How to prepare for the SAT
Of the two college entrance exams, the SAT is more popular than the ACT, with 25% more students taking the SAT. If you don’t have the money to pay for private tuition, here is a suggestion for how to prepare for the SAT.
Academic readiness for the SAT
Most students learn the majority of the reading and writing skills needed for the SAT by the time they enter high school. Students learn all the math concepts on the SAT when they finish Algebra 2. On-level students are ready to take the SAT by the spring of their junior year, while accelerated students are ready to take the SAT by the spring of their sophomore year.
Preparing the base for SAT
- After entering high school, you should begin by dedicating a weekly block of time to studying various topics on the SAT.
- You can access a wealth of resources on the College Board’s website to gear up for the exam. The organization offers free sample questions and SAT practice tests, allowing you to mimic the actual test experience. These practice tests are accompanied by detailed answer keys, providing valuable insight into the SAT scoring process
- Purchase prep books from Princeton, Kaplan, or Barron’s to ace various subjects and sharpen your problem-solving skills. Investing $100 can significantly boost your preparation
- Take advantage of the wealth of free content on Khan Academy and YouTube to explore and master various problems in depth.
- Join in free prep sessions and study groups at school to collaborate and learn alongside your fellow students
- Exams like the PSAT act as essential indicators of your strengths and weaknesses. Taking the PSAT during your sophomore year can help pinpoint areas that need improvement.
Level Up your SAT prep
- Utilizing past exam papers is one of the best strategies to enhance your SAT prep and pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Concentrating on SAT-specific topics will help you avoid distractions and make the most of your valuable prep time.
Last mile before exam
- Six weeks before the actual exam date, dedicate each weekend to taking practice exams from the prep books under simulated conditions, within a 3-hour block. Review the questions you missed throughout the week before your next practice attempt.
- Complete practice exams in three-quarters of the allotted time to ensure you won’t run out of time during the actual test
- If your score remains consistent over the last two attempts at your desired target, proceed with the exam as planned. Otherwise, reschedule and continue to improve for the next attempt.
