Taking the SAT examination with careful and thorough preparation can indeed open the door for many high school applicants to leading academic institutions, colleges, and universities all over the world. However, the competitive pressure of clearing the exam for aspirants is increasing as the number of SAT candidates is growing by leaps and bounds annually. That’s why it is important for an SAT candidate to commit to an intensive SAT prep strategy. By following certain important SAT tips and tricks, students can bypass a lot of their stress and anxiety and prepare themselves to score good marks on such a presumably challenging test. So let’s learn more about the exam guide, and various tips for Preparation For SAT to pass the test with flying colours in 2022.
Table of Contents
SAT Examination Format
The SAT is a paper-based examination required to obtain admission to any highly reputed colleges in the US, USA, Australia, Canada and various other countries. The SAT exam is divided into three sections: evidence-based reading and writing (EBRW), mathematics/arithmetic, and an optional essay. Despite the fact that the essay section is optional, several colleges request essay section marks when evaluating a student’s portfolio for enrollment.
SAT Sub-section of Critical Reading
The reading section typically contains 52 questions. You will be given a duration of 65 minutes to finish it. These questions will be in MCQ format, which means that you will be given four or more options for each question. To get the desired target score points, students have to choose the right answer for each question.
SAT Sub-section of Writing & Language
The writing and language subsection contains 44 questions. You will be allotted only a duration of 35 minutes to complete it. The questions in this section will also be in Multiple Choice Questions format.
SAT Arithmetic or Math Section
The SAT math test is generally acknowledged as one of the most challenging sections of the exam. The section is divided into three parts: algebra and functions, geometry statistics, and probability and data analysis. As per the questions, there will be two parts in Math: one where the students are permitted to use a calculator and the other where they are not. All in all, the section consists of 58 questions, fifteen of which with five grid-ins will be from the no-calculator section. The remaining 30 questions with eight grid-ins ((including one Extended Thinking question) will be from the calculator section. You will be allotted only 25 minutes to solve the total of 20 questions in the no-calculator section and 55 minutes to solve the 38 questions in the calculator-optional section.
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SAT Sub-section of Essays (Optional)
As mentioned earlier, some colleges do require an essay score for enrollment, but others do not. As a result, the essay section is basically optional. To know if you really need to sit for this test section, you need first to confirm whether the college board you want to take admission to necessitates the SAT essay score or not. The SAT essays are typically 600 to 750 words in length, which you have first to read and then scrutinize. You will be allotted 50 minutes to do this.
Section Wise SAT Preparation – Tips & Tricks
Here are a few simple SAT exam preparation tips to get you started from the day of registration till the test day.
Exam Tips for SAT Reading Test:
The questions in the SAT reading test are usually required to examine the student’s reading skills along with vocabulary. Here’s are some tips for this section:
- The best way to prepare for SAT reading is to begin with the simplest and quickest passages in the SAT EBRW.
- Make a conscious effort to work on preventing three incorrect answer choices from the options provided throughout your SAT practice, rather than just attempting to answer the SAT Reading Practice questions based on your own viewpoints.
- Invariably, pay attention to each minor error you make and rectify them to optimize your SAT reading process.
- While appearing for the reading sample papers, attempt to answer each question properly and clearly rather than replying to every one of them in a rush, which will result in many wrong answers.
- Keep brushing up on your vocabulary while studying for the SAT, particularly to confirm that you understand how to use the words or phrases in English.
- Most importantly, reading in itself makes a huge difference, and aspirants should place more emphasis on starting to read more American texts. They should keep themselves up-to-date with the help of the latest newspapers, magazines, and other materials.
- The hobby of reading novels, too, will help strengthen the candidates’ SAT reading ability.
Here are some of the best prep books to read for sat :
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin-A romance and comedy of manners novel
- Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights: Gothic literature, tragedy, and Victorian romance novel.
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is – Historical French adventure novel.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby: A Tragic, Rags to Riches Novel.
- William Golding’s Lord of the Flies: An Allegorical, Young-adult, and Psychological Novel.
Exam Tips for SAT Writing:
This segment is particularly designed to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of language and grammar. If you are poor in the writing area, you should begin training yourself for SAT writing & language to outperform the other individuals appearing for the SAT exam in 2022. Here are the tips to help you:
- Exercise punctuation, grammar, and syntax on a regular basis.
- When writing, try to make links between ideas by using terms like “contract,” “sequence of events,” “cause and effect,” etc.
- Whenever appearing for the SAT practice exam, always use proper grammatical rules.
- Just like reading tests, develop the habit of eliminating the incorrect alternatives from the options presented.
- Throughout SAT prep for writing, each word should make good sense and sound right when placed in context.
SAT Exam Tips for Mathematics/Arithmetics:
If you want to score well in this section, you’ll need to optimize your algebra and also your problem-solving and data-analysis skills. Some of the things to prepare for the SAT mat are as follows:
- With the help of the SAT exam study guide, you can gain a deep and thorough understanding of the math concepts and how they’re effectively applied.
- While preparing for the SAT Math Prep, make sure to prioritize problem-solving, modelling, strategic tool use, and algebraic structure.
- Take as many SAT Math full-length exams as necessary to gain a solid understanding of the various math formulas, equations, relations, and operations. Not only that, the more you practice, the more you will be able to speed up.
- When taking the SAT Math mock exams or practice sample questions, concentrate on the areas you are weak at and work hard on them to reduce the possibility of losing more points.
SAT Exam Tips for Essay:
To write a decent essay, concentrate on the writer’s proof and purposes and construct a persuasive argument. To achieve high scores in this section, you will have to improve your reading and writing skills. Here are the tips:
- Take enough time to thoroughly analyze what the author is attempting to express or say and how it can be used to outline your essay.
- Use precise facts or proof and highlight statements that facilitate the author’s point of view.
Conclusion
You can undoubtedly get a decent SAT test score if you use the above tips and tricks. Aside from that, you can also hire a private, professional tutor or take SAT coaching, which will not only help you prepare better but will also provide you with a customized strategic plan to prepare for each section smartly. The best approach, however, is to rehearse as much as possible while keeping the exam structure in your head. Enhance your subject matter knowledge and conceptual understanding. With all these self-help tactics, you will be able to improve and maximize your SAT test score and achieve the test result you have always desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to prepare for the SAT exam at home?
Here are the steps to prepare for SAT in a week:
Phase 1: Learn about the SAT exam format.
Phase 2: Collect both offline and online study materials.
Phase 3: Create an Effective Study Plan
Phase 4: Take mock exams on a regular basis.
How do you get a good score on the SAT examination?
Using all the available study materials and practice exams from time to time is by far the best-known way to get good scores in the SAT examination. Apart from that, taking regular mock tests and solving sample papers helps you determine which study areas you should focus on more.
How long does it take to Preparation For SAT?
Applicants should study at least 2 hours per day for a minimum of 4 months. Sometimes, when you study for more hours, you complete the syllabus in far less time, and vice versa. It could differ from candidate to candidate, as some students quickly grasp the fundamentals while others take longer.
How many points are needed to pass the SAT?
There is no certain specific minimum or maximum grade that you must achieve to clear the SAT. The SAT score rules vary from college to college. So before you set a target for yourself, know the minimum level SAT score specifications for the college you want to get into.
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