The SATs. Something that all of us high schoolers dread. But fear no more! I've provided all the resources and tips that I used to get 1500+
Arya Kommera 12/31/18 Study Tips 1:52 AM (PST)
We all know the SAT is this horribly, long test that all of us will eventually have to take. And we all know that it practically determines your life (aside from your GPA and extracurriculars). No stress at all, right? We’ve heard success stories and we’ve heard “unsuccessful” stories. And that makes us all wonder how we’ll do on the test. But something I know for sure is that all of us want to get the perfect score. But how? Do you have to study for 500 hours? What books are the best? What score will get you into your dream college?
Well you have come to the right place. I’ll be sharing all the secrets and tips for success. But before that, what exactly is the SAT and how is it formatted?
What is the SAT?
SAT is a standardized test which shows colleges/universities how prepared you are for college by testing skills like reading comprehension, computational ability, and clarity of expression. Because all students planning to go to college in the United States have to take the SAT, the test allows colleges to compare you with the rest of the applicants.
Depending on where you want to apply, your SAT (or ACT) score can contribute to your application by 50%! Therefore it’s very crucial that you have a good SAT score that reflects your academic capability. So for all the people asking if the SAT really matters, sorry to break it to you but yes it does. It matters a lot. Don’t get too scared though! If you put in enough time, then I assure you that you will do fine.
The SAT is formatted into four different sections.
Section 1- Reading
Time Duration: 65 Minutes
Number of Questions: 52
Objective: Answer the questions based on the passage
45-60 for each question
Section 2- Writing and Language
Time Duration: 35 Minutes
Number of Questions: 44
Objective: Proper use of grammar conventions, improving sentences and paragraphs, and idea development
45 seconds for each question
Section 3- Math No Calculator
Time Duration: 25 Minutes
Number of Questions: 20
15 Multiple Choice Questions with 5 Grid-Ins
MCQ’s: 1.25 minutes each
Grid-Ins: 1.5 minutes each
Section 4- Math With Calculator
Time Duration: 55 Minutes
Number of Questions: 38
30 Multiple Choice Questions and 8 Grid-Ins
MCQ’s: 1.25 minutes each
Grid-Ins: 1.5 minutes each
5) Optional Essay
Time Duration: 50 Minutes
Objective: Read the given passage and write an essay which explains how the author builds his argument by; using evidence, such as facts and explains, to support his claim; reasoning, to connect claims and evidence; stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.
And if you have completed Algebra 2, then the math section should be a breeze. No scary Calculus stuff.
Resources I Used
Now that we’ve talked about what the SAT is and what it looks like, let’s talk about when to take it. I took the SAT recently in my junior year and it’s totally up to you when you want. Most students try to take it in their junior year so they have more chances of taking it again if they want a higher score. If you’re applying for early decision you should have your final SAT score in your hands by October of your senior year, another reason to finish off the SAT in your junior year or the summer before senior year! You can also give it a go in your sophomore year if you feel that you’re prepared. Some students do it in their senior year but I advise you not as you will be extremely busy with AP/IB tests, college applications, and the general workload of senior year.
Some of the resources I used to get 1500+ are:
Articles from PrepScholar ( https://blog.prepscholar.com )
Khan Academy ( https://www.khanacademy.org/sat )
UWorld ( https://www.uworld.com/collegeprep/sat/sat.aspx )
Black Book Second Edition
College Board the blue book
Setting up a Study Plan
But just having these resources isn’t going to get you 1500+. You have to set up a proper plan to study. This was how I studied for the test but remember, you don’t have to stick to this plan:
1) Read up on the SAT
2) Set a goal
Now that you looked into the SAT and what scores colleges want, set a goal for yourself-- the score you need to get into your dream school.
3) Take a diagnostic test
I recommend to use the SAT Practice Test 1 (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sat-practice-test-1.pdf ) as a diagnostic test or if you have the blue book then the diagnostic test from the book. ALWAYS try to work with questions from sources that either get their test questions from the ACT test itself, or simulate those types of questions. Make sure you take the diagnostic test under exam conditions as it will make your results as accurate as possible and easier for you to figure out on what section you need to work on.
Based on your diagnostic test score you will need to allot the time you spend on preparation accordingly, I used a point improvement schedule from PrepScholar. Consider if you need private SAT coaching, coaching in a group, or an online course. Tutors and online courses can provide you with more personal help and they also can give you more personalized work, however, most tutors and online courses are very expensive so make sure to evaluate if its worth your money. Don’t forget to look into the credentials of the tutors/courses!
If you decide not to get a tutor-- remember that you (like most people) can self study for the SAT. There are A LOT of free resources available online to help you prep for the SAT. Recently College Board partnered with Khan Academy to provide free SAT prep and since it’s endorsed by the College Board, it’s wiser to use the resources provided as they’re closer to the actual SAT questions. You can always use the College Board’s Blue Book for practice tests along with the black book to review the practice tests and practices skills from the 4 sections.
5) Create a Study Plan
Allot the amount of time you want to spend prepping accordingly and what section you want to focus on more. Remember that your study plan should be as personal and specific as possible.
6) Practice Tests
After a couple weeks or months of working through the question types and familiarizing yourself with the pattern and questions asked, start taking more practice tests. If you have the Blue Book, use the tests from there or they’re available for free online on the official College Board site.
Make sure to ONLY work with official College Board material.
7) Review your mistakes
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Unless you review your mistakes you won’t learn from them, and will repeat them on the exam day.
Make sure you get ahold of the SAT Black Book as it has very detailed answer explanations. You could always use the College Board’s Answer Explanation but for more better explanation it’s better to use the Black Book.
8) Practice the material that you made mistakes on
Let’s say you take two practice tests and most of your mistakes in section 2 are punctuation type, read through the punctuation rules and do some exercises on it from Khan Academy or from any other book you have and once you’re sure you won’t repeat them, take another test.
9) Review any content that you need to.
10) Repeat Steps 6-9 until the day of the exam!
Well there you have it folks! Although studying for the SAT may be daunting, if you have a proper study plan and use the right resources along with some hard work, nothing can stop you from getting your desired score. Good luck to all of you!
Sources:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test
https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-should-i-study-for-the-sat-6-step-guide
https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-New/dp/1457309289 (prepbook)
https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164 (prepbook)
About the Author
Arya Kommera is a 16 year old from Hyderabad, India who attends Chirec International School. She loves playing the piano and likes to watch anime in her free time.
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