The SAT is intended to assess a student's aptitude and understanding in three areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. The SAT, like the ACT, is used by universities to determine an applicant's eligibility for admission.

The higher a student's SAT score, the greater his or her chances of admission to a respected college or university.

The SAT is divided into five sections: reading, writing, and language, math (without a calculator), math (with a calculator), and essay (optional).

Some high schools and colleges require students to take the essay section of the test, while others do not.

If you are not committed to completing the Essay component of the test, you should explore which schools require Essay test completion for admission consideration.

We recommend preparing for and finishing the essay component of the test just to be safe.

We'll look at some tried-and-true tactics, approaches, and strategies for increasing your overall SAT score as well as your performance on certain parts of the SAT.

General SAT Test Taking Strategies

The following are general SAT-taking tactics that should be used when taking the SAT. Apply these approaches and strategies to each component of the SAT, and you should see an improvement in your score.

• Before taking the test, read the section directions.

Before the test, study and review the instructions for each SAT section. Use your test time to study, not to read directions.

• First, answer the questions you are familiar with.

Answer all of the questions you know the answers to first as you progress through each section. Mark all of the questions for which you do not have an immediate answer and return to them later.

• Remove any incorrect responses

 If you can eliminate even one option from the list of probable responses, guess. It is sometimes easier to remove responses that you know are incorrect than it is to locate the correct answer. Eliminating all of the incorrect answers frequently results in the correct answer.

• Be neat.

Fill in the answer grid for student-produced response questions carefully.

• Make use of your test booklet.

Because you are permitted to write in the test book, cross out answers that you know are incorrect, and do scratch work.

• Stay away from stray marks.

Because your test is scored by a machine, ensure there are no stray marks on your answer sheet. SAT scoring machines frequently fail to distinguish between a correct answer and an unintentional stray mark.

• Your initial reaction is generally correct.

Usually, your first reaction to a question is correct. Change an answer only if you're convinced you've made a mistake.

• There can only be one proper response.

Because there is only one correct answer, choose only one response for each question. There may appear to be more than one answer at times. Choose the best response to each question.

• Guess instead of skipping answers.

You were penalized for guessing on prior versions of the SAT. But not any longer. If you don't know what the answer is, just guess. You will not be penalized for guessing. However, always try to remove at least one erroneous answer choice before guessing.

• Pay close attention.

Check that your responses are in the correct number space and section on your answer sheet. If you're not paying attention, it's easy to put your answer in the wrong location.

• Make a time budget.

Take it slowly! This examination is timed. Spend only a few moments on easy questions and no more than a minute or two on difficult questions. Remember that the SAT is made up of numerous short, timed tests.

It's easy to lose track of time, so keep note of how much time is given for each test and how much time is left as you go through each area. Pacing takes practice, so practice, practice, practice.

• First, ask simple questions.

On the SAT, easier questions usually come first, followed by harder questions.

• Check that you understand the question.

Before you answer a question, make sure you fully understand it. You may be tempted to answer questions from practice tests if you've taken a lot of them. Answer the questions that are being asked, not those from practice tests.

• Bring a watch or a timer with you.

Remember to bring your stopwatch to the testing facility. The exam center does not always have an accurate clock.

• Understand what to expect on the exam.

You must be aware of the types of questions that will be asked on the SAT. There are 52 questions on reading (65 minutes), 44 questions on writing and language (35 minutes), 58 questions on math (80 minutes), and one essay (50 minutes).

Below we'll explore specific test-taking strategies for each section on the SAT.

CRITICAL READING Section --- SENTENCE COMPLETION:

The SAT Critical Reading section is divided into two parts: sentence completion and reading comprehension. Sentence completion questions account for approximately 25% of the Critical Reading section of the SAT.

Each sentence completion question contains one or two blanks, and you must select the best answer choice(s) to finish the sentence.

Each question should take you less than a minute to complete. The Reading component of the test consists of 52 questions to be answered in 65 minutes.

• Before looking at the answers, one of the greatest tactics for the sentence completion portion is to complete each sentence in your head using your own words. Once you've finished the sentence in your own words, choose the option that is closest to your answer.

• Don't rush through the choices. Don't waste time, but make sure to go over all of the options before deciding on the best one.

• If you come across a word you don't recognize, utilize the context of the sentence to figure out what it means.

• One common error that students make is failing to recognize the reversal effect of negative words (such as not) or prefixes (such as un-).

• Allow transition words like similarly and although to propose a better solution.

• If you can't figure out what a word means, consider other terms with similar prefixes, origins, or suffixes.

• If the first word in a double-blank inquiry doesn't make sense in the sentence, eliminate the options.

CRITICAL READING Section --- READING COMPREHENSION (Short and Long):

The Reading Comprehension section of the SAT (also known as the Critical Reading section) assesses your ability to comprehend what you read.

You will be given various paragraphs to read and then asked questions about the messages stated or suggested in each passage. The duration of the passages will vary.

Some will take approximately 3 minutes to read and will be followed by only two questions. Others may take up to 15 minutes to read and include up to 13 questions.

• Determine the primary point of each passage.

• Always read the italicized introduction text first.

• Answer the simple questions first. Once you've answered all of the questions you know the answers to, return and answer the more difficult ones.

• To determine the correct location in each passage, use the line referenced numbers that appear in the questions.

• For reading comprehension questions, limit your response to what is stated or suggested in the passages.

