How to prepare for SAT reasoning test?
Certification: Test Prep SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test
SAT reasoning test, more commonly known as the SAT, is a standardized test used for admission to colleges across the United States. Its duration is 3 hours and 45 minutes and costs around $51. SAT is owned by The College Board, a private organization in the United States but administered by the Educational Testing Service.
SAT reasoning test is an integral part of college admission and needs proper attention and time. Although preparation does not guarantee success but it has been shown to improve scores markedly. A good preparation with a proper study plan will make it easy for you to score big on the SAT.
Get to know SAT.
It is critical that you understand exactly how you are going to get tested in the SAT. SAT might seem like any other test to you with its multiple choice questions and a writing section but you need to familiarize yourself with its pattern so that you know what’s coming for you when you take the test and you can manage your time efficiently.
What works for you?
Every individual is different. While some would prefer being supervised by a parent or a tutor during their SAT preparation others would see it as a waste of their time thus preferring self-study. No method is superior to the others, the best method varies according to the requirement and personal preferences. Another thing to consider is the cost of hiring a tutor. A tutor can cost from around $125-$350 dollars. Choose the option that works best for you.
Study and Practice.
You need to get yourself some good SAT prep books to kick off the preparation. There are many options out there and you don’t need to buy each one, just get enough to get started. One must have is The Official SAT study guide by the College Board which contains original test questions for practice. Studying is integral to SAT preparation but it shouldn’t be the only component of your SAT prep, practice tests should be part of the routine as well. Most people prefer taking one weekly but you can decide on your own.. The more you practice, the more effective your prep. Remember to time your practice tests especially near the end of your SAT preparation so that you know how to manage your time come test day. After taking a practice test don’t just determine your score, review all the questions, even the ones you got right. This will help you understand the questions better. Practice is all about gearing you up for the final test day.
When preparing for SAT or any other test for that matter focus on the stuff you are not that good at. While you should not ignore any aspect of SAT preparation more time should be given to your weakest areas, this will help save time in the end.
Expand your brain dictionary.
Vocabulary is really important when it comes to the SAT. You can’t possibly memorize the whole Webster or Oxford and there’s no need to. There are many websites on the internet listing the words most commonly tested in the SAT, those are the words you need to focus on. Make flash cards and ask your friends to quiz you. Expand your vocabulary, it will make comprehension section of the SAT easier for you.
Good test taking strategy.
In the end it all comes down to how well you take the test. You need to properly manage your time and get the maximum questions right, of course. Questions in the SAT are arranged in an ascending order of difficulty. You need to make sure you don’t spend too much time on the easy ones lest you run out of time. Not all questions deserve the same amount of time, the hard ones require more, keep that in mind.
Just like in any other multiple choice question based test the process of elimination is useful in SAT too. Eliminate the wrong answers to narrow down the choices. You are more likely to get an answer right if you have to choose between two rather than between five.
The questions you have absolutely no idea about should be kept for the end. Pondering too much on such questions would achieve nothing. Instead, focus on the ones you do know.
Just like you should after every test, recheck your answers. Go through the whole test one more time to eliminate any chance of mistakingly marking the wrong answer. Trust your instincts though. Try not to second guess yourself. Most of the times the answer you think of first is the correct one.
Calculator or no calculator?
You might be a math genius but would you like to risk doing mental calculation for all the SAT math problems? I am not saying mental math is unreliable, just that it allows a greater chance of mistakes. Calculator is more reliable when it comes to stressful situations like when you are taking the SAT. If you decide to use a calculator for your SAT then make sure you are familiar with all the functions you will need to use before hand.
The night before.
Do not cram for SAT. You need an organized and balanced schedule which allows you enough time before the test to re-freshen your mind. Eat well, relax, let your self rest the day before the test. You need a fresh mind to tackle the SAT, exhaustion won’t do.
To summarize.
Just like any other test, SAT requires persistence and discipline. Make a good study plan, take practice tests and use a good test taking strategy. Relax the night before, don’t stress too much. SAT is not a piece of cake but can seem easy if you prepare well.