Studying for any exam can be extremely stressful and daunting, however, studying for the SAT test is even more so. The main reason for this is due to the fact that a good SAT result can assist you with going to the school of your dreams, which is why you may be questioning – what can I do to prepare myself better?
If you are in this situation, fear not, this article has got your back. The text below is going to feature a list of things that you can do to prepare for the SAT test, as well as some tips and tricks that will make the entire process easier for you. Let’s take a closer look at the article:
1. Before Doing Anything Else, Ensure That Your Register For The Test
If you did not sign up for the exam, you can do so by registering online at the SAT site. You’ll need to make an account, opt for the location, as well as the date for the exam. You should remember that you should choose a date that will allow you to have enough time for studying, so, you might want to choose a date at least 3 months prior to taking the test.
2. Learn Everything About The Form And Composition
Your next step should be to learn everything there is about the form and composition. The examination is made from 4 categories including English (45 minutes), Mathematics (60 minutes), Science (35 minutes), and Reading (35 minutes) – all of the segments carry 36 points. There are additional options as well, a Writing segment (40 minutes) where you can obtain 12 points in total.
3. Familiarize Yourself With The Question Form
The SAT exam will not be the same as the test you are used to. Why you might ask? Well, it has specific question formats and styles, which is why you’ll want to familiarize yourself with it. Thankfully, there are various platforms that can provide you with thousands of SAT questions and examples, which means that you can learn everything there is about the structure of the test and segments. If you want to see what such platforms can provide you with, click here.
4. Know Your Weaknesses
Once you master the basics of the examination, you’ll want to identify all of your talents, however, your weaknesses as well. By doing so, you’ll learn what areas you need to concentrate on more. How can you do this? Well, you can try taking a timed practice exam. When you are done, examine the errors you made, and then focus on those particular areas.
5. You Should Set a Goal For Your Score
The one thing that you must remember is that you must establish a realistic objective score based on how much you want to increase your overall skills. Additionally, it should be something that you can achieve for the time you have. The score you want should indicate the colleges you want to attend, hence, ensure that the score is in the middle of the ones you are thinking about choosing.
6. Take a Look at Your Calendar And Set a Study Time
Consistency is the key when preparing exams, hence, you’ll want to take a look at your schedule and set a time when you’ll be studying. Besides this, you should also study in an environment that is calm and quiet, especially since this will allow you to focus on the subjects, instead of being distracted by other people.
7. You’ll Want to Purchase Study Books And Materials
In order to properly prepare yourself for the SAT, you must purchase study books and materials. However, there is one thing that you should keep in mind – you’ll want them to be from reputable and known companies. Hence, you can start by getting the official guide, as well as other materials from the official website.
8. Never Rush, Use The Entire Time
Although you might be fast when taking tests, you’ll definitely want to ensure that you use the entire time you are given. If you complete a segment earlier than you should, you should return to the beginning and review each of your answers. By doing so, you can ensure that you correct any mistakes that you made, which means that you can actually get a higher score. Additionally, never, I repeat, never rush through the questions since this can cause you to make mistakes that can cost you a lot of points.
9. Learn And Memorize The Instructions
If you want to save a lot of time when doing the exam, you should learn and memorize the instructions before taking them. This means that you won’t need to spend time reading and re-reading the instruction for each segment of the exam. Keep in mind that each segment has its own instructions, hence, prepare yourself properly, learn & memorize all of the instructions and save yourself a lot of time for the rest of the questions.
10. Do Not Forget to Care For Yourself
Lastly, but not least important is taking care of your mind and body. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, taking an SAT test is daunting, stressful, and time-consuming, which is why it is crucial for you to take care of yourself. What does this mean? Well, it means that you must get enough sleep, eat properly, as well as drink enough water. All of these things will help you stay focused, and more importantly, healthy.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are various things that you can do in order to prepare yourself for the SAT test. And, by following the tips and tricks mentioned above, you’ll be able to make the entire studying process easier, less time-consuming, and more importantly, less stressful for yourself.
So, now that you know what you should and can do, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, you should take a look at the article again, determine what strategy and things might be best for you, and start preparing yourself for the exam that can help you get into some of the best colleges.
