How to Study for the SAT
The SAT is challenging. Standardized tests can take several months of preparation and re-attempts to finally achieve a score you are happy with. On top of that, courses costing hundreds of dollars seem like the only way to succeed on this exam. However, this is not the case at all. You can study for the SAT for free while being as—if not more effective—than the expensive courses you see online.
SAT Study Tips
1. Create a study schedule
Before you begin to actually start studying for the SAT, it is important to first create a schedule. I recommend studying a little bit each day until your test date so you can slowly build your knowledge rather than cramming the week leading up to the test.
In my studying, I allotted 30 minutes each weekday to study and on Saturdays, I did one practice test. By not studying too much each day and having a rest day, I didn’t lose motivation or get burnt out!
2. Take SAT Practice Tests
The best way to begin studying for big tests is by taking a full-length practice test to see where your strengths and weaknesses are. This also sets a benchmark of what you scored before studying to see how much you improved after studying.
You may find that after the first practice test you are exhausted and may feel a bit defeated. But, after doing several tests, your stamina builds up which makes you able to focus more! This will come in handy especially further into the test preparation.
Doing practice tests also helps with timing because as you get more familiar with concepts, you can also problems quicker. Be sure to time yourself during these tests to see if you are finishing with enough time or if you need to work on pacing.
3. Segment your Studying
I also recommend studying a certain section each day, especially focusing on the ones you score poorer in. How you study for each section will be different from person to person. However, there are certain concepts you should learn for each section. For example, it is important to be familiar with the grammar rules for the writing section and geometry for the math sections.
To find which concepts you are unfamiliar with, take notes on which concepts seem new or you want extra practice on. For instance, I found that when I was practicing I was consistently getting circle problems wrong. I then found problems specifically about those types of problems to practice. You can also meet with an UPchieve tutor for help on specific topics like that.
Best Study Tools
UPchieve
UPchieve offers extremely helpful when studying for the SAT. They offer free 1-on-1 tutoring with tutors knowledgeable about the SAT and are able to teach you strategies or help you with concepts.
Studying on your own can be hard and exhausting, so practicing with someone who knows the material well can be a really great way to practice. My strategy for approaching the SAT was studying on Khan Academy, and when I approached concepts or questions that were confusing or I didn’t know how to approach them, I turned to UPchieve tutors who could always answer my questions! This process not only prepared me for the test but raised my confidence when test day approached.
KHAN ACADEMY
One of the most helpful assets to me was Khan Academy. Not only is it free, but it provides lessons on topics you do not know. It contains thousands of math and english questions so you have a great source of practice.
It’s also linked to CollegeBoard, providing ten full SAT practice tests that can give you the results as if you were taking the exam. You can also create study plans by inputting the date of your exam. Khan Academy then gives you how much you should practice each day and creates a set of questions based on your skills.
How to Prepare for the SATs: Test Day
1. Practice is key
While learning how to answer the questions can be helpful, I found simply practicing questions and doing full tests to be most helpful. The SAT is a skill, that like anything else, needs practice and time. All prep books and Khan Academy explain why an answer is right or wrong. After checking your answers and seeing what you got wrong, I recommend reading the explanations and fully understanding why one of your answers is wrong so you can improve next time.
2. Change your mindset
Something that really helped me, specifically for the reading and writing section, is changing my mindset from thinking that every answer can be right, to every answer is wrong except one. Finding flaws with answers is much easier than trying to figure out which answer seems the most right. So, I recommend crossing out answers that you know are wrong until you have an answer that makes the most sense. Remember that for an answer to be correct, all parts of it have to be right, not just part of it.
3. Focus on concepts you don’t know
For math and writing, learning key concepts is important. For math, this looks like learning important formulas and how to use them ( for example the equation of a circle), and writing this looks like the grammar rules. This makes answering questions much easier as you know how to approach and answer a question.
4. Be ready for test day
Finally, try simulating the test-taking experience. This looks like setting a timer to make sure you finish each section with enough time and no distractions. While you might feel prepared with the knowledge for the test, the experience can be stressful and is completely different than taking it at home.
Final Thoughts on Studying for the SAT
Doing well on the SAT is a skill. With any skill, practice is key to doing well. The SAT can be mastered by anyone without having to pay for any expensive courses. Know that while the SAT is important, it’s not the biggest factor in the college application process. If you get a score you are unhappy with you can always retake the exam and try new study habits!
Want help studying for the SAT or ACT? Don’t forget to sign up for free tutoring through UPchieve!
Good luck!