Preparing for the SAT
Basic SAT Strategies for the College-Bound Student
The first and foremost thing to remember about the SAT: it’s not personal. This test is designed to be as impartial as possible, to put a student from a private boarding academy in New England in the same room (figuratively) as somebody from a public school in Los Angeles, and see how they compare.
The second thing to keep in mind: the SAT is not the sum of your abilities and experiences. It is only part of your application and, depending on the school, may not even count for as much as grades, recommendations or extracurriculars. Some schools, mainly small liberal arts colleges, even abstain from requiring an SAT score with the application, following the views of some administrators who consider standardized tests a poor barometer of student worth. Most large universities or state colleges, however, require either the SAT or the ACT, and so the test becomes an obsession for many students as they progress through the application process.
Test Format
The test consists of three main parts -- Verbal, Writing and Mathematics -- broken down into eight sections with questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar. In addition, one section is a short, 25-minute essay. This is always administered at the beginning of the test and graded on a scale of 2-12, with 12 being the highest score. It is a long, tiresome exam, totaling three hours and 45 minutes and is usually held on a Saturday morning, so resist the temptation to go out on Friday night. A good night’s sleep two nights before the test is essential to maximizing your score, as is eating well and making sure you are properly awake and hydrated for the morning of the exam.
Navigating Test Prep
Remember, the SAT is a standardized test. There is no “holy grail” of test-prep materials, a single book or website ready with all the questions and answers ahead of time. What you can do, however, is familiarize yourself with the exam ahead of time by taking as many practice tests as possible.
This test is designed for the average high school senior, so advanced geometry, trigonometry, calculus and higher level math functions will not appear on the exam, nor will questions about specific facts, dates or people. The “standardized” part means simply that although the wording of the questions may change, the format of the test and even the general style of the questions remain the same and, thus, it becomes possible to compare students across different testing centers.
How to Study (Cheaply) for a Standardized Test
Many students choose to invest a lot of money, sometimes thousands of dollars, and time in SAT prep courses or private tutors, but if you are unable to do this, cheaper options are available. The College Board has made previous tests available for sale or online, and many public libraries also carry prep books, although these may be marked with answers already. Devote an hour or so a night to prepping for the test, and begin at least four months before your first test date.
Progress through each practice test, section by section, beginning with untimed practice sets, then timed sections and multiple timed sections without breaks, until you reach the point where you can complete an entire test within the normal time limit. Move quickly but deliberately, skipping over any problem that takes you more than a few seconds. Go back and complete these problems after you have secured the easier questions, and do not assume because a question is early in the test it is less difficult, although the questions generally increase difficulty as you progress through a section.
When you are finished, look over each incorrect problem and work through it step by step until you’ve identified your mistakes. Although you will not see this same problem on the actual exam, you may see a similar one, so getting to the core of the mistakes you make will pay dividends in the long run. It helps to have a parent, older sibling, teacher or friend with you to provide a different perspective to the problem and explain why your answer is incorrect and how to reach the correct response.
The idea here is to develop a mechanical response to the standardized test that transcends simply memorizing a certain set of answers or a semester's worth of notes, as is common when cramming for normal exams. The ability to see a problem and immediately understand how to reach the correct answer is something that will come only after hours of practice, undoubtedly with some failure along the way.
Final Thoughts on the SAT
Unfortunately, prepping for the SAT is not like studying for a normal exam. It will take many, many repetitions before you will begin to see noticeable improvement. Remember- begin this training early on, repeat daily or every few days, and you should begin to see a slow improvement in your scores. Give yourself a break the week of the exam to relax- you’ve earned it, and above all, don’t despair.
