It is no more a news that the format of SAT has changed. You have to score well in order to be able to pick good colleges. The following ten best strategies and tips will help you in preparing for the new SAT.
1. [/b]Read a lot of Nonfiction [/b]
The new SAT has five long dense passages one after the other in an hour. The questions involved aren’t that difficult but the passages are long and you might need a lot of patience. Four of the five passages are non-fiction and so reading this genre is really helpful. To begin with, you can read the famous magazines or newspapers. Getting used to reading this much takes time and so you might want to get started on it right away.
2. [/b]Practicing Mental Math [/b]
One of the math sections of the test does not allow the students to use the calculator. This is unfortunately true! So what can you do about it? Try to work the calculations mentally without using a calculator while you practice. Now the mere sound of putting this effort is dreading since we are so used to using calculators. But, if you fail to practice it while you still can then you will save yourself the trouble in the exam hall.
3. [/b]Working on your Grammar [/b]
Grammar rules half of the verbal section in the new SAT. Brushing up your grammar skills will help you a lot in the SAT exam. Even though it might sound arduous at first but you will be better off practicing daily in the long run.
4. [/b]SAT Prep Materials [/b]
You certainly need to invest in good SAT prep material to reach your ideal score. However, not all resources are equal. Before choosing any specific resource you need to verify how legitimate it is. The College Board’s books on SAT are reliable sources. So instead of starting your practice bullheadedly, you should first check how recommended and useful it is. Your time is valuable when it comes to your preparation.
5. [/b]Mixed Practice Tests [/b]
If you are thinking about rigorously practicing only math section in a day and practice grammar the next day then you aren’t being completely efficient. Studies show that you are more likely to score well if you practice the grammar section for say 45 minutes followed by the math section. This pattern will be the same as your actual test and it is better to practice that way.
6. [/b]Prepare Consistently Over Time [/b]
Cramming just before the exam is very popular but to be honest, even though it might feel like you are learning a lot at the moment. The truth is that most of the information is stored in your temporary memory. On the other hand, if you study consistently every day then it will be stored in your long-term memory and you will be able to remember it well. In order to score well, you need to study and practice daily.
7. [/b]Identify and Work on Your Weakness [/b]
It is obvious that you will have some strong areas and some weak areas. You can certainly do better if you are already good at some subject but at the same time, you need to identify your weak areas as well. Once you are aware of the weak areas you can dedicate most of your time in working on it and practicing more. Remember that all the sections are given importance equally and honing every area is important.
8. [/b]Utilizing Your Free Time[/b]
You have to dedicate few hours a day for preparation that is for sure. But you also need to make sure that you are making the most of all the time available to you. You can quickly go through some practice tests or revise what you have learned while you are commuting, waiting for the bus, have a day off from school etc.
9. [/b]Using the Internet [/b]
There are surplus resources online. You just need to get started. The College Board Website, for example, is the right place to start. They have a lot of practice questions, study tips and important test updates that the students can benefit from.
10. Practice in Groups [/b]
When you practice in groups you can learn from each other and give each other goals. You can also compete with your friends and discuss after the practice is done to learn from their mistakes as well. Collaborate and share the resources with each other to improve your scores.
All the Best!