Standardized Test Preparation and College Admissions experts share tips and information on preparing for the SAT, ACT, SSAT and the college admissions process.
Time is the one resource we are given and we must make the most of it. If there were no time limit, everyone would score higher in every section. It would be way easier to think carefully with out the duress of the clock. It is critical to use the limited time we are given wisely.
All the Math sections of the test start with the easiest questions and become gradually harder until the hardest questions at the end of the section.
A correct answer is worth the same 1 raw point whether it is an easy, medium, or hard question. That is why it is important to slow down and make sure you score on questions you know how to do. Do not waste time on hard questions. You can still get a great score with out them. Easy questions have best rate of return for the relatively small amount of time it takes to do them. There is a limited number of easy questions, so it is important to recognize them as an opportunity to build a strong score.
Scoring is similar to earning $100 for completing a quick and easy task or a difficult time consuming task. If either task is done wrong the penalty is $25. The choice is clear. Slow down and make sure you get all the easy $100 opportunities with out owing $25 for your efforts. With the remaining time, decide which of the harder tasks you can complete and don't worry about the ones you don't get to. There is no reward for completing a whole section, only for accumulating as many raw points with out giving any back. The SAT Math section has 54 total questions. If I skip the harder half of each section and use my extra time to focus on the easier first half of each section, I essentially have twice the time to execute the first half. Slowing down and focusing on the first half of the test is the best way to get them all right. By skipping the harder second half I did not give back any of the points I earned. My raw score is a 27 for the Math. This is about a 500-520 scaled Math score. Not bad for only doing half the test. I never scored in the 50th percentile for doing half of my History test perfectly while omitting the rest.
Once I know that I am not making any silly mistakes, I begin to take on more of the test. My next goal would be ⅔ of each section, then ¾ and so on. Never attempt more questions until you are sure you are not needlessly giving points away.
A total of two wrong on the multiple choice in any of the three sections on the SAT means that a ½ a raw point will be subtracted from the raw score. For example, a raw score of a 30 would then become a 29.5. Raw scores are rounded to whole numbers. This means a 29.5 becomes a 30 and no points were lost. If three mistakes were made the 30 would become a 29.25 which would then be rounded down to a 29.
When skipping problems, mark them on the test with a symbol that let's you know whether you want to attempt it later with your remaining time. That way you don't have to waste time rereading every skipped problem. I like to use a star to revisit a problem and a question mark to avoid a problem. I know that feeling good is important to performing well. I do not think, "I should know how to do that" when I skip a problem. Instead, I think, "Glad I caught that giant waste of time and effort early. Now I can use this extra time to make sure I get easier problems right." Be your own biggest fan and keep practicing. Contact WaveLength if you want to learn more about this and other test strategies. Keep practicing and good luck!
I always tried guessing on the questions because my parents said not to skip. Now i know to skip the ones i can't do on my own.
Yes, educated guessing is better than leaving things blank on the ACT but a poor strategy on the SAT.
This,article is so helpful for all those who are preparing for SAT.I ile they will get clear guidance about in which subject they need to invest their time in order to score good.
I’m about to answer this question with another question: Do you still need to bring two No. 2 pencils to the SAT?
The SAT is still a paper test. We have a test booklet in front of us and we use it, crossing out eliminated answer choices, outlining the essay, labeling angles, etc. We also have to fill in a little, annoying bubble for each question on the answer sheet with our infamous No. 2 pencil. And even though most of you have been able to color inside the lines for quite a few years now (good job with that, by the way), many of you will still manage to mess up those bubbles, like everyone’s nightmare of skipping question #8 but forgetting to leave the bubble line blank for #8 and ending up with the rest of your section shifted up one row of bubbles.
So until the day the SAT changes to a computer based test, your practice tests should be on paper. Simulate testing conditions for yourself: wake up early on a Saturday morning, eat breakfast, and sit down to a full length paper practice SAT so you get used to making 8 am feel like noon on test day. That paper practice test will simulate the layout of the real SAT where the computer test will not, and being used to layout is important! For example, we approach easy, medium, and hard Sentence Completions with different mindsets, so determining the difficulty level of questions is important. In a Critical Reading section of the real SAT, the Sentence Completions are always all on one page together in 2 columns; at a glance we can see how many easy Sentence Completions we have before us because whatever falls in the left-hand column is an easy question. Getting yourself used to the real SAT layout is important for pacing and skipping across all sections, and this contextual layout is totally left out of computer practice tests.
Another benefit of a paper practice test is that you score it yourself. What may at first seem like a nuisance is actually an important lesson. Scoring the test yourself is a backstage pass to the grading and conversion from raw score to scaled score on the SAT. You’ll also get a feel for the value of getting even just one more right and you’ll directly observe the benefits of skipping more to keep your number wrong low or getting it down to two and blind guessing. A computer generated score leaves you out of that whole important process.
So go get yourself a good old, low-tech retired SAT from your guidance counselor or the College Board blue book, a four hour block of time, and, of course, a No. 2 pencil. If that practice test is not on paper, it’s just not like the real thing.
I think yeah computer-based practice test can really make you prepare for the SAT tests and results in a great help too. This is quite helpful.
This is a nice share. I am happy to have the details here. Well for my LSAT I would prefer joining the best Online LSAT Prep course because I want to pass this test in my very first attempt.
You discuss about SAT and ACT exams. You talk about computer based. In our modern life or era it is a common subject. We can easily access computer connection. We should know statement of purpose economics info.
O yes i listened a lot about SAT but i did not know more about this.This article is in quite detail and helpful for me as well.I will know think to clear this test.Thanks.