Your practical digital SAT study guide
It’s 8:30 PM on a school night. You need to go over a chapter, you have a worksheet that’s due tomorrow, and your web browser is loaded up with tips on how to ace the SAT. So, you open up one question and spend twenty minutes trying to figure out if you chose the right site. Ring any bells? Begin by identifying one thing you can get done tonight.
Imagine SAT preparation digitally as three types of tasks: gaining knowledge about things that you don’t know yet, applying that knowledge in new questions, and responding to them with a timer ticking. Allocate some time for each activity. It would be unwise to imagine that you can gain new knowledge and apply it immediately in fast-paced conditions in one single session. The following SAT preparation plan for eight weeks will give you time to grow steadily around school or other responsibilities.
Understand the digital SAT before planning your week
In College Board’s words, the SAT contains the Reading and Writing section of 54 questions in 64 minutes, and the Math section with 44 questions in 70 minutes. There are two modules in each of those sections, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. Difficulty level of the second module depends on the results of the first one. This way, your training should involve getting used to the process of digital testing itself, and not just practicing with worksheets and old papers.
Once you learned what adaptive testing is, it might be difficult to keep yourself from evaluating every single question. Is it too easy? Did I do badly in the first module? These kinds of thoughts take up your attention, which you might need elsewhere. Focus on your real task: read, decide on the strategy, provide the answer, and verify when needed. If the problem seems to be a challenge, make an effort at it. If not, pay attention to the detail you might miss. Evaluate everything after the test.
Start with a useful baseline, even if it feels uncomfortable
Before planning your weeks of lessons, sit down to a formal SAT practice test using Bluebook. College Board gives adaptive practices through the same testing software utilized in the actual computer-based test. Pick a quiet time and set the conditions to be realistic enough. Do not have any distractions, use the appropriate tools, and do not go looking up explanations while still in the middle of it. If you stop after each question in order to figure out how to do it, you are conducting a lesson and not determining where you stand.
Your first score may be disappointing. Allow yourself to feel it, but then start opening up your questions and find out what exactly occurred. Highlight the ones which you guessed right and those you got wrong. Did you know the passage but made a leap in choosing the answer? Did you know the equation, but entered the wrong value? That information is helpful. You are not required to provide your friends with your thoughts about each practice test result you receive.
Choose a target that belongs to your application plan
There must be a rationale for setting a target score. Take a look at the admission and testing policies of the universities you are interested in, not those of your buddy. Since there is a chance that the requirements and expected scores are different, check each institution’s current official guidance. After that, take a look at your own initial score and how much time you really have before deciding on your target. More challenging targets will most likely require more time of preparation, more support, and another attempt at taking the test.
Place a minor goal right next to the target score you have chosen. 'This week, I will stop dropping negative signs when rearranging equations' is a task for you. The same is true for 'I will justify every punctuation mark used in my practice set'. When the week is over, you need to find out if you still make this mistake or can cope with a new example. Sure, your scores are important, but this information allows you to select your next topic to study.
Build a weekly routine you can actually keep
A good start would be four weekly sessions and one long session over the weekends for a busy student like yourself. Alter that schedule according to your workload. A 40-minute session can consist of five minutes going through the mistakes from the previous lesson, twenty minutes on learning and practicing a single skill, ten minutes using that particular skill in a new problem and five minutes planning the next step. More important than timing is the purpose behind the session itself.
Not everything will always go according to the schedule on Wednesdays. Your project at school will drag out longer than expected or you'll come home tired and not feel like focusing. Take the most beneficial activity out and keep the rest of your schedule untouched. Thursday shouldn't become a punishment session. In a busy week, make sure to have a backup plan: three mistakes from the past, one explanation of grammar rules or two problems solved methodically. You need longer lessons but this will help you get back into the habit.
Weeks 1 and 2: find the gaps and repair the foundations
Use the first fortnight to ensure your baseline serves you well. Select only a few repeated weak areas and not every concept you may have had problems with in the past. Some examples could be equations, ratios, or reading graphs in Math. In Reading and Writing, it could be identifying sentence boundaries and/or finding evidence for making an inference. Look at a good explanation, solve a few problems, and explain the technique you used without referring to your notes. If you are still uncertain about the explanation, work on your foundations.
