The SAT, like any other admissions test, can be difficult to ace, especially in a highly competitive environment. If you just have a month to prepare for the SAT, you may still get the score you want by following these six tried-and-true tactics.
1: Become familiar with the SAT format
Knowing what to anticipate on test day can give you a significant advantage, not to mention a little more confidence, as is the case with every exam. Learn the SAT's scoring system and the subjects it tests before you begin your SAT preparation. Then, proceed to the specifics of each SAT section by learning about the kind of questions you'll see there and the abilities you'll need to develop to do well.
2: Take a minimum of a few official practice exams to gauge your progress.
Once you start studying for the SAT, it's critical to regularly determine if your SAT score is rising or falling by taking authentic SAT practice exams.
Two or three official practice examinations should be sufficient for a month's worth of study. To determine your starting point in your study programme, take the first exam (as described in Step 2 above). When you are halfway through your study plan, take a second test to check if your preparation materials and study strategies are working for you and to identify any prominent areas where you need to put more effort.
For best results, practice exams must be taken at the correct times. Therefore, avoid taking a test too soon (less than a week after you begin SAT prep), as you probably won't see any noticeable improvements. In a similar vein, avoid taking a test too soon before test day because it will simply sap your energy!
3. Review the essential SAT maths topics
If you don't spend any time reviewing the fundamental ideas examined on the SAT Maths, your study plan will be lacking. Algebra, advanced mathematics, and problem-solving and data analysis are, generally speaking, the three main SAT Maths areas. These three subjects combined make up 90% of all maths questions.
But what specifically ought to you study? Learn the fundamentals of integers first. (For additional information on exponents, absolute values, prime numbers, and other topics, see our advanced guide to integers.)
After that, move on to these crucial SAT Maths topics:
In algebra
- Equations, inequalities, and linear functions
- Equations with a single variable
- Linear equation systems
Advanced Mathematics
- Equations and functions those are quadratic and nonlinear
- Equations and exponential functions
- Graphing algorithms
- Working with polynomials
To analyze data and solve problems
- Statistics (mean median, mode, etc.) (Mean median, mode, etc.)
- Proportions and ratios (including percentages)
- Tables, graphs, and scatter plots
4: Discover Simple Maths Techniques
You must understand several fundamental SAT maths strategies in addition to knowing the core SAT Maths concepts.
Resolving maths problems you missed before looking at the answer explanations is a vital study technique. This is how it goes: You will respond to various SAT Maths questions and then check your responses one at a time using high-quality maths practice questions. Mark the ones you get wrong as you go, then try to solve them again right away, using the right solution as a guide this time. Resolving questions enables you to consider more carefully why you missed a question and potential approaches to it and solutions.
Plugging in answers and plugging in numbers are additional maths techniques. You can attempt practically any arithmetic problem using these two techniques, even if you have no idea how to solve it. These methods are effective if you don't know how to use algebra to solve systems of equations and inequalities or how to simplify algebraic statements.
5: Review the fundamental SAT grammar topics
Now shifting gears! You must have a working grasp of written English conventions for the SAT Writing and Language part and utilize this knowledge to revise and enhance phrases in various passages. You must, in essence, be familiar with all of the essential grammatical and punctuation principles in English.
The principles and ideas that are most frequently examined on the SAT Writing portion are:
- Semicolons, colons, and commas
- Possessives and apostrophes
- Subject-verb concord
- Modifiers
- Homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings) (words that sound the same but have different meanings)
- terms with and without restrictions
- Redundancy
- Idiomatic expressions
6: Create a Reading Strategy for SAT Passages
On both the Reading and Writing parts of the SAT, passages are prevalent—every question in these two sections is based on one! You must develop the capacity to swiftly and accurately understand different kinds of passages.
Approaching SAT passages can be done in a variety of ways. You might find it easier to create unique reading techniques for each section since the Reading and Writing sections ask different questions about the texts they discuss.
When reading passages in the Reading section of the test, test-takers often employ one of the following strategies:
- Read the questions after skimming the passage.
- Read or skim the passage, then quickly answer the questions.
- Answer the questions after reading the entire passage (not recommended)
And test-takers frequently employ one of these methods in the Writing section:
- Respond to the questions as you read each paragraph of the passage (highly recommended)
- As you read the passage, respond to each question that is underlined in order.
- Skim the passage, and then respond to the questions.
- Read only the phrases that are underlined (not recommended)
Whichever passage-reading technique you select is ultimately up to you, and how well it works for you as a reader and informed consumer. Test out the various techniques utilizing the Reading and Writing sections on authentic SAT practice tests to help you figure out which one is best for you. Just be sure to time yourself for the same amount of time as on the actual SAT. Compare your results for each section after you've finished the tests. Any noticeably higher test results should indicate a technique that works for you.
2 More SAT Study Advice for High Achievers
The following six pieces of advice are intended for individuals who intend to devote at least 40 hours of study time to the SAT in a month and are looking for additional strategies to help them achieve their desired SAT scores.
7: Thoroughly Examine Actual Questions
Because your study sessions will probably feel somewhat lengthy, use some of your time to carefully go through sample SAT questions. The official SAT practice exams are the greatest tools to use for this.
Look for specific hints to assist you to determine the kind of questions you'll be seeing on each segment as you read through the questions on these examinations. Can you tell the big picture questions in the Reading section apart from the little picture questions, for instance? Can you tell which problems in the Maths section belong in the Heart of Algebra category? the division of "Data Analysis and Problem Solving"? How are the questions on the No Calculator part different from those on the Calculator section?
You can learn the SAT format by paying attention to how different concepts are presented on the test. You'll consequently start to spend more time trying to solve SAT questions than trying to understand them.
8: Understand ALL Grammar Rules and Applicable Maths Topics
If test-takers want to boost their score by a stunning amount, they must go beyond the fundamentals of SAT grammar and maths and begin studying more difficult (albeit less frequent) SAT subjects.
Spend extra time understanding the last 10% of topics (referred to as "Additional Topics in Maths") for the maths part.
This group mostly includes:
- Triangles, circles, three-dimensional objects, lines and angles, and arc lengths are all part of geometry.
- Integers with complex trigonometry
- Attempt to learn every significant SAT Maths formula.
Therefore, you must know additional pertinent formulas that are not provided on the test, such as those for algebra and trigonometry. Nevertheless, you should still memories the ones that will be tested, as doing so will spare you time on exam day by preventing you from continuously consulting the list of formulas for guidance.
You shouldn't have any trouble putting these suggestions into practice while creating a month-long SAT study schedule!
Conclusion
Any admission exam, including the SAT, is challenging to pass, especially in a situation when there is fierce competition. The competition gets tougher when it comes to travelling abroad. As a result, making decisions should be done carefully and after consulting with guardians, parents, and mentors. In addition,
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