• Before reading the linked questions, read each passage at least once.

• The first and last sentences of each paragraph are the most crucial. Pay close attention to these sentences.

• Don't waste time memorizing each passage's details.

• First, answer all of the questions about the topics with which you are knowledgeable. Return and answer the questions for the topics you are unfamiliar with.

• Some sections for reading comprehension are offered in pairs. Read the brief introduction first to see how these sections relate.

• Spend the majority of your time answering questions rather than reading and rereading the material.

• All reading comprehension material is drawn from the Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, and Literary Fiction.

• Other than practice, there is no other way to improve your critical reading skills.

WRITING Section --- WRITTEN ESSAY:

Writing well is an important skill for success in both academia and business. The SAT Writing and Language exam is intended to assess

(1) rhetorical skills and

(2) use and mechanics.

Questions about rhetorical abilities assess your ability to review and edit language, particularly your ability to structure phrases, passages, and paragraphs.

The following suggestions and tactics can help you enhance your performance on the Writing and Language section's Written Essay.

• As you read, respond to the questions. You don't have time to read complete paragraphs, then questions, and then return to the passage to get the answer again. Begin by reading the first question, then read what is required to answer it.

• You will be asked to compose a persuasive essay (250-300 words) on a topic that will be supplied to you.

• Make sure your essay is structured according to the 5 paragraph essay format, which comprises an Introduction, Body (approximately 3 paragraphs), and Conclusion.

• You have 25 minutes to finish the test's written essay part. Read the essay question as soon as possible and think about the issue you've been asked to discuss for about 5 minutes. Write your essay for roughly 15 minutes. Spend the last 5 minutes of your time reviewing your essay and fixing your grammar.

• The first paragraph of your persuasive essay should establish your opinion on the subject and present your thesis statement. In addition, the introduction should include three points that support your position.

• Each of your assertions should be supported by detailed detail and examples in the body paragraphs.

• The conclusion of your essay should summarize your argument by restating your thesis statement in a condensed form.

• Keep your writing clean, concise, and straightforward. Don't utilize words or "filler" language that isn't necessary to support your point of view.

• Only read what is required to answer a specific question. The majority of queries can be answered with a few phrases from a passage.

• Make sure you understand the connections between concepts such as Reinforcement, Contract, Cause-and-effect, and Sequence.

WRITING SECTION -- MULTIPLE CHOICE: Usage, Sentence Correction, and Paragraph Correction

The questions in the SAT's multiple-choice Writing section are meant to assess your knowledge of sentence form, use, and punctuation.

To boost your score in this area of the test, use the strategies and techniques listed below.

• Consider each question carefully before attempting to answer it.

• Each question about usage and sentence repair is based on a single sentence. Each question is intended to assess your understanding of fundamental sentence structure, grammar, and word choice. Before you answer a question, make sure you read it carefully so you understand what is expected of you.

• Two passages serve as the basis for the paragraph correction questions. For each passage, many questions are usually offered.

• Check that you know how to use commas (,), semicolons (;), colons (:), dashes (-), and apostrophes (').

MATH Section --- STUDENT PRODUCED RESPONSE (GRID):

The ACT math parts are designed to assess students' abilities to solve mathematical problems, think mathematically, and understand data provided in graphs and tables.

Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Functions, and Data Analysis are among the math topics examined on the SAT.

There are two sorts of questions in the math section: Student-Produced Response (grid-in questions) and Standard Multiple Choice questions.

There is no calculator allowed for the first section of the Math ACT. This section contains 15 multiple-choice questions and 5 grid-ins. Students may use a calculator in the second half of the MAT ACT.

This section contains 30 multiple-choice questions and 8 grid-ins (including an Extended Thinking question).

The Math ACT section takes 80 minutes to complete in total (25 minutes for the "no calculator" section and 55 minutes for the "calculator" section.)

The following are some pointers and approaches to help you improve your performance on student-created response questions.

• Because there is no penalty for guessing, answer all of the questions, even if you don't know the answer.

• In the student-produced response math part, there are no negative answers. If you get a negative answer, you'll have to try again.

• You can enter a brief response in any of the available columns. .8 can, for example, be entered in columns 1-2, 2-3, or 3-4.

• If your answer is a repeating decimal, such as.4444444, simply input as many decimal points as you can in the supplied grid.

• Even though you can enter an equivalent decimal for your response instead of a fraction, doing so is pointless.

• Do not offer answers with mixed numbers. If your answer is 2 3/4, for example, you must adjust it to 11/4 or 2.75.

MATH Section - STANDARD MULTIPLE CHOICE:

The following are some pointers and approaches for increasing your performance on multiple-choice problems.

• Read the question carefully to ensure you understand what it is looking for. Choose the best response for the requested variable, value, or expression.

• Make sure you prepare for this section of the exam ahead of time. Understand all of the key math definitions, formulae, and concepts that may appear.

• Only use the attached test booklet to illustrate your work and to draw up any diagrams or graphs.

• The initial sets of questions in this area of the test are usually the simpler ones, so don't take too long answering them.

• Look for a shortcut to the answer if a question appears hard and time-consuming. Don't become interested in complicated computations that will take a long time. Examine the answers presented and see if you can exclude any as wrong. This can help you limit your list of possible accurate answers.

• When attempting to figure out the correct answer to a question with a peculiar symbol, simply substitute the corresponding definition.