1. Start preparing early
To get the most out of preparing for the SAT, you need to start early. In fact, many National Merit Scholars, who typically score above 2100 on the SAT, start preparing for the PSAT and SAT the summer before they become sophomores so they can get the most out of the PSAT they have the option of. to take that year. Don’t begin to wonder whether or not third-order polynomials will be included in the math section last week. Create a plan! If you need more structure or guidance, consider SAT prep classes, private tutoring, or an online course.
2. Dress well
Think about it: someone as groggy as you is likely to adjust the thermostat at the test center the morning of the test. You don’t want to trust them with your comfort, and shaking while you bubble is a sure way to “leave a lost mark.” Avoid this by layering comfortable clothing so you can easily adjust to your surroundings.
3. Be punctual
The College Board is not happy when you are late for an SAT. For them, being late is arriving after having closed the doors of the test rooms, between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. In fact, their official policy establishes that students who arrive late will not be admitted to the test center. evaluation and will have to reschedule to take the test. Of course, there is a $24 fee for that. It’s okay if you don’t want to change the date, but the fee you paid to take the exam is non-refundable. That’s $47 wasted. How do you make sure this doesn’t happen to you? Report by 7:45 am, as recommended by the College Board. A few days before the test, map out a route to your test center and make sure you are familiar with it. If you’re particularly bad with directions, you might want to practice getting there, just think of it as something else to study.
4. You are very sleepy…
Falling asleep during the SAT: fail. You could take a nap during one of the five-minute breaks you get, but we doubt it’ll do you any good. Instead, make sure you get a good night’s sleep before the SAT. Caffeine in the morning, whether it’s coffee or an energy drink, can be a good idea, but should be avoided if you’re not used to it. Too much caffeine can lead to nervousness and, ironically, difficulty concentrating.
5. Oops! I did it again…
If you mess up, don’t worry—in 2009, the College Board introduced Score Choice, which lets you select which test scores you want to send to a college on your score report. It is an optional service; if you do not choose to use it, all of your scores will be included in your score reports. Although it allows you not to disclose low scores to schools when you apply, you should check your institution’s policy on reporting SAT scores; it is often useful to report all your scores.