SAT Test-Taking Tips

Seven SAT Test-Taking Tips

Taking standardized tests are hard. One of the most important tests that high school students will take is the SAT. The SAT is very different from many other standardized tests. There are specific rules and strategies that are very specific to the SAT. Here are some quick tips to help your child study for the SAT.

1. Use the process of elimination. Before answering a question, make sure that you eliminate answer choices. Your best bet is to look for extremes, like “only,” “never,” or “always.” Answer choices that have these words in them are most likely not going to be correct.
2. Answer questions only if you can eliminate answer choices. When you take the ACT, there is no point penalization for answering with the wrong answer. However, in the SAT, there is a ¼ point penalization for every wrong answer. So, don’t go too crazy when you are guessing.
3. Leave a question blank when you can’t find at least one wrong answer choice. If you look at a problem and you have no idea when it comes to solving it.
4. Always write in the booklet. Get in the habit of writing down and figuring out your problems on paper. You will be able to catch more of your mistakes, and you will be able to do problems faster.
5. Slow down. Even if you think that you have mastered this test, it is designed to test if you really know what you are doing. Take time to write down and figure out math problems. Mathematically speaking, you will do better if you answer 75% of the questions and get them right, than if you answer 100% of the questions, and only get 50% right.
6. Remember the test gradually gets harder. When you take the test, you might want to stay away from obvious answers. However, the test is going to gradually get harder, so obvious answers might actually be right at the beginning of the test. But they probably won’t be right at the end of the test.
7. You can do this. Don’t second guess your ability. You can do this. It has been statistically proven that your first answer choice is usually right. Don’t get caught up and switch your answers at the last minute. It won’t usually help you.

Good luck studying for the SAT. Be calm, and relax. Don’t let this standardized test get the best of you.