We all have been there, waking up at seven o’clock in the morning and dreading every second of it because you know you’re about to take a four and a half hour test: the SAT. Those three letters can be scary to some students and cause them to worry about the test.For seniors, it is the worst of all because they know that in order to get into the college of their choice, they have to do well on the test. Here are some tips that I had learned from taking the test.Test-Taking Tips
1. Know the directions for each section before walking into the test.
2. The SAT is a timed test and testers receive a certain amount of time for each section. Be aware of the time so that you can get through as many questions as you can. Don’t sit there for ten minutes trying to figure out the answer to one math question, skip it and come back to it if you have time at the end.
3. You don’t lose points for any questions that you don’t answer, so if you don’t know a question be sure to move on.
4. Math questions are written in order of their difficulty. The easy math questions come towards the beginning of the section while the hardest ones come at the end. So be sure to answer the ones at the beginning of the section first.
5. If you are able to eliminate one or more answers to a question be sure to try and answer it. By eliminating answers you significantly increase your chances of getting it right.
6. Be sure to not get off-topic when writing your essay. If you do, you will receive a score of zero.
7. In the critical reading sections be sure to look for key words and main ideas that you feel may be important or helpful when answering the questions while you are reading the passage.
8. Take notes in the margins if you need to in order to help your understanding of the passage or passages that you are reading.
9. Every question is worth the same amount of points so don’t waste your time blindly guessing on the ones you have no clue.
10. Practice, practice, practice. If you have experience with sample tests going in, you will be more familiar with the test and increase your score.
Test Day Reminders:
1. Be sure that you are aware of where your test center is.
2. Allow enough time to get to your test center in case there is a lot of traffic on your way there.
3. Arrive early to be sure that you are not rushed going into the test.
4. Bring multiple number two pencils, a good eraser, and a calculator in case you need it.
The SAT is a test that is easily feared, but don’t worry. If you follow the tips and relax, chances are you will do fine. Be sure to drink plenty of water, eat a good breakfast, and get a good night’s sleep.
