Preparing for an international exam like the SAT test can feel overwhelming, but it is nothing out of reach! With the correct guidance and consistent practice, you can score higher on the SAT exam. From the most prestigious institutions around the world, like Harvard and Stanford University, to any good college, the test is widely accepted across the globe. A good score on the SAT exam can boost your college application profile. Here are 9 tips to skyrocket your preparation for the exam day!
- Take Practice Tests
The College Board offers free practice tests with full-length exams under timed conditions. This is a serious weapon in learning that most students overlook. Taking practice tests does not only test your knowledge but helps you get familiar with the exam format, pace, and question style. Reviewing your mistakes after taking a full-length exam will help you refine your weaknesses and help build stamina. - Create a Study Plan
A well-structured plan is your ticket to success! It helps you maintain discipline and consistency, two key factors in winning anything! However, keep in mind that your schedule should fit around your life. Whether you are a night owl or an early bird, carve out time when you are most productive. Another mistake students make is waiting too long to start studying or creating a study plan. Remember, consistently studying a few hours every week is far more effective than last-minute cramming! - Do Easy Questions First
Don’t let the tough questions hinder your performance! Tackle the easier questions first. Not only will you save time but also build confidence, racking up your points immensely. Every correct answer will be a step closer to success, so maximize your time by getting through the low-hanging fruit before returning to the harder questions. - Eliminate Incorrect Answers
At times when you are unsure, resort to the elimination method. What’s that? Well according to this method, you cross out options that seem the most irrelevant logically, increasing your chance to guess the correct answer significantly. Since there’s no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT, always make sure to choose something instead of leaving a question blank. - Review Your Mistakes
Practice is not enough; you must learn from your mistakes to get ahead of everyone else. After each study session and practice test, go back and analyze what went wrong. Was it a careless mistake or a concept you misunderstood? Self-reflection is important to improve in any area of life, including your academic journey. - Don’t Leave Any Questions Blank
As mentioned earlier, in SAT there is no penalty for incorrect answers, so if you’re running out of time, make educated guesses. A good logical guess gives you a better chance to score more than to leave a question blank, especially after narrowing down options with elimination. - Increase Your Reading Speed
Time is tight in the Reading section, so improving your reading speed is critical. The best way to practice is with high-quality articles from sources like The New York Times or academic books. By reading faster without sacrificing comprehension, you’ll handle the SAT passages more effectively and get comfortable with complex texts. - Practice Active Reading
Don’t just skim through the passages, actively engage your brain by underlining, making rough notes and getting to the core of the passages to increase your stamina and comprehension together. Glancing at the question and fully comprehending is a must to extract the main idea of the text you will read. - Time Management is the Key for SAT success!
Proper time management can make or break your SAT scores. When practicing with full-length exams, time yourself 2-3 minutes less than the actual time. This will train you to effectively get through every question, getting better and better after every attempt, leaving ample amount of time to recheck your answers too. If a question is taking too long, skip it and come back later! Stay focused.
In conclusion, follow these 9 tips to score higher on the SAT and don’t let the exam intimidate you. Practice consistently with a positive outlook toward the exam day. You’ve got this!