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Standardized Tests
A walk-through of the SAT format with helpful tips and tricks.
By Rohan Ganeriwala5 min read
From the Journal
Standardized Tests
Previously, the SAT was a pen-and-paper examination designed to test the language and mathematical skills of applicants aspiring for undergraduate courses abroad. The verbal section was used to gauge students’ ability in decoding how evidence is used to support a claim or the importance of vocabular
Standardized Tests
SAT is moving online. Moreover, the SAT Subject Tests and the SAT optional Essay are getting discontinued. What does this mean for you?
Standardized Tests
A revision of the basic concepts students tend to forget.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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:
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.
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.
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!.
