#2 Know you Weaknesses

Ouch! Realizing your weaknesses can sometimes be a painful process, BUT it is so important to improve your SAT scores. For the test, it is crucial to understand WHY you are getting questions wrong. We all make mistakes! There is a tremendous amount of knowledge that can be gained from seeing where we went wrong. The more you understand WHY something is a challenge for you, the better. Then, you can fix it! How do I know what my weaknesses are? In the section above, we talked about knowing your strengths. We can usually figure out our weaknesses in the same ways. Did you score below average on any SAT section? It probably is not your strong suit. What are your current grades in those subjects? Most of the time we know our weaknesses, but they are harder to admit to. How to overcome them before the test? Practice the SAT sections that give you trouble and carefully review every problem. Note any patterns you see. Do you give up after a certain amount of time? See if you can eliminate options that do not make sense. Did you second guess yourself and change your answer? If you are aware of patterns then it is easier to overcome them.

#3 Know the level of Math

The SAT has some challenging math questions. Some seem to short stories and yet we have to set-up and solve the problem in a minute. A tough task, but not impossible. Remember, the SAT math section will have a calculator and no calculator portion. There will be 58 questions and you have 80 minutes to complete it all. What tip do you have about the math sections? The SAT questions are designed to trick and trap students. However, the concepts in the math section can only go through Intermediate Algebra. This is so important. Regardless of the question, you know it is only going to use concepts from Geometry or up to Intermediate Algebra. So if it seems like they are asking you about physics and calculus derivatives, this is only in your head. True, these questions are not easy, but knowing that it only goes to a certain point may help.

#4 The Wording is Deceptive

The SAT creators are sneaky and design the test questions to purposely create doubt within test takers. Why? You might think this is pointless. Wouldn’t it be better to make a test that does not playing mind games? Remember that these tests need to be able to give a college a decent picture of a student. Tests may or may not be the best way to accomplish that, but this is the reality. How are the questions written? You can expect to see long questions and answers. Sometimes students simply skip the question or look for key words. The SAT creators are trying to find the students that pay attention to details and reward them for their efforts. So be careful. Go slow and steady. If it helps cover the answers up and gather your thoughts before looking at the options. What tips can help me? Remember the whole test is multiple choice. That means that with every question one of the options is the correct answer. Try eliminating answers that really do not make sense. In most cases, you will be able to cross out at least one. There is no penalty for guessing, so you just raised your chance of getting it correct!

#5 Rest and Stick to a Routine