Prepping for the SAT exam may seem, at times, daunting; however, we’re here to help you with some practical advice. Once you have strategies in place, the process can be incredibly rewarding!
General Strategies
- In the months and weeks leading up to your SAT exam, set aside a consistent time to practice. Initially, focus on comprehension over speed; however, once you are confident with the former, you can begin timing yourself.
SAT Writing and Language Strategies
- Set aside time to learn and practice the grammar rules. Knowing these will almost instantly improve your score.
- Brevity is best. The SAT tends to opt for concise answer choices, so be on the lookout for shorter answer choices, especially when these choices cut unnecessary or redundant information
- If multiple answers could be right, they’re often all wrong. The SAT won’t make you choose between using a period or a semicolon to finish an independent clause, so if you notice that two answers could be equally right, they’re pretty much always both wrong.
- For graphs, tables, charts, etc. don’t worry about trying to make sense of the information until you get to the questions. You’ll waste time trying to understand these pictorials, so wait until you can study them in the context of the questions, but once you know what you’re looking for, make sure you read everything on the graphic.
- Learn the proper definitions of transition words (however, furthermore, finally). This will make it easier to know when to use each word. And look out for synonyms, like in summary and in conclusion. Remember: the SAT won’t make you choose between two equally right choices. If they’re both right, they’re both wrong.
If you have any questions regarding the SAT or prep strategies, the Options team is here to assist. Our Writing Coaches work with students on a one-on-one basis to improve both comprehension and timing; we also offer ACT and SAT workshops throughout the year to help students strengthen their skills. Please contact administration for more information.
Stay tuned for our upcoming blog about hacks for the SAT Reading Section, and if you’re writing the ACT, check out our hacks for the English and Reading sections.
