Hello. I Just took the New SAT at my school and I have some tips to try IN PRACTICE. See if you can use these stragies in Practice, then you can apply them to the test. Please add any tips you think Need to go on this list! (:
For Math
- When you start the test, go straight to the free response questions. Since those are the ones that will typically take the most time
- If your running out of time and you can’t answer a free response question, just bubble 1 so you have a chance to get something right.
- On your way back from the free response, you have 3 choices : Solve all the problems with pictures or graphs since those ones are either extremely easy and you want extra time to make sure your not missing anything OR solve 1 easy problem per page OR just go to the start.
- Now when you go though the math test you will be trying to beat the clock, which will make you rush though the easy problems. (If you see a hard one, skip it). You will get though the test very quickly because you finished the data analysis questions (the picture/graph ones), which will be about 17 questions on the math portion w/ calc, and 0-3 of the questions w/o calc, and the free response (8 on w/ calc, and 5 on without calc) in roughtly 10-15 mins for w/ calc and 3-8 mins with out. If you DO NOT FALL IN THAT TIME RANGE WHILE PRACTICING either speed up or just trying the method. Since you just increased you chances of getting 25/38 questions right on the math w/ calc test, and 8 /25 w/o calc test, you just improved you chances for a base score of 500+.
- 1 /3 of the questions are algebra ones, so if you watch khan academy algebra 1 / 2 you will get into the 650 - 700 range.
For Critical Reading
- When you start the test, spend the first 1-4 mins reading the abstracts on top of the passages for bg information WHILE looking for which ever passage type you typically score best on. Then follow it with the 2 passages at the end (since those tend to have the easiest questions) (E.g. Literature > Twin passages > … (any other order) )
- First see if the passage has a graph. IF it does, go to the last few questions that will be about the graph and answer them (since those will be the easiest since you have the graph to work with) They are typically 2-4 questions for 2-4 passages.
- After you read a passage, look for the questions that make you have to use “Command of evidence” (and their co-relating questions) since those ones tell you WHERE EXACTLY TO FIND THE ANSWER!!!
- Then answer line references, then authors tone/purpose, then the rest of them. (Save the passages main idea ones for last, since you will have a better understanding of the passage after you answer all the questions)
- Learn how to speed read. (I learned by reading 1 short story every night for a month)
- Use this link and hear this lady’s advice : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWqAzubQcNo
- Find out if you need to increase or decrease the amount of time you read a passage by seeing how long it takes you to answer some practice problems.
- Not a lot left for me to say on the NEW SAT CR. I guess just practice.
General
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STUDY!.. Use Khan Academy and SAT question of the day. Try to get though all the material of the test in 1/3 of your total test prep time so you know where you need to focus. AND try to get your level on every skill their up to Level 3 or Level 4. (Since I belive the majority of the test is are the Level 1 and 2 questions). The level 4 questions require you to understand the concepts behind their lower level counter parts, which will let you get more of them right on the test!
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If you need a guessing answer, choose B, not C. While technically it could be either answer, the test makers are probably aware of it by now and don’t choose C for an answer often.
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use the ACT Question for the day since the new SAT mimics the ACT. (also the SAT Question of the day if you can)