SAT Studying 101

How to Best Prepare for the SAT – It’s Different From Your School Tests!

Dear Students,

As the August 24th Digital SAT approaches, I wanted to share some key insights and preparation strategies that can help you perform your best. The SAT isn’t like the tests you take in school—it’s more of a thinking test than a content test, which means preparing for it requires a unique approach.

How is the SAT Different?

1. Critical Thinking Over Content: While your school exams test your understanding of specific subject matter, the SAT is more focused on how well you can apply concepts and think critically. The test questions are designed to measure reasoning skills, which are built through practice rather than memorization.

   
   

2. Time Management and Stamina: The SAT is a long exam, and managing time is crucial. You need to be strategic in balancing speed and accuracy while maintaining focus for over three hours.

   
   

3. Question Types and Traps: The SAT is known for tricky questions, especially in math and reading. It’s not just about getting the right answer—it’s about avoiding common traps that can easily trip you up if you’re not careful.

   
   

How Should You Prep?

1. Start With a Diagnostic Test: Take a full-length practice test to assess your current level. This helps identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus your study efforts where they’re needed most.

   
   

2. Master the Basics – Then Learn to Apply Them: For both math and evidence-based reading, focus first on mastering the basic concepts. For math, ensure you have a strong grasp of algebra, geometry, and key topics like functions and word problems. For reading, work on understanding how passages are structured and the types of questions asked.

   
   

3. Practice, Practice, Practice: The more practice questions you do, the more familiar you’ll become with the SAT’s style. Use official practice tests from the College Board and time yourself strictly. Review every mistake to understand why you got it wrong.

   
   

4. Build Test-Taking Strategies:

   • Pacing: Develop a strategy for how long to spend on each question and passage. For example, in the reading section, you might aim to spend about 1.5 minutes per passage. Use Grammar quickly.

   • Elimination: On multiple-choice questions, learn to eliminate obviously wrong answers quickly, increasing your chances even when guessing.

   • Skimming: For reading passages, develop a skimming technique to quickly grasp the main ideas without getting bogged down in details.

     
     

5. Daily Reading and Mental Math: Incorporate challenging reading into your daily routine—articles from The Economist, The New York Times, or scientific journals are great choices. This will help build the analytical reading skills needed for the test. For math, work on mental math exercises and review high-yield topics.

   
   

6. Simulate Real Test Conditions: Take at least three full-length practice tests under realistic conditions—timed, with minimal breaks, and in a quiet environment. The goal is to build both stamina and comfort with the format.

   
   

7. Refine Your Weak Areas: Once you’ve identified weak spots (like struggling with certain math topics or particular question types), target them specifically with focused practice. Resources like Khan Academy offer free, personalized SAT practice tailored to your needs.

   
   

8. Get Help When Needed: If you’re consistently struggling in specific areas, consider getting extra help—whether it’s a tutor, joining study groups, or using online resources.

   
   

Final Reminders:

• Consistency is Key: Rather than cramming, aim to study a little each day leading up to the test.

• Stay Calm and Confident: Test day can be stressful, but remember that thorough preparation is the best confidence booster. Get a good night’s sleep before the test and go in with a clear mind.

  
  

Wishing you all the best in your SAT preparation! With the right approach, you can achieve your goals.

If you have any questions or need further resources, feel free to reach out.

Best regards, Nitin Mali

High School Quest Bridge Founder