You have to perform well on the SAT exam in order to have your pick of colleges, but where do you start? We’ll share our ten best study tips to help you in preparing for the SAT. Best of all, some of the tips are easier than you might think!
How to Prepare for the SAT: Top Study Tips
1. Read lots of nonfiction outside of class
The SAT is heavy on reading. Even though the passages on the digital SAT are short, they are complex and dense enough that they can give you a lot of trouble if you are not used to reading more advanced texts. So do lots of reading when preparing for the SAT (especially nonfiction). Pick up a magazine (Time for the newbies, The New Yorker for the more ambitious) or a newspaper (The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal).
Since your “reading brain” won’t sprout overnight, this is an area in which you’ll want to get a jumpstart. So hit the books (er, online magazines) now.
2. Learn how to do mental math
Even though you’re allowed to use a calculator on the SAT, you’ll save a lot of time on test day if you know the answer to, say, 3 × 13 right off the bat. Not sure where to start? Magoosh’s free, downloadable Math eBook has shortcuts and example problems to make mental math easier.
3. Brush up on grammar
A good portion of the SAT Reading & Writing section is made up of grammar questions. While many have to do with “big picture” questions, others rely on basic grammar. You might dread the thought of learning grammar, but it is one of the easiest topics to improve on when preparing for the SAT (check out our free guide to SAT grammar rules).
4. Use the best SAT prep materials
There are lots of study materials out there. Not all are created equal; in fact some will hurt your score by providing you with questions that aren’t representative of the actual test.
Make sure to incorporate official practice resources from the College Board and Khan Academy in your study schedule.
5. Try some mixed sample tests
There are essentially three different parts to the SAT test: Math, Reading, and Writing. Often when students prep they think, Hey, I’ll just do a bunch of math tonight. Studies have shown that it is much more beneficial to do study sessions in which you do, say, 35 minutes of Math and 35 minutes of Writing and Language. This will mimic what you’ll do on test day,–switching from section to section.
Our free, full-length SAT practice test is a great way to prepare for SAT test day—you’ll be comfortable with the format, as well as switching between sections after a certain time limit.
6. Don’t cram!
Cramming is a bad idea. While you are doing it, it feels like you are retaining so much information. But within a week much of that information vanishes. (Cramming is much like trying to build a skyscraper from a deck of cards.)
Instead, you should make sure to prep at least a few times a week and review what you’ve learned. You’ll find it is easier for you to learn when you are re-exposed to information you recently attempted to learn.
And there is no need to do more than three hours total prep on a day; you’ll start to get diminishing returns. You’ll also want to take a break in between all that studying to let the information sink in. So break up studying throughout the week, and break it up throughout the day. This one-month SAT study schedule is a good way to structure your study time.
7. Figure out, and work on, your weaknesses
You’ll naturally be good at some things on the SAT, and it’s good to maintain that edge by practicing those concepts from time to time. But it is better to figure out where you struggle. Take a diagnostic test to see which areas you need to work on when preparing for the SAT.
8. Sneak in SAT prep during “dead time”
Many of us have certain parts of the day where we are just, well, sort of hanging out. Maybe we’re waiting for a friend, the bus, or an annoying commercial break to end. Well, don’t be a victim of waiting; use these easy ideas!
- Review vocabulary flashcards on your phone
- Work on your mental math (quick, what’s 5 × 16?)
- Discover top tips from students who got a perfect score on the SAT
9. Find an SAT study partner
Don’t go at it alone. Find a partner (or two!) and keep each other accountable when preparing for the SAT. Share strategies, resources, and SAT study tips. Test each other, compete against each other, and, most importantly, commiserate with each other. The SAT is a rite of passage, full of its ups and downs. It is best not to go at it alone.
10. Prepare for SAT test day by reviewing this checklist
Don’t be fooled by the title of this video—this is definitely not about cramming! Instead, use it to prepare for SAT test day, including what to bring to the test center and how much sleep you should get beforehand.
Good luck!
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