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Tips to Crack the SAT

Tips to Crack the SATSAT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. Originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, it was introduced in 1926 and has undergone several changes in its name and scoring pattern over the years. Now, it is simply called the SAT. It tests a student’s readiness for college. It is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) on behalf of the College Board, a private non-profit organization in the United States. Here we present some easy-to-follow tips to help you crack the SAT with utmost ease.

Spot wrong answers first

You and I know it is not humanly possible to know the right answers to all the questions. Well, there is absolutely no need to feel discouraged. Each question comes with four possible answer options. Spot the wrong choices first and eliminate them. Be sure to cross out the wrong choices to keep the field all clear and your mind focused. This leaves you with just the remaining choices to think more clearly, that largely improves the chances of you getting the answer right. Good news about SAT is you are not penalized for incorrect answers. So, go on and make a wild guess when you are caught in a tight spot. You may choose a right answer at random.

Know the order of difficulty

Easier questions generally come in the beginning while the difficulty levels go up as you move further. Read every question carefully. If you are finding a single question complex, it is a good tactic to not linger on it for a longer time. Skip it but remember to mark it in your test booklet for you to come back later. It is important that you do not leave any question unanswered.

Do not think twice to use your test booklet

Do not be embarrassed to make scratches and rough workings on your test booklet. Use it to draw diagrams, graphs, geometry workings or jot down any other key information to help you focus more and avoid careless errors.

Are you not very confident about your choice of answer for a particular question? Circle the question or draw a big question mark next to it. You can go over it again easily and quickly, if you are going to find that extra minutes towards the end of the examination.

Practice mocks

Practice has always made one perfect. Make use of extensive online resources to take full length practice tests to familiarize with SAT test sections and instructions. Assess where you stand and factor in time management. Study your strengths and weaknesses. Work on your weaker areas intensively to get off to a good start. Online video tutorials that demonstrate problems being worked out are other great study tools to get you going.

Get comfortable with word problems

Do not be overwhelmed by some word problems on SAT that might appear like short stories. Train yourself to read through the paragraph and extract the information in the right order. Write down the information you pull out in the test booklet and work on it to get to your solution.

Be open to different approaches

Do not limit yourself to a single approach and a single topic to solving a problem. Some of the SAT Math questions may test you on multiple topics in one shot for a single problem.

Train yourself with a mix and match approach to solving a single problem. Let’s say, you start working on a coordinate geometry problem. Anticipate getting some trigonometry or algebra thrown in too.

Get into study groups

Study groups definitely help you fall into a regular study routine. With like-minded study buddies, you stay alert and motivated. You learn quicker and acquire new perspectives to problems that sharpen your critical thinking skills. Share study tips and techniques with friends and there, you might even get more in return! Quick reviews among your study partners in the run up to the test day could work up to your great advantage.

If you would like to take your SAT prep a step further, consider registering yourself in a certified online tutoring portal that works with you on one-to-one basis at your pace and help you gain accuracy.

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