Students often stress about the SAT, and studying for it can be time-consuming and difficult. Despite a demanding schedule, several ways are offered by various sources.
Here are five of my most helpful tips for passing the test.
Take an SAT Prep Class
Khan Academy offers a free SAT Prep Course which includes personalized practice and multiple full-length practice tests directly from CollegeBoard. Khan Academy also links to your CollegeBoard account, so if you are in AP classes, you already have an account. Some schools even offer an in-person prep course with a real teacher. For example, Mrs. Gross teaches a prep class for juniors and seniors in the Fall.
“Letter of the Day”
One commonly used strategy is to always pick C if you don’t know the answer. However, that may not always be the case. Statistics have shown that you are more likely to get a question correct by just picking one letter at the beginning of the test and sticking with it. To use the “Letter of the Day” strategy, pick either A, B, C, or D at the start of your test and bubble in that answer choice for any questions you don’t know the answer to.
Answer all of the Questions
Unlike traditional assessments, the SAT does not dock points for incorrect answers. To give yourself the best chance at scoring higher, bubble in an answer for all the questions. A good strategy to use is the “Now, Later, Never” Method. Answer the questions that are easy first, then mark the questions that need a little more time, and leave the hardest questions for last. If there is any extra time, go back and look at the “Never” questions.
Buy a Book
The traditional paperback prep book will run you at least $20 and can be found at any bookstore or on Amazon. Most books include practice tests, and some have tips for an easier test experience. A best-seller on Amazon is the SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published by Mike and Patrick Barrett. It includes walkthroughs for every question in all four sections of the test.
Eliminate and Guess
For “Later” or “Never” questions, Eliminate and Guess can be the most effective strategy. Read the questions and cross out the obvious wrong answer choices. Then, making an educated guess will give a 50%-75% chance of getting the question correct.
