Common Sense for the SAT

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>Ok … I’m no superstar, SAT writer, or qualified expert. I’m doing a big research paper on the SAT and thats how I know some facts I’ll say below. But I was giving my friend some SAT advice the other day and he suggested I share it with the world … and here I am. Take it for what its worth … I won’t be offended if you find it useless.</p>

<p>Disclosure: I’m 16, Junior in HS. My SAT score (taken once so far): 710 (V) 740 (M) 540 (W) (Yes, 540).</p>

<li><p>Test questions
Test questions aren’t meant to trick. There is no need to search for some subliminal message or trick in the question. If you can interperate a question 2+ ways choose the one that is most basic. Even if you think you found 2 possible answers - is it worth the stress arguing with ETS/College Board?
If all else fails and you can’t choose between 2 answers, go with your gut (applicable in all sections). </p></li>
<li><p>Going with your gut
Yes, there are fancy tricks for guessing, but I strongly believe if you can’t decided, go with your gut.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t try to impress or BS on your essay
Imagine being a worn out teacher on your 134853th essay of the day in a crowded room full of SATs. You aren’t carefully reading the essay (so the grammar timid need not worry), you are skimming it looking for KEY PHRASES. Rework the question in your essay somewhere. If it asks for 1-2 examples GIVE 2 examples. There is no need to provide 50 when 2 will suffice.</p></li>
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<p>DON’T USE BIG WORDS. The reader likely won’t care to look up an odd word on an essay and will more likely assume you are using it wrong. Stick to professional, but simple English.</p>

<li>Math
Most of the math seems to be a lot of broad questions starting/ending in “For all integers” :wink: (exaggeration alert).</li>
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<p>But seriously - you can go out killing yourself studying specific math problems and not be helped at all. Know basic skills / concepts.</p>

<li><p>Sleep
For god’s sake, cramming doesn’t work. Period. Sleep will do much more your score than.</p></li>
<li><p>Eat
Breakfast and something at a break. We’re talking 4 hours of senseless bubbling folks, you need to give your brain a little somethin to keep it going.</p></li>
<li><p>Relax
It just determines the rest of your life. ;)</p></li>
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<p>It’s one test, which you can do over again, which isn’t worth freaking over. Ignore your parents stressing you, this test is about you not them.</p>

<p>Last of all,
Good Luck!</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>Actually, some questions are definitely meant to trick.</p></li>
<li><p>Gee, know basic skills and concepts rather than memorizing specific problems? I woulda never thought…</p></li>
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<p>:)</p>

3

<p>Your sarcastic wit fails to impress me. You are more than welcome to your opinion.</p>

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<p>sat is the easiest crap you’ll ever do</p>

5

<p>

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<p>That’s exactly what they want you to think. "Oh, it’s just a reasoning test, you can use common sense, etc. etc. . . . "</p>

<p>This may be true for an acceptable score, but in order to max out, it takes more than a little practice and sparse knowledge of more than a few basic concepts. Anyone can get a 650 on every section with “basic reasoning”, and those sections may be “easy”, but above that one often needs a little more . . . </p>

<p>If the SAT were as easy as some people want to make it seem, the national average would be much higher . . .</p>

6

<p>Actually, since the SAT is recentered, that would not be the case for long.</p>

7

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<p>Actually, mynameiszach has it right. Some of the options offered on questions are meant to be plausable and “attractive”, but they’re not designed to deceive. “trick” questions don’t measure anything except the ability to answer a “trick” question.</p>

<p>Points 1 though 6 are well put, except don’t have breakfast if it’s the first time you’re having breakfast in two years – it would be a shock to your system.</p>

<p>I know you meant Point 7 to be a little comic relief, but unfortunitely it is fervently believed by members of this little group. In reality, your SAT score may not even determine which college you enter. By your second year of college, your life is totally in your control, and the SAT scores are no longer relevant. You can transfer colleges, change majors, get a job, all based on your college performance, with very little regard paid to your admissions “stats.” While it is true some businesses are looking at the SAT scores of job applicants, their basic misunderstanding of what the score means should be a warning to job applicants that something is not right in that company.</p>

<p>Your life is your own. Those who tell you these are the “best years of your life” don’t really remember what high school was like. Don’t buy it. It definitely gets better (life, that is) and your SAT performance will not stop if from getting better.</p>

<p>Of course, there are folks out there in their 50’s who still consider the highlight of their life to be winning their last high school football game, so some have chosen to not let their life get better.</p>

<p>End of sermon. ;)</p>

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<p>Thank you BigIS :-)</p>

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<p>I do agree that any person who takes the test will see a decent improvement if they are relaxed and can read everything calmly, confidently, and objectively, though.</p>