<p>Exam myths and rumors are like fire, spreading through forests of susceptible students; targeting their anxiety and nervousness. Being such an important event in their academic life, these students are vulnerable to filling their mind with all kinds of information that may have a negative impact on their SAT score.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Dont guess any answer. Leave it blank.
This one is not to be blindly believed! If you play a probabilistic game, you can use guessing to your advantage. There are two types of guesses a blind guess and an educated guess. While we discourage the former, we encourage you to use the latter. If you can eliminate even once choice, it is statistically better to go ahead with a guess. The College Board deducts one-quarter for a wrong answer in an SAT. Thus, even one correct guess in four gives you a positive result.</p></li>
<li><p>The auspicious testing date!
This is one of the most prevalent ones. Many students, due to varied reasons, believe that June and September testing dates are better because they believe tests are simpler during that time. However, the SAT is well-known for its consistency and thus, choosing your test dates according to your preparation and convenience is a smarter decision.</p></li>
<li><p>Oh no! He got 2110! Ten more than me! What do I do now?
A difference of ten marks is not a do-or-die situation. Admission counselors are aware that even a difference of fifty marks is a result of a few questions, and do not make it a critical parameter for assessment when you have achieved a high percentile.</p></li>
<li><p>It doesnt matter how long your essay is.
The College Board will tell you that the length of an essay does not affect the score. Perhaps, theyll even throw in a Quality over quantity quote. However, studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between the length of ones essay and ones SAT essay score. Therefore, it is always better to write a lengthier essay by including details and life experiences.</p></li>
<li><p>The myth of the equating section
Unless you have supernatural tendencies, there is no way you can guess which section is the equation section. So, this one is garbage talk. Work less in any section at your own risk. ■■■■■■■■■■■■ will haunt you with a told you so! if you do so!</p></li>
<li><p>The Writing section is harder or matters less!
There is a reason behind lower mean scores in the writing section its new! However, the writing section can be made into a major weapon. Students who undertake test preparation courses experience the highest increase in Writing; and find it easier than the reading section. Colleges may claim not to look at the writing section, but that option is not in your hands. So, do not take a risk! The section score is right there on your scorecard.</p></li>
<li><p>SAT doesnt measure my intelligence!
This one is debatable. However, there is no reason you should waste time debating it. SAT is a necessary criterion for your college entrance and you should not let your personal opinion cloud your goal which is to score well in SAT and earn admission in a top quality college.</p></li>
<li><p>Retesting is bad
It does not matter. Most students retest in hope of increasing their score. Many succeed, but many dont. Virtually all colleges are unaffected by the fact that you are re-attempting the SAT. Its how you perform on the retaken SAT that matters. Re-testing does not significantly change in your score. If it does, then the interpretation would be that your previous test was not an indicator of your right ability. So, retesting is a costly, but good option!</p></li>
<li><p>Calculator-syndrome!
The toppers, the nerds, those darn 800’s! Its not their efficient use of calculators that propel them to the top. They are not masters of technology any more than you! They are just better prepared. Calculators require time and effort and are still prone to human errors. Practice for math section without the use of calculators, as much as you can.</p></li>
<li><p>I just had a bad day
Perhaps, this one is only for your ego. Unless something went drastically wrong on your testing day, re-testing is unlikely to boost your score. Research has shown that a bad day is generally not the cause of a low score. So, gear up, and prepare harder!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>hmmm… this isn’t a really valuable post. I agree with Jubilant, it doesn’t sound like you know much about the SAT.</p>
<p>Do you mean “experimental section” when you say “equation” section? You also use a lot of British colloquialisms, are you even an American tutor?</p>
<p>Colleges will frown at you if you take the SAT I multiple times. The general consensus is that if you take the SAT I more than three times, univs/colleges will most likely frown at you, perceiving you as if you were a test freak who could have spent his/her time on other more valuable pursuits such as EC or community service.</p>
<p>There is no September testing date, and it’s not a myth that June is an easy test date-I took my SAT in June and the math curve, especially, was very lenient (but then again, I only got 2 wrong). </p>
<p>“Students who undertake test preparation courses experience the highest increase in Writing; and find it easier than the reading section.” -THIS IS TRUE. My SAT Writing score improved by 100 points after studying a few grammar rules.</p>
<p>I already sent both two SAT tests and ACT tests, and I scored 2030 on the first one and 1950 on the second SAT, and 33 on the first ACT and 29 on the second ACT, does that look bad? Only improvement was 590 Writing to 630 on second SAT and 8 essay to 10 essay on second ACT. What you think?</p>
<p>Not true. People can have bad days for an infinite different reasons. If your breakfast doesn’t taste right, your score will drop. Couldn’t sleep to well, your score drops. Have a headeache, your score drops. Can’t finish your last song on your ipod before walking into the test room, your score drops. Can’t find your test room, your score drops. Aren’t sitting near a window (fresh air or nicer lighting), your score drops. Don’t like your room, your score drops. Have a brain freeze on a section, score drops.</p>
<p>for the most part, I agree with you. However, I think “bad days” effect 2200+ students exponentially more than average/above average SATers. When you need to perform in tip top shape - no mistakes - a bad day is certainly plausible</p>
<p>^Right, but for anyone who has a bad day or several bad days, it’s annoying when people who live perfect lives think that you’re making excuses when you score lower than what you were capable of. I have personal experiences with this: I’ve had chronic migraines for a year and a half now and I couldn’t get over a 32 on the ACT (and my scores continously dropped as my headache got worse and I had blurry vision). Started seeing a neurologist and taking medications about a month and a half ago, and I get a 34. I never made an excuse about why my scores were lower, so I have a strong aversions to anyone who thought I was making excuses all this time “for my ego.” I feel the same way about every person who undermines others based on a number you get one day.</p>
<p>2 days before the test day I had to change my homestay (international student) and since I am really stressed for everything I was like : “You didn’t study well” etc… So during these 2 days it was really hard for me and the test I was feeling bad, I didn’t even want to go to take the test because I knew that I was gonna do bad and I think I did…</p>
<p>“I think “bad days” effect 2200+ students exponentially more than average/above average SATers.” I’m one of these students that you speak of, but I don’t think that bad days affect me more than a person with “average” scores.</p>
<p>" Re-testing does not significantly change in your score."
Myth 9 is just wrong.i retook my SAT 1 and improved by 130 points without taking a test prep course.Convince me that this is not significant</p>
<p>Maybe not, but I think for most people it’s just a fact of life. Much of 2200+ SAT-taking is not tripping up on stupid mistakes, and maintaining level concentration.</p>
<p>Well there you go. Having a good/bad day effects those “dumb mistakes” significantly. not all of the SAT is what you know, it’s also about how you perform</p>