiple attempts at the SAT may make your profile weak. So, we suggest that you take the SAT twice or maybe thrice but not beyond that.

Ques.3 How do I register for the SAT?

Visit the College Board website and create an account. Upload your photograph. Pay the test fee using a debit or credit card.

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