6 General SAT Test Prep Tips

The SAT test is a daunting task. I took it and the PSAT only once apiece, and that was enough SAT testing to last a lifetime. Those of you who are unsure of how best to prepare for the SAT, read on for 6 valuable SAT test prep tips.

Tip 1: Take the PSAT

It may sound obvious, but taking the PSAT is actually the formal way to get a sense of how the SAT will be. It's slightly easier than and not quite as long as the SAT, but the PSAT is a very similar format. If you don't take the PSAT, you miss out on being in a formal test setting and feeling the same pressure you'll feel for the real SAT test. This is hard to duplicate at home or in the library.

Tip 2: Read the SAT Prep Booklet

You know that little booklet they hand you to help you study? Yeah, you should read that from cover to cover, as many times as you can. Not only does it show you the format of the SAT test, it also has sample questions with the right answers. Seeing how the answers are reached is really helpful, especially as a beginner trying to prepare for the SAT.

Tip 3: Learn the Rules

The SAT test has strict guidelines. You have a certain amount of time allotted for each section, usually under 30 minutes, and if you run out of time, you cannot go back. You also should know that there are 5 options for every question and a -1/4 point penalty for every question you answer incorrectly. For only 2 questions missed, this will produce the same results as missing those questions, so some guessing is encouraged, but the test is set up to make random guessing work against you.

Tip 4: Practice Time Management

This is probably the worst part of the SAT, and also the most critical to master. There are a lot of strategies on managing your time during the SAT, and you need to find the one that works best for you. Just remember this: all SAT questions are created equal. It doesn't matter if you solved the question that only one other person in America was smart enough to solve; if it took you the whole time to figure out, you're still left with just 1 point. If there's a question you think you can solve, but it might take a while, put a check next to it and skip it. If you don't think you can solve a question, mark it with an X and only come back to it after you've tackled all the other questions. You need to pace yourself, because it's all about the number of questions you get right.

Tip 5: Do a Practice Test

At least once before the real SAT, do the practice test that came in your booklet. To best prepare for the SAT, try alternating between learning tips and strategies and then trying them with a practice test. Do the practice test as close to actual conditions as possible. Try it on a Saturday morning, locked in your room, without your laptop or a television or cell phone, for a good four hours. Take short breaks for food and going to the bathroom. This is the best way to gauge how you will do and decide how much more you need to study.

Tip 6: Do the Official SAT Question of the Day

The College Board website always has an SAT Question of the Day, and there is no reason why you shouldn't remind yourself daily what the questions will be like, even when you aren't deliberately studying for the SAT test. Keeping it fresh in your mind will make it all easier to remember until you take the SAT for real.

Conclusion:

These general prep tips should be practiced as you prepare for the SAT test. If you are familiar with the rules, master time management, and keep practicing questions and strategies, you will be on your way to achieving your dream score!