2-11-10 "Ten Easy Steps to Doing Great on the SAT's"

It’s SAT season! I just got my results today- I was one of the “crazy people” who opted to take the test in January. My logic was that if I did not do as well as expected on the test, I could take again in March. Fortunately, it appears as though I will not have to do that.

     I have some SAT tips for you Junior, Seniors, and precocious “Froshes” and “Sophs” who plan to take the SAT.

1) Study. Study! Study! Study! Don’t put it off- start as early as two months in advance. I only studied for two weeks beforehand, but I studied for hours every day. How should you study? Well, for starters,

2) Get a SAT study guide. I liked the one from Princeton Review. However, I did find several typographical errors, including one algebraic error (In an example, they gave the answer for 3⁶ instead of the problem they were showing how to solve, which was 6 ³). I found major errors on the answer page of the “11 Tests for the SAT” that Princeton Review also has. They somehow gave the answers in the wrong order, so instead of giving “a,b,d,c,a,b,d” as a sequence of answers, they would mistakenly put “a,b,b,d,c,a,b,d” and completely throw off the score. Other than that, however, the books are excellent. Cracking the SAT  shows how to solve virtually every type of problem that you will run into on the SAT! I finished Algebra and Geometry last year, so I was a little rusty on both subjects. Luckily, the Princeton Review book gave me a much-needed and easily understood crash course! You can find these books at the bookstore or library. Also, you can sign up to receive the Official SAT Question of the Day in your inbox. This is great way to spend a minute and a half daily improving your test taking ability. Another way to improve your scores is to improve your vocabulary. Study the vocab list in an SAT prep book, and constantly

3)Read. Read what? Classics, dictionaries, high school vocabulary textbooks- whatever it takes. Books such as The Scarlet Letter, Dickens classics, Frankenstein, and other fine literature are filled to the bursting point with words you may come across. Keep a notebook and a dictionary with you as you read. Write down any new words in your notebook and look them up in the dictionary once you are done reading. Find the memorizing technique that works best for you- try keeping a list of words and definitions in your notebook, or create flash cards. You don’t have to memorize the definitions verbatim, just know what the words mean. Also, as you read books and articles, try to make a habit of absorbing the information. Do your best to find it interesting. It may take a complete attitude change in some cases. Also, try to think about what the attitude of the author and/ or characters are. Try to get inside their minds and analyze their motives. If you can train yourself to do this automatically as you read, you will find it mush easier to complete the Critical Reading sections of the SAT. One of the scariest sounding parts of the SAT is the essay. But it’s not so hard if you

4) Practice writing. Write an SAT style essay every day. Sure, its no fun, but it takes less than 30 minutes, and it is worth it. Many SAT prep books have sample essay subjects. Just sit down with a timer, a notebook, a sharp pencil, and begin. Start by reading the subject. Jot down your initial reaction to it. Brainstorm ideas for your essay. Spend no more that five minutes brainstorming. Then create a thesis and write as fast as you legibly can and do your best to avoid errors. An unreadable essay will not get a high score! An ideal essay will have a “hook,” meaning that is sounds interesting from the start. It will have an introduction with a thesis, three supporting body paragraphs (Two is OK, but you may get a better score with three body paragraphs) and a good conclusion. Look up essay helps online if you are clueless on how to write an essay. Your SAT prep book should also be of some help. When you are writing your essay, try to leave a little time for correcting mistakes in your essay at the end, but don’t sweat it. An error or two should not detract from your score. In your body paragraphs, use examples from history or literature to support your thesis. Unfortunately, chances are that biblical examples will not be understood and/or taken seriously by the essay grader, so keep that in mind. The only sections that I have not yet mentioned are the reading, grammar, and mathematics sections. For these, simply

5) Practice! Make sure you understand how to perform algebraic and geometrical problems and that you understand the way that the English Language is properly spoken. Know your commas! Know whether “is” or “are” is correct, which of “They’re,” There, or “Their” is correct, and whether or not a grammarian would say “I saw her holding a pig in a prom dress.” (Hint: He would not, unless the pig was the one wearing the dress.) Your SAT prep book will also help with this. Don’t just assume you have it all down. Make sure you practice the critical reading sections, too. This will help you to be less nervous on test day, giving you a chance to relax as you read the passages. Then you will be able to process more information. You should

6) Take a few practice tests. Get a practice test book and go for it. Most books will help you to calculate your scores. More practice tests means better SAT scores. But it’s not all drudgery, you can also

7)Play games. Say what? Yes, there are actually games that will help you improve your scores. “Rummy Roots” is a card games that improves vocabulary by helping you learn Greek and Latin roots and their meanings. “Mind Trap” enhances critical thinking skills. Another very important thing is to

8) Sleep well, eat healthy, and become hydrated before the test. The day before the test, avoid unhealthy foods and make sure you drink plenty of WATER. Not soda. No, no, no. Also, get to bed at a decent hour (Yes, I do know that it is a Friday night and yes, 9) Bring a calculator, two pencils, a snack, and an ID to the test. Check on the College Board website to make sure that your calculator is approved. Bring number 2 pencils only. No mechanical pencils allowed. Try to

10) Relax! This is a big day for sure, but it won’t affect the outcome of your life. And you won’t have your SAT scores branded on your forehead. It’s just a test- seriously! All it is testing is how well you take tests, a skill that is easily improved. It is not an IQ test.

Good Luck! J