Tips on Taking the Scholastic Aptitude/Achievement Test (SAT)
Saturday, November 27th, 2004
Familiarize yourself with all S.A.T. test instructions before exam day. It’s a waste of time to read them during the test itself.
Darken the ovals on the answer sheet from the middle outward. not from the perimeter inward. It’s faster.
The most obvious choice on difficult questions is almost always wrong — but it’s not far off. When in doubt, look for the answer that is closest to the most obvious choice.
Predict the answer before you look at the answer choices. For example, if you’re answering an S.A.T. sentence completion, read the sentence, predict a meaning for the missing word, then scan the answer choices to see which one fits.
The correct answers to multiple-choice reading-comprehension questions are easily defended factual statements or carefully worded opinions. Choices that use exclusive or extreme words (only, always, never, all, none) are rarely if ever correct, unless proceeded by a qualifier like “not,” in which case they are almost always correct.
When you are asked to compare fractions, turn them into their decimal equivalents by dividing the top number by the bottom number (with your calculator!). It’s hard to know whether 6/15 is greater or less than 7/16. but you can easily compare their decimal equivalents. 6/15 = .4, while 7/16 = .4375. Clearly, 7/16 is greater.
Look for easy questions if you’re running out of time. Vocabulary-in-context questions ask you to identify the meaning of a particular word in a passage, and can be answered quickly.
On analogies, if the tested pair consists of a noun and a verb, determine whether the noun does the action or receives the action. For instance, “Excavate: Digger” as “Cultivate: farmer.” The correct answer must have this same relationship.
Statistically, there is no real penalty for guessing. If you can eliminate even one answer as wrong, definitely guess. The odds are in your favor.
Memorize vocabulary words using mnemonics — phrases that help remind you of a word’s definition: to remember “transient” (passing, momentary). think of the phrase “trains in transit.”
Math questions are arranged in order of difficulty in each section. Be sure to answer the easy ones first. Take enough time to get them right. Unless you’re a top student shooting for a 600 or above on the math, don’t spend any significant time on the most difficult questions.
Bring a digital watch (it’s easier to read) and a calculator (it’s permitted).