Preparation is the key to obtaining good SAT scores.
The SAT is a standardized exam that tests high school students on their logic and reasoning skills. College admission boards assess these SAT scores before accepting a student. Because most colleges require students to take the SATs, it is important for students to prepare for it by taking practice tests before their scheduled SAT test day. By practicing with such preparation books as "The Official SAT Study Guide," students gain more familiarity with the exam and have a higher probability of getting a good score on the test.
Practice Time Management
The only way to master time management is by taking SAT practice tests. The test consists of critical reading, math, and writing sections, all of which are broken down into 10 subsections. Students have three hours and 45 minutes to complete all three sections. Each subsection has a time constraint varying from 10 to 25 minutes, so it is very important that a student practices his speed and accuracy skills. One way to do this is by pretending that he is taking the actual test. Students should time themselves with a watch and only spend the allotted time doing each section. The first few times students may be too slow or be so fast that they compromise their accuracy, but by repeating this strategy, they will learn answer questions at a moderate pace and become more comfortable under time constraints. When a student becomes more comfortable, he relaxes and tends to produce more accurate answers.
After some time, students should not even have to spend time reading instructions. By the time they take the real SAT test, they should have already memorized instructions for each section. The more time a student has, the higher the chances of completing the section before the allotted time is up. If a student has extra time, it is recommended that he use that time to double check his answers.
Know the Format of the Test
Knowing the format of the test allows students to know what to expect in each section. Most sections have multiple choice formats, with the exception of a "grid in" math subsection and an essay portion. In the math and writing sections of the test, the easiest questions are in the beginning of the section and the most difficult are at the end of the test. Because the most difficult questions are at the end of the test, students should take more time on the difficult questions and less time on the easier questions.
Have Test Taking Strategies Handy
All questions, regardless of difficulty level, have the same number of points awarded for correct answers. However, points are deducted for each incorrect answer. Therefore, it is recommended that a student not randomly guess answers to questions where they have no knowledge of what the answer is. Omitting the question is a better option, since omitted questions do not result in point deductions. One strategy of getting the correct answer is through the process of elimination. If a student can eliminate at least one wrong answer, he or she is encouraged to answer the question. The more answers a student can eliminate, the higher the chance of obtaining the correct answer.
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