Here is a little example for you to try out. A notebook is priced at ₹200 and its price increases by 20%. The price increases by ₹40 to make the price ₹240. Reduce ₹240 by 20%: you will get ₹192 and not ₹200. This is because the base amount has changed. If that surprises you, Take some time to understand the idea of percentage bases and then continue. Give yourself two more examples and write down your solution and identify the base amount for the percentages.
Weeks 3 and 4: strengthen SAT Reading and Writing habits
The College Board defines four Reading and Writing Domains: Information and Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. This portion of the test involves reading short passages or passages paired with a single question. Organize your practice according to those domains, but give each study session a more specific objective than 'study English.' 'Explain why two answer choices exceed the scope of the passage' is a task that has an ending and can be evaluated.
When answering comprehension questions, distinguish between information presented in the passage and knowledge that you already have about the topic. If the passage is on science, it might mention something that you know is true, but your response should be based on the information in the passage. Make your prediction and then read through the answer choices. Try to identify the exact word or sentence in the passage that supports your choice. In evaluating mistakes, consider why the alluring incorrect choice was not the correct one.
As far as grammar is concerned, take your time to look at the sentence. Where is the subject? Which verb agrees with it? Are you combining two independent clauses? The comma you feel comfortable about as you read out the sentence might still be wrong. When you have made up your mind about the right choice, put down one line stating the rule. 'This sounds better' will leave you nothing much to check back later. 'This verb agrees with the singular subject' will give you something to apply to the next problem.
Weeks 3 and 4: give SAT Math equal attention
According to the official list of math content areas, there is Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry. In your personal practice, find out the particular operation or interpretation which is causing problems. It is possible that two different students can make mistakes in an algebra problem due to different reasons. While one student might not know the equation, another student might know it but miss out the negative sign.
Write down the problem first. For instance, a made-up practice problem states that the total price of three tickets with a ₹50 booking fee is ₹650. Setting t as the price per ticket leads you to 3t + 50 = 650, giving you ₹200 per ticket. If the question asks for two tickets without the fee, the answer is ₹400. Stopping at the single-ticket price of ₹200 would leave the question unanswered. Reread the question, keeping your units in mind, and make sure that your answer solves the question.
Practice using the tools that you will be using on the test. Check College Board requirements regarding the permitted calculators. Use the tool when it aids you in solving the problem and saves time reasonably. However, always ask yourself whether the answer makes sense. Graphing or getting a decimal number will not tell you if it makes sense or not. Compare the methods while reviewing your work: was this problem solvable symbolically, estimated, or proven in some other way?
Weeks 5 and 6: connect accuracy with pacing
Once a skill becomes fairly secure, add time limits through short mixed sets. It can be difficult to pinpoint what requires fixing after moving immediately from untimed teaching to continuous full-length tests. Shorter sets allow for changing questions and reviewing within reason. Record what consumed your time. Did you spend too much time reading the questions, verifying calculations, or attempting an unsuccessful approach?
Establish a basic principle to help you when stuck on something. If you have not made any progress, mark the question and proceed while there is still some time left in the module. Return if time allows. Learn to apply this principle ahead of time so you will not see it as a sign of failure on exam day. Some questions take more time than others, so do not try to allocate exactly the same time to each one. The most important thing is to retain an overview of the entire module.
This would also be a good time to take another official practice test if your schedule allows enough time to study it properly. It is recommended by College Board to spread out your practice tests by at least two weeks if possible. Do not just do a practice test because it looks good on the calendar. Question yourself about what you did differently from the last time and what you need to learn from this particular test. The test accompanied by reflection will give you more information than the test with score-checking.
Weeks 7 and 8: rehearse, simplify, and prepare
By the last two weeks, you may have noticed which concepts reappear in your error log. Study them in particular. In case you've been struggling with sentence boundaries for weeks and you cannot get them right, go back to the rule either with a tutor or a clearer explanation. Keep some new questions in your schedule in order to see whether your understanding has improved. Try not to gather all new sources every evening. Think of the particular mistake you want to correct before searching for something new.
Also, make a practical checklist on the basis of updated instructions of the testing day. Make sure of the arrangements for your computer, identification, admission details, travel, etc., which are necessary according to your personal test requirements. It will be wise to sort out your technical queries in advance. In case of a student visiting a center in another part of the city, having a realistic transport schedule will take away one unnecessary distraction. Don't have a hectic schedule on the night before the test.
