{"id":13031,"date":"2024-12-09T12:00:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T20:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/sat\/?p=13031"},"modified":"2021-08-25T16:45:13","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T23:45:13","slug":"top-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-sat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/sat\/top-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-sat\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Ways to Prepare for the SAT"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SAT<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

How to Prepare for the SAT: Top Study Tips<\/h2>\n

1. Read lots of nonfiction outside of class<\/h3>\n

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<\/em> for the newbies, The New Yorker<\/em> for the more ambitious) or a newspaper (The New York Times<\/em> or The Wall Street Journal<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Since your \u201creading brain\u201d won\u2019t sprout overnight, this is an area in which you\u2019ll want to get a jumpstart. So hit the books (er, online magazines) now.<\/p>\n

2. Learn how to do mental math<\/h3>\n

Even though you’re allowed to use a calculator on the SAT, you\u2019ll save a lot of time on test day if you know the answer to, say, 3 \u00d7 13 right off the bat. Not sure where to start? Magoosh’s free, downloadable Math eBook<\/a> has shortcuts and example problems to make mental math easier.<\/p>\n

3. Brush up on grammar<\/h3>\n

A good portion of the SAT Reading & Writing section is made up of grammar questions. While many have to do with \u201cbig picture\u201d 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<\/a>). <\/p>\n

4. Use the best SAT prep materials<\/h3>\n

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\u2019t representative of the actual test. <\/p>\n

Make sure to incorporate official practice resources from the College Board <\/a>and Khan Academy<\/a> in your study schedule<\/a>. <\/p>\n

5. Try some mixed sample tests<\/h3>\n

There are essentially three different parts to the SAT test: Math, Reading, and Writing. Often when students prep they think, Hey, I\u2019ll just do a bunch of math tonight.<\/em> 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\u2019ll do on test day<\/a>,–switching from section to section.<\/p>\n

Our free, full-length SAT practice test<\/a> is a great way to prepare for SAT test day\u2014you’ll be comfortable with the format, as well as switching between sections after a certain time limit.<\/p>\n

6. Don\u2019t cram!<\/h3>\n

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.)<\/p>\n

Instead, you should make sure to prep at least a few times a week and review what you\u2019ve learned. You\u2019ll find it is easier for you to learn when you are re-exposed to information you recently attempted to learn.<\/p>\n

And there is no need to do more than three hours total prep on a day; you\u2019ll start to get diminishing returns. You\u2019ll 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<\/a> is a good way to structure your study time.<\/p>\n

7. Figure out, and work on, your weaknesses<\/h3>\n

You\u2019ll naturally be good at some things on the SAT, and it\u2019s 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<\/a> to see which areas you need to work on when preparing for the SAT.<\/p>\n

8. Sneak in SAT prep during \u201cdead time\u201d<\/h3>\n

Many of us have certain parts of the day where we are just, well, sort of hanging out. Maybe we\u2019re waiting for a friend, the bus, or an annoying commercial break to end. Well, don\u2019t be a victim of waiting; use these easy ideas!<\/p>\n