By Laura Whitmore
As the August SAT quickly approaches, it’s important to make the most of the final days leading up to the test. Whether you’ve been diligently preparing all summer or are looking to make the most of your last-minute study sessions, these tips will help ensure you’re ready to achieve your target score.
Want to skip the reading? Watch my YouTube video instead!
The SAT is evolving, and one of the recent changes involves note-taking questions. In July 2024, the College Board introduced new note-taking questions that require you to read the bullet points carefully. This is a shift from previous versions where you could often skip over these details. To prepare, I’ve put together a document highlighting these changes. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with what’s new and avoid any surprises on test day.
Expect a tough graph question in Module 2. The College Board has been incorporating more complex graph questions, which now require you to read the entire paragraph beneath the graph to gather the necessary context. This means that skimming the text won’t be enough; understanding the full context is key to answering these questions correctly.
It’s crucial to ensure you’re comfortable with all the math concepts that might appear on the SAT. Do you know how to use the distance formula? How about the equation of a circle or how to find the midpoint between two points? If you’re unsure about any of these, now is the time to review. One excellent resource for brushing up on these concepts is Preptly, our mobile digital SAT Prep app. It offers flashcards that cover all the essential math formulas and concepts, and you can access them for free. This can be a quick and effective way to review as you count down to test day.
Just as athletes warm up their bodies before a big game, it’s important to warm up your brain before sitting down for the SAT. I’ve created a simple warm-up exercise consisting of 10 English questions designed to get your brain into test-taking mode. Print it out and go through the questions in your car before heading into the test site. This quick exercise can help get your mind ready to tackle the day’s challenges.
If time management has been a challenge, especially in the English sections, consider starting with question 15. This strategy allows you to first complete the easier questions, such as those involving grammar and transitions, before moving on to the more challenging and time-consuming questions. This approach helps ensure that you secure as many points as possible early on, which can be a big confidence booster.
One of the most common pitfalls students face is maintaining the same pace from Module 1 to Module 2. While Module 1 tends to be more straightforward, Module 2 significantly increases in difficulty. Be mindful of this shift and pick up the pace when you start Module 2. Moving with more urgency will help you avoid running out of time and ensure you complete all the questions.
It’s always better to take a guess than to leave a question blank. Even if you’re unsure, putting down your best guess gives you a chance to earn points. For math questions, if there’s a range of possible answers, choosing a middle number increases your likelihood of getting it right. And for student response questions where you type in an answer, consider entering “3”—it has been a surprisingly common correct answer.
Desmos, the graphing calculator tool provided during the SAT, can be incredibly helpful. Familiarize yourself with its features and use it to your advantage on test day. Desmos can simplify complex calculations and help you visualize problems more clearly, so don’t overlook it.
Geometry questions tend to be more time-consuming, often requiring you to draw diagrams and think creatively. To manage your time effectively, tackle the easier math questions first and save geometry for last. This strategy allows you to accumulate points quickly before diving into the more complex problems.
One of the most effective ways to tackle reading passages is to approach them as if you’re reading a story. This mindset can make the passages more engaging and help you absorb the information more effectively. Viewing the text as an interesting narrative rather than a dry SAT passage can improve comprehension and increase your chances of answering questions correctly.
Bottom Line
These last-minute tips can help you navigate the August SAT with confidence. Remember to review any new changes, manage your time effectively, and use the tools available to you, like Desmos and Preptly. Good luck on test day, and don’t forget to warm up both your body and mind before you begin!
Happy prepping!
Comments