Use an error log that changes your next session
Use anything you would really use to keep notes: a notebook, a document or a spreadsheet. Note down the problem, what skill it involves, what went wrong, and how you will handle it. Try to be as specific as possible: "Careless mistake" can include anything. "I found x and I forgot the question needed 2x" tells you something about your checking habits. "I couldn't change the language into the equation" tells you about some concept you need to study. Keep entries short, so reviewing five of them won't require another evening.
Review the chosen mistakes at a later date. Do so without seeing your initial explanation. Afterward, attempt a fresh question on the same topic. If you remember your initial answer but are unable to complete the new question, your review was incomplete. Leave those entries active that you still have trouble explaining. Delete from your list those entries that you can explain confidently. This is not a process to create proof of your difficulty; rather, it is an attempt to make tomorrow’s study session more specific than yesterday’s.
Choose SAT preparation resources without creating clutter
Learn about the test using officially sanctioned material, and add other sources only if they help solve a specific issue. Sources to explore include Bluebook practice exams, College Board practice information, and Khan Academy’s SAT learning materials. A specific grammar guide and a specific Math lesson will be helpful when you require another perspective. Before opening any new source, consider what you hope the source will accomplish for you. If the answer is ‘maybe this will help,’ reconsider your studying approach.
In deciding on SAT coaching in India or taking up online SAT preparation, consider practical issues. Does your coach check your reasoning or give you homework assignments? On what basis are your weaknesses determined? What happens if your school timetable is changed? Can you see connections between the lesson and your errors? A valuable discussion should allow you to comprehend the process better. Do not make your choice depending on the score result announced by the SAT prep company. It depends greatly on your initial skills, your time availability and your diligence.
For Indian students, make room for language and school demands
Having an understanding of school math does not mean that every word problem of the SAT test will become easy for you. You still have to understand the question and what is being asked there. Likewise, having English language skills does not mean that you do not have to learn about sentences. Approach both sections of the test as sets of skills you can learn. There is no point in calling yourself 'Math person' or 'bad at English' when your problems are more specific than that.
Should you find yourself hindered by passages that you are unfamiliar with, try spending some time reading a few articles outside the pressure of the testing time. Choose just one article and summarise it in two sentences. How does the author support his statement? Which sentence contains the shift in direction? Ten minutes of concentration should be enough to supplement your practice with questions. When it comes to your school tests, cut any extra activities and concentrate on your most important SAT subjects. It would also be wise to inform your family about when you are going to study and what you will do.
Frequently asked questions about digital SAT preparation
Is eight weeks enough to prepare for the SAT?
Eight weeks is a mere guideline and not the right answer for everyone. A student who needs to work on a few skills will employ this strategy differently from another student who needs to rebuild several foundations. Try taking a test before and see if there is enough time for learning in the schedule you have created.
How many hours should I study each day?
Set up the time you can keep during review sessions and check if you can accomplish what should be done within that period. If you see a necessity and have some spare time, then increase that time frame. Longer sessions become less useful when you lose focus or rush through explanations. Breaks can be included and pauses can be taken to solve problems, not considering everything as an equal part of productive studying.
Can I prepare without paid coaching?
You can organize your preparation using free and official materials which you can get online. It depends on how difficult your tasks are and on your ability to solve those problems on your own. You can also involve some teacher, classmate, or tutor who will help you to analyze a hard misunderstanding. The main question here is what kind of assistance will help your performance better.
What should I do when my practice score stops improving?
Examine what lies beneath the overall score. Consider repetition of errors, ambiguity regarding correct answers, and timing choices. Have you been increasing testing without making any changes in the interim? Identify one weakness that persists throughout, research it thoroughly, and test your knowledge on new questions. Should your explanations prove inadequate, find out why. The fact that you are at a plateau means that it is a good time to analyze your work process, not a cue to do more of the same.
Your next step can be small
Before you go, plan what will happen next and by when. Maybe tomorrow morning is your first Bluebook test. Maybe tonight you have time to go back over five problems you’ve gotten wrong before. Write down this plan where you can see it. There is no need to devise your complete SAT test strategy in one night; there is a need for a specific next step. Should you need assistance in setting priorities, call Ooshas Prep with your results, school calendar, and problem areas.
Official sources consulted for exam information: College Board’s How the SAT is Structured; The Reading and Writing Section; The Math Section; How to Use Bluebook Practice Tests; and Build Your SAT Suite Study Plan. Please consult the above websites for the most updated official guidelines prior to taking the exam.
