SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is one of the most common tests among high school students worldwide. The test is quite tricky, and the first-timers always have many doubts that confuse them through the process. So we shall discuss everything you need to know about SATs in this blog that leaves you with no doubts. Plus, we will provide you with the best tips for SAT to prepare even better and ace the exam!
What is SAT?
SATs are usually taken by high school students willing to pursue undergraduate college courses in renowned universities. As the name says, the Scholastic Aptitude Test helps colleges understand students’ abilities who wish to enroll in their courses. SAT taking has become a mandate, especially for the students who dream of becoming professionals in today’s world.
SATs were started in the US and managed by the non-profit entity College Board. But eventually, colleges across the globe, prominently in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia, started accepting the scores in student applications.
SAT tips and tricks
General Tips
- Familiarize yourself with the test format:Â The SAT has four sections namely, Reading, Writing and Language, Math (with calculator), and Math (without calculator). Knowing what to expect in each section will only help you in managing your time effectively during the test.
- Develop a study plan: Creating a study schedule and sticking to it goes a long way for success. The ideal moment to start preparing for the SAT is several weeks or even months before the actual test date. Practicing using official SAT practice materials, such as those available on the College Board website.
- Focus on your weaknesses:Â Take practice tests to identify weak areas, you will know what areas to focus on. For example, if you struggle with math, spend more time practicing math problems. You can always find official SAT practice sets available online!
- Practice good time management:Â During the test, it’s important to manage your time effectively as there are multiple questions and categories to go through. Learning how to pace yourself throughout each section is one of the top tips for SAT.
- Eliminate incorrect answers:Â Use the process of elimination to eliminate answers that you know are incorrect. This can help you narrow down your options and improve your chances of your answer being right.
Writing tips
You do not need to know so many words by heart. Apart from learning how to derive word meaning from the context, it is much easier to spend some time learning word morphology. It deals with word formation, prefixes, suffixes, etc. Doing this will get easier to guess the meaning of the word. Learning the basics will take about 3-4 weeks, depending on your time, but it will be completely worth it when you see your linguistic skills developing at a commendable rate. This skill will help be efficient in the reading, writing, and essay sections of the SAT. Additionally you can check out our Ultimate Guide To Preparing For SATs
- Learn grammar rules:Â The writing and language section are there to test your knowledge of grammar and its usage, so it’s rather important to have a strong understanding of the grammar rules. Review grammar rules and practice using them in writing.
- Look for errors: Pen on paper is the best way to learn. Write loads and inspect your wok. Look for grammatical errors, usage, punctuation, or even the sentence structure. Making sure that the text is clear, concise, and grammatically correct is a one of the few tips for SATs that needed to be thoroughly implemented.
- Use context clues:Â Using context clues to help you answer questions about vocabulary and sentence structure is another top SAT tricks. This involves looking at the words and phrases around the unknown word or sentence to infer its meaning.
- Manage your time: The writing and language section is timed, so it’s important to manage your time effectively. Don’t spend too much time on one question or passage, move on to the next question if you’re unsure about the answer.
- Revise and edit:Â Once you’ve completed a passage or finished with the whole writing section, review your answers and revise as necessary. Look for any errors and implement changes where necessary.
