SAT Exam Preparation Tips
Learn the different tips and techniques to improve your SAT preparation strategy and earn the best possible score this year.
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What you'll learn in this article
Candidates are expected to prepare adequately by following the preparation guidelines provided by the College Board to score well on the SAT exam. The following are the section-wise SAT exam preparation tips that will help you score a high score.
Boost your SAT score — get personalised preparation guidance from our experts
SAT Exam Preparation for Reading Section
Here are some tips to remember when preparing for the SAT exam and techniques to apply during the Reading section of the test this year.
- Scan through the passages. Do not wholly read each passage or reread any of the passages. Since you will be asked to answer 54 short passages in 64 minutes, the chances are high that you might miss out on answering for a couple of passages while rereading them.
- Pick critical points of the passages to help you understand and quickly point out where the answers are placed for each question of a passage.
- Questions are not hierarchically placed in terms of difficulty. Hence, try answering questions you are sure of first and then focus on questions that require some time to analyse. This process will help you plan your time better.
- Try solving as many practice papers as possible at your SAT exam coaching centre. It will help you understand the types of passages given and questions asked in the SAT exam.
- There is no negative mark in the SAT exam format. Hence, you are free to answer all questions. Even when you are unsure of answers, you can pick an answer to help boost your score.
SAT Exam Preparation Tips for the Writing Section
- Similar to the reading section, pay attention while scanning through the passages to answer as many questions as possible.
- Spend ample time on checking the Grammar; focus on punctuation, spellings and sentence structure. Most marks in the writing section will fall under the Grammar category.
- Practise idioms, homophones, clauses and tenses.
- Get used to answering many practice papers at your SAT exam coaching centre. This process will help your instructors find where you need help and train you accordingly.
- Try practising to keep up some extra time at the end of the writing test. It will help you analyse and recheck your answers for any spelling errors.
SAT Exam Preparation Tips for the Math Section
Apply the following tips and techniques to improve your chances of scoring high in the SAT math section this year.
- Be familiar with trigonometric, algebra and geometric formulae as they will help you solve multiple-choice questions in both calculator and non-calculator sections.
- Prepare and practice in such a way that you can solve small calculations mentally. This will help save time in the non-calculator section. Even in the calculator section, mental calculations act as a catalyst to quickly complete the steps and help save time to recheck the answers.
- Practice enough to get accurate answers at the coaching centre to crack the Grid-in questions and recheck your answers while marking them on the OMR Sheet.
The College Board, in partnership with Khan Academy and the Bluebook App, provides numerous resources and practice tests for prospective test-takers to attempt to gauge their preparedness for the test. It is advisable to attempt as many practice tests and questions to strengthen your chances of a high SAT score this year. Connect with AECC Counsellors to learn more about the best practices and preparation tips to attempt the SAT exam this year.
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About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Bindu Mary Idicula
Test Prep, Courses & Application Expert | 20 Years in International Education
Bindu Mary Idicula has spent over 20 years in international education, writing on three areas that students navigate across every study abroad destination: standardised tests, course selection and application documents. She covers TOEFL, SAT, ACT, OET, GRE and GMAT, writes on standalone course guides across disciplines, and covers the application documents students need including Letters of Recommendation, Statements of Purpose, academic essays and CVs.
What connects these three areas is the same practical angle. She does not write about tests, courses or application documents in the abstract. She writes about what students need to know when they are actively deciding: which test is required for a specific course and destination, what a particular discipline looks like across different countries, and what makes an SOP or LOR work for a student with a specific academic background. That specificity comes from two decades of student consultations.
Her articles across the AECC platform have been read over 650,000 times. The breadth of topics she covers reflects the range of questions students bring to consultations, from which exam to take first to how to write a CV that works for an international university application. She holds an MBA in Marketing and is based at AECC's Tamil Nadu offices.
