How should I prepare for the SAT?

You’ve already registered for your SAT and are now wondering, what next? How do I prepare for my SAT exams? Although you will get numerous advice online and from people on what to do, if you don’t have a plan, all the advice given won’t be of any use. With this in mind, our team has compiled a couple of essential steps that you can take to ensure you ace your SAT test.

• Take Practice Tests

SAT tests usually take 3 hours 45 minutes. Sitting through such a test can be grueling for anyone. But with practice, you will definitely be well prepared for the test. You can do this by blocking out time each day and taking a fully-timed practiced test. After each practice test, assess your performance and focus your follow up practice on your weakest area. This will help you familiarize yourself with the different structures and sections of the test.

• Read

There is nothing that will be more useful for you than reading articles on diverse subjects before your SAT. And while at it, try and pinpoint what the author’s argument is as this will come in handy during the SAT reading comprehension passages which are usually on diverse topics. If you come across any words you don’t know, ensure that you look them up and know what they mean.

• Take Practice Essays

Essays are usually the first part of the SAT test and are always 25 minutes long. While the essays are based on diverse topics, writing, editing and proofreading an essay within 25 minutes can be overwhelming. However, doing practice tests can help you learn the formula needed hence saving you time when taking the actual test. Ensure that you have back up facts about current events, history, personal experience or literature for your thesis and offer an in-depth conclusion as well.

• Memorize Formulas and Rules

Although the SAT test will have a couple of geometry formulas at the beginning, it’s important that you still try and memorize them as well as other formulas before the day of the test. Ensure that you know the exponent rules, Pythagorean Theorem, special triangle rules and area formulas among others by heart. This will save you time and ensure you answer the questions in the shortest time possible.

• Create a Study or Tutor Schedule

For you to make time and practice for your SAT, it’s important that you create a study schedule. First thing is to find out how much time you have before your SAT test. Then work backward and give yourself enough lead time for studying and tutoring sessions for the test. Ensure that you allocate enough amount of time each week and be consistent until the test day. This could be as easy as blocking out an hour after school or two hours – both Saturday and Sunday – to study.

• Don’t Stress

We all know how important the SAT test is. That said, it’s very common to find students stressed out due to the test. While this is normal, it can make you waste lots of time. Besides, the stress will make you panic and end up spending more time on it than the actual test you're about to do. If you find yourself in this state, be sure to stop and breathe in and out before proceeding with the test. Also, ensure you get a good night’s sleep the night before the test so that you are well rested and ready for the day.