Are you going to take the SAT exams soon? Well, now that you have been registered to appear in the exam, what is next? How should you prepare for the exam in order to be successful?
SAT is one of the top competitive examinations, and preparing for it isn’t an easy task. Don’t worry! If you don’t know where to begin or how to kick-start your preparation, this guide can help you get started. Here, we’ll give you some tips to study for the exam. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
When To Begin Your Prep For SAT
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but giving yourself a solid 3 to 6 months to study is a smart move. If you’re eyeing the spring of your junior year to take the SAT, the summer before junior year is a great time to kick things off. You’ll have time to dig into concepts, identify weak areas, and take multiple practice runs.
PSAT & Early Prep
If the PSAT is on your radar, especially for scholarship opportunities, aim to begin reviewing during the second half of 10th grade or early summer before 11th grade.
Why Early Is Better
Taking the SAT earlier gives you room to breathe. If the first score isn’t ideal, you’ll still have future test dates available for a retake, without the last-minute pressure.
Train Yourself Mentally
As you know, two sections of the SAT exam don’t allow candidates to use a calculator for calculations. Furthermore, if you perform every small calculation on paper, it will consume a significant amount of time. So, what is the possible solution for this?
You can train your brain for mental calculations. If you simply know the answer to 18 x 16, you’ll save considerable time on other questions.
Include Extra Non-Fiction Study Material In Your Syllabus
The SAT exam is about reading. There will be five long passages for you to read and answer the questions based on the reading. While the questions are not tricky, the reading part is tough.
Moreover, your brain runs out of energy after reading the passages continuously. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a habit of reading a lot of non-fiction books daily.
The high school curriculum is not extensive and focuses more on non-fiction books. You need to counterbalance this to prove your college readiness in the exam. So, pick up any random magazines and read everything.
Practice Is The Key
Practicing for the SAT exam has two facets. One is targeted practice to hone the skills. You can improve by practicing specific topics, questions, and sections that you need to work on further. The second is to engage in complete test practice.
You can look for private tutors in Orange County to find the best study materials and expert guidance on tough topics. Aside from this, set your schedule and make time to practice thoroughly before the exam.
Take mock tests and analyze your performance. Review your answers, spend time correcting the incorrect ones, and practice more. Take a full-length test to have an idea of what the real test looks like.
Brush Up Your Grammar Skills
In an SAT exam, most questions are from the Verbal or grammar section. While some candidates excel at solving big-picture and essay questions, others find it easier to score higher marks in grammar. Do you have weak grammar skills? Let me tell you one thing. Grammar is the easiest thing to grab the cut-off! So, start practicing from today itself.
Don’t Neglect Any Section
Now that you know your goal and have the right study schedule, it’s time to review the content. It’s fine to devote more time to Maths if you are weak in it. But, don’t neglect the reading section even if it is your best subject.
Learn everything you need for the test, and review what you already know. Doing so, you’ll be ready for every section. Furthermore, you won’t backslide on the subjects in which you excel.
Take A Break Before The Test
You may find it hard to sleep peacefully the night before your exam. However, to make the best of your preparation, you need to give your mind some time to relax.
Avoid studying at the last moment; it can lower your confidence and cause stress. Instead, do something enjoyable, like playing with friends, watching a movie, or practicing meditation.
Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare better and succeed on the SAT examination. Good luck!