SAT Tricks and Tips: Start to Finish

SAT is conducted by the College Board and is an assessment of the student’s verbal and mathematical proficiency, tested primarily through a multiple-choice format. The SAT/ACT are reasoning and aptitude tests for undergraduate studies in the USA. Most Undergraduate Colleges require the scores of these tests for admissions. Both exams can be taken up to a maximum of 5 times but 2 attempts is ideal.

The SAT is a 3 hour 50 mins test (including the optional Essay section). It is offered 5 times in a year in India. The current version of the SAT has been applicable from march 2016 and is scored out of 1600 with 2 compulsory sections and one optional section. 

Critical Reading, Writing, and Language - (800 points, 1 hour and 40 minutes)

About SAT Reading 

To begin with, the SAT 1 exam begins with the critical reading part. It tests the reading and comprehension skills of the student. It is of 65 minutes duration with 52 questions.

Reading Strategies

Identify ‘main claim’ and ‘sub-claims’ for each passage  

While reading a passage, you must understand its central idea. It is also called the main claim of the passage. The sub-claims, instead, are those secondary arguments that contribute to the main claim. For example, you may identify the central claim as ‘Online information crunching improves cognition.' The sub-claim for this passage may be ‘Spending time online is not as bad for our brain as is usually thought.' 

Be informed about US history and feminism  

Getting to know the history of the US Constitution, including the Federalist debates, and on feminism can be a good start. As you become familiar with it, you will know that the SAT history passage is not just a random piece of obsolete writing, but, instead, it is very relevant. This helps approach these passages with greater context and confidence. 

Be an active reader

It is important to read to understand. Register concepts mentally before noting them down. 

Think while reading

Read your questions before you begin reading, so that you know which information you are looking for. 

Make notes

Pause reading after you have read something noteworthy and write down that fact, argument, or point. 

About SAT Writing 

The SAT Writing and Language begins after a short break post the Reading section finishes. In 35 minutes, you have to finish 44 questions. This section has 4 passages, of varying topics, such as Humanities, Social Studies, and Science. There are 11 questions attached to each passage. 20 questions deal with conventional grammar while the remaining 24 test writing techniques, expressions, and logical analysis. Graphical interpretation is also included.

Writing Strategies

Combining Sentences 

For ‘combining sentences’ questions, make sure you read sentences carefully and consistently. Once you have understood the information in the sentences, choose your option, keeping in mind the standard conventions of English language.  

Negative Approach 

You are able to locate the correct answer simply by eliminating the wrong ones.  Specifically identify the errors before eliminating option choices. 

Think While Reading

It is important to multitask. Ensure that you are thinking as you read. Pause wherever you think you haven’t been able to understand what you have read. 

Mathematical - A Graphical Quantitative Section-(800 points, 1 hour and 20 minutes)

About SAT Math

This section tests the student’s mathematical skills and proficiency on topics, such as arithmetic, geometry, algebra, trigonometry and data analysis. Graphical interpretation is also included. 

A mix of multiple-choice and ‘Grid-Ins’, or Student-Produced Response questions can be found in this section. Similar to the math problems done at school, the ’grid-in’ has no multiple-choices, making the student solve it. The trick is that the answers have to fit in a ‘grid’, which the student may be unfamiliar with; hence, it requires ample practice. 

There are 2 parts to the test: Calculator and the Non-Calculator. 

The calculator part: 

Approximately 35-38 questions need to be done in 55 minutes While most questions have multiple-choice answers (1 point each), 1 question is an Extended Thinking question i.e. the question has several aspects with grid-in answers (4 points) 

The non-calculator part: 

20 questions need to be done in 25 minutes of which, 15 have multiple-choice answers (1 point each) and 5 questions have grid-in answers (1 point each) 

Math Strategies 

1. Read the question carefully 
2. The SAT is a language-based test, and this also extends to the Math section. Sometimes the question may appear long, but it is generally just a narrative. You must stay calm and collected.
3. Circle important terms and values in the question 
4. To remain connected to the question, it is important that you highlight significant terms and values given in the question that need your attention. 
5. Focus on the fundamentals 
6. SAT is hardly a formula-specific test. You will find it easy to solve questions, if you focus on the basics: how values relate to each other in the question. 
7. Practice solving questions minus the calculator 
8. Most questions are basic enough to be solved minus a calculator, but you can use the calculator for more complex calculations. 
9. Never skip steps 
10. When you skip steps, you are more prone to making mistakes. It is, therefore, important to perform each step on paper find the correct answer. 
11. Use the estimation method
12. If you don’t remember the formula or can’t get to the answer, try to rule out some answers, improving your chances of getting the question correct. Do this by estimating, i.e. arriving at the closest possible answer, and then choosing from the options that is close to your estimation. 
13. Check for silly errors 
14. Careless errors often result due exhaustion and stress commonly found with the test. While focussing intently, steer clear of such mistakes.   

The SAT Essay - (optional, 50 minutes) 

About the SAT Essay 

The focus of the SAT Essay is to analyse a text, quite like writing a typical college assignment. You must take the SAT with Essay to show colleges that you’re just as good with your writing as you are with your comprehension and grammar. 

Taking the SAT Essay involves the following:

• Reading a passage 
• Explaining how the author crafts an argument to persuade the given audience 
• Supporting your explanation with evidence from the passage 

The essay will be graded across three categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. The Reading score determines the student’s comprehension of the passage. The Analysis score determines how well the student has assessed the persuasion in the given prompt. The writing scores the quality of the student’s writing. 

The SAT’s essay component is optional, but some schools require it. Therefore, it is advisable to take it. However, the essay score will not factor into the overall composite SAT score. 

Effective Practice for the SAT

Time your practice 

It is important to time your practice. Even if you are solving questions from a book or worksheet, ensure that you time your test. Ideally, for 10 questions of math, do not give yourself more than 20 minutes. 

Identify weak areas 

Is it the concepts that trouble you or is it the time? Knowing what you need to focus on can help create a plan for improvement. Then all you need to do is apply it!.