In my previous articles, I’ve talked extensively about the SAT test and various strategies for tackling the so-called “difficult” questions. Assuming you have been preparing for this exam for a few months, let’s talk about test day and try to answer the question “what to expect on D-Day”.
Here is the situation you find yourself in the day you need to write the SAT. With your registration data and two ID forms, you enter the pre-determined SAT test center. Be prepared to be patient as you will have to wait in line before making your way to the test center. It would take about ten minutes or more to enter the exam room. SAT Score Calculator Once you get to the room, the warden will show you your designated spot. As your heartbeat went haywire, you saw other students enter the room.
Once the test begins, the proctor reads out the instructions set by the college board. The supervisor then distributed test materials and also checked whether the students had their pens with them. The calculator would also be checked to ensure they met College Board standards. After completing all these formalities, you will be asked to fill in your personal details in the bubble sheet.
This is what the SAT test would look like:
Section One : Essay – 25 minutes
sections two – Nine : Math, Reading or Writing – 20 or 25 minutes
Section Ten : Writing – 10 minutes
Surprisingly, the SAT varies its test format and length. However, the essay would ALWAYS come first and the writing section would come last. Pauses and breaks would be given during the test.
Of course you are not allowed to ask other students for help or even to talk to them. The use of communication devices such as cell phones is strictly prohibited. Once the test is over, you would have to hand the paper over to the invigilator.
The following tips will help you analyze what you should and shouldn’t do on test day.
sleep properly _
…not on the test day!!! Make sure you get enough sleep the night before test day. According to doctors, you should sleep at least 8 hours. Dinner before bed should be light and healthy. Make sure you don’t eat junk food for dinner. Eating high protein meals is not recommended as this may make you fatigued on the test day.
Carry your calculator
A graphing calculator can sometimes produce tedious solutions in a matter of seconds; Therefore, it is advisable to bring it to the test center. A watch (that doesn’t make annoying beeps) is also recommended.
Drink water and glucose
Glucose can give you instant energy. A glass of glucose with water would certainly help.
Eat a light, nutritious breakfast
Breakfast on the SAT exam day should include a portion of fresh fruit. Don’t look for donuts and pastries on test day.
Keep the exam room quiet and mind your own business. Concentrate on the test, answer easy questions first, don’t panic when you encounter a difficult problem, and fill in the choices on the answer sheet correctly. All of this, on top of your hard work put into the SAT test prep, would help you achieve high SAT scores and thus earn you a place in one of the most desirable colleges in the country!
7 strategies for success in the SAT math field
The SAT has three tiered sections – reading, math and writing. To improve your college admissions and scholarship options, you want to get the highest math score possible. The SAT tests basic mathematics, algebra and geometry. Students do NOT need a precalculation, trig or calculus on the SAT.
The exam is structured to include easy, medium and hard questions. The level of difficulty of the questions does not correspond to the topic. For example, although Algebra II is a more advanced course in school, the Algebra II concepts are not tested with more difficult questions than basic math concepts. The SAT math can take any concept and make it easy or hard.
I’ve helped thousands of students improve their SAT scores, and there are some key strategies you can use to improve your math scores.
1. Refresh your basic knowledge of algebra and geometry.
If you don’t know the basics, you’re going to have trouble. No exam strategies, math shortcuts, or fancy graphing calculators can make up for a lack of basic knowledge.
2. Know that SAT math sections start with easier questions and get progressively more difficult.
If you are struggling with math, you can choose to leave ALL the difficult questions blank and focus your time, energy, and intelligence on the first half of the questions.
- If you don’t want to get a 650+ score in math, you can leave the last 10-20% of the questions blank.
These are the most difficult and time-consuming problems. Even students trying to earn a 600 can safely leave the toughest questions blank and focus on accurately answering the remaining problems.
4. Writing down problems will help you avoid careless mistakes.
Don’t try to solve everything in your head! Calculators can help, but if you don’t know what to type, you’re lost. Be ready to sketch figures, write equations, and jot in your notebook.
5. Focus on accuracy.
Stop worrying about finishing the section and start focusing on getting the questions right. Your score improves as you answer more questions correctly. Most students benefit from slowing down and concentrating. Take the time you need to do calculations, jot down numbers in your notebook, and think about possible solutions.
6. Remember that more difficult questions may not require higher-level mathematical concepts.
But these questions often involve multiple steps and the ability to avoid miscalculations. The most difficult questions often involve six or more steps from problem to solution. Every step is an opportunity to make a calculation error or misstep, so take your time.
7. Look for abbreviations.
If you’re doing complex calculations on more than one or two questions, you’ll never have time to finish the section. SAT Score Calculator Look for ways to lighten your workload. For example, if you want to test the possible answers by putting them back into the problem, start with possibility C. Usually, the answers are given in numerical order, so if you start in the middle and find a solution, you don’t have to test all the possibilities first .
Don’t let test anxiety make the SAT harder than it already is. Take the time to become familiar with the SAT format, questions, and rating scale. Often, a little practice and confidence can go a long way in improving your SAT math scores.
